Summary

• Disney+ and Hulu are increasing their prices in October, with new bundles and ad-tier options being introduced.
• Disney+ has faced mixed reception for its original shows and is restructuring its pricing options to improve profitability.
• The bundled Disney+ and Hulu subscription plan offers the best value for consumers, with a significant discount compared to individual subscriptions.

Disney will enact price increases, including new bundles and ad-tier options, for both Disney+ and Hulu starting in October, leading one to wonder what the best option is. It's been a tumultuous few years for studios and production companies, and it's gotten even harder with the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. To counter disappointing losses, a number of media companies are restructuring their streaming services, and that includes Disney.

Disney+ has had somewhat of a rough go in the past year. While original Star Wars shows like Andor and The Mandalorian have done well for the streaming service, other live-action outings have been met with a mixed reception. As for Marvel, after a wave of initially great Phase 4 streaming shows, the latest Disney+ offering, Secret Invasion, has gotten negative reviews and little audience interest compared to what has come before. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Disney is now rejiggering its pricing options for its streaming platforms.

Disney+'s Price Increase Explained

Studios and production companies are still looking to right themselves and get back to the pre-pandemic success they largely enjoyed before Covid. Disney is no different, looking to claw its Disney+ streaming service back from the red zone and into the black. Disney CEO Bob Iger explained the reason for the changes, as well as announcing that the company is looking for ways to crack down on sharing for the Disney+ platform, which Iger described as "significant."

This isn't the first time that Disney+ subscribers have experienced a price hike. It's the second price hike in less than a year for American subscribers who have Disney+ . The last time Disney+ saw a price hike was in December 2022 when the price increased by three dollars a month for subscribers. These are the new prices for Disney+ starting in October.

Disney+ (Ad-Free)

Disney+ without ads will see another price hike of 27%, increasing from its current $10.99 to $13.99 for U.S. customers. That price now more than doubles its original price of $6.99 per month when the platform first rolled out four years ago.

Disney+ Basic (Ad-ed)

Currently, Disney+ subscriptions with ads will remain steady at $7.99 per month. The ad-ed plan has been quite successful for Disney+, with Iger revealing that 3.3 million customers signed up for the plan since its rollout last December.

Disney+ Basic (Ad-ed - International Pricing)

Disney+ is also rolling out ad-ed subscription plans in a number of countries beginning on November 1. Just as in the U.S. market, the price in Canada will be $7.99. UK customers will pay a £4.99 monthly subscription fee, while eight other European markets will cost €5.99: , , Italy, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark.

Hulu's Price Increase Explained

The reason for the Hulu price hike can be explained as having the same motivations as the Disney+ price increase. As with Disney+, this isn't the first price hike subscribers have experienced in the past year. In October 2022, the price of Hulu without ads also increased. The increases this time are fairly significant.

Hulu (Ad-Free)

The Hulu ad-free subscription is increasing 20%, rising from a monthly fee of $14.99 to $17.99 per month. As noted, this is the second price increase in less than a year and a significant one.

Hulu (Ad-ed)

Luckily, the ad-ed standalone tier of Hulu will not see a price increase. Like its Disney+ counterpart, it will remain at $7.99 per month for U.S. subscribers.

Hulu + Live TV (Ad-ed)

A significant jump for Hulu comes with the Hulu + Live TV packages. The ad-ed option will increase $7 to $76.99 starting October 12.

Hulu + Live TV (Ad-Free)

Hulu's ad-free on VOD tier with live TV is by far the most expensive tier for consumers. Like the one with ads, it will increase $7; subscribers will be charged $89.99 per month.

ESPN+

Last but not least, ESPN+ will also be increasing in price this fall, albeit a much smaller jump than the other plans on this list. It will increase in price from $9.99 per month to $10.99.

Disney+ & Hulu Bundle Packages Explained

Disney's pricing for its bundled streaming service options has also increased, though they will offer a significant discount for consumers compared to the a la carte streaming service option. For those who consume a lot of movies and TV, a bundle is likely the way to go. Here's how the prices have changed.

Disney+ & Hulu Bundle (Ad-ed)

Just like the ad-ed standalone tiers for each platform, the bundled Disney+ and Hulu ad-ed tier will remain the same at $9.99. Disney appears to be happy, for now, with the performance of its ad-ed options across the board, and that makes sense. What they're not making in subscription pricing, they're making back in r fees.

Disney+ & Hulu Bundle (Ad-Free)

Disney is pushing more consumers to choose bundled options rather than individual streaming platforms in the future. To encourage this, Disney is rolling out an option on September 6 for an ad-free Disney+ and Hulu bundle for $19.99 per month. This is a significant discount of 37% from buying Disney+ and Hulu separately.

Which Disney+ & Hulu Subscription Plans Are The Best Value

For those who are willing to shell out a bit more up front per month, a bundled Disney+ and Hulu subscription plan is the more cost-effective option. Regardless, it's the path that Disney appears to be walking moving forward. Already, certain Disney+ originals have appeared on Hulu, such as Secret Invasion, and it was recently confirmed that the opposite will hold true, with Hulu-specific content rolling out on Disney+ later this year. Eventually, it's likely that Disney+ and Hulu will merge into one new streaming platform, or that Disney+ will roll Hulu under its umbrella. With the deep discount Disney is offering in September for new subscribers to the Disney+ & Hulu ad-free bundle, it might be a good time to ditch the separate streaming platforms and go for the 2-in-1 deal.

For those who still prefer to keep their streaming platforms separate, or who use only one, the ad-ed option is the best bang for one's buck. Those just paying for Disney+ with ads will pay $72 less per year if they're willing to sit through a few ads. The saving with the ad-ed tier for Hulu is even more significant, with it costing $120 less per year than the ad-free version. And for those with the Hulu + Live TV tier, choosing the ad-ed option will save $156 per year versus the ad-free option.

Here's the entire breakdown of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ standalone tiers and bundled packages: