Disney raised prices on several U.S. Disney+ and Hulu plans on September 23. The sharpest contrast is between a single service and the ad-supported bundle: either standalone plan now costs $12.49 a month, while Disney+ and Hulu together remain $12.99.
That leaves a customer who wants both services paying just 50 cents more per month for the bundle than for either service alone. Disney is also increasing the price of its ad-free plans, though the company is keeping some other bundles unchanged.
What changed on September 23
The monthly Disney+ and Hulu plans with ads each rose by 50 cents, from $11.99 to $12.49. Their standalone ad-free plans each increased by $2.50, from $18.99 to $21.49.
The Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads stays at $12.99. Its ad-free version is going up by $2, from $19.99 to $21.99. That means the ad-free bundle is also just 50 cents more than one standalone ad-free plan, and includes both services.
Disney’s bundles that include ESPN Select are rising to $21.99 a month with ads and $32.99 without ads. The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundles remain at $35.99 with ads and $44.99 without ads, according to CBS News’ breakdown of the new rates.
Existing subscribers have a little time
The new rates apply immediately to new subscribers. Existing customers are scheduled to see the change on the next monthly billing cycle, beginning next month. Anyone who pays through a third party may see different timing or terms, so it is worth checking the billing details shown by that provider.
The bundle math is becoming hard to miss. A household that wants both Disney+ and Hulu can get the ad-supported versions together for 50 cents more than either standalone service. For customers who prefer no ads, the bundle is also only 50 cents more than one standalone premium plan.
That does not mean every subscriber should bundle. Someone who watches only one service still pays more for access to a second library they may not use. But the prices make Disney’s combined offer the more obvious deal for households already paying for both.
The increase lands as Disney+ adds new titles, including Toy Story 5, which The FreshWire covered as it arrived on the service. For subscribers, the question is whether the growing catalog is still worth another annual price adjustment.
Sources
- CBS News: Disney+ and Hulu price changes
- MacRumors: Disney+ and Hulu raise prices again
- TechCrunch: Disney+ and Hulu add to streaming inflation
- Disney+ Help Center: Plans and prices (plan descriptions and bundle structure)
