Disney is raising the price of its premium, ad‑free streaming plans, moving both Disney+ and Hulu to $21.49 per month for new subscribers. Existing customers will see the change on their next billing cycle after a notice is sent on Wednesday.
Price details and bundle options
The standalone premium tiers for each service will increase by $2.50, while the combined ad‑free Disney+ / Hulu bundle will rise $2 to $21.99 a month. Disney’s ad‑supported plans will see a modest $0.50 increase to $12.49, and the ad‑supported bundle will stay at $12.99.
Even with the hike, the bundled offering remains a bargain: subscribers can get both services for just 50 cents more per month than either service alone, regardless of whether they choose the ad‑free or ad‑supported option.
How the new rates compare nationally
At $21.49, Disney+ Premium – which includes 4K streaming – is still cheaper than Netflix’s $26.99 Premium plan and HBO Max’s $22.99 Premium plan, though it sits above Paramount+’s $13.99 Premium price point. The $12.49 ad‑supported Disney+ and Hulu plans are $3.50 higher than the ad‑supported options from Netflix and Paramount+, and $1.50 above HBO Max’s comparable tier.
Company performance and upcoming changes
Disney reported an 11% year‑over‑year increase in revenue from Disney+ and Hulu, reaching $5.53 billion in its fiscal third quarter. The company has stopped publishing regular subscriber counts, focusing instead on revenue growth and content investment.
CEO Josh D’Amaro told investors that Disney is “exploring a free product for consumers,” though no concrete details have been released. The price adjustments coincide with Disney’s plan to launch a “one‑app experience” later this year, consolidating its streaming services into a single platform for easier access.
What this means for families
For households that value ad‑free viewing, the new pricing reflects Disney’s continued investment in high‑quality, family‑friendly content, including original series, movies, and 4K programming. Parents can still opt for the lower‑cost ad‑supported tiers if they prefer a more budget‑friendly option.
Overall, the price increase aligns with broader industry trends as streaming services seek to balance content costs with subscriber revenue, while offering bundled choices that keep families connected to the entertainment they love.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
