When Disney+ debuted in 2019, the service launched at just $6.99 a month, offering strong value compared with many streaming rivals. That price helped drive rapid adoption, but the cost of the ad-free tier has steadily increased over time. Beginning next month, current subscribers who prefer an ad-free experience will see a new monthly charge of $21.49 — roughly three times the original price.
According to a Bloomberg report, Disney is raising prices across most Disney+ and Hulu plans. New subscribers will be billed the higher rates immediately, while existing subscribers will see the change reflected on their next monthly invoice.
Ad-free viewers take the biggest hit
The largest increases affect the ad-free plans. Disney+ Premium and Hulu Premium are both rising from $18.99 to $21.49 per month, which translates to about $30 more per year for each service. If you subscribe to both ad-free services separately, that adds roughly $5 more per month, or about $60 per year, compared with last year.
Lower-cost, ad-supported plans are also seeing smaller increases. Those tiers will go up by $0.50, moving from $11.99 to $12.49 per month. The ad-free Disney+ and Hulu bundle increases by $2 to $21.99, and certain ESPN-inclusive bundles will rise as well, including one ad-free combo that increases by $3 to $32.99.
Not every plan changes: the popular Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads remains unchanged at $12.99 per month, providing a lower-cost option for viewers willing to accept advertising interruptions.
Disney+ has raised prices every year since 2022
This increase continues a multi-year trend. Disney+ moved to $7.99 in 2021 and then to $10.99 in late 2022. Since 2022, the ad-free price has seen annual increases each fall. The service rose to $13.99 in 2023, then to $15.99 in 2024, and reached $18.99 last year. For context, if the original $6.99 price had only tracked with inflation, it would be closer to $9.10 today, illustrating how subscription costs have outpaced simple inflation adjustments.
Disney is not unique in raising streaming prices. Other major services have also increased their fees over time, often shifting the mix of ad-supported and ad-free options to encourage different subscription choices. For customers who currently pay for Disney+ and Hulu separately, bundling can remain cost-effective: combining both services typically costs only a small amount more than subscribing to one service alone, depending on the plan selected.
If you want to check which plan you are on and when the new price will appear on your bill, you can do so through the account section of the Disney+ app or website. Reviewing your plan and billing date is a good step to prepare for upcoming increases and decide whether to switch plans, bundle services, or explore alternatives.
Rising subscription prices present a common challenge for consumers balancing content preferences, budget, and the growing number of streaming choices. For viewers focused on an uninterrupted experience, the ad-free tiers still provide the most seamless viewing, but they now come at a higher premium. Those who are more price sensitive may find the ad-supported bundle a reasonable compromise, keeping monthly costs lower while still offering access to a large content library.
Overall, the latest changes highlight how streaming services continue to adjust pricing as they expand content, rights, and platform investments. If recent years are any indication, these adjustments may continue as companies respond to market conditions, content costs, and competitive dynamics.