Disney+, Hulu are hiking prices again: The details of how much it costs

Here is some exciting news for Disney+, Hulu, and Disney Bundle subscribers. From next month, the wallet is about to feel a little lighter. Again, Disney is increasing its prices across its streaming services in the USA, effective October 21, 2025. 

The declaration comes at a tumultuous time for Disney, pushing prices higher for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select, and more. According to Disney+’s’ updated support page, an ad-supported Disney+ plan will shift from $9.99 to $11.99 per month. On the other hand, its ad-free Premium subscription jumps from $15.99 to $18.99 per month, or $189.99 per year. 

The cost of ESPN Select will increase from $11.99 to $12.99 per month from 21 October. As of now, the introductory price of Disney+, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, and Hulu with ads will remain $29.99 per month (for the first 12 months).

Disney’s bundle deals are also going to be costlier. This is going to be the fourth consecutive year that Disney has increased its streaming charges since its launch in 2019. The prices are part of Disney’s ongoing strategy to enhance the profitability of its digital platforms. For now, the streaming arm is under pressure to keep growing revenue even while balancing rising content costs with operational costs.

The timing of raising prices comes amidst public backlash, while Disney is facing criticism for its September 17 suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live. On that show, Kimmel commented on Charlie Kirk’s killer. The backlash led subscribers to cancel their Hulu and Disney Plus accounts to boycott Disney. 

However, Disney stated that the price rise was pre-planned well ahead of that phenomenon. Critics note the proximity between the criticism and the announcement of the price hike makes it look like one may have influenced or at least intensified reactions.

For subscribers, that means on or after 21 October, the new billing will reflect higher prices. If any customer is on a legacy plan or a bundle, the price hike will depend on the plan’s specific structure, such as with ads or ad-free. Further, Disney is planning to fully integrate Hulu’s content into Disney+ through a unified app. This plan is supposed to be fully implemented sometime in 2026. This may reshape how bundles are structured going forward.