Disney+ and Hulu add to the growing trend of streaming inflation
News Source
β’Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:06:27 +0000
π° What Happened
Disney is raising prices for Disney+ and Hulu again, about a year after its last increase. The ad-free bundle will cost $21.99 a month, up from $19.99.
Ad-free stand-alone Disney+ and Hulu plans rise to $21.49 a month from $18.99. Ad-supported stand-alone plans rise to $12.49 a month. Bloomberg first reported the changes, which appear on Disney+'s support page.
Disney+ and Hulu are not alone. Peacock and Apple TV raised prices in August, and Netflix raised prices earlier this year. Disney+ cost just $6.99 a month when it launched in 2019.
π The Backstory
Streaming was once cheap, and companies aimed to grow fast. Now they want each service to make a profit, so prices keep climbing.
Disney's third-quarter 2026 results showed entertainment streaming revenue up 11% to $5.5 billion. Subscriber growth and past price rises drove that gain.
Disney is also trying new ideas. It reportedly explored a free Disney+ tier and added a feature called Playlists. It hired Karandeep Anand, former head of Character.AI, as its first chief technology officer.
π― Why It Matters
Most homes now pay for several streaming services. Small price rises add up fast, so many viewers must choose what to keep.
Disney is raising prices for Disney+ and Hulu again, about a year after its last increase. The ad-free bundle will cost $21.99 a month, up from $19.99.
Ad-free stand-alone Disney+ and Hulu plans rise to $21.49 a month from $18.99. Ad-supported stand-alone plans rise to $12.49 a month. Bloomberg first reported the changes, which appear on Disney+'s support page.
Disney+ and Hulu are not alone. Peacock and Apple TV raised prices in August, and Netflix raised prices earlier this year. Disney+ cost just $6.99 a month when it launched in 2019.
Streaming was once cheap, and companies aimed to grow fast. Now they want each service to make a profit, so prices keep climbing.
Disney's third-quarter 2026 results showed entertainment streaming revenue up 11% to $5.5 billion. Subscriber growth and past price rises drove that gain.
Disney is also trying new ideas. It reportedly explored a free Disney+ tier and added a feature called Playlists. It hired Karandeep Anand, former head of Character.AI, as its first chief technology officer.
Most homes now pay for several streaming services. Small price rises add up fast, so many viewers must choose what to keep.