Reminder: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Price Increases All Take Effect on Oct. 12. Is There Any Way to Save?
The day Disney’s streaming customers have been dreading is finally here. What are the best ways to save money on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ now?
Disney is not at all satisfied with the financial performance of its streaming platforms. That’s to be expected considering the company still loses millions of dollars per quarter from its streamers, and especially since Disney views its on-demand video platforms as the most important part of its entertainment offerings going forward.
- Disney streaming price increases go into effect Thursday, Oct. 12.
- There are still deals available on Disney+ and Hulu + Live TV.
- Ad-supported streaming plans remain an excellent, low-cost alternative.
Mickey in the Poorhouse
The overall strategy of chasing streaming profits has led Disney to announce its second wave of price increases for its streaming services in less than a year. The company is willing to pull out all the stops to begin profiting from its streamers, and cancelation data has demonstrated customers are more likely than not to put up with rate hikes rather than churn away.
The good news for users is that not all plans will see a price increase. Disney is mainly focusing this round of increases on ad-free streaming customers, from which the company collects less money per user than they do from ad-supported subscribers. ESPN+ is the only exception; since that streamer carries so much live content, it always carries commercials and is also set to increase in price on Oct. 12.
Check out Disney’s new streaming prices as of Oct. 12 below.
| Subscription | Tier | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney+ | With Ads (No Change) | $7.99 | N/A |
| No Ads* | $13.99 | $139.99 | |
| Hulu | With Ads (No Change) | $7.99 | $79.99 |
| No Ads* | $17.99 | N/A | |
| Disney+ (With Ads) Add-On (No Change) | $2.00 | N/A | |
| ESPN+ on Hulu Add-On* | $10.99 | N/A | |
| ESPN+ | With Ads* | $10.99 | $109.99 |
| UFC PPV (standalone) (No Change) | $79.99 (per event) | ||
| UFC PPV + Annual* | N/A | $134.98 | |
| Bundle Offerings | Duo Premium: Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads)^ – NEW | $19.99 | N/A |
| Duo Basic: Disney+ (With Ads), Hulu (With Ads) (No Change) | $9.99 | N/A | |
| Trio Premium: Disney+ (No Ads), Hulu (No Ads), ESPN+ (With Ads) | $24.99 | N/A | |
| Trio Basic: Disney+ (With Ads), Hulu (With Ads), ESPN+ (With Ads)* | $14.99 | N/A | |
| Hulu + Live TV | With Ads* | $76.99 | N/A |
| No Ads* | $89.99 | N/A |
How to Save on Disney Streaming Services
There are still a couple of ways to lock in savings on Disney streaming services before it’s too late. The first deal available is only for ad-free Disney+ Premium. Until 11:59 p.m. PT this evening, users can sign up for an annual plan of Disney+ Premium for $109.99 per year. That comes out to less than $10 per month and is a big discount over the new $139.99 per year price that will take effect on Oct. 12.
Neither ESPN+ or Hulu offer ad-free annual subscriptions, so Disney+ is the only one of those three on-demand services on which users can lock in a lower price for the next year. However, if you’re in need of a live TV streaming service, now is the perfect time to subscribe to Hulu + Live TV.
Hulu + Live TV is offering a special deal of $20 off per month for new subscribers’ first three months of service. That lowers the price of a Hulu + Live TV subscription to $49.99 per month and still gives users ad-supported access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ via the Disney Bundle. If you decide Hulu + Live TV isn’t for you when those three months are up, you can cancel easily and rest easy knowing you saved $60 in that time.
-
Disney+
Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”
-
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 70 channels for $76.99/month. Hulu + Live TV base plan includes local channels, 33 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). Subscribers get free access to Disney+ and ESPN+ at no extra charge.
-
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid's Tale.”
-
ESPN+
ESPN+ is a live TV streaming service that gives access to thousands of live sporting events, original shows like Peyton’s Place, the entire library of 30 for 30, E:60, The Last Dance, as well exclusive written analysis from top ESPN insiders. Sports available on ESPN+ include NFL, MLB, NHL, UFC, College Football, F1, Bundesliga, PGA Tour, La Liga, and more.
