Disney+ raises prices again as ad-free plan climbs to more than three times its launch price

Disney+ and Hulu have once again raised their prices, with ad-free plans jumping to more than three times their initial launch price. This price increase comes a year after the last hike, leaving customers feeling increasingly frustrated. The standalone ad-free plans for Disney+ and Hulu have both risen by $2.50, or approximately 13.2%, from $18.99 to $21.49 per month.

The ad-free bundle, however, sees a $2 increase, reaching $21.99 per month. Ad-supported plans see a 50-cent increase, from $11.99 to $12.49 per month. The most popular bundle, containing both services without ads, remains unchanged at $12.99 per month. Despite the price hikes, the bundles still offer significant savings compared to buying the services separately – about 48% without ads and 49% with ads.

Meanwhile, other services like Hulu + Live TV have seen even larger increases, with its standard and Premium packages both rising by $10. Disney claims these increases are necessary for investing in enhancements like new technology, features, and personalization. They also point out that competitors have introduced larger price increases.

Since its launch in November 2019, Disney+ ad-free has been raised six times, with the US monthly price jumping from $6.99 to $21.49 – a staggering 207.4% increase. The eight major subscription services now cost around $151 a month combined for ad-free plans, more than double the $90 spent four years ago. This is far above the rate of inflation, which has risen by an average of 3.84% annually since 2019.