Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Price Increase Notification Arrives for Subscribers

Autumn has ushered in a wave of streaming price hikes, and the latest increase for the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is no exception. Subscribers are beginning to receive emails detailing the new rates they will soon encounter.

Reflecting on last year’s changes, Warner Bros. Discovery raised HBO Max prices on October 21, 2022. This adjustment saw the Basic With Ads plan rise to $10.99 a month, the Standard plan to $18.49, and the Premium plan to $22.99, marking the third price increase in three years. At the same time, the bundle price for Disney+ and Hulu increased by $3, bringing it to $19.99 with ads and $32.99 without.

Now, the bundle is set for another increase. A subscriber on Reddit’s r/HBOMAX shared an email from HBO Max titled “Your subscription price is changing,” which confirms that the Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (No Ads) monthly plan will rise from $32.99 to $34.99. This new pricing takes effect on October 21.

This date aligns with Disney’s announcement that current subscribers will see updated pricing in their billing cycle on or after October 21. Hulu’s bundle page now lists the no-ads package at $34.99 a month, claiming a savings of $26.48 compared to purchasing each service separately. The ad-supported version is now priced at $21.99, up from $19.99 after last year’s increase.

The catalyst for this change is Disney’s own pricing adjustments. On September 23, the company implemented higher prices across most Disney+ and Hulu plans, marking the fourth increase in as many years. Both ad-free Premium plans are now priced at $21.49 a month, reflecting a 13% increase.

Standalone ad-supported plans have increased by 50 cents to $12.49 each, while the ad-free Disney+ and Hulu bundle has risen by $2 to $21.99. The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle remains at $12.99, which MacRumors notes is the option Disney is promoting. Bundles that include ESPN or HBO Max have also seen price increases of $2 to $3.

For those who subscribe to HBO Max independently, CNN’s comparison still lists the Premium plan at $22.99 a month. Thus, the latest price hike primarily affects those who subscribe to all three services via the bundle, with the email indicating that the increase is a result of Disney’s pricing strategy.

In a broader context, streaming inflation has surged at a rate approximately three times faster than general inflation since 2022, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Netflix’s premium plan remains the priciest individual subscription at $26.99 a month, while Apple TV and Peacock also raised their prices in August. As noted by Deadline, bundling has become a popular solution in the industry, as it helps to reduce subscriber churn.

Not all subscribers are pleased with these changes. Some commenters on Deadline’s coverage expressed that the latest price increases are the final straw, particularly regarding the rising costs of ad-free plans. MacRumors calculated that the price of Disney+’s no-ad plan has surged over 200% since its launch in 2019 at $6.99 a month.

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