Hulu's price hike is coming — here's how to avoid it and save
Buy in on Hulu now, so you can save later
Soon, Hulu will be quoting Fat Joe, shouting "yesterday's price is not today's price." Yes, on Monday (October 10) Hulu's price rises up by $1 per month to $7.99, and up $2 per month on the ad-free tier, to $14.99. But there is a way to avoid it.
But first, the context. This news broke in August, at the same time Disney announced a Disney Plus price hike (which will happen in December), alongside the debut of Disney Plus Basic, the ad-supported tier that will keep the current $7.99 per month price.
None of this is great, but if you want to keep the current price for Hulu (or Disney Plus too), you have options. Hulu's 12-month annual option is still at the nice price of $69 (16% off of paying for it for all 12 months like a sucker). That's the ad-supported Hulu (there is no annual price for ad-free Hulu). Of course, this has you locked into paying for a whole year up front, with no way to get out if you get tired.
12 months of Hulu: $83.88 $69.99
While the annual Hulu deal saves you around $14 now, that's changing soon. A year of Hulu at its upcoming $7.99 price will cost $79 (annually) or $96 (monthly) starting October 10. Get your subscription now to save.
So, if you buy that annual deal now, you stave off the price bump for another year. You can choose to see that as saving $25.89 against the new monthly price for a whole year, or saving $10 because the 12-month Hulu offer goes up to $79 with the monthly price hike.
You can save even more with the Disney Bundle
If you like Disney Plus, though, you can do what I did, and lock yourself into the Disney Bundle discount. Currently $13.99 per month before the price hike, and $14.99 per month once everything's said and done (Disney Plus goes up to $10.99, a $3 bump, in December). This also nets you ESPN Plus, if you care about that service (I do not).
This bundle gives you ad-free Disney Plus (soon to cost $10.99 per month), Hulu with ads ($7.99 per month as of Monday) and ESPN Plus ($9.99), which totals to $28.97, for a little over half that.
You even save if you ignore ESPN Plus. The $14.99 price is around four bucks less than the cost of Hulu (ads) and Disney Plus (no ads) combined.
Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus price hikes at a glance
Regular old Hulu with ads got the smallest price hike of the group, making Disney Plus and ESPN Plus $3 price hikes look even worse.
Header Cell - Column 0 | Old monthly price | New monthly price |
---|---|---|
Hulu with ads | $6.99 | $7.99 (Oct. 10) |
Hulu without ads | $12.99 | $14.99 (Oct. 10) |
Disney Plus | $7.99 | $10.99 (Dec. 8) |
Disney Plus with ads | n/a | $7.99 (Dec. 8) |
ESPN Plus | $6.99 | $9.99 (Aug. 2022) |
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Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.
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Joshua.Mattingly Suggestion: Cancel your Hulu, Wait Till Black Friday. Get their 99₵ or 1.99₵ and lock-in savings for one year. Cancel at next Black Friday, and use a new card/email account.Reply