Hulu officially launches on Disney Plus — here's what you need to know

The new Disney Plus app with access to Hulu streaming service added
(Image credit: Future)

Subscribers to both Disney Plus and Hulu will have more convenient options for watching their favorite programming starting today, with Disney announcing the official launch of Hulu’s integration into Disney Plus. That follows a limited beta launch for some users back in December.

For anyone who subscribes to the combined Disney Bundle or to both Disney Plus and Hulu on their own with the same e-mail address, the Disney Plus app will now feature all of Hulu’s content alongside existing Disney Plus content, meaning that viewers won’t have to switch between apps if they’re bingeing both “The Bear” and “Loki.”

There’s no price change associated with this new integration, and Bundle plans still start at $9.99 per month (including ads), while Disney Plus and Hulu alone each start at $7.99 per month.

How it works for Hulu and Disney Plus subscribers 

The integration is helpful for those subscribers already interested in both services, and for people who only subscribe to Hulu, there won’t be any noticeable difference, since the integration doesn’t work both ways. For Disney Bundle subscribers who are used to having separate apps, there may be a period of adjustment, especially for parents who don’t want their young kids accidentally (or maybe not accidentally) watching, say, “A Murder at the End of the World” or “The Great.” Those users will need to adjust parental controls on individual profiles to account for the new programming availability.

Anyone who only subscribes to Disney Plus and has no interest in Hulu can look forward to what a press release calls “expanded upsell options across additional devices,” which means that they’ll be bothered more frequently and extensively to upgrade their subscription to the Disney Bundle for an extra $2 a month. 

This is the latest step in the long evolution that began when Disney bought Hulu co-owner 21st Century Fox in 2019, giving it a majority ownership of the service. Disney recently acquired the remaining stake in Hulu from Comcast, paving the way for it to be fully integrated into Disney Plus. Since Hulu is a U.S.-only service, its programming has already been available on Disney Plus in other countries, where it’s generally placed under the Star category. Whether Hulu will remain a standalone brand and service over the long term is still unclear, although Disney paid a lot of money for the privilege of potentially just shutting it down.

For now, Hulu lives, and it’s even influencing the branding of Disney Plus, with the service’s signature blue logo color changing to a blue-green that the company calls “aurora,” integrating the Hulu green. There’s also a new Disney Plus “orchestral mnemonic” (aka the music you hear when you start the app) from Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson. It’s a whole lot of corporate puffery whose ultimate purpose is getting more subscribers to part with more money, of course.

More From Tom's Guide

TOPICS
Josh Bell
Writer

Josh Bell is a freelance writer and movie/TV critic based in Las Vegas. He's the former film editor of Las Vegas Weekly and has written about movies and TV for Vulture, Inverse, CBR, Crooked Marquee and more. With comedian Jason Harris, he co-hosts the podcast Awesome Movie Year.

Read more
(L to R) The Hulu, Disney Plus logos
How to get Disney Plus and Hulu for free
Hulu / Disney Plus streaming bundle deal
Disney Plus and Hulu bundle deal is too good to miss — get both for just $2.99 a month now
Disney Plus logo
Disney Plus just tipped a huge upgrade for millions — here's what we know
(L to R) The Hulu, Disney Plus logos
I would definitely cancel Hulu and Disney Plus this month — here's why
Hulu + Live TV/Fubo merger
Hulu + Live TV just announced merger with Fubo — what you need to know
Netflix, HBO, Prime logos on tablet
3 best streaming service bundles that are actually worth it — save up to $29 with these discounted prices now
Latest in Entertainment
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari looks on during Sprint Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/Paddocker/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
How to watch F1 Chinese GP 1 2025 online without cable – Sprint race, Qualifying
L-R: Claude (Marco Calvani), Danny (Colman Domingo), Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte) have their bags packed for Netflix's "The Four Seasons"
Netflix just teased a new comedy series starring Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and Colman Domingo — and we already have a release date
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones sit on the hood of a truck in "Twisters"
Prime Video top 10 movies — here's the 3 worth watching now
YouTube logo on smart TV with remote control
YouTube's next big upgrade is right around the corner — here's what we just learned
Bella Ramsey in The Last of Us season 2
HBO just dropped fresh new stills from 'The Last of Us' season 2 — here's what they reveal
Adam Scott and Britt Lower in "Severance."
‘Severance’ season 2 finale explained — we finally just got some answers
Latest in News
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari looks on during Sprint Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/Paddocker/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
How to watch F1 Chinese GP 1 2025 online without cable – Sprint race, Qualifying
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Saturday, March 22 (#650)
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 — 7 biggest questions that need answers at Nintendo Direct April 2
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Segway g30lp
Segway recalls 220,000 electric scooters - what to do if yours is on the list
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S25 Plus vs S25
Satellite messaging on Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 just landed on 3 more carriers