Quick answer: Disney+ and Hulu raised US prices on 23 September 2026, with ad-free plans jumping from $18.99 to $21.49 a month. Peacock went up on 18 August 2026, and Netflix raised UK prices in early September. Existing subscribers usually see the new price at their next billing date after a notice.
It’s been a busy few weeks for streaming bills. Three of the biggest services changed their prices between mid-August and late September, and each one nudges you toward either a bundle, an annual plan or the cheaper ad tier.
Below you’ll find the new numbers, who pays what and when, and a few practical ways to keep the bill down. This is part of our Apps and Software coverage, and if you’re also watching music costs, see our guide to music streaming price rises from Apple, Spotify and Pandora.
How much did Disney+ and Hulu go up?
TVLine reports that the increase applies to new subscribers straight away and to existing subscribers on their next billing cycle. The figures below are US prices per month.
| Plan | Old price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Disney+ Premium (no ads) | $18.99 | $21.49 |
| Hulu Premium (no ads) | $18.99 | $21.49 |
| Disney+ and Hulu bundle (no ads) | $19.99 | $21.99 |
| Disney+ with ads | $11.99 | $12.49 |
| Hulu with ads | $11.99 | $12.49 |
| Disney+ and Hulu bundle (with ads) | $12.99 | $12.99 (no change) |
Look at the bundle row. The ad-free bundle now costs only $0.50 more than either ad-free service alone, so Disney is clearly steering people toward buying both. Reporting syndicated by KTTC calls this the fourth price rise in four years and says Disney is also adjusting prices for packages that include ESPN, HBO Max, NFL+ and Hulu with Live TV. Disney’s own support pages list the full set.
What are Peacock’s new prices?
Peacock raised every plan on 18 August 2026. According to 9to5Mac, the new monthly and annual prices are:
- Select: $8.99 a month (was $7.99) or $89.99 a year (was $79.99)
- Premium: $12.99 a month (was $10.99) or $129.99 a year (was $109.99)
- Premium Plus: $19.99 a month (was $16.99) or $199.99 a year (was $169.99)
New and returning customers paid the higher price immediately. Current subscribers see it on or after 17 September at their next billing date, and WFTV adds that people on annual plans or promotional offers keep their current rate until that plan ends.
One detail matters if you use Apple TV. As of 18 August, 9to5Mac says the Apple TV bundle with Peacock Premium ($14.99 a month) or Premium Plus ($19.99 a month) hadn’t changed. Apple TV alone is $12.99, so the bundle is a much better deal than buying Peacock separately. Bundle prices can change without much warning, so check before you rely on it.
What did Netflix change in the UK?
Netflix raised UK prices around 9 September 2026, according to IBC and Yahoo Finance UK. The ad-supported plan took the biggest percentage jump.
- Standard with Ads: £5.99 to £7.99 a month
- Standard (no ads): £12.99 to £13.99 a month
- Premium: £18.99 to £20.99 a month
- Extra member: £4.99 to £5.99 a month
Yahoo Finance notes this is the second UK increase in 2026, after one in February. Netflix said the changes reflect improvements to its entertainment and service quality. We couldn’t confirm matching changes for Netflix in the euro area or Canada from the sources we checked, so check your own account page for the price you’ll actually be charged.
Will I be charged the new price right away?
Usually not. The pattern across all three services is the same: new sign-ups pay the higher price at once, while existing customers get a notice and move to the new rate at their next billing date. That’s why you might not notice anything until a month or so after the headline.
If you pay through Apple, Google Play or a mobile carrier rather than directly, your price can differ from the figures here, and the date can differ too. Always trust the number shown in your billing settings over a news article, including ours.
How can you keep your streaming bill down?
You can’t avoid a price rise, but you can soften it. These are the options we’d weigh first:
- Switch to the ad tier on one service. The Netflix UK ad plan is still the cheapest way in at £7.99, and Disney+ with ads is $12.49 in the US.
- Take the bundle if you use both Disney+ and Hulu. With the ad-free gap down to $0.50, paying for one alone rarely makes sense.
- Rotate services. Subscribe for a month when a show you want is out, then cancel. Our guide on how to cancel subscriptions on iPhone and Android shows how to do it without losing track.
- Check annual plans. Peacock’s annual prices rose too, but paying yearly can still beat monthly if you’re sure you’ll keep watching. Weigh the risk of forgetting to cancel.
- Audit what you share. Extra member and household rules differ by service, so make sure you aren’t paying for a seat nobody uses.
Why do streaming prices keep rising?
The companies give similar reasons. Peacock said the changes let it keep creating content and stay competitive. Disney’s rise is its fourth in four years, and Peacock’s is also its fourth in four years, according to the reports above. Netflix pointed to improvements in its entertainment and service quality.
These aren’t the only 2026 rises either. A Fox TV stations roundup from April listed YouTube Premium at $15.99 a month, Spotify Premium at $12.99 and Amazon Prime Video’s ad-free add-on at $4.99. Taken together, a household with four or five services can easily be paying $10 to $20 a month more than a year ago.
How do you decide what to keep?
Start with usage, not price. Open each service and look at what you watched in the last month. If you can’t remember, that’s your answer.
Then keep one or two “anchor” services you use weekly and treat the rest as month-by-month rentals. It’s a plain approach, but it works because most services let you return later, usually with your watchlist intact.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Disney+ price rise start?
New subscribers pay the new price from the announcement on 23 September 2026. Existing subscribers see it at their next billing cycle after notice.
Is the Disney+ and Hulu ad-supported bundle more expensive now?
No. The bundle with ads stays at $12.99 a month in the US, while the single ad-supported services rose to $12.49.
Did Peacock raise annual plan prices as well?
Yes. Annual prices rose to $89.99, $129.99 and $199.99 for Select, Premium and Premium Plus. Current annual subscribers keep their rate until the plan renews.
Are these prices the same in the UK, Canada and the EU?
Not necessarily. The Disney+ and Peacock figures above are US prices. Netflix’s figures are UK prices. Look at your account page for local pricing.
Sources
- TVLine: Disney+ and Hulu are hiking their prices again
- KTTC: Disney+ and Hulu are raising streaming prices (again)
- 9to5Mac: Peacock is the latest streaming service to increase prices
- WFTV: Peacock hikes monthly and annual subscription rates
- IBC: Netflix raises UK subscription prices
- Yahoo Finance UK: Netflix raises UK prices, cheapest plan up by a third
- FOX 5 DC: 2026 streaming price hikes