If you’re a Disney+ bundle subscriber in the US, you’ll now see that the Hulu library is integrated into the Disney+ app.
The new strategy follows international versions of Disney+, which include series and films such as The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and Poor Things under the Star label. However, things work a little differently if you’re in America.
If you want to know what this means for you and your subscription, then keep on reading. You can also check out our chart of the best TV streaming services.
I’m a Disney+ and Hulu bundle subscriber – what’s changing for me?
At the time of writing, the main difference you should see is that most of Hulu’s content now sits in the Disney+ library. Vulture tested out the new tier and confirmed that Hulu titles are now mixed on the homepage.
Disney+ also has had a slight makeover (both in America and internationally), with teal accents throughout the branding. This appears to be a mix of Disney’s classic navy, and Hulu’s signature green. Disney is dubbing this as ‘Aurora’.
Is the Hulu app being shut down?
Nope! If you still want to use both standalone apps, the option is there. You should be able to sign into Hulu as normal and stream content, which is useful if anything isn’t on Disney+ for some reason (or if you’re sick of all things Marvel).
Bob Iger has previously called this a ‘one-app’ experience (via NBC), so that may change in the future. But for now, Hulu lives to fit another day.
Will I have to pay more for my Disney+ and Hulu bundle?
No – despite reports that a price increase would be coming in March, Disney+ has not changed the prices of its bundles. These currently cost the following:
- Disney Bundle Duo Basic: $9.99 per month (ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu)
- Disney Bundle Duo Premium: $19.99 per month (ad-free Disney+ and Hulu)
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: $14.99 per month (ad-supported Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+)
- Disney Bundle Trio Premium: For $24.99 per month (ad-free Disney+ and Hulu, with ad-supported ESPN+)
- Legacy Disney Bundle: $18.99 per month (ad-free Disney+ and Hulu, with ad-supported ESPN+)
I’m a Disney+/Hulu standalone subscriber – do I have to pay more?
If you’re only subscribed to Disney+ or Hulu, then there’s no need to panic. You won’t be forced to pay more to be on a bundle, though Vulture confirmed that there’s a big ‘upgrade’ button in the app to try and encourage more subscribers to switch to one of the packages.
Of course, you can also access Hulu content by using a VPN (such as NordVPN) to watch an international version of Disney+, which includes the Star library – we have a guide if you want to learn more.
Here are the standalone costs for Disney+ and Hulu:
- Disney+ Basic: $7.99 per month (ad-supported)
- Disney+ Premium: $13.99 per month/$139.99 per year (ad-free)
- Hulu: $7.99 per month (ad-supported)
- Hulu (ad-free): $17.99 per month
- Hulu with Live TV: $75.99 per month
Do I need to update my Disney+ app?
There’s no need to download anything, as all the new Hulu content will appear the next time you log in.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Is ESPN+ content also integrated on the Disney+ app?
At the moment, no. Only Hulu shows and films are on the Disney+ library. However, we’ve seen Max start including sports content on its hub for eligible subscribers, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see this change happen in the future – especially as sports is arguably one of the biggest subscription drivers in entertainment.
That said, ESPN content will also be folded into one giant sports streaming service, in collaboration with Warner Bros and Fox, so Disney may be keeping these two entities separate. We’ll learn more in the future.
Why is Disney+ integrating Hulu into its library?
According to Variety, one motivation for this move is to increase the number of hours customers spend watching content by putting everything in one place, and perhaps suggesting new things that viewers may not have considered.
The other is to drive more people to the bundles, thereby bringing in more dosh for The House of Mouse. Disney+ has seen subscription losses in 2023, so it’s no surprise to see it working on other methods to be more profitable.
