These 2 Hulu Plans Are Getting More Expensive — but Are Still Pretty Cheap

Hulu is raising the prices of two of its streaming plans — though they remain relatively cheap options for anyone who can live without live TV.

The company’s cheapest plan, which has ads, will cost $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year starting Oct. 8. That’s up from $5.99 per month and $59.99 per year. The cheapest ad-free plan will cost $12.99 per month, up from $11.99.

For people who subscribed through a promotional offer or other discount, Hulu notes these changes will not affect their promotional price or discount.

The prices of Hulu’s plans that include live TV are not slated to increase in October. (Hulu just raised them in December 2020.)

Hulu’s base plan is still cheaper than it once was

The price increase for Hulu’s ad-supported plan is smaller than it might seem: Even after Oct. 8, it still will cost less than it did three years ago.

In February 2019, Hulu actually decrease its price, from $7.99 per month down to $5.99 — making it one of the cheapest streaming TV plans around.

Hulu’s prices remain tough to beat

If you want a streaming service with live TV, you have cheaper options than Hulu’s — which start at $64.99 per month. But if you can live without live TV, you are likely to find Hulu’s prices tough to beat even after the pending hike.

The largest streaming service, Netflix, now charges $8.99 per month for its base plan and $13.99 per month for its second-cheapest option.

Other major services cost around the same or more.

For example, Amazon now charges $8.99 per month for a standalone subscription to Prime Video. HBO Max generally charges $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year) for its ad-supported plan and $14.99 (or $149.99) for its ad-free plan.

Disney+, which does not have ads, costs $7.99 per month (or $79.99 per year). But you’re interested in it and Hulu, you might as well upgrade to the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu. It costs $13.99 or $19.99 per month, depending on whether you choose ad-supported or ad-free Hulu.

Perhaps upgrading is what The Walt Disney Co. is hoping you’ll do: It owns all three streaming services.

There is one price that Hulu can’t beat, though: free. If you’re tired of ponying up for streaming service hikes year after year, check out “15 Free Streaming Services to Watch at Home.”