Disney Plus price increase - will the cost go up? Here's everything you need to know

Is a Disney Plus price increase on the way? Not if you're based in the US - the cost went up at the beginning of this year, so another hike in 2021 is very unlikely. It's a similar story for the UK, Canada, and Australia. However, that situation is a bit more complicated. Confused? Don't worry, we've explained everything you need to know about the Disney Plus price change below.

• Disney Plus: See the deals here

Wondering why a Disney Plus price increase happened in the first place? It's a fair question, especially considering the fact that the streaming service is just over a year old. You'll find more info further down the page, but it mostly boils down to funding new, original programming over the next few years. That includes everything from a raft of new Star Wars shows to movies like an Enchanted sequel.

To see all the deals as they stand following the Disney Plus price increase, click here or visit the official Disney Plus website.

Will there be another Disney Plus price increase?

Can we expect another Disney Plus price increase soon? Not if you're based in the US - the cost went up at the beginning of this year, so another hike in 2021 is very unlikely. 

It's a similar story for the UK, Canada, and Australia; prices went up a few months ago for new subscribers, and existing members don't have to pay the more expensive monthly fee until August 23 2021. As such, I'd be surprised if another Disney Plus price increase happened before 2022.

Disney Plus price increase - new cost

Although none of us like to pay more, the Disney Plus price increase was mercifully small. Indeed, it went up by just $1 in the US this March 26 for a monthly sub and $10 for an annual membership. Meanwhile, it rose by $3 for Canadian or Australian members and £2 for new UK subscribers as of February (those who signed up before then keep the old rates until August 23).

Here's exactly how much a sub costs following this year's Disney Plus price increase:

• US: $7.99 per month / $79.99 for a full year
• CA: $11.99 per month / $119.99 for a full year
• UK: £7.99 per month / £79.90 for a full year
• AU: $11.99 per month / $119.99 for a full year 

If you're signed up to the US bundle with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus, you'll have also felt the Disney Plus price change - the cost increased by one dollar to $13.99 per month or $19.99 per month for the no-ads version. 

Disney Plus gift cards jumped in price ever so slightly as well, matching the new yearly cost of $79.99 in the US. That's also true for the UK; gift cards are now £79.90 across the pond.

Disney Plus price increase - when did it happen?

When the cost change occurred is where things get confusing. In short, the date of the Disney Plus price increase depended on your region and current membership status. Here's a breakdown of exactly when the change to your Disney Plus sign-up has happened or will happen:

• US subscribers: Memberships for current and existing Disney Plus subscribers increased on March 26 2021. See all the offers here.
• Existing UK, Canadian, & Australian subscribers: Already have a membership? You'll get the original pricing until August 23 2021. Browse the deals here.
• New UK, Canadian, & Australian subscribers: The Disney Plus price increase is now in effect for new subscribers (as of February 23 2021). You can find the best offers here.

Basically, the Disney Plus price increase kicked in at the same time for most of the world - it's only existing members in the UK, Canada, and Australia that will see a grace period where their current rates are honored until August.

Disney Plus price increase - why did it go up?

If you're anything like us, you're probably wondering why the Disney Plus price increase happened in the first place. It's a fair question - the service has only been out for a year. 

It all comes down to Disney's plans for the future. The price hike was to help fund an avalanche of new content we'll be getting over the next year or two, including numerous Star Wars shows, Marvel spin-offs, and live-action movies like an Enchanted prequel. In fact, Disney has promised 10 Marvel shows and 10 Star Wars shows over the next few years alone.

What's more, the UK, Canada, and Australia have received more mature content like Family Guy via an add-on called 'Star'. Because it's a bonus channel built into Disney Plus offering everything from How I Met Your Mother to Die Hard (i.e. an equivalent to the US Hulu service), we're finally getting those grown-up dramas that have always been lacking on Disney Plus - a downside we mentioned in our Disney Plus review. Sure, Brits, Canadians, and Australians are having to pay for it. But they don't need to pay for a separate service a la Hulu.

Disney Plus price increase - is it worth it?

Is the Disney Plus price increase is worth it? Broadly speaking, yes. If you're in the US, it's not too much of a change. You're paying $1 extra per month, which is still a hike but isn't deadly. You're getting a lot more bang for buck in the long run as well thanks to Disney's upcoming slate of shows and films, so we can't complain too much. 

As for the rest of the world, the Disney Plus price change is a bigger jump in cost but is still fair value. If not more so, actually. That's because the Star channel has been added to the UK, Canadian, and Australian line-up, bringing with it a raft of mature content the service was sorely lacking until now. Because that expanded library ranges from Lost to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's a big win.

OK, so it would have been nice for the US to get an integrated service like Star too (US readers have to pay for Hulu separately or grab the bundle with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus instead). But never say never - it's always possible something like Hulu will be merged with Disney Plus some day.

Disney Plus deals

Now that the Disney Plus price increase is no longer breathing down our necks, you can renew your membership without fear of it rising in cost anytime soon. Indeed, you should be able to grab Disney Plus bundles at the current rate for the rest of 2021. We'd imagine, anyway.

Current Disney Plus deals in your area are listed below. And don't worry, we'll let you know if we spy another Disney Plus price change on the horizon.

Disney Plus deals - US

Disney Plus (monthly) | $7.99 per month
A standard month of Disney Plus weighs in at just $7.99 in the United States right now. Considering how much content you're getting for your money, that's pretty reasonable. All subscribers will find Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, Pixar, National Geographic, The Simpsons, and more at their fingertips. It's currently the cheapest deal on offer, and we've yet to see anything less.

Disney Plus (one year) | $79.99 one-off payment
If you think you'll be watching a lot of Disney Plus over the next year or are keen to see those new Marvel shows on day one, the full 12-month membership is the way to go. It cuts the Disney Plus price by $16 - or two full months - compared to paying for a subscription month by month. That's a considerable saving.

Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus package | $13.99 per month
For our money, this is comfortably the best Disney Plus deal. The bundle gets you three services for the cost of a single month of Standard HD Netflix, and that makes it an absolute steal. Besides the family-friendly Disney Plus, the addition of mature dramas via Hulu and the wealth of sports provided by ESPN Plus makes it ideal for the whole family. This triple-threat of content is also giving you one of those services for free: the overall cost would be closer to $20 if you were buying them all separately.

Disney Plus+ Hulu (no ads) + ESPN Plus | $19.99 per month
This offer is the same as the one listed above, but there's a crucial difference - namely, you aren't getting any ads for Hulu. Because these can be a real nuisance, that's probably worth the extra few bucks.

1-year Disney Plus gift card | $79.99 at Disney Plus
Want to give Disney Plus to someone else? The Disney Plus Gift Subscription card is ideal. A digital voucher that offers a full year of the service to the lucky recipient, it can be delivered whenever you want and to any email address you choose. That makes it perfect as a last-minute gift. What's more, you save $16 on the Disney Plus cost compared to paying month by month. However, do bear in mind that it can only be redeemed by new subscribers. If they already have a Disney Plus account, they cannot use the gift card.

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Disney Plus deals - Canada

Disney Plus (monthly) | $11.99 per month
How much does Disney Plus cost in Canada? Not as much as we'd feared, luckily - the Disney Plus price is a mere $11.99 per month. There's an awful lot of content available here for that, so it's pretty cracking value all things considered.

Disney Plus (one year) | $119.99 one-off payment
If you're going to be watching a lot of Disney Plus over the next few months (what with a new season of The Mandalorian and Marvel shows like Falcon and the Winter Soldier on the way), then this is the deal to go for. It gets you a full year of the streaming service at a discount, allowing you to save around $16 on the standard monthly Disney Plus price.

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Disney Plus deals - UK

Disney Plus (monthly) | £7.99 per month
The cheapest Disney Plus price offering for UK residents right now is this standard £8 monthly subscription. It gives you access to everything the service has to offer, and you can cancel or re-subscribe at any time. Because its library contains hundreds of TV shows, films, and documentaries, there's plenty here to get your teeth into.

Disney Plus (one year) | £79.90 one-off payment
If you think you're going to get a lot of use out of Disney Plus, you can pick up a 12-month membership for £60. That's roughly £12 cheaper than paying month-by-month, and you're essentially getting two months for free. A bargain, in other words.

Disney Plus gift card (1 year) | £79.90 at Disney Plus
If you're looking for a good present to give the Disney fan in your life, this gift card is ideal. It's delivered to any email address you like, and at any time you want. That means it's a good choice if you've left your shopping a little late. However, bear in mind that it can only be redeemed by new subscribers. That means anyone who already has Disney Plus won't be able to activate the gift.

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Disney Plus deals - Australia

Disney Plus (monthly) | $11.99 per month
A normal month of Disney Plus is available for only $12 in Australia. That's not bad at all, especially considering the many hundreds of hours of content you're getting with this offer.

Disney Plus (one year) | $119.99 one-off payment
A full year of Disney Plus is great value for money, particularly because it saves you two months' worth of cash on the standard monthly Disney Plus price (the same is true of either Australia or New Zealand, albeit with slightly different costs). If you know you're going to be watching for the long-haul, this is the deal to choose.

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Considering giving Disney Plus to family or a loved one? If they haven't subscribed before, a Disney Plus gift card is probably your best bet. Looking for other streaming service offers, on the other hand? Don't miss our guides to the best HBO Max prices, Fubo TV costs, and Peacock TV costs.