Bad news for Hulu fans: Disney plans to discontinue the Hulu app.
As reported by Variety, Disney announced during a quarterly earnings call that they will fully integrate the Hulu experience into the Disney+ app. The rationale is to operate both services on one tech platform, potentially saving the company money and allegedly enhancing the customer experience. Additionally, Disney can bundle ad sales for Disney+ and Hulu together, meaning you’ll likely see many combined ads.
What does this mean for Hulu subscribers?
For Hulu subscribers, this change won’t happen immediately; the new combined app is set to launch in 2026. Until then, Hulu will function as usual. After the launch, Disney will shut down the standalone Hulu app. However, users won’t need a Disney+ subscription to access Hulu; you can still subscribe to Hulu separately, though you’ll need to use the combined app. Currently, some Hulu content is available on Disney+, but the new integration promises a more comprehensive experience.
Disney will continue to market Hulu + Live TV separately, though there are plans to eventually fold it into the Disney+ app in 2026, aligning with Disney’s partnership with Fubo, a live TV service focusing on sports.
Any information on pricing?
Currently, there is no new pricing information. Hulu and Disney+ can be bundled for $10.99 per month or $19.99 for a mostly ad-free experience. One would hope these prices remain stable with the app merger, but given the trend in streaming service pricing, an increase seems possible.