Disney is eliminating a budget-friendly entry point to its streaming ecosystem by ending the Disney+ add-on sold through Hulu. Effective December 9, 2025, existing subscriptions will terminate at the next billing cycle, and new sign-ups will no longer be available. This move marks a significant step in Disney’s plan to phase out Hulu as an independent service and integrate it into Disney+ by 2026.
The End of an Affordable Alternative
The Disney+ add-on through Hulu appealed to cost-conscious households for its simplicity and pricing. For approximately $2 to $8 per month, subscribers can add Disney+ to their existing Hulu account without requiring a separate app or login. That low-cost route is now permanently closed. The shutdown affects only those who added Disney+ to Hulu plans purchased directly; customers who already bought official Disney+/Hulu bundles from Disney remain unaffected.
This change forces affected subscribers toward more expensive alternatives. Disney Duo Basic, combining Disney+ and Hulu with advertising, costs $11.99 monthly—roughly $4 to $10 more than the previous add-on rate, translating to $48 to $120 additional annual expense. Standalone Disney+ subscriptions, priced at $7.99 to $13.99 monthly depending on tier, similarly exceed the former add-on cost for most users.
Hulu’s Transformation From Pioneer to Integration
Hulu, launched in 2007 as a platform for watching current TV episodes online shortly after broadcast, became emblematic of cord-cutting and a major cable alternative over nearly two decades. However, that independent era is ending. After years of shared ownership, Disney achieved full control by acquiring Comcast’s remaining stake in 2025.
The company plans to shut down Hulu’s separate app in 2026 and fold its catalog into Disney+. Hulu programming will be housed in a dedicated section within Disney+, rather than operating as a standalone application, although Hulu branding and shows will continue to be available in some form. This consolidation extends globally—on October 8, 2025, Hulu branding began replacing the existing “Star” tile in certain international regions, positioning Hulu as Disney’s primary adult-focused content hub outside the United States.
Subscriber Base and Scale
Hulu currently maintains approximately 50 million subscribers worldwide, although Disney discontinued separate reporting of Hulu figures in 2025 as the company consolidated its operations. While only a fraction of those subscribers used the now-discontinued add-on, the financial impact on affected users is substantial.
The Strategic Rationale
Disney frames the add-on removal and 2026 app shutdown as steps toward a streamlined viewing experience. The unified platform will house Disney+, Hulu, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and eventually ESPN+ and Hulu + Live TV within a single Disney+ interface, offering one comprehensive app combining family content, general entertainment, prestige dramas, and live sports.
Behind this narrative lies a cost-efficiency and revenue-optimization strategy prevalent across streaming. Maintaining separate technology infrastructure, support teams, and operations for both Hulu and Disney+ proves expensive. Industry analysts estimate that consolidating Hulu’s standalone infrastructure into a single app could save Disney hundreds of millions annually—a substantial figure as investors increasingly demand streaming profitability. Simultaneously, eliminating cheaper options like the add-on nudges customers toward higher-priced bundles that boost average revenue per subscriber.
Live TV and International Restructuring
The consolidation impacts live television services. Disney is developing a joint venture with Fubo to restructure Hulu + Live TV offerings. By 2026, live TV viewing, on-demand Hulu programming, and Disney+ content will converge within the Disney+ environment. Subscribers using Hulu’s live TV service will navigate changes in their packages concurrent with on-demand library and account migrations to new systems.
Disney stated that viewing history and personalized recommendations will transfer to the new configuration. However, early Hulu hub rollouts within Disney+ have produced inconsistent results—some accounts transferred smoothly while others experienced missing data or reset preferences. The company has not provided public assurance that all user profile elements will migrate without interruption across the entire subscriber base.
Looking Forward
By 2026, Disney expects to operate a unified streaming hub that integrates Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and eventually Hulu + Live TV into a single platform. This shift reflects broader industry consolidation: Warner Bros. Discovery merged HBO Max and Discovery+, Amazon integrated video with retail membership, and the sector is moving away from numerous low-cost, narrowly focused applications.
For viewers, the add-on closure and impending Hulu app shutdown represent the end of an early streaming experiment offering flexible, relatively inexpensive online television. The next phase will test whether a single, expansive service can balance corporate financial objectives with subscriber expectations that originally drove streaming adoption: greater choice and lower costs.
Sources
Disney Official Announcement, December 9, 2025
Variety, “Hulu App to Be Phased Out as Disney Is ‘Fully Integrating’ Service Into Disney+,” August 6, 2025
Yahoo Finance, “This Disney Plus and Hulu plan just disappeared — and your subscription could be affected,” December 9, 2025
Cord Cutters News, “Disney Is Shutting Down Its Hulu with Disney+ Add-On,” December 2025
The Verge Analysis, Disney Streaming Consolidation Strategy, 2025
Industry Analyst Reports, Streaming Consolidation Trends, 2024-2025