October 2026 Subscription Price Increases and How to Avoid Them
Disney+ and Hulu rise from October 21, Pandora from October 22, Peacock, ESPN and Disney bundles hit early-October bills, and the Apple TV and Peacock bundle moves October 1.
Most of the price increases announced in August do not reach existing subscribers on the day they were announced. They arrive on a renewal date, and for a lot of people that renewal falls in October. Four groups show up on October statements: the September 17 increases at Peacock, ESPN, and the Disney bundles with ESPN Select, for anyone billed early in the month; the Apple TV and Peacock bundle, which moves on the first bill on or after October 1; a second Disney+ and Hulu round, announced September 23, which reaches existing subscribers from October 21; and Apple TV and Apple One Individual, which move at the first renewal after Apple’s notice. This page lists each one in the company’s own words, shows which billing days get the higher charge in October, and works out what still costs less after the increases. It is updated as new increases are confirmed; the date at the bottom is the last check.
The quick answer
- Billed on the 1st through the 16th? Peacock applies its new prices on “your next billing date on or after September 17, 2026,” and the Disney ESPN Select bundles on the “billing period on or after September 17, 2026.” Your first higher charge is in October
- ESPN is one day different. Its page says existing subscribers keep their price “until their first billing date after September 17, 2026.” “After,” not “on or after,” so a subscriber billed on the 17th should see the new price on October 17
- Apple TV and Peacock bundle: Premium $14.99 to $17.99, Premium Plus $19.99 to $22.99, from “your next billing date on or after October 1, 2026”
- Disney+ and Hulu, announced September 23: Disney+ Premium $18.99 to $21.49, Disney+ and Hulu with ads $11.99 to $12.49 each, Hulu Premium $18.99 to $21.49, the Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium and both Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundles up $2, and Hulu + Live TV up $10. If you signed up earlier, “you will see a price change in your billing cycle on or after October 21, 2026”
- Pandora, confirmed October 6: Plus $4.99 to $5.99, Premium $10.99 to $11.99, Premium Family $17.99 to $19.99, Student $5.99 to $6.99, Military $8.99 to $9.99. New sign-ups have paid the new price since September 22; existing subscribers see it “for any billing that takes place on or after October 22, 2026,” so October bills on the 22nd to 31st, otherwise November. Annual plans move at the yearly renewal
- Apple TV: $12.99 to $14.99 a month. Apple One Individual: $19.95 to $21.95. Existing subscribers move at the first renewal after Apple’s notice email. Apple One Family ($27.95) and Premier ($39.95) did not change in August
- Peacock annual plans and promotions keep the old price “until those plans or offers expire”
- To avoid it: downgrade, switch, or cancel before your own renewal date. None of these increases lands in the middle of a billing cycle
Key facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Biggest single October date | October 1: the Apple TV and Peacock bundle moves to $17.99 or $22.99 on the next bill |
| Peacock, Disney ESPN Select bundles | First higher bill in October if you are billed on the 1st to 16th |
| Disney+, Hulu, and their bundles (announced Sep 23) | Billing cycle on or after October 21: in October if billed on the 21st to 31st, otherwise November |
| ESPN Select or Unlimited | First higher bill in October if you are billed on the 1st to 17th |
| Pandora (confirmed Oct 6) | Billing on or after October 22: in October if billed on the 22nd to 31st, otherwise November; annual plans at the yearly renewal |
| Apple TV | $14.99 a month, from the first renewal after Apple’s notice |
| Apple One | Individual $21.95; Family $27.95 and Premier $39.95 unchanged in August |
| Peacock annual plans | Old price until the current annual plan ends |
| Mid-cycle increases | None; every increase here lands on a renewal date |
The list, as of October 6, 2026
| Service | Plan | Old | New | Existing subscribers pay from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacock | Select monthly | $7.99 | $8.99 | Next billing date on or after Sep 17 | Peacock notice |
| Peacock | Premium monthly | $10.99 | $12.99 | Next billing date on or after Sep 17 | same |
| Peacock | Premium Plus monthly | $16.99 | $19.99 | Next billing date on or after Sep 17 | same |
| Peacock | Select / Premium / Premium Plus annual | $79.99 / $109.99 / $169.99 | $89.99 / $129.99 / $199.99 | When the current annual plan ends | same |
| Peacock | Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle | $14.99 | $17.99 | Next billing date on or after Oct 1 | same |
| Peacock | Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle | $19.99 | $22.99 | Next billing date on or after Oct 1 | same |
| ESPN | ESPN Select monthly / annual | not listed | $13.99 / $139.99 | First billing date after Sep 17 (subscribed before Aug 20) | ESPN plans page |
| ESPN | ESPN Unlimited monthly / annual | not listed | $31.99 / $319.99 | First billing date after Sep 17 (subscribed before Aug 20) | same |
| Disney | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle | not listed | $21.99 | Billing period on or after Sep 17 | Disney+ plans page |
| Disney | Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium | not listed | $32.99 | Billing period on or after Sep 17 | same |
| Disney | Legacy bundle (no longer sold) | not listed | $27.99 | Billing period on or after Sep 17 | same |
| Disney | Disney+ (With Ads) monthly | $11.99 | $12.49 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 (joined before Sep 23) | same |
| Disney | Disney+ Premium monthly / annual | $18.99 / $189.99 | $21.49 / $214.99 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 | same |
| Disney | Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium | $19.99 | $21.99 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 | same |
| Disney | Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (With Ads) / (No Ads) | $19.99 / $32.99 | $21.99 / $34.99 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 | same |
| Hulu | Hulu (With Ads) monthly / annual | $11.99 / $119.99 | $12.49 / $124.99 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 (joined before Sep 23) | Hulu plans page |
| Hulu | Hulu Premium (No Ads) | $18.99 | $21.49 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 | same |
| Hulu | Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select / Hulu Premium + Live TV version | $89.99 / $99.99 | $99.99 / $109.99 | Billing cycle on or after Oct 21 | same |
| Disney, Hulu | Disney+, Hulu Bundle (With Ads); ESPN Select and Unlimited bundles; Live TV Only | $12.99; $21.99 to $44.99; $88.99 | unchanged | No September 23 change | Disney+ plans page |
| Apple | Apple TV monthly | $12.99 | $14.99 | First renewal after Apple’s notice | Apple TV page |
| Apple | Apple One Individual | $19.95 | $21.95 | First renewal after Apple’s notice | Apple One page |
| Apple | Apple One Family / Premier | $27.95 / $39.95 | unchanged | No August change | same |
| Pandora | Plus monthly / annual | $4.99 / $54.89 | $5.99 / $65.89 | Billing on or after Oct 22 (new sign-ups since Sep 22) | Pandora rate change FAQ |
| Pandora | Premium monthly / annual | $10.99 / $120.89 | $11.99 / $131.89 | Billing on or after Oct 22 | same |
| Pandora | Premium Family monthly / annual | $17.99 / $197.89 | $19.99 / $219.89 | Billing on or after Oct 22; annual plans at renewal | same |
| Pandora | Student Premium / Military Premium monthly | $5.99 / $8.99 | $6.99 / $9.99 | Billing on or after Oct 22 | same |
“Not listed” means the company’s current page shows only the new price and we could not find the old one on an official page. Apple’s old prices come from Apple’s own Apple TV and Apple One pages as captured by the Internet Archive on August 26, 2026, two days before the change; the current prices are from the same pages today. Disney+ and Hulu’s old prices come the same way, from Disney’s and Hulu’s own sign-up pages as captured on September 19 to 22, 2026, except Hulu Premium’s $18.99 and the $119.99 annual Hulu plan, which are from Hulu’s plans page as we checked it on September 8. HBO Max’s own plans did not change: its plans page still lists Basic with Ads at $10.99, Standard at $18.49, and Premium at $22.99 a month. Pandora’s old monthly prices for Plus and Premium are from its plans page as we read it on September 6, 2026; its old annual, Family, Student, and Military prices are from the earlier text of its help-center subscriptions FAQ, and the new prices are from the plans page, that FAQ, and the rate change FAQ on October 6.
Which October dates get the higher charge
The effective-date wording decides the month, and the three companies with September 17 increases did not use the same words.
| Plan (monthly, existing subscriber) | Billed on the 1st to 16th | Billed on the 17th | Billed on the 18th to 31st |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peacock Select, Premium, Premium Plus | First higher charge in October | September 17 | Already in September |
| ESPN Select or Unlimited (joined before Aug 20) | First higher charge in October | October 17 | Already in September |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select bundles | First higher charge in October | September 17 | Already in September |
| Apple TV and Peacock bundle | October | October | October |
| Disney+, Hulu, and their bundles (joined before Sep 23) | November | November | October if billed on the 21st to 31st; November if on the 18th to 20th |
| Apple TV, Apple One Individual | Depends on Apple’s notice | Depends on Apple’s notice | Depends on Apple’s notice |
The Peacock rule, word for word: “If you subscribed prior to August 18, 2026, the new pricing will be effective on your next billing date on or after September 17, 2026.” A Peacock Premium subscriber billed on the 5th paid $10.99 on September 5 and pays $12.99 on October 5.
ESPN’s note reads: “Anyone who subscribed prior to August 20, 2026, will retain that price until their first billing date after September 17, 2026.” Read literally, a billing date of September 17 is not after September 17, which is why the 17th moves to October for ESPN only. If your statement differs, the notice email ESPN sent you governs.
Disney’s plans page said, through at least September 17, that anyone who “signed up for a bundle subscription that includes ESPN Select prior to this date… will see a price change in your billing period on or after September 17, 2026.” As of September 23 the page shows only the new prices, which is what you would expect once the transition is under way.
The September 23 round uses one sentence on both plans pages. Disney’s reads: “The following prices are for new subscriptions as of September 23, 2026. If you signed up for a Disney+ subscription prior to this date, you will see a price change in your billing cycle on or after October 21, 2026.” Hulu’s says the same for “a Hulu subscription.” On a monthly plan, a subscriber billed on the 25th pays the new price on October 25, and one billed on the 5th pays the old price on October 5 and the new one on November 5.
The bundle rule is Peacock’s: “The pricing will change on September 1, 2026, for new and returning subscribers. If you subscribed prior to this change, the new pricing will be effective on your next billing date on or after October 1, 2026.” Every monthly bundle bill in October is therefore at the new price.
What Apple’s rules mean for the Apple TV increase
Apple has not published a date for existing subscribers. Its product pages attach the new price to “New and qualified returning subscribers only,” which is the tell that current subscribers are on a separate clock.
That clock is in Apple’s support article on subscription price changes, which covers “a subscription from the App Store or an Apple service.” It says: “If your subscription price is scheduled to increase, you’ll be notified before it occurs by email, push notification, and in-app notices.” It then sets a size rule, written for the developers who offer subscriptions. If an increase “does not exceed approximately USD $5 and 50% of the subscription price, or USD $50 and 50% for annual subscriptions,” the price can change “without interrupting service,” no more than once a year. Above those limits, “you must opt in before the price increase is applied. If you don’t opt in to the new price, the subscription will not renew at the next billing period.”
By our arithmetic, $2 on $12.99 is about a 15 percent increase, and $2 on $19.95 is about 10 percent. If Apple holds its own services to the same thresholds, both are well inside the no-opt-in range, so expect Apple TV and Apple One Individual to renew at the new price unless you act. The notice email is the authority for your account: if it asks you to agree, the opt-in rule applies instead.
Apple’s pages list only the monthly Apple TV price. If you are on an annual plan, the renewal price and date are shown where you manage the subscription, which Apple’s article places “right from Settings on iPhone or iPad, or in the App Store on Mac.” The exact taps are in our Apple TV cancellation guide. If an Apple charge on your statement is hard to match to a service, our Apple.com/bill guide sorts it out.
What still costs less after the increases
These comparisons are our arithmetic from the official prices above.
- The Apple TV and Peacock bundle still undercuts buying both. Premium bundle $17.99 against $14.99 for Apple TV plus $12.99 for Peacock Premium, $27.98 bought separately: $9.99 a month less. Premium Plus bundle $22.99 against $14.99 plus $19.99, $34.98 separately: $11.99 less
- Apple One Individual is $5.03 less than Apple TV plus Apple Music alone. $21.95 against $14.99 plus $11.99, $26.98, and it adds Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud+. Apple’s own breakdown puts the four services at “$34.96” bought separately
- Apple One Family got relatively cheaper. It stayed at $27.95 while the Apple TV inside it rose to $14.99 at list price; Apple’s page now shows “Save $17/mo.” against “Save $15/mo.” before the change
- The Disney+, Hulu Bundle with ads is now the clearest deal. It stayed at $12.99 while Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads rose to $12.49 each, $24.98 bought separately: $11.99 a month less. The premium version is $21.99 against $21.49 for Disney+ Premium plus $21.49 for Hulu Premium, $42.98 separately: $20.99 less
- Peacock annual beats monthly. Premium annual $129.99 against twelve months at $12.99, $155.88: $25.89 a year less. Peacock notes that switching billing frequency “may not take effect until the end of your current billing cycle,” and warns: “If you are currently on a promotional offer, you will lose that promotional pricing when you switch plans”
How to avoid an October increase
- Find your billing date. Peacock points to “the Subscriptions tab in your Account.” ESPN and Disney+ show it on the account page. Apple shows it in Settings on an iPhone or iPad, or in the App Store on a Mac
- Decide before that date, not after. Downgrading or cancelling after the renewal usually means paying the new price for one full cycle; ESPN, for one, says it does not offer “refunds or credits for partially used billing periods”
- Pick the cheapest way to keep what you watch. The comparisons above cover the bundle and annual options; the full price table for every major service is in our 2026 streaming price list
- Cancel with whoever bills you. Step-by-step paths: Peacock, ESPN, Disney+, Hulu, and Apple TV. If Roku bills you, the rules differ by service, covered in our ESPN on Roku guide
The general playbook, including how Google Play handles increases differently from Apple, is in what to do about a subscription price increase. The September story in full, including the Disney legacy bundle’s one-way door, is in the September 2026 tracker.
One October change runs the other way: automatic Amazon Prime refunds for the newly eligible group start on October 1, covered in our Amazon Prime settlement guide.
To see which of these increases applies to your price, add your plans to our free Subscription Tracker. It compares the price you enter with the higher price a company has announced for existing subscribers.
Bottom line
October is when many of August’s increases actually reach cards. If you are billed early in the month, Peacock, ESPN, and the Disney ESPN Select bundles charge the new price in October; every October bill for the Apple TV and Peacock bundle is at the new price; Disney+ and Hulu’s September 23 prices start with the billing cycle on or after October 21; and Apple TV and Apple One Individual follow Apple’s notice email. Look up your billing date now and decide before it, keeping in mind that the bundle and the annual plans still cost less than paying monthly for each service.
Not yet confirmed
Increases that have been reported but that we could not verify on an official page are not listed above. When a company’s own notice or plans page confirms one for October, it is added here with the date it was confirmed. If you received a price increase email from a service not on this list, the notice itself is the source to check: it states the new price and the date it applies to your account.
Pandora moved into the table on October 6, 2026, once its rate change FAQ gave the date for existing subscribers. Our Pandora price increase guide covers every plan and the moves available before October 22; the full set of its prices, including what Apple and Google Play charge, is in our music streaming price guide.
Every price and date on this page is taken from the company’s official page linked in the Source column, checked on September 23, 2026, and for the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max rows on September 25, 2026. Apple’s pre-increase prices are from Apple’s own pages as captured by the Internet Archive on August 26, 2026; Disney+ and Hulu’s are from their own pages as captured on September 19 to 22, 2026, and from Hulu’s plans page as checked on September 8. The billing-day table applies each company’s published wording to monthly plans; the comparisons are our arithmetic and are labeled as such. Pandora’s rows were added October 6, 2026 from its rate change FAQ, plans page, and help center; its old annual, Family, Student, and Military prices are from the earlier text of the same help-center FAQ. This page is updated when a new October increase is confirmed.
Official sources
- Peacock Help: Peacock and Apple TV and Peacock bundle price increase notice
- ESPN Fan Support: ESPN Select or Unlimited Plans and Prices
- ESPN Fan Support: Cancelling Your ESPN Select or Unlimited Subscription (no partial-period refunds)
- Disney+ Help Center: Disney+ plans and prices (September 23 prices, October 21 date for existing subscribers)
- Hulu Help Center: Hulu plans and prices
- Hulu Help Center: Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle plans and prices
- HBO Max Help: HBO Max plans and prices
- Apple: Apple TV app and subscription price
- Apple: Apple One plans and price breakdown
- Apple Support: About subscription price changes