4 Ways to Navigate Hulu’s Upcoming Price Hikes Without Paying More

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Hulu has announced many of its streaming plans will cost more as of Oct. 17. Here are four ways to avoid paying a higher price to stream Hulu content. [[{“value”:”

It feels like one of the major streaming platforms announces a price hike every few months. Hulu is one of the latest brands to announce upcoming price increases. Subscriptions will cost more starting on Oct. 17, 2024. Rates previously increased in October 2023.

Increased service prices are not only disappointing — they can also greatly impact your checking account balance. It’s important to consider your finances when deciding whether to continue using a streaming platform like Hulu after rate increases are announced.

Are you sick of constant streaming service price increases? You’re not alone. Many subscribers are trying to decide what to do now that they’ll have to pay more to stream Hulu content. I’ll share a few ways to navigate Hulu’s upcoming price changes so you can avoid paying more.

1. Cancel your subscription

There are plenty of streaming service options available in 2024. If you’re already paying for other services and want to lower your entertainment spending, now is a good time to cancel your Hulu subscription before prices rise in a few weeks.

If you’re not using other streaming platforms and want to avoid increased service costs, you may want to compare the prices for other streaming apps to see if canceling Hulu and signing up for an alternative platform could offer savings. A cheaper service may satisfy your needs.

2. Get a discount by switching to a yearly subscription

Some companies extend a discount to subscribers who enroll in annual billing. While you must pay the entire cost of your yearly subscription upfront instead of monthly, you can save a lot.

Unfortunately, Hulu only offers a yearly subscription for one of its plans — Hulu with ads. However, this is the most affordable plan if you want to pay the minimum to access streaming content through Hulu.

I’m considering making this move myself. I’m a Hulu (no ads) subscriber who is sick of frequent price increases. Based on the upcoming higher subscription price of $18.99 per month, I’d pay $227.88 for the next year as a Hulu (no ads) subscriber.

But if I subscribe to the annual Hulu with ads plan before the price increases start, I’ll pay only $79.99 for a year of service — a savings of nearly $150. Since I’m more of an occasional Hulu streamer, I think I can deal with a few ads.

3. Downgrade to a cheaper monthly plan

For some subscribers, especially those with the higher-priced bundled plans, the upcoming price hikes may be completely out of budget. If this is the case for you, it may be time to see whether you can get value from a more affordable plan that Hulu offers.

Switching to a lower-priced subscription can allow you to continue streaming content without racking up costly credit card charges. If you switch to a cheaper plan and don’t like it, you can always reassess your subscription options and switch again later.

4. Pause and rotate your streaming services

You can pause your Hulu subscription if you ever need to take a break. Subscriptions can be paused for up to 12 weeks at a time.

Here are the steps to do this:

Log in to your Hulu account.Navigate to “Account.”Under the “Subscriptions” section, click “Pause.”Set the duration (up to 12 weeks).

If you plan to take a much longer break, you can also cancel your plan and resubscribe in the future when you’re ready to stream again. Rotating subscription services can help you reduce your entertainment spending.

As an added bonus, this strategy gives you the chance to catch up on content. When you pay for multiple streaming apps, watching every show and movie on each platform is nearly impossible because the options are so vast.

Don’t assume paying more is a must

Yes, increased service costs have become the norm, but don’t assume there’s nothing you can do about it. You get to decide whether you want to pay more. If you’re sick of price hikes like this, research your alternatives and make a choice that aligns with your financial situation.

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