Another Month, Another Price Hike: My Streaming Bill Just Got a Bit Heavier (But I'm Still Finding Value)

"Here we go again." That's the phrase echoing in my head as I look at the latest round of streaming price increases, effective today, October 21, 2025. It feels like just yesterday we were talking about Hulu's upcoming hike, and now it's hitting some of the biggest players in the game: HBO Max, Disney Plus, and even the bundles we've come to rely on for savings.

As a dedicated cord-cutter, these frequent price adjustments can be a real gut punch. We left cable behind for the promise of more control and, frankly, lower bills. Yet, the trend continues upward, making us all constantly re-evaluate whether we're still getting our money's worth.

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The Latest Hit List (Ad-Supported Monthly Plans)

• HBO Max (Basic with Ads): Up $1.00 from $9.99 to $10.99
• Hulu (With Ads): Up $2.00 from $9.99 to $11.99
• Disney Plus (With Ads): Up $2.00 from $9.99 to $11.99

If you were to subscribe to all three of these individually, you'd now be looking at around $35 per month ($11 + $12 + $12, rounding to the nearest dollar). That's a significant chunk of change!

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My Personal Streaming Strategy (and Why I'm Sticking With It--For Now)

My own streaming setup includes HBO Max, but I get it as part of the Disney/Hulu bundle. And yes, that bundle also just saw an increase, going from $16.99 to $19.99 per month for the ad-supported version.

While I'm never thrilled to see my bill go up, I've had to make peace with this one for now because the value proposition is still incredibly strong. Let me explain my math, rounding to the nearest dollar as I usually do:

I pay about $12 a month for Hulu's ad-supported plan. For just an additional $8 (to bring my total to $20 for the bundle), I also get Disney Plus (With Ads) and HBO Max (Basic with Ads).

Think about that: for what essentially amounts to an extra $8, I'm getting two additional premium streaming services that, if purchased separately, would cost me roughly $12 for Disney Plus and $11 for HBO Max—a total of $23!

Getting $23 worth of entertainment for an additional $8 is, in my book, still a fantastic deal, even with the increase. It's the kind of value that makes "sucking it up" a bit more palatable.

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The Cord-Cutting Dilemma Continues

This ongoing cycle of price hikes reinforces the need for constant vigilance as a cord-cutter. The days of set-it-and-forget-it streaming bills are long gone. We need to regularly review our subscriptions, weigh the cost against the content we actually watch, and be ready to churn if a service no longer justifies its price.

For now, my Disney/Hulu/HBO Max bundle remains a solid anchor in my streaming lineup. But you can bet I'll be keeping a close eye on future announcements.

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What About You?

How are these latest price increases affecting your streaming budget and choices? Are you cutting back, switching services, or, like me, finding certain bundles still offer enough value to justify the rising cost? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

My Streaming Life has seen a lot of changes in the streaming landscape over the years, and one thing that remains constant is the need to evaluate what you're getting for your money.