Hulu isn’t shutting down — but the standalone Hulu app you’ve used for years is being phased out, folded into Disney+ as part of a consolidation Disney has been rolling out through 2026. If you’re a Hulu subscriber, here’s what’s actually changing, what’s already happened, and what to check before your next renewal.
The Timeline So Far
Disney announced the full Hulu-into-Disney+ integration in August 2025, with the standalone Hulu app scheduled to wind down over the course of 2026. It’s happened in stages rather than all at once: Disney stopped selling Disney+ as a discounted add-on purchased through Hulu accounts in late 2025, pushing people toward Disney+ as their primary subscription instead. Platform-specific shutdowns followed — the Hulu app on Nintendo Switch stopped working on February 5, 2026. Profile syncing between the two apps rolled out in May 2026, and a fully unified single app is expected by the end of 2026.
What Actually Changes for You
Hulu’s content — originals, next-day network episodes, and its licensed library — is moving to live exclusively inside the Disney+ app rather than a separate one. Hulu survives as a content brand within Disney+ (it’s also replacing the “Star” content hub on Disney+ outside the US), but the separate app experience goes away. Your plan, login, and watch history are meant to carry over through the transition, so this isn’t a cancel-and-resubscribe situation for most people — but see the bundle catch below.
The Catch for Legacy Bundle Holders
If you’re on an older Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundle that’s no longer sold to new customers, pay attention to your account emails. Disney has been removing automatic credits that previously applied to these legacy concurrent-subscription packages, and some bundle holders on ad-free Hulu are being switched to ad-supported Hulu by default — keeping ad-free Hulu now requires moving to a newer Disney+-anchored bundle that includes it, which makes Disney+ your primary subscription instead of Hulu. Depending on your specific plan, staying on the legacy bundle at its new price, dropping a tier, or switching to a current bundle can each work out cheaper — it genuinely varies, so it’s worth comparing rather than assuming.
Current Standalone Pricing
As of August 2026: Hulu’s ad-supported plan runs $11.99/month (or $119.99/year), and ad-free Hulu is $18.99/month. The Disney+ and Hulu Duo bundle with ads is $12.99/month. Hulu + Live TV with the Disney Bundle starts at $89.99/month with ads, up to $99.99/month fully ad-free. Expect these numbers to shift again once the fully unified app launches later in 2026 — Disney has restructured pricing at nearly every major step of this integration so far, and Hulu + Live TV specifically is also expected to move toward Disney+ integration, tied to Disney’s separate Fubo merger.
What to Do Now
Check your account notification emails rather than ignoring them — several of the recent changes (lost bundle credits, ad-free Hulu being dropped) arrive as an email first, with a deadline to act before your plan changes automatically. If you’re on a legacy bundle, log in and compare what you’re currently paying against the current Disney+-anchored bundle options; in some configurations the newer bundles are actually cheaper for the same content. If you use Hulu alongside or instead of another streaming service, it’s also a reasonable moment to reassess whether the bundle still makes sense once Hulu is no longer a separate app on your devices.
Common Misconceptions
A few things worth correcting: Hulu the brand is not disappearing — only the standalone app is. There’s no single confirmed “shutdown day” for everyone; this is rolling out unevenly across devices and account types through 2026, so your experience may lag or lead what’s described here. And losing the Hulu app doesn’t mean losing your library or watch history — that data is tied to your account, not the app itself. If you’re troubleshooting playback rather than the account/app transition, that’s a separate issue — see our guide on fixing Hulu error code P-DEV318 if you’re running into that specifically.
FAQ
Is Hulu shutting down?
No. Only the standalone Hulu app is being phased out. Hulu content and the brand continue inside the Disney+ app as part of Disney’s 2026 integration.
Will I lose my Hulu watch history?
No. Your plan, login, and watch history are tied to your account, not the app, and are meant to carry over through the transition to Disney+.
What happens to legacy Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundles?
Disney is removing automatic concurrent-subscription credits, and some bundle holders are losing ad-free Hulu unless they switch to a newer Disney+-anchored bundle that includes it.
When will the unified Disney+/Hulu app fully launch?
Profile syncing rolled out in May 2026, with a fully unified app expected by the end of 2026. The rollout is happening in stages across devices and account types.