Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) team says people could save hundreds of pounds a year on streaming services by switching how they pay and rotating their subscriptions, as Disney+ raises prices this month.
Current Disney+ subscribers face a new monthly price hike from Wednesday, November 18, with those paying month-by-month hit hardest. For a Standard plan, customers will pay £11.99 per month, an increase of £2 per month (£24 per year), totalling £143.88 for the year.
Change how often you pay
Disney+ offers a range of content, including Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, Hulu, FX, ESPN and more. If people get a lot of value from their subscription, switching to a different billing package could unlock instant discounts for all customers, new and existing.
As of November 18, these plans will be available to new subscribers:
- Standard with Ads: £6.99 per month (no annual option)
- Standard (no Ads, stream on two devices): £11.99 per month / £119.90 annual price (£23.98 cheaper)
- Premium (no Ads, stream on four devices): £15.99 per month / £159.90 annual price (£31.98 cheaper)
Paying for the year upfront works out slightly cheaper. New or returning subscribers could also unlock a six-month 'Saver Plan' with these rates:
- Standard with Ads Saver: £5.99 per month (auto-renews at £6.99)
- Standard (no Ads, stream on two devices): £9.99 per month (auto-renews at £11.99)
- Premium (no Ads, stream on four devices): £11.99 per month (auto-renews at £15.99)
MSE added that people could save money instantly by switching to the lowest tier, provided occasional ads do not bother them. Downgrading from Standard to Standard with Ads "could save £60 a year" for monthly subscribers.
Rotate your subscriptions
To maximise money, consider paying for just one subscription service at a time. Unused subscriptions still cost each month, and the savings could be huge.
The MSE team claims: "Paying for Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video at the same time costs hundreds of pounds a year. Why not just pick one service, watch what you want on it, then cancel it and move on to the next? That way, you are saving money and won't be tied into a lengthy contract."
If you pay monthly, especially if you rarely use the streaming service, you often aren't bound to a contract. You can cancel penalty-free in most cases and return at a later date with no questions asked.
