Hulu's Base Plan Does Not Include Disney Plus

The Hulu base plan (also called Hulu with ads) is a separate subscription from Disney Plus. If you want both services, you need to pay for them separately, or you can bundle them together at a lower combined price. Hulu's base plan gives you access to Hulu's library of TV shows, movies, and original content — but not Disney Plus.

Disney offers three main bundle options if you want both services: the Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu with ads + Disney Plus with ads), the Disney Bundle Trio Basic (Hulu with ads + Disney Plus with ads + ESPN+ with ads), and the Disney Bundle Trio Premium (all three services ad-free). Each bundle costs less than paying for the services separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Hulu's base plan with ads does not include Disney Plus — they are two separate subscriptions.
  • The Disney Bundle Duo Basic combines Hulu with ads and Disney Plus with ads at a lower price than buying each one alone.
  • You can also add ESPN+ to either service through a bundle, or pay for all three services ad-free as the Trio Premium option.
  • If you only want Hulu, the base plan is the cheapest option and works on most devices including phones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming boxes.

How Hulu's Base Plan Works

Hulu's base plan is a subscription that lets you watch Hulu's content library on demand. You get access to current and past seasons of TV shows, movies, and Hulu originals like The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and Handmaid's Tale. The trade-off is that you see ads during playback — typically 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour of content.

The base plan works on most devices: phones and tablets (iOS and Android), computers (Mac and Windows), smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and others), streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast), and gaming consoles (PlayStation and Xbox). You can stream on one device at a time with the base plan.

The Three Disney Bundle Options

If you want both Hulu and Disney Plus, bundling saves money compared to paying for each subscription separately. Disney offers three bundles:

  • Disney Bundle Duo Basic: Hulu with ads + Disney Plus with ads. This is the cheapest bundle option.
  • Disney Bundle Trio Basic: Hulu with ads + Disney Plus with ads + ESPN+ with ads. This adds sports and live events to the Duo Basic.
  • Disney Bundle Trio Premium: Hulu ad-free + Disney Plus ad-free + ESPN+ ad-free. This removes ads from all three services but costs more than the Basic options.

All three bundles are cheaper than buying the services individually. For example, if you wanted Hulu with ads and Disney Plus with ads separately, you would pay more than the Duo Basic bundle price. The exact prices vary by region and change periodically, so check Disney's website for current rates in your area.

Hulu Ad-Free vs. Base Plan

Hulu also offers an ad-free plan (sometimes called Hulu Premium). This plan removes ads from most content, though a small number of shows still have ads due to licensing agreements with studios. The ad-free plan costs more than the base plan but less than bundling with Disney Plus.

If you want Hulu ad-free and Disney Plus, the Disney Bundle Trio Premium is usually your option — it includes both services without ads, plus ESPN+. You cannot buy Hulu ad-free and Disney Plus with ads as a bundle; the bundles pair the same ad tier for both services (either both with ads or both ad-free).

What You Get With Disney Plus Separately

Disney Plus is a separate streaming service that includes Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and general entertainment content. It has its own library distinct from Hulu's. If you subscribe to Disney Plus alone, you do not get Hulu content — the two services do not overlap.

Disney Plus also offers an ad-free plan and a plan with ads. Like Hulu, the ad-supported Disney Plus plan is cheaper than the ad-free version. If you want both services ad-free, the bundle is usually the better value than buying them separately.

How to Choose Between Hulu Alone, Disney Plus Alone, or a Bundle

If you only watch Hulu content (TV shows and movies in Hulu's library), the base plan alone is the cheapest option. If you only watch Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars content, Disney Plus alone is what you need. But if you want access to both libraries, a bundle saves you money.

Consider how much you watch and whether ads bother you. The base plans (with ads) are cheapest and work well if you do not mind commercial breaks. If you watch frequently and want an ad-free experience, the Trio Premium bundle includes both services plus ESPN+ without ads, which may be worth the higher cost depending on your viewing habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Hulu and Disney Plus together without ads?

Yes, through the Disney Bundle Trio Premium, which includes Hulu ad-free, Disney Plus ad-free, and ESPN+ ad-free. This is the only bundle option that removes ads from both services. You cannot buy Hulu ad-free and Disney Plus with ads as a bundle.

Does the Hulu base plan come with any free trial?

Hulu sometimes offers free trial periods, but these vary and are not always available. Check Hulu's website or your account page to see if a trial is currently offered in your region. Trial may be able to access depends on whether you have subscribed before.

Can I watch Hulu on multiple devices at the same time with the base plan?

No, the base plan allows streaming on one device at a time. If you want to watch on multiple devices simultaneously, you need the ad-free plan or a bundle that includes the ad-free tier.

What happens if I subscribe to just Hulu — can I add Disney Plus later?

Yes, you can change your subscription at any time. You can start with Hulu alone and switch to a bundle later, or add Disney Plus as a separate subscription. Changes take effect on your next billing date.

Is the Disney Bundle cheaper than buying Hulu and Disney Plus separately?

Yes, all three bundle options cost less than buying the services individually. The Duo Basic (Hulu with ads + Disney Plus with ads) is the most affordable way to get both services if you do not mind ads.