Upgrading Hulu on Your Firestick Device
You upgrade Hulu on Firestick by opening the Hulu app, going to your account settings, and selecting a new subscription tier. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely within the app—you do not need to visit Hulu's website or use another device. Your new plan takes effect when ready, and you will see the change reflected in your billing on your next statement.
Firestick lets you manage your Hulu account directly from your TV remote, which makes switching plans simpler than doing it on a phone or computer. The steps are the same whether you have a basic Hulu plan, Hulu with ads, or Hulu with Live TV.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Hulu app on your Firestick, select your profile icon, and choose Account to reach your subscription settings.
- Select your current plan and choose the new tier you want—Hulu with ads, Hulu without ads, or Hulu with Live TV.
- Your new plan starts when ready, and the price difference adjusts on your next billing date.
- If you subscribed to Hulu through Amazon Prime Video Channels, you must change your plan through Prime Video instead of the Hulu app.
Step-by-Step: Changing Your Plan in the Hulu App
Start by opening the Hulu app on your Firestick. If you are not already signed in, enter your email and password. Once you are on the home screen, look for your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen and select it with your remote.
From the profile menu, select Account. This opens your account settings page. You will see your current subscription plan listed here. Select the plan name or a button that says "Change Plan" or "Manage Plan"—the exact wording varies depending on your Hulu version, but it will be clearly visible.
A screen will appear showing all available plans: Hulu with ads, Hulu without ads, and Hulu with Live TV (if available in your region). Select the plan you want to switch to. Hulu will show you the new price and ask you to confirm the change. Select confirm, and your upgrade is complete.
What Happens to Your Billing When You Upgrade
If you upgrade to a more expensive plan mid-month, Hulu calculates a prorated credit. This means you pay only for the days remaining in your current billing cycle at the new plan's price. Your next full billing cycle will charge the new plan's full price.
For example, if you upgrade from Hulu with ads ($8.99 per month) to Hulu without ads ($14.99 per month) on the 15th of a 30-day month, you will pay a small amount for the remaining 15 days at the higher rate. On your next billing date, you will be charged the full $14.99.
If you downgrade to a cheaper plan, the opposite happens—Hulu credits your account for the difference, which appears as a credit on your next bill rather than a refund to your payment method.
Upgrading if You Subscribe Through Prime Video Channels
If you subscribed to Hulu as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video (called Prime Video Channels), you cannot change your plan inside the Hulu app. Instead, you must manage your subscription through Prime Video.
On your Firestick, open the Prime Video app. Go to your account menu and select Subscriptions. Find Hulu in your list of channel subscriptions and select it. From there, you can upgrade to a higher tier or downgrade. The change takes effect when ready, just as it does in the Hulu app.
If you are unsure whether you subscribed directly to Hulu or through Prime Video Channels, try changing your plan in the Hulu app first. If the option is not available, you are subscribed through Prime Video and need to use that app instead.
Common Issues When Upgrading
The change plan button does not appear: This usually means you are subscribed through Prime Video Channels. Open the Prime Video app and manage your subscription there instead. You may also see this if you are not signed into the correct account—sign out of the Hulu app and sign back in with the email address you used to create your Hulu account.
You see an error message during upgrade: Check that your payment method is current and has not expired. If your card was recently replaced, update it in your account settings before trying again. If the error persists, try upgrading on a different device (phone, computer, or web browser) to see if the problem is specific to your Firestick.
Your new plan does not show up when ready: Refresh the Hulu app by closing it completely and reopening it. On Firestick, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see your open apps, find Hulu, and swipe up again to close it. Then reopen it from your apps library. If you still do not see the change after 15 minutes, sign out and sign back in.
Downgrading Your Hulu Plan
The same steps work for downgrading. Open the Hulu app, go to Account, select your current plan, and choose a lower tier. Hulu will warn you about features you will lose (such as ad-free viewing or live TV access) and ask you to confirm. Select confirm, and your downgrade takes effect when ready.
If you downgrade mid-month, Hulu credits the difference to your account. This credit appears on your next bill, not as a refund to your original payment method. Your new lower price will be charged on your next full billing cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade Hulu on Firestick without a credit card?
No. You need a valid payment method on file to upgrade to any paid plan. If you currently have a free trial or a plan paid through a gift card, you must add a credit or debit card before upgrading. You can add a payment method in your account settings.
What if I upgrade and then want to cancel Hulu?
You can cancel your subscription at any time through the Hulu app or Prime Video (depending on how you subscribed). You will keep access to Hulu through the end of your current billing cycle. No refunds are issued for partial months, but any credits on your account will be applied first.
Does upgrading Hulu on Firestick affect my account on other devices?
Yes. Your Hulu subscription is tied to your account, not your device. If you upgrade on Firestick, the new plan is active on your phone, computer, tablet, and any other device where you are signed into that same Hulu account. You do not need to upgrade separately on each device.
Can I upgrade to Hulu with Live TV if it is not available in my area?
No. Hulu with Live TV is not available everywhere in the United States. If the option does not appear in your plan selection screen, it is not available at your address. You can check Hulu's website to see if Live TV is coming to your area, but you cannot force the upgrade if it is not offered.
How long does it take for my upgrade to show up on my bill?
The upgrade takes effect when ready in the app, but the billing change appears on your next statement. If you upgrade mid-month, you will see a prorated charge for the remaining days at the new plan's price. Your next full billing cycle will show the new plan's regular price.