As more people switch to streaming services, prices have risen significantly over the last few years. In the US, HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+ have hiked subscription prices, with the cost going up to over $25 per month.
The Wall Street Journal reported a 'wave of streamflation' in November 2025, with Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max now costing $10.99 for its least expensive option and $22.99 for its premium subscription.
Netflix's basic plan with ads costs $7.99, and the premium plan costs $24.99. Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and Apple all had their highest-priced subscriptions at $12.99-18.99.
For context, Netflix's premium subscription cost $15.99 per month in 2020, while HBO Max was priced at $14.99 and Disney+ cost $6.99, showing over 170% hike since then.
According to Deloitte's 2026 digital media trends report, two-thirds of streaming subscribers are now opting for ads over paying a higher fee.
In India, streaming prices have also increased since 2020, with Netflix's premium streaming service now priced at ₹7788 per year, down from ₹9588 in 2020.
Disney+ Hotstar in 2020 offered its premium subscription at ₹1499 per year, while JioHotstar offers it at ₹2199 per year, with a basic plan increasing by 175% to ₹1099.
Amazon Prime had a standard subscription fee of ₹999 in 2020, which is now ₹1499 per year, with a ₹699 add-on for going ad-free.
