Following the adjustment already implemented for new customers, Disney+ is now also increasing prices for existing customers in Germany. The streaming service is currently informing customers by email that the new conditions will automatically take effect from the next billing period – those who do not agree must expect their subscription to be canceled. All subscription levels are affected, from Standard with advertising to Premium with 4K resolution, for both monthly and annual prices.
- Standard with advertising increases from 5.99 euros to 6.99 euros per month (+1 euro).
- Standard without advertising increases from 9.99 euros to 10.99 euros per month (+1 euro).
- Premium with 4K climbs from 13.99 euros to 15.99 euros per month (+2 euros).
- Annual prices for Standard and Premium will rise accordingly to EUR 109.90 and EUR 159.90 respectively.
How Disney+ is implementing the price increase for existing customers
The price increase for existing customers follows the adjustment for new customers, which has been in place since fall 2025. Initially, the new prices were only visible for new subscriptions: the standard subscription with advertising was raised to 6.99 euros, the ad-free standard subscription to 10.99 euros and the premium subscription to 15.99 euros. The focus is now shifting to existing customers, who will be informed of the upcoming change by email and will have to actively agree to continue their subscription under the new conditions.
The emails point out that the price will automatically increase from a certain date – often mid or end of December 2025 – unless the subscription is canceled. Anyone who does not agree risks having their subscription automatically terminated by Disney+. The company is thus continuing a strategy in which price changes are rolled out in several stages: first to new customers via a revised price list, then to existing customers via direct communication and adjustment for the next billing cycle.
New prices and functional scope of the subscription levels
The structure with three subscription levels will be retained, albeit at higher prices. “Standard with advertising” remains the cheapest entry level, offering streaming up to 1080p Full HD, up to two parallel streams and audio quality up to 5.1 – now for EUR 6.99 per month instead of the previous EUR 5.99. The ad-free “Standard” subscription is now 10.99 euros per month, also includes Full HD quality, two simultaneous streams and download function on supported devices and is offered at an annual price of 109.90 euros.
The “Premium” subscription is particularly interesting for users with 4K requirements: it allows streaming up to 4K UHD and HDR, up to four simultaneous streams, downloads to multiple devices and audio up to Dolby Atmos. The monthly price increases from 13.99 euros to 15.99 euros, while the annual subscription climbs to 159.90 euros. In addition, there will be a surcharge for additional members outside of your own household, which will also increase as part of the general price structure, further increasing the total costs for shared accounts.
Background: Discount campaign, global strategy and possible reactions
It is striking that the current price increase was preceded by a time-limited discount campaign in which Disney+ offered reduced prices of €2.99, €5.99 and €9.99 for the various levels for the first three months. The small print already indicated that higher standard prices would apply after the end of the promotion, which now apply equally to new and existing customers. Internationally, Disney
is pursuing a parallel strategy to make its streaming division more profitable – prices have also recently been raised significantly in the USA, while ad-financed tariffs are being expanded at the same time.
For many subscribers, this means another cost increase within a few years: at the launch in Germany in 2020, the price was still €6.99 per month without advertising, a level that is now only reached in the form of the ad-financed entry-level model. Depending on usage behavior, there are several options: switching to the cheaper, ad-financed tariff, switching to the annual subscription to slightly reduce the monthly payment or canceling the subscription completely and temporarily switching to competing streaming services.
Conclusion: streaming convenience is becoming more expensive
The price round for Disney+ is now also affecting long-standing existing customers and is increasing the monthly costs for all relevant subscription levels by one to two euros. Although the familiar gradation between ad-based entry-level subscription, ad-free Standard and Premium with 4K and Dolby Atmos remains the same, the financial hurdle for convenient, high-resolution streaming is noticeably higher. Anyone wishing to continue using Disney+ must accept the new conditions in good time or consciously switch to a cheaper model – otherwise their existing subscription may be automatically canceled.
