Discovery+ Raises Prices to $7 With Ads, $12 Ad-Free After Merger Forms Skydance

Discovery+ increased subscription prices Tuesday, raising the ad-supported tier by $1 to $7 per month and the ad-free plan by $2 to $12 per month. The changes apply immediately to new sign-ups, while current subscribers have a 30-day grace period before the higher rates take effect on their first billing cycle on or after November 12.

The move comes just one week after Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery completed their merger to form the new combined entity, Skydance. The $80 billion debt load carried by the merged company has accelerated cost-cutting and revenue-boosting measures across its streaming portfolio. Discovery+ last raised prices in January 2025, when the ad-free tier moved from $9 to $10 and the ad-supported plan held at $6.

Executives have signaled plans to eventually fold Discovery+ into a single streaming platform alongside Paramount+ and HBO Max, similar to Disney+’s brand-tile structure that houses Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Until that consolidation occurs, Discovery+ will operate as a standalone service at the new price points.

The increases reflect a broader industry trend: nearly every major streaming service has hiked rates over the past 18 months as companies prioritize profitability over subscriber growth. Netflix, Disney+, Max, and Peacock have all implemented multiple rounds of price increases since 2023. Analysts expect further hikes at Skydance properties as the company works to deleverage.

For consumers, the 30-day window offers time to evaluate whether the ad-free tier remains worthwhile or if switching to the ad-supported plan — or canceling ahead of the anticipated bundle launch — makes more financial sense. Skydance has not announced a timeline for the unified platform.