Disney+ has officially increased the price of its top-tier Premium monthly subscription package in South Africa, marking the second major price hike for the platform in less than two years.
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The Premium tier now costs R179 per month, up from R159, a 12.6% increase. The revised rate took effect immediately for new subscribers on April 30, 2026. Existing customers who pay Disney+ directly will notice the higher billing amount on their first renewal cycle on or after June 4, 2026.
While the monthly Premium tier is getting more expensive, a few pricing structures remain locked for now:
- Mobile Tier Unchanged: The entry-level Disney+ Mobile plan remains anchored at R49 per month.
- Annual Plan Price Freeze: The upfront annual Premium subscription remains static at R1,590 per year. With the monthly fee increasing, migrating to the annual commitment now saves users R558 over a 12-month period compared to paying month-to-month.
This adjustment follows a previous hike in September 2024, when the monthly Premium plan climbed from R139 to R159. The consecutive adjustments mean local subscribers are now paying R40 more per month for the same service than they were two years ago.
Disney+’s adjustment is part of a broader trend of tightening subscription economics hitting South African consumers over the past year. In mid-2025, market leader Netflix pushed through aggressive cost adjustments across its entire local portfolio. The Netflix Standard plan increased from R159 to R179 per month, while its Premium 4K plan jumped from R199 to R229 per month. Even its Mobile tier experienced its first-ever local price increase, ticking up from R49 to R59.
The localized price hikes coincide with a shrinking digital entertainment landscape. MultiChoice Group-owned Showmax officially shuttered operations last month following consecutive years of heavy financial losses. To prevent subscriber churn within its ecosystem, MultiChoice has thrown a temporary lifeline to displaced Showmax users, offering them a promotional migration to DStv Stream Compact for R99 per month for a 12-month period, a steep discount from its standard R299 monthly price tag.
