Discovery+ puts up US prices days after Skydance merger
Discovery+ just got more expensive in the United States.
The ad-supported tier, which means viewers pay less and watch commercials, now costs $6.99 a month. The ad-free tier now costs $11.99 a month. Both prices apply from Oct. 13, 2026 for new subscribers, according to Variety. Prices are charged every month until viewers cancel.
That is a $1 increase for the ad-supported plan and a $2 increase for the ad-free plan. Anyone already subscribed does not pay more straight away. Existing customers get 30 days advance notice, with the higher charge appearing on billing statements on or after Nov. 12, 2026. The delay gives households time to review the cost and decide whether to stay, switch tiers or cancel.
Discovery+ is built around unscripted television, meaning reality, lifestyle and documentary series rather than scripted drama. Its line-up includes HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Discovery, Animal Planet and Magnolia Network. That focus makes it distinct from broader entertainment services that mix drama, film and sport. A subset of that catalogue is also available on HBO Max.
The company site lists a 7-day free trial for new customers, according to Discovery+. It also lists four simultaneous streams, Full HD picture resolution and viewing on phones, tablets, computers, game consoles and connected TVs. Full HD, meaning sharp high-definition picture, is the standard resolution offered. The ad-free plan includes 100 downloads for offline viewing. Those features matter to families sharing one account across different screens.
The price rise follows corporate change. Paramount closed its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery to form Skydance Corp. about a week earlier. The merger created Skydance Corp. as the new parent organisation. Skydance plans to consolidate HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single product, although Discovery+ continues as a separate service for now.
This is not the first increase. In January 2025, the ad-supported plan rose from $4.99 to $5.99 a month and the ad-free plan rose from $8.99 to $9.99 a month, according to Reuters. An earlier rise in October 2023 added $2 a month to the ad-free tier alone while leaving the ad-supported price unchanged, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Taken together, the three rises show a steady climb over three years.
For viewers, this means a simple check. New subscribers pay the new rates now. Current subscribers should watch for a notice and then a higher bill after Nov. 12. The cheapest way to keep watching remains the ad-supported tier.
