Disney is slowly reshaping the future of its streaming business, and Hulu appears to be moving closer to becoming part of Disney+ in a much bigger way. After years of operating as separate platforms, Disney+ and Hulu are now being brought together more closely. The Walt Disney Company completed its full takeover of Hulu in June 2025, following a merger process that had been in motion since 2023. Not long after that, Disney confirmed that Hulu would eventually be phased into Disney+ as part of a broader plan to create a single, unified streaming experience.

For now, both Hulu and Disney+ remain available as separate services. However, Disney has already made it clear that the standalone Hulu app will not remain unchanged forever. The company confirmed in October 2025 that Hulu would be phased out sometime in 2026, with the goal of bringing users into a more integrated Disney+ app.

Now, Disney is taking another step in that direction.

Hulu Is Not Gone Yet, But the Transition Has Started

Hulu is still operating normally at the moment. Subscribers can continue using the Hulu app as usual, and Disney has not suddenly shut anything down.

However, the bigger picture is clear. Disney is gradually moving Hulu's core experience into Disney+, rather than forcing an overnight change. This slower approach gives the company time to merge features, accounts, recommendations, profiles, and content access without disrupting subscribers too quickly.

The latest sign of that transition is the introduction of Hulu profile linking inside Disney+.

This may sound like a small technical update, but it is actually an important step. Profiles are where a streaming platform keeps a user's viewing habits, watchlist, recommendations, and continue-watching progress. Once those profile details can move into Disney+, Hulu becomes less of a separate destination and more of a content section within Disney's main streaming app.

Disney+ Is Adding Hulu Profile Linking

On May 19, Disney confirmed that Hulu subscribers can link their Hulu profiles with Disney+. Once linked, their Hulu watch history, watchlist, recommendations, and viewing progress will appear inside the Disney+ app.

That means users who subscribe to both services, especially through a Disney bundle, can start watching Hulu content through Disney+ with a more connected experience.

For example, if a viewer started watching a Hulu series in the Hulu app, that title may now appear in the Continue Watching section on Disney+. Their recommendations can also become more personalised because Disney+ will be able to understand more of what they watch across both platforms.

This helps Disney create a smoother experience for users who do not want to constantly switch between apps.

How the New Hulu and Disney+ Profile Linking Works

Disney is allowing Hulu subscribers to connect their Hulu profiles with existing Disney+ profiles. This is mainly aimed at users who already have both services through a bundle subscription.

For users with Hulu or Hulu Premium subscriptions, Disney says the linking process will be made simpler, with some profiles automatically connected to Disney+ using the same MyDisney login.

The update also supports linking 18+ profiles, which is important because Hulu carries more mature content compared with Disney+'s original family-focused brand image. Over the past few years, Disney+ has expanded beyond children's entertainment and classic Disney titles, but Hulu still plays a major role in giving the company a wider adult-focused streaming catalogue.

Once a profile is linked, Hulu content and personal viewing information can appear directly inside Disney+. This includes:

For subscribers, the goal is to make the move feel less like starting over on a new platform and more like carrying their existing Hulu experience into Disney+.

Hulu Subscribers Are Not Being Forced to Switch Immediately

One important point is that Hulu users are not being forced to abandon the Hulu app right now.

Disney says eligible Hulu subscribers can sign in to Disney+ using the same MyDisney login they already use for Hulu. From there, they can stream Hulu content inside Disney+ without paying extra or changing their current subscription plan.

This gives Hulu subscribers a way to try the Disney+ experience without feeling like they are being pushed into a new package immediately.

Disney+ will also offer Hulu subscribers a small sample of Disney+ and ESPN content. This is likely designed to introduce Hulu-only users to Disney's wider streaming ecosystem and encourage them to see Disney+ as the main home for all Disney-owned streaming content.

The Hulu Hub Was Only the Beginning

Disney has already been preparing users for this change. The Hulu Hub inside Disney+ was one of the first major signs that Hulu would eventually become part of the Disney+ experience.

Internationally, Disney has also been moving away from the Star branding in some markets, replacing or adjusting it as part of a wider content organisation strategy. This suggests Disney wants to simplify how its streaming brands are presented across different regions.

Instead of having Disney+, Hulu, Star, ESPN, and other content areas feel disconnected, Disney appears to be building a more centralised platform where everything can be accessed more easily from one place.

For users, this could reduce app-switching. For Disney, it helps strengthen Disney+ as the company's main streaming product.

More Features Are Coming to Disney+

The Hulu profile linking update is not the only change coming to Disney+.

Disney is also preparing to test a new Live Guide feature. This feature is designed to help subscribers find live content more easily from inside the Disney+ app.

The Live Guide will include streams such as ABC News Live and Disney+ Playtime for Disney+ users. Subscribers with ESPN Unlimited will also be able to access ESPN networks through the guide.

This is another sign that Disney+ is evolving beyond a traditional on-demand streaming library. The platform is becoming more like a central entertainment hub that includes movies, series, live channels, sports, news, and family content.

That direction makes sense as streaming companies try to keep users engaged for longer periods. Instead of opening one app for shows, another for live sports, and another for news, Disney wants more of that activity to happen inside Disney+.

Hulu Live TV and Add-Ons Are Staying Separate for Now

Even though Hulu content is moving further into Disney+, not everything is transferring immediately.

Disney has clarified that certain Hulu features, including Hulu + Live TV and other add-ons, will remain available only through the Hulu app for now. These features are expected to move to Disney+ later, but the company has not completed that part of the transition yet.

This staged rollout is likely necessary because Hulu's Live TV service is more complex than a standard streaming library. It involves live channels, add-on packages, billing differences, sports access, and regional availability.

Moving those features into Disney+ will require more than just importing a watchlist or profile. Disney will need to make sure the technical experience, account management, and content access all work properly before making a full switch.

Could Price Changes Be Coming?

Disney has not confirmed any new price increase as part of this latest Hulu integration update. The most recent major pricing change took place in October 2025, and the company has not announced another adjustment yet.

However, many subscribers may still be wondering whether the full integration of Hulu into Disney+ could eventually lead to new pricing structures.

The wider streaming industry has already been moving in that direction. Several major platforms have increased prices, introduced ad-supported plans, adjusted bundles, or changed account-sharing rules as they try to improve profitability.

For Disney, combining Hulu and Disney+ could create an opportunity to simplify plans, promote bundles, and encourage subscribers to move into higher-value packages. Nothing has been officially announced yet, but it would not be surprising if pricing becomes a bigger discussion once the full Hulu phaseout gets closer.

Why Disney Wants One Unified Streaming App

From a business perspective, Disney's strategy is easy to understand.

Running separate streaming platforms can be expensive and confusing. Each app requires its own development, interface, recommendation system, support process, marketing strategy, and user experience. By bringing Hulu into Disney+, Disney can reduce complexity and encourage subscribers to spend more time inside one main platform.

It also strengthens the Disney+ brand. Instead of being seen mainly as a home for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and family content, Disney+ can become a broader entertainment service with Hulu's general entertainment catalogue and ESPN's sports content layered in.

This gives Disney a stronger position against competitors such as Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock.

What This Means for Hulu Subscribers

For Hulu subscribers, the short-term impact is not too dramatic. The Hulu app still works, and subscribers are not being forced to change their plan immediately.

However, the long-term direction is becoming clearer. Hulu is gradually being absorbed into Disney+, and Disney is laying the groundwork for a future where the Disney+ app becomes the primary place to watch Hulu content.

Subscribers should expect more Hulu features to appear inside Disney+ over time. Watchlists, recommendations, profiles, live content, and eventually more account features may continue shifting into Disney's main streaming app.

The standalone Hulu app may remain available during the transition, but its role is likely to shrink as Disney+ becomes the centre of Disney's streaming ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Disney is not shutting down Hulu overnight, but the phaseout is clearly moving forward.

The latest Hulu profile linking feature may seem like a simple convenience update, but it represents a much bigger shift. By bringing Hulu watch history, watchlists, recommendations, and Continue Watching progress into Disney+, Disney is making it easier for subscribers to move into one unified streaming experience.

For now, Hulu remains unchanged as a standalone app, and features such as Hulu + Live TV are still staying separate. But Disney has already confirmed that more Hulu features will eventually make their way to Disney+.

In other words, Hulu is still here today, but its future is becoming increasingly tied to Disney+. The streaming service that once stood on its own is slowly being folded into Disney's bigger plan for a single entertainment platform.