If you're thinking of signing up for iQIYI in Malaysia, there's a new "subscribe before the deadline" moment coming up. iQIYI says it will increase subscription prices for new customers starting 1 April 2026, while existing subscribers keep paying their current rates for the paid tiers. 

That detail matters, because it changes the practical question from "Why did my bill go up?" to "Should I subscribe earlier if I'm already considering it?"

What's Changing on 1 April 2026

Under the revised pricing for Malaysia (again, for new subscribers), the monthly prices are moving up like this: 

If you prefer longer plans, iQIYI's quarterly and annual options are also higher after the change:

Why iQIYI Says It's Doing This

The company's reasoning is the standard streaming-industry line: pricing is being revised to reflect a growing content library, and to support a good viewing experience. iQIYI is especially known for Asian dramas, films, and variety shows, so the "more content" angle is aimed straight at its core audience.

Whether you personally feel that's worth paying extra usually comes down to one thing: how often you actually use the service month to month.

Standard VIP vs Premium VIP (What You're Paying For)

If you're wondering why the gap between tiers exists, iQIYI positions them pretty clearly:

In real life, that usually translates to: Standard VIP is fine if you mostly watch on one screen, while Premium VIP makes more sense if multiple people are watching at once (or you're picky about 4K and audio).

This Isn't the First Time iQIYI Has Done a "New Subscribers Only" Increase

This April 2026 bump is also notable because it's basically a repeat pattern. In March 2025, iQIYI implemented a similar adjustment that targeted new subscribers only, raising monthly pricing to RM13.90 (Standard VIP) and RM20.90 (Premium VIP).

So, this is the second increase in roughly a year, using the same approach: protect existing subscribers, raise the entry price for newcomers.

What Should You Do If You're Considering Subscribing?

If you already planned to subscribe soon anyway, the only "strategy" here is timing.

If you subscribe before 1 April 2026
You're more likely to lock into the current rate as an existing subscriber (based on iQIYI's stated approach).

If you subscribe after 1 April 2026
You start on the new pricing immediately, so your decision is simply whether the updated price still feels worth it.

Either way, it's also worth checking whether you're eligible for any bundled offers through local partners (telcos and pay-TV platforms sometimes package streaming access differently than standard retail subscriptions).

Final Thoughts

iQIYI's April 2026 price revision won't shock existing customers, but it does raise the "cost to enter" for new users in Malaysia. If you're already on the fence, this kind of change is a good prompt to ask yourself a simple question: will you watch enough iQIYI content consistently to justify the monthly fee, or is it more of an occasional binge service you switch on and off?