Disney+ Hotstar Premium vs Hotstar VIP Subscription: What’s the Difference

In India, Disney+ has been merged with Hotstar, so instead of getting a Disney+ subscription, one needs to get a Disney+ Hotstar subscription. There are two Disney+ subscriptions available in India: Disney+ Hotstar Premium and Disney+ Hotstar VIP. They are different from each other not just in terms of pricing but also in the content they offer.

Disney has a stake in Star, which owns Hotstar, and since the streaming service is used by millions of people in the country to watch sports content and other TV shows, Disney’s move to merge the two brand identities makes a lot of sense. The combined content library of Disney and Star studios make Disney+ Hostar subscription very tempting in India.

Disney+ Hotstar Premium vs VIP: What’s the Difference

Disney+ Hotstar offers two different subscription tiers in India at various price points and to cater to different audiences:

• Disney+ Hotstar Premium – Rs 1,499/year or Rs 299/monthly
• Disney+ Hotstar VIP – Rs 399/yearly

As you can see, the VIP subscription is cheaper, though there is no monthly tier for it. One will have to take a yearly subscription of the VIP tier, while the Premium tier has a monthly as well as an annual subscription payment plan.

A Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription entitles you to view the live stream of sporting events, including cricket matches, F1, Premier League, and more. Additionally, it provides you with access to the latest episodes of Indian TV shows by 6 AM every day, exclusive Hotstar shows, new Indian movies, and Disney+ shows, movies, and Kids. However, all Disney+ content will only be available in dubbed languages (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil). Hotstar VIP does have ads, though they are not much and are only shown while viewing selected contents.

You do NOT get access to American TV shows, movies, and original Disney+ content in English with a Hotstar+ VIP subscription. These benefits are a part of the Disney+ Hotstar Premium subscription. You will get access to ad-free American TV shows minutes within their premier in the United States, original programs from Disney+, access to Marvel movies with English audio, and more.

Disney + Hotstar New Plans

These are the new plans for Disney+ Hotstar has new (All Content) Plans in India. VIP Plan will soon be retired as there will be no restriction and instead, Hotstar is now switching to plan which is similar to netflix and its device and quality based. Earlier it was restricted to two devices.

• Mobile ₹499/year — Mobile-only
• HD Super ₹899/year — Upto 2 devices,
• HD Premium ₹1,499/year — Upto 4 devices, 4K, HDR

If you have a lot of devices or have HD or 4K TVs, it makes sense to get the HD Premium Plan.

How to Sign Up for Disney+ Hotstar in India

Step 1: Log in to the website of Disney+ by clicking on the Get started link or Payment Link.

Step 2: If you already have an account, enter all the log in details, otherwise create your account by entering your email id or phone number.

Step 3: You will have three subscription options to choose from:

For Disney + Hotstar Premium

• Rs 1499/year after a 58% discount (Non-refundable)
• Rs 299/month (Non-refundable)

For Disney + Hotstar VIP

• Rs 399/year (Non-refundable)

Step 4:

For Disney + Hotstar Premium

1. Click on Disney+ Hotstar Premium.
2. Enter your card details (Debit or Credit), check the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy box, and click “Start Membership.”

For Disney+ Hotstar VIP

1. Click on Disney+ Hotstar VIP
2. You will be given five options for the mode of payment either through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, Paytm, or UPI. Select as per your convenience.
3. Enter your card details, check the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy box, and click on “Start Membership.”

Free Disney+ Subscription for Jio Users

Reliance gives a free Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription to Jio and JioFiber users with selected plans. Jio users will have access to live sports, prime time episodes, and selected Indian movies for free. They will, however, not have access to premium English content as that’s a part of the Premium subscription.