JioHotstar Introduces New Subscription Plans in India

AndroBranch
2 days ago
4 min read

JioHotstar has officially declared a massive change in their subscription model offerings in India with new packages being introduced and hikes in existing ones. The new pricing system would be implemented from January 28, 2026, which is one of the biggest transitions JioHotstar has seen ever since the merger between Jio and Disney+ Hotstar.

This update brings JioHotstar in a much stronger position to offer flexible and device-oriented pricing plans for all mobile-centric users and families in favor of viewing on larger screens connected to smart TVs.

Now, let’s understand the differences, impact of new plans on existing subscribers, and the JioHotstar plan that’s best for you in 2026.

JioHotstar Subscription Plans 2026

Until today, the JioHotstar primarily operated with annual and quarterly packages. However, the new system implements monthly subscriptions for all packages: Mobile, Super, and Premium. This change rates JioHotstar consistent with the global OTT industry, where customers increasingly opt for a less-committal subscription service.

The move is intended to allow for the faster development of TV-based streaming while keeping the cost of entry low for mobile streaming. As stated by the firm.

New JioHotstar Plans & Prices (Effective Jan 28, 2026)

Here’s the complete and updated JioHotstar pricing table:

Plan	Monthly	Quarterly	Annual	Devices	Ads	Hollywood Content
Mobile	₹79	₹149	₹499	1 mobile device	Ad-supported	Add-on only
Super	₹149	₹349	₹1,099	Up to 2 devices	Ad-supported	Included
Premium	₹299	₹699	₹2,199	Up to 4 devices	Mostly ad-free*	Included

Ads still appear during live sports events on Premium.

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Hollywood Content Is No Longer Free on Mobile Plans

One of the most controversial changes is the separation of Hollywood content from the Mobile plan.

- New mobile subscribers won’t get Hollywood movies & shows by default

- Hollywood access is now available as an add-on:

₹49 (monthly)
₹129 (quarterly)
₹399 (annual)

This change puts JioHotstar in line with platforms like SonyLIV and Zee5, which already restrict international content to higher-tier plans.

Important:

Existing users will continue to enjoy their current benefits only if auto-renewal remains active. If you cancel and resubscribe later, the new pricing rules will apply.

To check your status:

Open JioHotstar on the web
Go to Account → Subscription
Verify whether auto-renewal is enabled

Why JioHotstar Is Making This Change

JioHotstar claims that there has been a significant increase in TV screen watching, and this has been taken into consideration in the revised pricing plan. The company aims to maintain an affordable starting plan for mobile subscribers while encouraging people to opt for higher-priced plans that will allow them to watch on TV. JioHotstar plans to make better use of the premium foreign content they have by offering their subscribers flexibility, allowing them to choose from monthly plans.

The scale which JioHotstar has attained presently is also one of the major factors for this paradigm shift in their strategy. Presently, JioHotstar has achieved over one billion downloads on Google Play and has a monthly active user base of over 450 million across all pin codes in India. They have in their kitty a humongous library of over 300,000 hours of content in diverse languages. This makes JioHotstar function on a scale which is much like YouTube or Meta and not an OTT platform.

How JioHotstar Compares With Netflix & Prime Video

Even after the price hike, JioHotstar remains the most affordable major OTT platform in India.

Platform	Mobile Plan Price
JioHotstar	₹79/month
Prime Video Mobile	₹99/month
Netflix Mobile	₹149/month

However, unlike Netflix and Prime, JioHotstar now restricts Hollywood content on its cheapest plan, which may disappoint English-content lovers.

Which JioHotstar Plan Should You Choose in 2026?

Best Value: Super Plan (₹149/month)

This is the most balanced option for most users.

Full content access (including Hollywood)
Works on TV + phone
2 devices at the same time
Much cheaper than Premium
No add-ons needed

👉 Recommended for families or couples

For Mobile-Only Users: Mobile Plan (₹79/month)

Best if you:

Watch mostly Indian content
Use only a smartphone
Want the cheapest entry point

But if you love Hollywood content, you’ll need to pay extra.

For Large Families: Premium Plan (₹299/month)

Go for this only if:

3-4 people watch at the same time
You want minimal ads
You use multiple TVs and devices

Otherwise, Super is far better value.

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Is the Price Hike Justified?

From an industry perspective, yes, but with caveats.

JioHotstar is trying to:

Reduce heavy mobile-only usage
Increase ARPU (average revenue per user)
Push users toward multi-device plans

But splitting Hollywood content from the Mobile tier may push some users toward Prime Video or Netflix, especially English-series fans.

Still, the ₹79 entry point keeps JioHotstar highly competitive, especially for regional content, sports, and Indian originals.

The latest subscription plan for JioHotstar has become more versatile than previous plans but has also become more tiered, such that viewers now have to cherry-pick plans depending on their viewing requirements. Though the subscription plan has become more expensive, this service remains one of the most viable options depending on your subscription plan of choice. For most viewers, there now seems to be one subscription plan per user namely, Super as it contains all content, allows viewing on TV, and can support viewing on two devices simultaneously. On the other hand, the Mobile plan now continues to remain the best option for viewers who wish to watch Indian content via smartphones, while one should subscribe to Premium plans for viewers who consist of a total of three to four people.

For existing customers: You should be aware that to cancel auto-renewal is to opt out of the new plans and should be done only after ensuring that is exactly what you want to do because once canceled, you would be immediately updated into the revised pricing scheme and restrictions on content offerings. By remaining enrolled for auto-renewal, customers are assured to enjoy existing benefits and pricing for as long as possible.