What Hotstar offers and who pays for it

Hotstar is a streaming service owned by Disney that shows live sports, TV shows, movies, and news. You pay a monthly or yearly fee to watch. The service is available in India, and you can watch on phones, tablets, computers, or connected TV devices.

Hotstar offers several subscription tiers at different price points. The cheapest option includes ads; higher tiers remove ads and add features like 4K video quality. You choose which plan fits what you watch and how much you want to spend.

Unlike some services, Hotstar does not bundle with other Disney products in India — you pay for Hotstar separately. If you already subscribe to other streaming services, Hotstar is an additional cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Hotstar has three main subscription tiers: Mobile (lowest cost, phone only), Premium (standard quality on multiple devices), and Premium+ (highest quality and most devices).
  • Monthly plans cost less per month than yearly plans, but yearly plans have a lower total cost if you stay subscribed for the full year.
  • All paid plans include live sports, but the number of simultaneous streams and video quality differ by tier.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time; you keep access until the end of your billing period.

Hotstar subscription tiers and what each includes

Hotstar's three paid tiers differ in where you can watch, how many people can watch at once, and video quality. The Mobile plan is the entry point and costs the least. It works only on phones and tablets, not on computers or TV devices, and includes ads. You can stream on one device at a time.

The Premium plan works on phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices. It removes ads and lets you stream on two devices at the same time. Video quality is standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD), depending on your internet speed and device.

Premium+ is the highest tier. It includes everything in Premium plus 4K video quality (when available) and allows four simultaneous streams instead of two. This tier is useful if multiple people in your household watch at the same time or if you want the sharpest picture on a large TV.

Hotstar also offers a free tier with ads and limited content, but it does not include live sports or the full library. The free tier is a way to sample the service before paying.

Monthly versus yearly billing

You can pay month-to-month or commit to a full year. Monthly plans renew automatically each month unless you cancel. Yearly plans renew once per year and usually cost less per month when you divide the total by 12.

The exact prices vary by region and change over time. In India, yearly plans typically cost between 499 and 1,499 Indian Rupees depending on the tier, while monthly plans range from 99 to 499 Indian Rupees. Check Hotstar's website or app for current pricing in your location, as these amounts are not fixed.

If you pay yearly and cancel before the year ends, most services do not refund the unused portion. Read Hotstar's cancellation policy before you commit to a yearly plan if you think you might cancel mid-year.

How to start and stop your subscription

To subscribe, read the Hotstar app or visit the website, create an account with an email address, and choose your plan. You will enter a payment method (credit card, debit card, or local payment option). Your subscription begins when ready, and you can start watching right away.

To cancel, go to your account settings within the app or website, find the subscription section, and select cancel. You will keep access until the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you watch until the end of that month. After the period ends, your access stops and you are not charged again.

If you want to pause rather than cancel, some regions allow you to temporarily suspend your subscription for a set number of days. Check your account settings to see if this option is available where you are.

What content requires which subscription level

Live sports — cricket, football, kabaddi, and others — are available on all paid tiers (Mobile, Premium, and Premium+). This is the main draw for many subscribers. Original shows and movies are also on all paid plans.

The difference is not what you watch but how you watch it. The Mobile plan limits you to phones and tablets. Premium and Premium+ unlock TV and computer viewing. Premium+ adds 4K quality and more simultaneous streams.

Some live events may have blackout restrictions depending on your location or whether you are watching on a mobile device versus a TV. These restrictions are set by sports leagues, not by Hotstar, and vary by event.

Device limits and simultaneous streaming

Each tier allows a different number of people to watch at the same time. Mobile allows one stream. Premium allows two streams on different devices at once. Premium+ allows four streams simultaneously.

If you exceed the limit — for example, trying to watch on three devices at once with a Premium plan — the oldest stream will stop, and you will see a message on that device. You can restart it after the other stream ends.

You can log into your account on multiple devices (for example, your phone and your TV), but only the number of simultaneous streams your plan allows can play at the same time. This is different from device registration — you are not limited in how many devices you register, only in how many can play together.

Comparing Hotstar to other streaming services

Hotstar focuses on live sports and Indian content. If sports are your main reason to subscribe, Hotstar is often cheaper than international services that also carry sports. If you want a mix of Indian and international shows and movies without sports, other services may have a larger library.

Some people subscribe to multiple services. Hotstar's lowest tier (Mobile) costs less than a single month of many competitors, so adding it alongside another service is an option if you want both sports and a broader library.

Hotstar's content library and pricing are specific to India. If you travel or move, your access and plan options may change. Check Hotstar's regional availability before subscribing if you plan to watch from outside India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Hotstar on my TV with the Mobile plan?

No. The Mobile plan works only on phones and tablets. To watch on a TV or computer, you need the Premium or Premium+ plan. If you already have a Mobile subscription and want to add TV viewing, you will need to upgrade your plan.

What happens if I cancel mid-month?

You keep watching until the end of your billing period. If you cancel on the 15th of a month and your billing cycle runs from the 1st to the 30th, you can watch until the 30th. After that date, your access ends and you are not charged again.

Do I need a separate account for each family member?

No. One account can have multiple profiles, and the Premium and Premium+ plans allow multiple people to stream at the same time. Each person can have their own profile with personalized recommendations, but you all share one subscription.

Can I change my plan after I subscribe?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time through your account settings. If you upgrade mid-cycle, you may pay a prorated amount for the difference. If you downgrade, the change usually takes effect at your next billing date.

Is there a free trial?

Hotstar occasionally offers free trial periods, but these are not always available and vary by region and promotion. Check the Hotstar website or app to see if a trial is currently offered in your area. Trials typically last 7 to 30 days, after which you are charged unless you cancel.