Shudder is the latest streaming service to launch an ad-supported plan. While the new ad-supported tier offers a way to save, its introduction now means existing subscribers will begin paying more for their subscription from this week.
What You Need to Know
- Shudder quietly introduced a $7.99/mo ad‑supported tier last month, $1 cheaper than the old single‑tier price.
- The old plan, now known as the ‘Premium’ tier, costs $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr.
- Existing subscribers will begin paying the higher rates from May 15, with the exact date dependent on their individual billing cycle.
It is not a total surprise that Shudder now includes ads, as AMC Global Media previously confirmed that ads were coming to most of its streaming services, including Shudder.
It may have taken some time, but Shudder quietly made the change mid-April. As a result, those who have signed up to the service recently are likely to have already noticed the new plan.
New subscribers can now sign up to the ad-supported (Monthly With Ads) tier at $7.99 a month, $1 cheaper than a Shudder subscription previously cost.
While good news for those simply looking to save money, the introduction of an ad-supported and ad-free plan has resulted in the cost of the ad-free experience increasing.
Previously priced at $8.99 a month, the ad-free Shudder tier (now known as Premium) costs $9.99 a month, or $99.99 a year.
Similar to how AMC Global Media rolled out ad-supported plans on its other streaming platforms, including AMC+, there is no option to sign up to an ad-supported annual plan.
Existing Shudder Subscribers Begin Paying More This Week
For those already subscribed to Shudder, they can expect the cost of their subscription to increase in the coming days or weeks.
As far as Streaming Better understands, the price increase will take effect this Friday (May 15, 2026) for existing subscribers.
At which point, all existing customers will begin paying the new $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr rate.
As is typically the case with streaming price increases, the exact date that an existing subscriber will begin paying the higher rate will depend on their individual billing cycle.
Considering the ad-supported tier is $1 cheaper than a Shudder subscription was previously, downgrading to the new Monthly With Ads plan will result in existing subscribers paying less each month.
Of course, those who downgrade will sacrifice their ad-free streaming experience in favor of sitting through ads before and during playback.
As a reminder, AMC+ is currently running a great promotion which lowers the cost of an entire year of the ad-free plan down from $109.99 to $29.99.
An AMC+ subscription includes access to the Shudder library, making it a great way to save on the cost of the horror service, while also retaining an ad-free streaming experience for the next 12 months.
Start the conversation