What is Hulu? Pricing, plans, availability, and more

When most people think of the oldest streaming services, they think of Netflix, but Hulu launched just a year later in 2008. Despite never expanding beyond US territories, it remains one of the top streaming services with an extensive library, including new shows and movies that drop every week.

The launch of Disney Plus put Hulu in an unusual spot since it’s majority-owned by Disney, but it still offers a unique service with some excellent original content like The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building. It’s not available outside of the US. Instead, Disney Plus decided to add more mature content in international markets with its Star brand, including content previously made for Hulu.

So what is Hulu, and is it worth the subscription fee? We answer these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.

Looking to try out the service for yourself? Grab a 30-day free trial at the link below, or take advantage of the excellent value of the Disney Bundle — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus for $14.99 (with ads) or $19.99 (no ads) a month.

What is Hulu?

Hulu is an on-demand video streaming platform that has been around for more than a decade. It’s one of the best and largest streaming platforms in the United States, with more than 40 million subscribers.

For many traditional cable subscribers, Hulu also represents an excellent cable-cutting alternative. Not only does it have an enormous library of around 2,500 movies and more than 40,000 episodes from thousands of TV shows, but it also has a plan to stream live TV through the Hulu Plus Live TV program (more on this farther down).

One controversial aspect that separates Hulu from most of its rivals is the use of ads. The cheapest plans (and bundles) feature ads in the content, similar to what you see on network television. Paying for a service and still seeing ads might be disappointing for some users, but it does help keep the cost low.

Those who don’t want to see ads will have to pay twice as much for the privilege. Unlike many other streaming services, you can also pay for premium add-ons individually for things likes unlimited simultaneous streams, TV channels, and more.

How does Hulu work?

Hulu is a bit more complicated to use than other streaming services, especially if you’re subscribed to a Hulu Plus Live TV plan. Essentially though, it works the same, with a remote server that houses the content. You connect to this server on your device (mobile phone, tablet, smart TV, etc.) and start streaming.

No matter which plan you choose, you will have to answer a few questions before you can start streaming the first time. This is largely to see what kind of content you’re interested in for recommendations, and it can be skipped if you want to start streaming even sooner.

If you’re a Hulu Plus Live TV subscriber, you have to set up a Home network to access local TV channels. You can only have one Home network, but you can change it up to four times a year for free. You will not be able to stream TV stations on non-mobile devices while away from your Home network.

For the streaming services to work smoothly, you will also need a solid internet connection. Here are the recommended internet speeds for Hulu:

• 3.0 Mbps — Recommended speed for standard streaming.
• 8.0 Mbps — Recommended speed for live TV streaming.
• 16.0 Mbps — Recommended speed for UHD (4K) streaming.

Is Hulu worth it?

Whether or not Hulu is worth it depends on which plan you spring for. At just $7.99 a month, the ad-supported plan is one of the best values you can get in the streaming world. It’s fantastic as a standalone service or supplement to other streaming platforms like rival Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

The ad-free version is more difficult to justify, as it costs nearly twice as much for the same content at $14.99 a month. This option is only worth it if you have extra money to spend and can’t stand advertisements in any shape or form or want to take advantage of downloads to watch offline.

Recommending Hulu Plus Live TV, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. It can be a great way for traditional cable subscribers to bridge the gap between cable TV and complete cord-cutting with just streaming services. For everyone else, though, it’s an expensive way to stream shows and movies. Hulu Plus Live TV is worth it for some, but not all.

Plus, even the ad-supported plans allow you to stream many new shows the day after they air, so you still won’t miss out on the latest shows. Hulu Plus Live TV is also more difficult to share with family since you can only set a single Home network and two simultaneous streams.

Another thing that throws the whole argument on its head is the Disney bundle (which includes Disney Plus or Disney and ESPN Plus along with Hulu) with bundles starting at $9.99 per month. This unlocks a huge amount of content for a fee that’s just slightly higher than a standard Netflix plan. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, the bundle deals are where it’s at.

Where is Hulu available?

Unlike most of its major streaming competitors, Hulu is only available in the United States. You may access the streaming content from US territories overseas, such as Puerto Rico and military bases in Japan. Still, Live TV service is only available at a single residence in the US. It also doesn’t officially work with VPNs or anonymizers.

Will Hulu expand internationally?

Hulu had been in talks to roll out in other countries, including the UK, Japan, and Canada, for a decade or more, but plans have continually failed to materialize. Local broadcasters have original programming in other regions, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, but the service has never been offered outside United States territories.

As we mentioned earlier, Disney has now expanded Disney Plus in Canada and overseas with its Disney Plus Star brand. It has more mature content compared to the core Disney Plus movies and shows. Most Hulu shows and movies are available there for non-American viewers.

How much does Hulu cost? Plans and more

If you can put up with ads, Hulu is one of the cheapest streaming services out there, representing a fantastic value for the amount of content on offer. Its more expensive plans don’t offer the same value but may still be good for some users.

There are several distinct Hulu plans, including bundles and a live TV service (outlined in the next section) plus several options for add-ons to enhance the experience. The cheapest runs $7.99 a month but includes ads. These ads can be more or less intrusive, depending on the content.

The next most expensive plan removes those ads and adds the ability to download shows and movies for offline viewing, but costs almost twice as much at $14.99. The actual content library is the same between the two plans, so you should really only consider this plan if you really can’t handle ads. Still, the ad-free plan is in the same range as — and even slightly cheaper than — Netflix’s standard pricing plan.

ESPN Plus add-on

Hulu recently launched a new add-on for its service. It allows subscribers to add all the content available in ESPN Plus directly into the Hulu app. That means you won’t have to switch apps to watch all shows and live programming on ESPN Plus; you can just watch it directly in the Hulu app. Hulu users can also access UFC live content, including its PPV matches. The price for the add-on is $6.99 a month, which is the same as the regular ESPN Plus price.

You don’t need to do anything if you have signed up via the Disney Bundle that includes Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu. The ESPN Plus content will automatically be added to the Hulu app.

Hulu subscription plans

• Hulu — $7.99/mo (or $69.99/year)
  • Access to the streaming library, with ads.
• Hulu (no ads) — $14.99/mo
  • Access to the streaming library without ads.

Disney Plus bundles

• Duo Basic — $9.99/mo
  • Hulu (with ads) and Disney Plus (with ads)
• Trio Basic — $12.99/mo
  • Hulu (with ads), Disney Plus (with ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads)
• Trio Premium — $19.99/mo
  • Hulu (no ads), Disney Plus (no ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads)

What are Hulu add-ons?

Hulu add-ons are premium features that enhance your streaming experience for an extra monthly fee. You can add some of these to the cheapest ad-supported plan, and others are limited to the Hulu Plus Live TV plans.

Addons can be added or removed from month to month, so there’s no long-term commitment. Here’s a full list of all Hulu add-ons.

Premium channels (any subscription):

• Cinemax — $9.99/mo
• HBO Max — $14.99/mo
• Showtime — $10.99/mo
• Starz — $8.99/mo
• ESPN Plus — $6.99/mo

What is Hulu Plus Live TV?

Hulu Plus Live TV is one of the unique aspects of the service, and the offering separates it from streaming competitors like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. It’s a fantastic cord-cutting option because it includes over 75 common channels and local ones so that you won’t miss out on local news or sports.

All of that comes on top of your regular Hulu subscription or as a standalone service at a slightly discounted price.

Plus, you can add even more channels by paying for the Español and Entertainment add-ons. These add a variety of channels at less than a buck a channel.

What channels are included with Hulu Plus Live TV?

Here’s the full list of Hulu live TV channels, not including certain local affiliates and add-ons.

How much does Hulu Plus Live TV cost?

Hulu Plus Live TV is offered through three plans:

• Hulu Plus Live TV — $69.99/mo
  • Includes Hulu (with ads), Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and 75 live channels, two simultaneous screens, and 50 hours of DVR storage.
• Hulu Plus Live TV (no ads) — $75.99/mo
  • Includes Hulu (no ads), Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and 75 live channels, two simultaneous screens, and 50 hours of DVR storage.
• Live TV Only —  $68.99/mo
  • Includes everything in the Hulu Plus Live TV plan except for access to the Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus libraries.

All Hulu add-ons are available with Hulu Plus Live TV, as well as some that are available exclusively to Live TV subscribers, outlined below:

Network add-ons

• Español add-on — $4.99/mo
  • CNN en Español
  • Discovery en Español
  • Discovery Familia
  • ESPN Deportes
  • FOX Deportes
  • History Channel en Español
  • NBC Universo

• Entertainment add-on — $7.99/mo
  • American Heroes Channel
  • CNBC World
  • Cooking Channel
  • Destination America
  • Discovery Family
  • Discovery Life
  • DIY
  • FYI
  • Great American Country
  • Lifetime Movies
  • Science

Extra features (live TV subscription only):

• Enhanced Cloud DVR — $9.99/mo
  • Increases storage to 200 hours and unlocks fast-forwarding through ads.
• Unlimited Screens — $9.99/mo
  • Unlimited screens for streaming, premium channels limited to five screens.
• Enhanced Cloud DVR and Unlimited Screens — $14.98/mo

Where is Hulu Plus Live TV available?

As with the rest of Hulu, Hulu Plus Live TV is only available in the US.

How do I get Hulu?

Signing up for Hulu is quick and easy and can be done from the web and mobile apps. Just click one of the buttons below to get started!

Choose the plan you want, input your payment information, and you’re ready to stream. Each Hulu account gets 6 profiles.

Can I get Hulu for free?

The Hulu streaming plans include a 30-day free trial, and the Hulu Plus Live TV plans have a seven-day free trial. You don’t need to do anything special to gain access to these offers, just sign up, and you’ll automatically get the free trial!

Another way to get Hulu for free or at a discount is to share the account with a friend or family member. Note that without an add-on, you’ll only get two simultaneous streams, so be careful how many people you share your account with. Hulu is also frequently paired with other services like Spotify and Disney Plus. It’s also very easy to cancel Hulu, so you shouldn’t feel too afraid to give it a shot to see if you like it.

What devices does Hulu support?

Hulu is easy to access on almost any device of your choice. The most obvious ways to stream content are via a browser at the official website and through the service’s Google Play and App Store apps. You can also access Hulu on many smart TVs, consoles, streaming sticks, and set-top boxes.

However, you should know that there are two versions of the Hulu app, and they don’t have the same capabilities. The latest Hulu app can play all Hulu content, including live TV. The classic app is limited to the streaming library and will not access live TV, premium channels, or other new features. As with most streaming services, there are a few hiccups, but you can fix Hulu when it’s not working pretty easily.

Here’s the full list of supported Hulu devices at the time of writing:

Latest Hulu app:

Classic Hulu app:

What’s on Hulu?

Hulu might not have as many impressive originals as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but it more than makes up for it with syndicated content. There are thousands of episodes to binge, with new episodes added virtually every day thanks to relationships with many of America’s biggest networks.

Considering that Disney will soon be Hulu’s sole owner, you might expect the company to have more content on its Disney Plus platform, but this isn’t always the case. Disney has committed to keeping Disney Plus as kid-friendly as possible, which means that R-rated content is nowhere to be found. Hulu, then, has become the primary home for Disney’s more adult content.

So, where should you get started? Here’s a quick look at the top shows and movies to give you an idea of what’s available on the platform.

Best Hulu shows

Hulu’s biggest draw (apart from the low price) is its incredible catalog of shows. We have several lists of the best shows by genre (which you can see below), but here’s a taste of what to expect.

• American Horror Story — A horror anthology series from FX where every season is a self-contained mini-series. Fantastic performances from a star-studded cast have won it many awards over the years.
• Archer — An animated sitcom, also from FX, about a dysfunctional intelligence agency headed by Sterling Archer. It’s consistently rated as one of the best shows on the network.
• Castle Rock — Set in the Stephen King multiverse, this Hulu original psychological horror anthology series from J. J. Abrams brings the creepy ideas from Stephen King’s mind to life.
• Devs — An FX on Hulu sci-fi thriller created by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) about a mysterious disappearance at a quantum computing firm in Silicon Valley.
• Fargo — A black-comedy anthology series from FX inspired by the 1996 film of the same name by the Coen Brothers. Each season takes place in a new city with new characters, and the fourth season is expected sometime soon.
• Future Man — A Hulu Original time-traveling-comedy about an underachieving janitor named “Josh Futturman” who unexpectedly discovers that the characters in his favorite video game are real, and it’s up to him to save the future.
• The Handmaid’s Tale — A Hulu Original dystopian drama based on Margaret Atwood’s acclaimed 1985 novel of the same name. It’s the service’s most famous original series, with the first season winning eight Primetime Emmys.
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — A sitcom from FX about a group of five terrible people who run an Irish pub in Philadelphia. There is nothing these shameless individuals won’t do to pursue their selfish desires, with hilarious results.
• Only Murders in the Building — A comedy-mystery about three true crime podcast fans investigating a murder in their apartment building — and creating a podcast of their own.
• Veronica Mars — A mystery drama that initially aired between 2004 and 2007. After a feature film was funded by fans in 2013, the show was picked up by Hulu for an all-new fourth season.
• What We Do In the Shadows — This goofy dark comedy from FX is about three vampires who live together in New York City. They’ve been roommates for hundreds of years, and, as you can imagine, this leads to some (over-the-top) tension.

Best Hulu movies

Although it’s better known for TV shows, Hulu also has thousands of great movies to stream right away. Check out our full list of recommendations at the link below.

For now, Hulu only has a handful of original movies and documentaries to its name, but the list is growing. Here are a few select options to give you a sense of what’s available on the platform.

• Prey — A prequel to the Predator franchise, this action film set in the 1700s sees the alien hunter face off against a young Comanche warrior trying to prove herself.
• Palm Springs — An original comedy about two people at a wedding who get caught in a time loop and have to relive that same day over and over again.
• Run — A thriller about a young girl who starts to believe her mother may be trying to keep her sick and at home.
• Nomadland – A movie about a woman who loses her job and decides to live off the grid and join a community of nomads in the US.
• Becoming Bond — A documentary about George Lasenby, who starred in just one James Bond movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
• Little Monsters — A Hulu Original zombie comedy about a washed-up musician and a children’s TV host who have to protect a group of children after a sudden zombie outbreak.
• Minding the Gap — A Hulu Original documentary about a group of friends brought together by their love of skateboarding. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
• Parasite — A black comedy-thriller from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho about a low-income family that takes advantage of a wealthy family to get a taste of the high life. It won many awards and is widely considered the best film of 2019, if not the entire decade.

Hulu vs the competition

Hulu faces stiff competition in the streaming world, but it still manages to carve out its own niche. The only aspect it can’t compete in, at least for now, is reach. The platform is limited to just the United States, so Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and even Apple TV Plus win by default in most countries.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how Hulu holds up against the rest of the big players in the industry.

Netflix

Netflix is the biggest player in the streaming world, with an unbeatable catalog of original and syndicated content. Still, if you’re primarily interested in syndicated TV programming, Hulu more than pulls its weight. Its strong ties with Disney and other networks give it a big advantage over Netflix, and the Hulu Plus Live TV package is beyond anything Netflix currently offers.

If you are looking for original content, however, it’s a much different story. Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, House of Cards, and Black Mirror are must-watch series in the streaming world.

Hulu’s ad-supported used to be significantly cheaper than Netflix at $7.99 a month, but that ad-supported tier now has to compete with Netflix’s own ad-supported subscription at $6.99 per month. The Disney Plus-Hulu-ESPN Plus bundle adds some value at $13.99, though, just under the standard Netflix plan at $15.49.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is yet another strong contender, with a huge catalog of content and a few quality originals worth the watch. Still, it doesn’t offer as many syndicated TV shows as Hulu, nor does it have anything similar to Hulu + Live TV.

Although Hulu’s ad-supported plan is remarkably cheap, it can’t compete with the value of Amazon Prime. For one monthly (or yearly) fee, users get access to Prime Video, free shipping on orders, ebook rentals on Kindle, unlimited photo storage, and discounts at Whole Foods supermarkets.

Prime Video offers up to 4K quality media downloads and three simultaneous streams as part of the basic plan. That said, the interface is difficult to use compared to Hulu’s, so it can be a struggle to find interesting shows to watch if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Disney Plus

It might seem strange to compare Hulu and Disney Plus since they fall under the Disney banner, but they offer two distinct services. They share many of the same great shows available for streaming, but each has its own exclusive originals.

The similarities also end when content moves beyond PG-13. Disney Plus does not offer R-rated content and may even censor certain scandalous scenes in older movies. Hulu has no such concerns and offers a much wider variety of content.

Disney Plus costs roughly the same as Hulu’s ad-supported plan at $7.99 a month (compared to $6.99 for Hulu) but includes 4K streaming on four devices at once, plus media downloads and, obviously, no ads. Fortunately, you can get both services as part of the Disney bundles, which are a truly incredible value for just about anyone who streams content.

Apple TV Plus

Apple TV Plus is one of the newest streaming services, and it hasn’t yet made a big impression on consumers. Still, it has a unique approach that makes it a great alternative to Hulu and others.

Where Hulu offers primarily syndicated shows from other networks, Apple TV Plus has almost exclusively original content. These include both series like The Morning Show and Mythic Quest and films like Causeway, Greyhound, and Oscar winner CODA.

Apple TV Plus is also remarkably cheap — even cheaper than Hulu’s ad-supported plan — at $6.99 a month. You can even get three months for free if you’ve recently purchased an Apple device.

YouTube TV

Like Hulu Plus Live TV, YouTube TV is a streaming service that includes live channels. The service offers over 85 channels, which nudges it ahead of Hulu by just a bit, but it doesn’t have Hulu’s massive library of on-demand content to bolster it.

At $72.99 per month, YouTube TV is a bit more expensive. Considering all you get with the Hulu Plus Live TV subscription, it’s probably a bit of a step down. If all you want are the live channels though, it comes out on top. Hulu’s live TV option with no access to the Hulu, Disney Plus, or ESPN Plus libraries is still $4 more expensive, with fewer live channels.

Hulu Plus Live TV vs YouTube TV seems like an easy win for Hulu, but when you factor in some add-ons, the competition gets a little tighter. YouTube gives you unlimited DVR storage, while you’ll have to shell out an extra $9.99 a month, for example. As with most competitors, the winner will come down to your specific needs.

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