With several plans and bundles to choose from, a massive on-demand library, and an incredible free trial offer, Hulu is one of the most popular streaming services on the market. Here’s what to know about the basic Hulu plans before committing to a monthly subscription.
What is Hulu?
Hulu was one of the first streaming services, launching in 2007, around the same time as Netflix.
Hulu not only lets you watch hundreds of shows and movies on demand, it also features a live TV option, giving you sports, news, and your favorite series in real-time. Now owned by Disney, the service also offers bundles to give users access to ESPN+ and Disney+ as well.
In this review, we’ll be focusing on Hulu’s on-demand plans, both of which provide tons of content and even let you watch plenty of shows the day after they first air on network TV.
Hulu plans and pricing
How much is Hulu? Well, the service currently has four subscription plans. The two cheapest revolve around on-demand viewing, while the other two give access to Hulu’s live TV option.
Here’s a quick rundown of Hulu’s on-demand packages:
| Hulu | Hulu No Ads | |
| Monthly price | $9.99 | $18.99 |
| Free trial length | 30-days | N/A |
| Number of titles | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes |
*Note that subscribers on the No Ads plan may still see ads during a select few shows
Hulu Interface
No matter where Hulu is accessed from, it allows subscribers to quickly and easily search for titles. Since the content is organized into categories based on different criteria such as genre or network, subscribers can navigate to specific lists and find the show or movie they wish to watch.
With a few quick scrolls, subscribers can also select titles to continue watching, start a show or movie they’ve added to their watchlist, or review suggestions made by Hulu based on their recently watched titles. If necessary, different profiles can be created for individual users, which is helpful if everyone is viewing different content.
Hulu supported devices
Hulu can be accessed using a wide range of devices, from Android and iOS phones and tablets to smart TVs and gaming consoles. Here’s a list of devices that are compatible with the service:
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5.0 and later)*
- Android phones and tablets
- Android TV devices
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- Apple TV (4th generation and later)
- Chromecast
- Contour 2 and Stream Player Boxes**
- Echo Show 15
- LG WebOS smart TVs
- Nintendo Switch (R1 and Lite)
- Playstation 4 and 5
- Roku
- Samsung smart TVs
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Web browsers
- Xbox
- Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Boxes**
- Xumo TV and XiOne Box
*Fire TV Stick (Gen 1) is no longer supported
**Live TV and select add-ons are not supported on Xfinity X1 TV Boxes and Contour devices.
What to watch on Hulu
To help you find what you’re looking for, Hulu splits its content into several categories. The main ones are:
- TV shows
- Movies
- Originals
- Kids
- Premium channels
You can narrow things down even further by browsing by genre. Dozens of options are available, including the usual Comedy and Sci-Fi to more niche titles like Cooking & Food.
Whether you’re a huge fan of classic series or a person who likes to stay on top of recent releases, you’ll find plenty to watch on Hulu.
Hulu Original Content
Hulu advertises that its streaming library features thousands of shows and movies. The lineup includes original content from Hulu like Paradise, The Handmaid’s Tale, and American Horror Stories.
Hulu On Demand Movies
As mentioned, Hulu’s streaming library also features movies. Subscribers can find films from several genres, including action, drama, and thrillers. Also available are staff picks and Blockbuster hits such as I, Tonya, What Men Want, and Creed II.
Hulu On Demand Shows
Hulu’s original shows are not the only ones available to subscribers. Shows airing on various networks like ABC, NBC, and FOX can be viewed on-demand. This means that subscribers can enjoy The Bachelorette, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, or The Masked Singer whenever they want.
Hulu Add Ons
For subscribers who want more content and functionality, there are add-ons available for an additional monthly fee depending on which add-on is selected:
- ESPN+: Sports fans can enjoy live events, original programming, and content from the ESPN+ library directly on the Hulu app.
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME: Watch fan-favorites — like Yellowjackets, Billions, and Mayor of Kingstown with Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. Subscribers also have the option to stream on the Paramount+ website or app by using Hulu as their TV provider.
- Max: You can binge some of the most talked-about HBO favorites on the Hulu app and access additional shows, movies, and Max Originals on the Max app with the Max Add-on. Please note that if you’re subscribed to the classic HBO on Hulu Add-on, access to the Max app is not included. Eligible subscribers can also sign up for the Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle for access to Max and Disney+ along with Hulu.
- Cinemax: Stream hundreds of hit movies, action-packed original series — like Warrior, Jett, and Quarry — and hours of behind-the-scenes exclusives and clips with Cinemax on Hulu.
- STARZ: Watch buzzworthy original series — like BMF and Outlander — and hit theatrical movies starring some of the top talent in Hollywood with STARZ on Hulu.
Sports on Hulu
Subscribers with Hulu’s on-demand subscriptions are unable to view live sports, so anyone who is a sports fan will want to consider Hulu Live. Some of the sports available for live viewing and recording on Hulu are baseball, football, wrestling and racing.
This specific subscription features a line-up of 65 channels, which includes ESPN, ESPN 2, and FS1. Additional local and regional networks airing live sports may be available based on your location. As of October 2020, Hulu is unable to offer Fox Regional Sports Networks due it no longer having distribution rights.
Hulu features
While Hulu’s live TV plans offer the most impressive features, on-demand subscribers can still make use of several helpful functionalities, such as simultaneous streaming.
Downloadable Content on Hulu
Subscribers to Hulu’s No Ads package can download TV shows and movies to watch offline. This is only available on certain mobile devices, but users can download up to 25 videos. The service automatically deletes recordings after 30 days. (DVR storage is only available for Hulu + Live TV subscribers.)
Users
No matter which on-demand plan you choose, you and your family will be able to watch content on two devices at once. Those with a Hulu + Live TV plan can pay to enhance this feature.
Parental Controls
One subscription plan also comes with the ability to create six separate profiles, so each family member can view personalized recommendations and carry on where they left off. Parents can also restrict a profile to Hulu’s Kids Hub to give children a safe viewing experience.