A story about strong women, but make it dystopian. The Handmaid’s Tale is a Hulu series based on a book of the same name by Margaret Atwood. Published in 1985, the book (and now the series) offers a look into an imagined world where the U.S. has become a totalitarian state called Gilead. Specifically, the series follows the plight of a woman known as Offred (aka June) who has been forced into servitude.
Viewers who like dystopian and/or apocalyptic fiction may be drawn to the series, which has lasted for 3 seasons as of 2021. Season 4 is anticipated later in 2021, and the show has already earned a green light for season 5. The series is available as a part of standard Hulu service. In other words, you don’t have to pay for more than the standard $5.99 per month to access the entire series.
If you’re not a Hulu subscriber and you want to watch the series, there are other places to buy the show. Though it’s worth noting that given Hulu’s low monthly subscription cost and lack of contract — it’s more cost effective to sign up for Hulu for a month and binge the series than it is to buy it elsewhere. With the lowest tier of Hulu service there will be a few commercial breaks during each episode, but fewer than you’d be served if it was on another network. While it’s airing, Hulu typically releases episodes weekly.
Best way to watch The Handmaid’s Tale (2017)
Hulu is the best place to watch The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s the only place to catch the series as it’s newly airing, and it’s by far the least expensive option. You can also watch all seasons on Hulu at no additional costs. Elsewhere you’d have to buy each season separately. Plus, buying Hulu gives you access to hundreds of other movies, network shows, and original programming you won’t find anywhere else.
You can access Hulu for as little as $5.99/month, with no-ad service available from $11.99/month. The Handmaid’s Tale is available with the $5.99 plan. You can sign up here with a 7-day free trial.
All the ways to watch The Handmaid’s Tale online
| Service | Starting Price |
| Hulu | $5.99/mo. |
| Amazon Prime Video | $24.99/season |
| Google Play | $18.99/season |
| iTunes | $24.99/season |
Aside from Hulu, which airs the series as original content, a few other streaming services have picked up the rights to sell episodes. You can also buy entire seasons at once.
You can purchase seasons and episodes with Amazon Video, Google Play (for Android devices), and iTunes (for Apple devices). You won’t need a Hulu login or any cable credentials to purchase the series through these services. In fact, you don’t even need Amazon Prime to buy it on Amazon — a free login will do.
Streaming The Handmaid’s Tale
Hulu offers a few tiers of streaming service. It’s base service has commercials and offers next-day viewing for many network programs, including shows that air on FOX and ABC. If you pay a bit more, you can nix the ads and watch without interruption. Hulu also offers a live TV option. With Hulu + Live TV, you can still watch everything from the base service level with the added bonus of real-time network programming and live sports.
At $64.99/month, Hulu + Live TV works as a cable replacement if you want to cut the cord with your current provider. Premium channel add-ons are available — such as HBO Max or Showtime — for between $8.99 and $14.99 per month. While the price may be near what you already pay for cable, keep in mind that you also get access to Hulu original programming in addition to the network shows you love when you make the switch.
In addition to watching Hulu, including The Handmaid’s Tale on mobile apps, you can watch it on many smart TVs and other compatible devices. Gadgets compatible with Hulu service include Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Fire tablets, Chromecast, and Android TV. Hulu no-ad customers may also download certain shows and movies to watch offline. To do that, you’ll need a supported iPhone, iPad, Android mobile device, or Amazon Fire tablet.
Content available on Hulu includes documentaries, reality TV, network shows, blockbuster movies, and original shows. Popular titles include Killing Eve, Fargo, Shrill, Ramy, Palm Springs, and Happiest Season. Shows and movies are available across devices. If you pause a show on your tablet, you can pick it up in the same place later on your laptop. Apps are available for mobile phones and tablets. You can also use a device like Chromecast to stream your show from a mobile device to a TV.
Renting vs. buying The Handmaid’s Tale
There are currently no rental options available for The Handmaid’s Tale. You can purchase the series from the three sites below if you want to make sure you own a copy for the long term.
Amazon – You can buy the series by season on Amazon, with both SD and HD video quality/pricing available. Season prices are $18.99 for SD and $24.99 for HD. Each episode can also be purchased individually for $1.99 per episode for SD and $2.99 for HD episodes.
Google Play – Android users can also purchase episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale on Google Play for playback on their devices. Videos are in SD format, at $18.99 per season and $1.99 per episode.
iTunes – If you are an Apple user, you can purchase episodes or seasons of the series on iTunes. HD and SD formats are both available, and the pricing is the same as Amazon. The series is easy to watch on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac this way — if you have a PC, you’ll be required to download the iTunes desktop software to watch your purchase.
The final cut
Hulu will carry the series for at least as long as it runs, but content offerings do change often on other platforms. And there is no guarantee that Hulu will keep the series on its base service plan — streaming services create new tiers all the time. You can buy your own copy, but even digital ownership can change. What we’re saying is, now is the time to sign up for Hulu and start streaming.
In addition to gaining access to the world of Gilead, getting a Hulu membership unlocks hundreds of other TV shows and both new and classic movies. Since you don’t have to enter into a long-term contract, there is little to no risk involved. Start with the base service and then add some add-ons — like premium channels and cloud DVR — if you find that you and Hulu are a match made in streaming heaven.
We recommend using Hulu to watch The Handmaid’s Tale as opposed to other viewing options because you get access to so many other shows and movies and the platform offers an easy, auto-play platform option that makes bingeing in order a breeze.