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Hulu is a streaming service that offers both basic plans and live TV plans, starting at just $8/mo.
Hulu has a massive on-demand library of fan-favorite movies and TV shows that will rival the offerings of any other provider, along with original content that you won't find anywhere else. In addition, Hulu also offers a live TV service that can fully replace your cable provider. The live TV option is great whether you're a sports fan, news junkie, or you just want to watch this week's episode of your favorite show. And for both the standard streaming service and the live TV plan, subscribers can choose to pay a little extra for an ad-free experience.
Hulu has a few different plans available to subscribers, both for on-demand viewing and live TV viewing. For Hulu and Hulu (No Ads), you can enjoy a 30-day trial before officially taking the plunge on a subscription. However, if you're interested in Hulu + Live TV, there is currently no free trial available--but you can save $20 per month on your first three months if you sign up before October 12.
Hulu's 30-day trial is one of the best free trials for a streaming service. Competitors like Netflix don't offer a free trial at all, so with 30 days, you can really get a feel for the on-demand library Hulu has to offer. With your trial, you can check out Hulu originals like Normal People, The Dropout, Pam & Tommy, and more. You'll be able to stay up to date with the hottest new titles streaming, which will probably convince you to stick around after your free trial is over.
Hulu offers a range of prices that start at $8/mo. and top off at $76/mo. Hulu has two plans available for each of its prime services -- the on-demand service and the Hulu + Live TV service, in which live TV is paired with the on-demand service. You can opt for ads or no ads (for an additional cost), or various bundle deals, while there are a variety of add-on channels and services you can select.
Hulu | Hulu (No Ads) | Hulu + Live TV | Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | |
Monthly price | $8/mo. | $15/mo. | $70 | $83 |
Free trial length | 30 days | 30 days | None | None |
Access to Hulu's on-demand library? | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
No ads | X | ✔ | X | ✔ |
Live channels | X | X | 85+ | 85+ |
Number of screens | Two | Two | Two | Two |
These prices will all increase starting October 12, 2023, aside from the ad-supported basic Hulu plan. Ad-free Hulu will increase to $18, Hulu + Live TV will jump to $77, and Hulu + Live TV (no ads) will be $90. But new and returning subscribers can save big on the ad-supported Hulu + Live TV plan if you sign up before that price increase goes into effect--this deal will get you three months for just $50 per month.
Hulu has two bundles on offer and both include Disney+ and ESPN+ (also known as the Disney Bundle). Hulu used to offer a Live TV bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ but now it's the default.
As you can see above, Hulu subscribers can bundle their Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ for a reduced price compared to subscribing to all three separately. You can still opt for this bundle deal with Hulu (both with and without ads), but if you subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, ESPN+ and Disney+ are automatically included. For $70/mo., you can get Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ and Disney+. For $83/mo., you can get the same bundle but without the ads for Hulu on-demand titles.
While those prices are going up on October 12, new and returning subscribers can grab a pretty great deal before then: three months of Hulu + Live TV for $50 per month. But that deal ends on October 12.
Hulu + Live TV comes equipped with many of the top channels you'd find with a traditional cable package. This includes:
With Hulu's ad-supported and ad-free plans, you can add on premium channels, such as Max for $16/mo., Cinemax for $10/mo., Showtime for $11/mo., and Starz for $10/mo., to make your viewing experience even richer. Right now, subscribers can get Starz for $3/mo. for the first four months before the price goes back to $9/mo.
Additionally, there is a sports add-on, for $10/mo., that includes MavTV, NFL RedZone, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, TVG, and TVG2. The entertainment add-on package, which is $8/mo., offers more than 15 channels, including the Cooking Channel, Destination America, DIY Network, Military History, MTV Classic, MTV2, Nick Toons, SCI, and Teen Nick. The Español add-on for $5/mo. offers seven channels in the Spanish language, including ESPN Déportes, Fox Déportes, and Universo.
Price Per Month | Available with Hulu | Available with Hulu (No Ads) | Available with Hulu Live TV Only | Available with Hulu + Live TV | Available with Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | |
Max | $16 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Cinemax | $10 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Showtime | $11 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
STARZ | $9 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Unlimited Screens | $10 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Enhanced Cloud DVR (Unlimited Cloud DVR starting on April 13) | $10 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Unlimited Screens + Enhanced Cloud DVR | $15 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Sports Add-On | $10 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Entertainment Add-on | $9 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Spanish Add-on | $5 | X | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
In addition to all of the nationwide channels available through Hulu + Live TV, you also get access to your local news and sports channels in many cities. This could include ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. To find out exactly which local channels are available to you, enter your zip code on Hulu's website. The ability to live-stream local channels is one of the big selling points for Hulu for subscribers who want to fully replace their current cable plan.
Hulu is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add on-demand content to their entertainment options. It's a good choice for people who want to switch to a live TV streaming service on their devices. However, the service's upcoming price increase for live TV plans is a negative factor to consider. For all of Hulu's plans, you can customize your monthly cost by choosing whether to have ads, and if you want to add on premium channels, extra channel packages, or additional features.
If you're looking for something that more closely resembles cable, in addition to the on-demand content, Hulu offers two live TV plans, giving you access to more than 85 channels and even more if you opt to purchase add-ons. You can watch all of this on your favorite devices and customize it to suit you -- some of it even in 4K. If flexibility and a robust streaming replacement for your cable package are what you're looking for, then Hulu + Live TV is probably right for you. The best Hulu plan for you depends on your budget, but there's definitely something for everyone