When it comes to streaming services, you have more options than ever before. Whether you want live TV, the best new original programming, or youre hoping to rewatch your favorite shows, at least one streaming service can get the job done. However, trying to subscribe to everything may not be in the budget. If you want the service that gives you the most bang for your buck, then its worth comparing the two biggest players in the game: Were talking Netflix and Hulu.

Both services have a massive catalog filled with familiar favorites, recent releases, and new original programming. But there are significant differences between the two that are worth knowing about. For a well-rounded viewing diet youll probably want both, but if you have to choose, we have the details to help you make the choice that best fits your streaming habits and wont break the budget.

　　Content

A streaming service isnt worth anything if you dont like the movies and television shows on offer, so your biggest challenge is going to be figuring out whether Netflix or Hulu has more of the content youre interested in.

Related In terms of quantity, Netflix is second only to Amazon Prime Video but is ahead of Hulu. Thats what happens when you spend an estimated $17 billion a year on content. As a result, Netflix hosts some of the very best movies and complete seasons of many of the all-time most popular television shows, from Seinfeldto Breaking Bad. Netflixs original programming also includes tons of huge shows and movies, from Oscar-nominated dramas like Marriage Story and Romato Stranger Things, 3 Body Problem, Baby Reindeer, and countless others.

On the other hand, while Hulu has a number of great films on offer, its biggest draw is its up-to-date television content. Typically, Netflix only gets the newest episodes of a television show three months to a year after the entire season ends. On the flip side, networks and cable channels like NBC, FOX, ABC, and others put new episodes of many of their shows on Hulu the day after they air. Hulu has also been making big gains in original content, thanks to critically acclaimed projects like The Handmaids Tale, Shogun, and The Bear, although it still pales in comparison to Netflix.

Theres also the Disney factor to consider. Disney has full ownership of Hulu as of December of 2023, and while no Disney+ content is available through Hulu, you can bundle Hulu into the Disney Bundle to get both services starting at $10 per month.

Hulu will be getting some of that Disney and Fox content, too: Reportedly, films like Deadpool and Marvels animated adult comedies, which dont fit with the Disney+ family-friendly mandate, will make their way to Hulu instead. Netflix still has plenty of content to keep you busy, but if youre a fan of properties that Disney owns, it may be worth picking up the bundle to access everything. Finally, Hulu also offers its Hulu Plus Live TV service you can add to its on-demand service, though itll cost you a pretty penny.

　　Price

Here is where things get tricky. Both Netflix and Hulu are available at a variety of different prices, and how much youre going to spend on each depends on a combination of what features you want, how important image and sound quality are to you, and whether youre willing to put up with ads.

For $7/month you can get a Standard with Ads Netflix subscription that runs in 1080p, and allows you to stream video on up to two devices. The $15.50/month Standard plan eliminates having to deal with pesky ads, lets you stream video to two devices, and allows you to add a extra member who doesnt live with you. For $23/month, youll get 4K Ultra HD resolution, four simultaneous streams, the option to add two members who dont live with you, and access to Netflix Spatial Audio.

Once a more budget-friendly option, Hulu is increasing prices yet again on October 17, 2024. For now, Hulus basic subscription costs $8 per month/$80 per year (increasing to $10/$100) but comes with ads that run during scheduled commercial breaks. If you want to watch Hulu ad-free, youll need to pay $18 a month ($19 come October), but if you can afford it, the higher tier is the way to go. Hulu seems to be adding more ads as time goes on, and individual ads are tied to specific programs. If youre binge-watching a particular show, youre going to see the same ads over and over, which is a very easy way to ruin your viewing experience.

When it comes to Hulu Plus Live TV, you can snag access toonly live TV for $76/month (going up to $82) , but keep in mind this plan does not include access to Hulus streaming library. For $77/month (going up to $83) you can snag access to Hulu (with ads) Plus Live TV, Disney+ (with ads), and ESPN+ (with ads). If you want to avoid ads on Hulus streaming content, itll run you $90. You should note, though, that the ad-free option only removed ads from Hulus regular on-demand content youll still see ads while watching live TV. You can add more to Hulu Plus Live TV with extras too, although each one will cost a bit more. For example, the ability to stream Hulu Plus Live TV on an unlimited number of devices will set you back $10 per month, and the Espaol Add-on for $5 per month.

You can also get great add-ons for Hulu, including Max (no ads) for $17, Cinemax for $10, Paramount+ with Showtime for $13, and Starz for $10. Check the full list of prices on the Hulu website.

　　Supported devices

Heres the good news: If you have a smartphone, a tablet, a streaming box, a video game console, or a home computer, you should be able to watch both Netflix and Hulu without any trouble. Both services are extremely popular, which means theyre supported by almost every video-playing device. Its probably worth checking each services compatibility list before signing up (heres Netflixs, and heres Hulus), but unless your hardware is extremely old or phenomenally obscure, youre probably set.

　　Sound and picture quality

If youre an audiophile or home theater enthusiast, Netflix is the clear winner, although youll pay extra for the high-quality streams. Both of Netflixs Standard plans offer up content in 1080p definition, or Full HD. However, the $23 Premium plan delivers 4K quality. Netflix also offers Dolby Atmos soundtracks for some of its content, in addition to 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound offerings.

By contrast, Hulu streams in HD at all subscription tiers but doesnt currently offer 4K resolutions. Hulu programming only broadcasts with stereo sound, too, so if youre looking to show off your fancy home theater setup, skip Hulu. It simply wont get the job done.

　　Interface and accessibility features

Both Netflix and Hulu look great and are easy to use, and if youve used a modern smartphone app, neither should give you much trouble. Netflixs recommendation engine can be a great way to find new stuff to watch (although it seems to favor original Netflix content), while Hulus interface is fast and snappy, and, if you subscribe to premium channel add-ons like Max or Showtime, the service helpfully consolidates all of your various channels into a single package.

If you rely on subtitles, Netflix has a slight edge: In 2014, the company announced that all of its content would have closed-captioning, while Hulus library still only features them in a wide variety of its content. Netflix also has more robust parental controls, including the option to block certain profiles out of any content with a rating harsher than PG. If youre worried about what your little ones are watching, Netflix is the safer option.

　　Conclusion

If you love feature films and you love original content Netflixis going to work perfectly for your preferences. Netflix Studios produces some of the highest quality content available in addition to their extensive library of licensed movies and TV shows to choose from. If an extensive library wasnt enough to convince you, you should know that you also get 4K resolution, and surround sound features that can take your viewing experience to the next level. If you love movies and dont have a Netflix subscription yet, we highly encourage you to reconsider.

If you prefer broadcast TV over movies, Hulumay be a more fitting option for you. Hulu gives you on-demand access to your favorite TV shows, within a day or two after their original air date. So the next time you miss your favorite episode, you dont have to be disappointed. It also means you wont have to wait around for six months for it to show up on Netflix. If you want to end your relationship with your cable company, Hulu + Live TV is a great alternative. While the details of the merger are unknown, it might still be worth adding Hulu to your list of streaming services because of this feature.

There truly isnt a downside of going with Hulu or Netflix as your next streaming service. Both of these services provide hours of entertaining content. Serious binge-watchers or those who have must-see exclusives on each platform may consider subscribing to both. If two subscriptions would max out your monthly budget, consider reviewing each providers libraries before you pick. That way, you can select the service that gives you the best content for you.

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