Home » TV Service
Hulu is best for newer content, but Netflix will give you more than double the hours of entertainment
Best for Newer Content
3.75
Starting from$7.99/mo
-
Access to recently-aired TV shows
-
Bundle with ESPN+ and Disney+
-
Hulu's cheapest plan includes ads
View Plans
Best for Loads of Content
4.5
Starting from$6.99/mo
-
Double the content than Hulu
-
Two plans with no ads
-
One of the priciest on-demand services
View Plans
By Chantel Buchi
Mar 12, 2024
7 min read
So you're trying to decide between two of the best on-demand streaming services: Hulu and Netflix. But which one comes out on top?
To compare these two services effectively, we've got to get into the details. So we go over pricing, on-demand content, original content, and the user interface (ya know, all the good stuff).
And of course, the "best" service will vary from person to person. So, which one is best for you?
- Price comparison
- Content and Originals comparison
- User interface comparison
- Recommended internet speed
- Which service is best?
How do Hulu and Netflix compare in price?
Hulu looks like the cheaper option, but you'll want the more expensive plan
At first glance, Hulu has the cheapest starter plan. But it's only worth it if you don't mind ad interruptions during your binge-watching.
It's nice to have that cheap $8 option for a streaming service if you're on a budget, though. And you can share an account with your spouse or roommate.
An awesome bonus to Hulu: you can get the ultimate entertainment bundle with Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+. Get all three services for $15–$25 per month and save $2–$10than if you were to get each service separately.
How much does Hulu cost?
Plans | Price | Simultaneous streams | Details |
Hulu | $7.99/mo.* | 2 | View Plans |
---|---|---|---|
Hulu (no ads) | $17.99/mo.† | 2 | View Plans |
* 30 day free trial, then 7.99/mo. includes ads
† Hulu (No Ads) excludes a few shows that play with ads before and after the video.
Netflix has a plan with ads that is $1 cheaper than Hulu, but only one person can stream at once compared to Hulu's two.
Hulu's no-ad plan is a couple of dollars more than Netflix's Standard plan with the same number of streams. And Hulu's no-ads plan is a couple of dollars cheaper than Netflix's highest-tiered no-ads plan. But Netflix's Premium plan might be worth the two extra dollars for the two extra streams.
If you're sharing an account with your spouse and kids, no one wants to go through the headache of waiting for someone to finish using Netflix so you can watch Love is Blindor Avatar the Last Airbender.
How much does Netflix cost?
Plan | Price | Simultaneous streams | Details |
Netflix Standard with Ads | $6.99/mo.‡ | 2 | View Plans |
---|---|---|---|
Netflix Standard | $15.49/mo.‡ | 2 | View Plans |
Netflix Standard w/extra member slots | $23.48/mo.^ | 2 | View Plans |
Netflix Premium | $22.99/mo.‡ | 4 | View Plans |
Netflix Premium w/extra member slots | $30.98/mo.^ | 4 | View Plans |
‡ Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
^ Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Extra members have their own account and password, but their membership is paid for by the person who invited them to share their Netflix account.
If you choose Netflix'sStandard or Premium plan, you'll watch all of your content in HD (high definition). We know we like to watch John Mulaney's comedy specials in HD so it feels like we're sitting in the audience.
Netflix password-sharing
Recently get booted from your parents' Netflix account? You're not alone. Netflix has begun cracking down on password sharing, limiting simultaneous streams to one primary location.
Netflix extra member slots
Following password crack-downs, Netflix has implemented $7.99/month extra member slots for its Standard and Premium accounts. Extra members will be able to manage their own account and password, while payments will be sent to the person who invited them to join their Netflix account. You can add one extra member to Netflix Standard and up to two extra members with Netflix Premium.
Hulu vs. Netflix: who has better content?
Both services win a gold medal, but for different reasons
There are specific advantages to both Hulu and Netflix. Hulu has recently-aired, on-demand content, while Netflix has more Original content and more content overall.
With Hulu, you'll find Friday night’s episode of Blue Bloods on Saturday morning, making Hulu the best cable replacement if you’re looking for an on-demand streaming service.
But Hulu only has over 2,500 titles in its library, while Netflix has over 5,000 titles.
So you just have to decide if you want newer content with Hulu or more content with Netflix. (Or just get both!)
One thing we love about Hulu is that it's a great choice for people who want to livestream music concerts, like Lollapalooza 2023.
Some TV shows and movies you’ll get to enjoy with Hulu include the following:
- The Kardashians
- Abbott Elementary
- The Patient
- Schitt's Creek
- Rio
- Father of the Bride
- 9-1-1
- The Good Doctor
- General Hospital
- Superstore
Next-day content can you find on Hulu are the following:
- The Bachelor/ Bachelorette
- The First 48
- Rick and Morty
- Blue Bloods
- The Real Housewives
- Top Chef
- Naked and Afraid
- Worst Cooks In America
- Bob's Burgers
- Family Guy
- Good Trouble
- Welcome to Wrexham
A few TV shows and movies you can watch with the fam on Netflix include the following:
- New Girl
- Stranger Things
- Cocomelon
- Seinfeld
- Grey's Anatomy
- Miss Congeniality
- How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days
- Sing 2
- Blonde
- Wedding Crashers
- Love is Blind
- Riverdale
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Ozark
- Megamind
- All American
Check out our Hulu review and Netflix review for more content you'll get with these on-demand services.
Which service has better Original content, Netflix or Hulu?
Netflix has more high-quality, Original content than Hulu does. Why? Because Netflix creates unique content more often than Hulu with famous directors, producers, and actors.
But Hulu is right behind Netflix, so you'll win with either service.
Popular and noteworthy Originals on Hulu include the following:
- How I Met Your Father (with Hillary Duff and Josh Peck)
- Only Murders In the Building (with Selena Gomez and Steve Martin)
- The 1619 Project
- The Dropout (with Amanda Seyfried and Kate McKinnon)
- Dopesick (with Michael Keaton)
- The Croods: Family Tree
- Life & Beth (with Amy Schumer and Michael Sera)
- Letterkenney
- The Patient (with Steve Carell)
Critically acclaimed, binge-worthy Originals on Netflix include the following:
- Wednesday (with Jenna Ortage and Catherine Zeta-Jones)
- Luckiest Girl Alive (with Mila Kunis)
- Ozark (with Jason Bateman)
- From Scratch (with Zoe Saldaña)
- The Great British Baking Show
- Me Time (with Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg)
- Manifest
- The Crown
- Don't Look Up (with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence)
- Stanger Things
Does Hulu or Netflix give you a better user experience?
Hulu and Netflix consistently improve their interfaces to make them more user-friendly
Both Hulu and Netflix have an easy-to-use interface, and honestly, they look somewhat identical.
You can expect to see a featured TV series or movie at the top of your screen before scrolling down to your horizontal rows of My List, Movies for You, and Bingeable TV.
If you get the Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu bundle, you'll get suggestions for live sporting events similar to the photo below.
Hulu’s interface has some the same homepage tabs as Netflix: TV Shows, Movies, and My Stuff/ My List. But what sets Hulu apart is the Hubs tab.
This is where you can find movies and TV shows categorized by TV channels, like FX, Cartoon Network, and ABC. So if you’re a huge fan of ABC shows, Hulu makes it easy for you.
We like Netflix's "New & Popular" tab so we can find everything new Netflix has added (especially if you've already binged everything in Netflix's library).
Overall, you can’t go wrong with either interface. Hulu and Netflix have some of the smoothest, most aesthetically pleasing interfaces in the on-demand streaming service industry.
On which streaming devices can you watch Hulu and Netflix on?
Good news! Hulu and Netflix are compatible with almost every device.
You and your nephew, spouse, or kiddo can stream Hulu on these streaming devices:
- iPhones, iPads
- Android smartphones and tablets
- Apple TV (4th generation or later)
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV streaming devices and tablets
- Roku
- Chromecast
- LG TV
- Samsung Smart TV
- VIZIO SmartCast TV
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Xbox
- Nintendo Switch
- Playstation 3, 4, and 5
Stream Netflix all day long on these streaming devices:
- iPhones and iPads
- Android smartphones and tablets
- Windows smartphones and tablets
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Amazon Fire TV
- Nvidia Shield
- Roku TV
- PS3, PS4, and PS5
- Xbox
- Smart TVs such as Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, and Vizio
- Blu-ray players such as Funai, LG, Magnavox, Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung, Phillips, Sharp, and Sony
We should also mention that Hulu suggests you have at least a 3 Mbps internet connection to stream in SD and 16 Mbps for streaming in 4K.
As for Netflix, you should have at least a 5 Mbps internet connection for HD-quality streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. If you have two simultaneous streams, you will need 50 Mbps for 4K quality.
(Not sure what internet speed you have? Test it out with our tool.)
Have you streamed before?
If Netflix or Hulu is your first-ever streaming service, we suggest taking a look at our beginner's guide on how to stream TV.
If you need reliable internet for your marathon-watching Sundays, check out our favorite internet providers for streaming.
Recap: Hulu vs. Netflix, Winner Netflix
Hulu has recently-aired TV episodes, but Netflix has so much more content
If you're looking for a streaming service that will give you lots of entertainment hours, Netflix will be your pick. Netflix is also perfect for families since you can stream on up to four devices compared to Hulu's two.
But Hulu can also be great for families if you decide to do the Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ bundle. Guaranteed, everyone in the family will be happy.
- Pricing: Both services are similarly priced. Hulu’s Basic plan at $7.99/mo. is perfect for money-savers, but some would pay $10 more to eliminate the ads. Netflix's Standard with ads plan is $6.99/mo. TheStandard plan is $15.49/mo. for HD viewing and no ads, but you’ll want the Premium plan at $22.99/mo. if you plan on sharing with up to two others outside of your own home and four simultaneous streams. And don't forget that you can add extra members to your Standard or Premium plan for $7.99/month per person.
- Content: Hulu has recently aired content from TV networks, which is nice if you don’t have cable television and still want to be up to date with Top Chef. Netflix has over 5,000 titles compared to Hulu’s 2,500, so it will be harder for you to run out of TV shows and movies to watch on Netflix.
- Original content: Both services are great in this department, but Netflix might have a leg up. Netflix makes loads of Originals that feature great actors, directors, and producers. But we can’t say Hulu is far behind.
- User interface: Hulu and Netflix both have a featured TV show or movie when you open up the app, and as you scroll, you’ll find horizontal rows of suggested shows and movies, along with genres. Both streaming services also have tabs at the top of your screen to easily jump to the movies, TV shows, and your saved watching list. Either way, both interfaces are smooth and easy to use.
Check out our full reviews on Hulu and Netflix if you're still on the fence. If you're curious about other streaming services, you might want to take a look at our top on-demand streaming services.
Hulu vs. Netflix FAQs
Hulu's biggest downside is that it has half the content than Netflix does, but it's a great second option for Original content and TV series.
You can't order Hulu and Netflix as a bundle option. As an individual streaming service, you can order Hulu for $8–$18 per month and Netflix for $7–$20.
Now that you know about Netflix and Hulu, here are your next steps.
Need speedy internet for streaming? Check out our top-ranked providers.
Best Internet Service Providers 2023
Considering a live TV streaming service? Check out our top picks.
Best Live TV Streaming Services 2023
Get the latest info on streaming your favorite sports and TV shows by signing up for our weekly newsletter.
By signing up, you agree to ourTerms of UseandPrivacy Policy.
About Us
Contact Us
Press
Our Methodology
Go to Reviews.org AU edition
Find internet providers
Compare internet providers in your zip code or state.
Internet in your area
Internet in Miami
Internet in Minneapolis
Internet in Detroit
Internet in Colorado Springs
All content © 2024 Reviews.org. All rights reserved. Disclaimer
Back To Top