Our verdict: 4 out of 5 stars
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Offers next-day series streaming | Only two simultaneous streams allowed |
| Large on-demand library | Offline downloads only available on No Ads plan |
| Offers value with bundle options | No Ads plan is pricier |
Hulu offers two options for your viewing pleasure. Its base plan allows access to the on-demand library featuring popular TV shows, including “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Bear,” “The Dropout,” “The Kardashians,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Movie lovers will find a catalog of favorites like “Parasite,” “Palm Springs,” and “Die Hard.” For those interested in an alternative to purchasing a cable package, Hulu Live + TV comes with 85-plus TV channels covering entertainment, news, and sports. Keep reading this Hulu review to decide if this is the right streaming service for you.
| Hulu Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price Range | $7.99-$14.99/mo. |
| Sports Coverage | Regional, national, international |
| Concurrent Streams | 2 Unlimited Screens Add-on option |
| DVR Storage | Unlimited with Hulu + Live TV |
| On-Demand Movies and TV Shows | Yes |
| Live TV Streaming | Yes |
| 4K Livestreaming | Yes |
Our experience with Hulu
Interface experience
Hulu is relatively simple to navigate and follows a similar pattern to bundle partners Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Viewers can move vertically through various sections, including TV shows, Movies, Kids, and Hulu Originals. Each section is explorable by working horizontally across the screen.
The streaming service does a fantastic job of promoting new content. Hulu recently revamped its home screen to make newer movie and television show tiles larger, which definitely helps in identifying your next possible binge material. Or you can opt to keep watching and pick up where you left off in a prior program. It’s pretty easy to peruse menu options, but the deeper you go down the Hulu rabbit hole, the more tedious it can become to continuously press the back button to return home.
Content offerings
Hulu has multiple plans to accommodate various budgets. The ad-supported base plan starts at $7.99 and allows access to the streamer’s on-demand library, which includes original programming like “The Bear,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Kardashians.” The streaming service also has a catalog of popular movie titles which should satisfy cinephiles. The ad-free option costs $14.99 per month for the luxury of enjoying Hulu’s content without constant ad interruptions.
Subscribers hoping to cut the cable cord can upgrade to the Hulu + Live TV Disney Bundle with access to the entire Disney Plus and ESPN Plus content libraries and live events. Hulu + Live TV with ads starts at $69.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $82.99 per month. Live TV only costs $68.99 per month.
DVR and recording options
Hulu + Live TV allows recording of unlimited live television shows, movies, news, sports, and events at no additional cost. This is a welcome departure from the previous $10 charge to expand your DVR to 200 hours from the default 50. You can record live events, individual episodes, or entire series with on-demand playback and fast-forwarding capabilities. Recordings remain saved for up to nine months before they’re purged.
Head to the “My Stuff” tab of the “Recordings” section to manage and watch cloud DVR recordings.
Viewing experience and video quality
The streaming experience generally depends on the quality of your internet connection. To ensure the best possible viewing experience, Hulu automatically adjusts quality based on your available bandwidth, which comes in pretty clutch and eliminates the need to troubleshoot manually. This feature keeps the stream relatively crisp and clear. Hulu’s on-demand library and live programming are streamable in multiple high-definition (HD) video qualities, including 720p, 1080p, 4K Ultra HD, and 60fps.
Personalization and security
Upon sign-up, the primary profile is automatically created. Subscribers then have the option to create up to five additional profiles, each with unique content recommendations and viewing history. Each new profile set up includes a “Tastepicker” process, which offers users an opportunity to share their interests for more personalized viewing recommendations.
Hulu allows the set up of parental controls through the creation of Kids Profiles. These profiles display content that is appropriate for all ages. Users can also enable PIN Protection to require a PIN for accessing non-Kid Profiles or newly created profiles.
Sports fans: Yay or nay?
Subscribers will need to invest in Hulu + Live TV for sports coverage that includes baseball, basketball, cycling, football, golf, hockey, racing, soccer, tennis, wrestling, and much more. Users can enjoy both professional and college sports across a range of channels like ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, CBS Sports Network, Golf Channel, and the Big Ten Network.
Sports fanatics craving some extra action can purchase the Sports Add-on for access to NFL RedZone, Outdoor Channel, and four other channels for $9.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV Disney Bundle is an even more robust plan featuring ESPN Plus live events, original programming, the celebrated “30 for 30” library, and exclusive access to events like UFC pay-per-view fights. Unfortunately, Hulu doesn’t currently offer the range of regional sports networks found on some other streaming services.
How does Hulu compare to other streaming services?
| Streaming Service | Cost per Month | Sports Coverage | Ads | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu | $7.99+ | Professional and college sports | Some plans, yes | Yes |
| Netflix | $6.99+ | Sports documentaries | No | No |
| Peacock | $4.99+ | Live sports and events | Yes | No |
| Paramount Plus | $4.99+ | NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, NWSL, Concacaf, Serie A, AFC, and AFA soccer | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN Plus | $9.99 | Live events | Yes | No |
| Amazon Prime Video | $8.99+ | Thursday Night Football | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV Plus | $6.99 | Major League Soccer Friday Night Baseball | No | Yes |
| Disney Plus | $7.99 | Classic sports movies | No | No |
There’s a lot to love about Hulu’s service. For one, it offers quality programming in its on-demand library, with thousands of TV show episodes and movies starting at $7.99 monthly. Hulu gives access to shows like “Abbott Elementary” the day after they originally air, which means that you don’t have to wait to catch up on your favorite programs. If you’re on the fence and want to take Hulu for a test drive before making a commitment, the streaming service is one of the few services offering a generous 30-day trial (note that the free trial isn’t available on Hulu + Live TV, it’s only for on-demand).
Hulu’s live TV streaming service offers more than 85 channels, including local channels ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, in addition to A&E, Bravo, CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, Food Network, Fox News, Fox Sports, History, National Geographic, Syfy, TBS, TNT, and USA.
However, that is less than competitors like FuboTV. And while the on-demand library is well stocked, it’s not as extensive as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. For an extra cost, premium networks like HBO Max, Cinemax, SHOWTIME, and STARZ are available.
Hulu + Live TV has an impressive array of live sports events across the professional leagues and college ranks, but if you want a more robust experience, consider adding the Disney Plus and ESPN Plus bundle. Unfortunately, Hulu doesn’t offer a trial period for their Live TV options, but if you’re not satisfied with the service after subscribing, you can cancel at any time.
How to subscribe to Hulu
To purchase a Hulu subscription, follow these steps:
- Visit the Hulu website and scroll down to “Sign Up Now.”
- Create your account by entering your personal information, including name and email address.
- Choose your preferred plan from a selection that includes Hulu (No Ads), Hulu (With Ads), and Hulu + Live TV.
- Click on the select button that corresponds to your chosen plan.
- Enter your billing information and payment details. Hulu accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, and PayPal.
- Your credit card will incur automatic charges each month unless you cancel your Hulu subscription, and you will retain your service until the end of that billing cycle.
How to cancel my Hulu subscription
To cancel your Hulu subscription, follow these steps:
- Visit your Account page on a computer or mobile browser.
- Select “Cancel” under “Your Subscription.”
- Hulu may offer the option to pause your subscription — select “Continue to Cancel” if you’re not interested in pausing.
- Select “Cancel Subscription.”
- A cancellation confirmation email will arrive at the email address on file.
- Access to Hulu will remain available until the end of the current billing cycle.
Is Hulu worth it?
Hulu doesn’t have as extensive a catalog as some other streaming services, but the quality of programming is ideal for television and film buffs.
On the flip side, sports aficionados will need to invest in Hulu + Live TV or add one of the streamer’s bundles to keep up with their favorite teams. Hulu’s bundle with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus is a comprehensive package that offers something for everyone: Hulu’s Originals and award-winning films, the best of the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic properties, and ESPN Plus’ thousands of live sports events and the vaunted “30 for 30” library.
Hulu plan prices are comparable to other streaming services out there, like Netflix and Disney Plus, and the service offers multiple promotions, including bundles with mobile companies like T-Mobile, and student deals.
FAQ
What are the weaknesses of Hulu?
Hulu is generous with its 30-day free trial but stingy with simultaneous streams within the home. The streamer only offers two, while most other streamers start at a minimum of three simultaneous streams.
What are people saying about Hulu?
Subscribers appreciate the variety of TV shows and movies available in the on-demand library but are less enthusiastic about the constant ad interruptions.
What’s the cheapest way to watch Hulu?
Hulu offers a free 30-day trial of its ad-supported, on-demand plan so potenial users can test its content offerings. Their base plan with ads starts at $7.99 per month.
"We often receive complimentary products to review at Sportsnaut. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a share of the revenue from our affiliate partners."