Hulu is around the mid-range in terms of market share with just half of Netflix’s 60 million US subscribers. It still has more viewers than Showtime and HBO, however, with their 11 and eight million respectively.
Special features
Access to more than 75 live and on-demand TV channels - As well as producing its own original content, Hulu offers a good selection of live TV packages, including sports and news channels
Large back catalog of content - Hulu has a huge back catalog of shows that are no longer on the air. They’re co-owned by Disney, NBC Universal, and Warner Brothers, so it can draw on a large library of quality content
Extensive add-on options available - Alongside your Hulu subscription you can add other streaming services such as HBO, Showtime and Cinemax for an extra cost
Catalog
Hulu is known for its extensive catalog of classic shows such as the X-Files, Malcolm in the Middle and Seinfeld. It also offers several in-house originals and some of the most popular are:
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Catch 22
- The Bear
- Claim to Fame
- The Old Man
- Castle Rock
One of Hulu’s biggest selling points, however, is its live TV package. It offers access to more than 75 network channels including ESPN and major sports like football, baseball, and basketball, as well as a variety of news and entertainment channels.
Hulu hasn’t made the actual size of its catalog known but estimates put it at around 1,650 TV shows and 2,500 films.
Global coverage
Hulu is only available in the US due to licensing restriction agreements, so you won’t be able to stream when you’re overseas. You could get around this by using a virtual private network, however, but some services do try to block these.
Account features
Download select content - Hulu has started to offer the option to download its most popular content to a mobile device of your choice. Not everything is compatible yet though so you might not get everything you’d like
Record up to 50 hours of live content - If you have a DVR (digital video recorder) you can record and store up to 50 hours of live TV
Quick turnaround on live TV - Once a TV show has aired live, it usually becomes available to stream within 24 hours, which is much faster than other streaming services
Prices
Hulu offers several different packages and add-ons so it can be a little confusing deciding what you’d like at first glance! We’ve broken down the packages and what’s included below:
- Basic $6.99 with ads
- Premium $12.99 ads free
- Hulu + Live TV $69.99 ads Free
Hulu also offers a range of optional extras and bolt-on packages:
HBO - $14.99 per month
Cinemax - $9.99 per month
Showtime - $10.99 per month
Starz - $8.99 per month
The following add-ons are only available if you subscribe to one of the live TV packages:
Unlimited Screens - $9.99 per month
Enhanced Cloud DVR add-on - $9.99 per month
Spanish add-on - $4.99 per monthEntertainment add-on - $7.99 per month
You can mix and match your packages and add-ons to create the perfect viewing experience.
Customer Support
You need to have a Hulu account and be logged in to contact Hulu customer support. Once logged in you can contact the team by email, phone or via live web chat. Also, Hulu has a limited number of troubleshooting articles available directly via its website. Account cancelation & money back You can cancel your subscription at any time and there are no long-term contracts. You have until 11:59 PM right up until the day before your next payment date to cancel before you’ll be charged again.
Summary
Hulu has one of the cheapest starting prices out of all the TV streaming services. If you don’t mind missing out on live TV, the low $6.99 starting price is definitely a winner. Hulu is also one of the most flexible streaming services, since it comes with a variety of add-ons and perks that allow you to tailor the service to your exact needs. It’s especially good for sports lovers and odds are it’ll be cheaper than your current cable service.
