Hulu is an all-in-one, if you will. You have your popular shows from networks like AMC or FX and your classic sitcoms, but also original documentaries, movies and TV shows and even the option to watch live TV. It’s no wonder you’re considering getting a subscription or changing your current one to something more advantageous. To help you out, we checked out the various Hulu plans, add-ons, bundles and of course 2022 prices.
Before we talk about channels and even networks you can add to your plan for an extra fee, let’s see what the basic Hulu subscription offers for video on demand.
The Different Hulu Plans, Explained
Getting confused by the many Hulu plans you’re seeing online or hearing from friends? We get you! Here’s a rundown of them all in terms of price and services so you can make the right decision for your needs and your family’s.
First of all, know that there are plans for both on-demand content and live TV, so you can opt for the one that makes more sense at the moment.
The basic Hulu plan is $6.99/month right now. This gives you access to its on-demand library with one caveat: ads. You’ll have to endure them if you want to get the cheapest Hulu plan.
Of course, there’s a no-ads option as well but that will double the price. For this headache-free plan, you will have to pay $12.99 monthly. But hey you’ll skip those 10-minute commercials!
Now, you can get Hulu as well as Live TV. Live TV translates into access to over 75 live channels, 24/7, besides the on-demand library access. This plan costs $64.99/month.
Finally, the premium, no-ads, with Live-TV Hulu plan is $70.99/month. Quite pricy, I know, but you can skip ads altogether and get access to all that Hulu has to offer: classic movies, original shows, and Live TV programs.
Also, in this premium plan you get to choose add-ons and enjoy 50 Hours of DVR storage, plus watch offline, which is something the Hulu +Live TV with ads option doesn’t allow.
What Are the Hulu Bundle Plans?
Now, besides the four major Hulu plans, there is a great bundle to consider as well.
I hope you’re taking notes because this is worth it, believe us. So, a bundle in Hulu’s case is a package of Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN+. After Disney purchased those two, it made sense to offer them together to viewers.
It’s important to know that the bundle is currently included in the Hulu + Live TV subscriptions, whether you opt for the no-ads or with ads one. You can also upgrade to the bundle 😉
Let’s say you’re not interested in the Live TV services for now. How much would this bundle cost?
If you want the bundle with the basic Hulu Plan, it will cost you $14/month (a discounted price right now). Conversely, if you need the add-free plan with the bundle, you’ll have to pay $20/month.
What Are the Hulu Add-ons?
You’re not done yet. As opposed to other video on-demand platforms, Hulu has a lot of room for customization. So, naturally, you can have add-ons to your chosen plan.
Check the list below for the various add-ons you can opt for:
- HBO Max: $14.99/month
- Showtime: $10.99/month – there is a free one-week trial
- Cinemax: $9.99/month – there is a free one-week trial
- ESPN+: $6.99/month
- STARZ: $8.99/month – you get a free one-week trial
- Español/Latino: $4.99/month; this will get you access to various premium channels in Spanish, like CNN Español, Discovery en Español, Discovery Familia, History en Español, ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, Universo (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
- Sports: $9.99/month; you have access to channels like NFL RedZone, TVG, TVG2, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and MAV TV (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
- Entertainment: $7.99/month; this is one of the most complex add-ons as it gives you access to a variety of content, both for you and your kids, like American Heroes Channel, BET Her, CNBC World, Crime & Investigation, Destination America, Cooking Channel, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, Great American Country, Military History, DIY Network, MTV2, MTV Classic, Nick Toons, Teen Nick and Science Channel (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
- Unlimited screens: $9.99/month – you get a free one-month trial (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
- Enhanced cloud DVR: $9.99/month – there is a free one-month trial (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
- Enhanced cloud DVR and unlimited Screens: $14.99/month – there is a free one-month trial (available with Hulu + LiveTV)
Hulu Plans vs Other Streaming Plans
How does Hulu fare against big streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Apple TV?
The service definitely has its unbeatable advantages but when it comes to price and streaming library, things are not so black and white.
Netflix
Let’s look at what Netflix offers versus Hulu. From the get-go, it’s obvious Netflix has more content than Hulu – just think about their 4,000 offerings versus Hulu’s 2500.
However, there is just one stream available for the basic Netflix plan – $9.99 – compared to the two streams (in HD) Hulu offers. Also, the Netflix subscription host is a big higher, considering the basic Hulu price is $6.99.
Finally, Netflix does not offer Live TV of any sorts, so if that’s important to you, Hulu remains the better choice.
Amazon
Amazon Prime is also more expensive than Hulu. For that subscription, you need to pay $12.99/month, or $9.92/ annual fee. You can stream up to 3 devices at most, while Hulu gives you the option of Unlimited Screens (add-on).
Unlike Netflix, Amazon has the option of add-on channels like Epix, Showtime and Starz, which will set you back anywhere from $0.99 – $28.99/month, depending on what you choose.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a worthy competitor for Hulu. That’s because the service has a library of over 3,000 titles, including original series that have gone to won awards and amass a huge fanbase. The cost, therefore, for the monthly subscription is higher at $9,99 (with ads) or $14.99 (ad-free).
It’s good to know that the ad-free option also lets you watch offline and stream in 4K some movies.
There are more streams here, as well; you can stream up to three devices in the same time.
The only thing HBO Max can’t quite do is the Live TV. Here, Hulu reigns. It’s interesting though, to see that HBO Max can be acquired as an add-on for Hulu so you can actually have the best of both worlds.
Apple TV
Now, Apple TV is a relatively young platform so you know you won’t have a comparable streaming library to Hulu’s. Apple knows it too and has slashed the price accordingly. An Apple TV subscription is $4.99/month or $49.99 for an annual membership, which is cheaper than Hulu.
Apple TV also lets you share your account with five other people and is – listen here – ad-free! Plus, it lets you stream in 4K versus Hulu’s HD resolution.
For those who are set on watching some original series like The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, or Foundation, an Apple TV might be the way to go. For the rest, Hulu remains your top choice.
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How to Sign Up for Hulu + Live TV
Let’s say you’ve decided what Hulu plan you’re gonna get. How do you sign up? The process is pretty intuitive, especially if you already have another streaming subscription and you know how these services work.
Without further ado,
- Type www.hulu.com/live-tv in your default web browser.
- You’ll be prompted to choose between Hulu without ads, or Hulu with ads or Hulu with Live TV. Choose your destiny!
- Enter your email address with a strong password to boot.
- At this point, you’ll have to give Hulu your name and birthdate and gender.
- Click Continue, then fill in your payment information. You have various options here: a credit or debit card, “Express Options” like PayPal or AMEX Express Checkout.
- Done with that? It’s time to choose add-ons like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax or STARZ. (For Hulu with Live TV, you also can opt from the live add-on options.
Signed up and ready to enjoy Hulu? Tell us what series you’re excited to watch and if you got an add-on or two, which did you choose and why!
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