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? 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 $13–$20 per month and save $13–$16 than if you were to get each service separately. Hulu’s no-ad plan and Netflix’s Standard plan are the same in pricing and streams. But Netflix’s Premium plan is worth the extra few dollars if you have a family or roommates. 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 Ozark or Good Girls. With Hulu, you will 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 about 3,000 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!) 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)
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
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. 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. You and your nephew, spouse, or kiddo can stream Hulu on these streaming devices: 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.) If you need reliable internet for your marathon-watching Sundays, check out our favorite internet providers for streaming. 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: Hulu’s Basic plan at $7.99/mo. is perfect for money-savers, but we’d pay $7 more to eliminate the ads. Netflix’s Basic with ads plan is $6.99/mo. The Basic plan is a few dollars more at $9.99/mo. and the Standard plan is $15.49/mo. for two simultaneous streams instead of one, but you’ll want the Premium plan at $19.99/mo. if you plan on sharing with up to three others. 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 3,000, 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.
