Hulu has several different plans, plenty of add-ons, and more features for a range of prices. Find out which is best for you.
As essentially the first major site to legally offer streaming versions of TV shows, Hulu is an institution at this point, and it's grown massively over the years into the most versatile cord-cutting option around. Whether you want a cheap way to get access to a lot of great TV and movies, or you're looking for a streaming TV service to replace your cable setup, Hulu's got the options.
If you want a massive library of on-demand content, Hulu has it. Whether you want to binge Hulu originals, current ABC or FX shows, or full catalogs of classic shows, you can find it on this streaming platform. You can also add the massive Disney+ library, the array of live sports from ESPN+, and even a full-scale set of live TV channels to replace your cable plan. There are even premium add-ons like HBO Max and Showtime.
It all comes down to your budget and streaming needs — because you can put together a Hulu plan that fits. A basic Hulu plan starts at $8/mo, but it can end up exceeding $80/mo. when you throw in live TV and other add-ons. Read on to find out more about Hulu's plans and pricing, channels, add-ons, and deals you can find in 2024.
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How Much is Hulu?
The monthly price of Hulu depends on which package you choose. You have two basic categories to choose from -- on-demand streaming only, or on-demand streaming with live TV. In each of those categories, you have the option to save a little money and have ads included or pay a little bit more to get rid of them for some programming. Ultimately, that means there are Hulu plans designed to fit most streaming budgets.
It also means that if you can save money using Hulu as a replacement for your cable plan, Hulu + Live TV is just $77/mo., which is cheaper than many cable plans, especially when you factor in Hulu's extensive on-demand library and the fact that a Disney+ account is also included. Here's a basic breakdown of all of Hulu's plans as of now:
Hulu | Hulu (No Ads) | Hulu Basic + Live TV | Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | |
Price | $8/mo. | $18/mo. | $77/mo. | $90/mo. |
Free trial length | 30 days | 30 days | X | X |
Access to Hulu's on-demand library? | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
No ads (for on-demand content) | X | ✔ | X | ✔ |
Access to 85+ live TV channels? | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Number of simultaneous screens | Two | Two | Two | Two |
Add-ons available | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Hulu Extras and Add-ons
Price | Available with Hulu | Available with Hulu (No Ads) | Available with Hulu + Live TV | Available with Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV | |
HBO Max | $16/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Cinemax | $10/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Showtime | $12/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Starz | $9/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Unlimited Screens | $10/mo. | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Entertainment Add-on | $8/mo. | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Espanol Add-on | $5/mo. | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Sports Add-on | $10/mo. | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
Hulu Deals and Promotions
The most popular Hulu promotion is the different versions of theDisney Bundle. There's the duo bundle with Hulu and Disney+ with ads for $10/mo., the trio bundle with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN with ads for $15, and the no-ads Hulu/Disney+/ESPN trio for $25/mo. — though ESPN+ will still have ads on its live streaming content. For $77/mo., theHulu + Live TVplan automatically includes Disney+ and ESPN+. Removing the ads from most on-demand content will bring the price of Hulu + Live TV to $90/mo.
Each of these packages offers significant monthly savings over subscribing to the streaming services separately.
College students can also take advantage of a student discount for as long as they're in school. For just $2/mo, students get access to the full, ad-supported Hulu library. This plan doesn't include live TV or access to the Disney bundle.
Hulu Live TV Channels
Hulu with Live TV comes equipped with many of the top channels you'd find with a traditional cable package. Hulu's ad-supported and ad-free live TV plans both come with:
Top news channels such as MSNBC, HLN, Fox News, CNBC, CNN, and ESPN News
Top sports channels such as ESPN, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, TNT, and TBS
Kids' channels such as Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Universal Kids
Other top channels such as ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW, A&E, Bravo, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, HGTV, History Channel, National Geographic, TLC, Freeform, and more
If you want some sports programming without all the additional live channels, the Disney Bundleincludes the basic on-demand Hulu plan, Disney+, and ESPN+ starting at $15/mo. ESPN+ includes a wide array of live sports, but it doesn't include ESPN or the other live sports networks mentioned above. If purchased individually, the three services would cost a total of $26/mo.
Hulu Live Local TV Channels
In addition to all of the nationwide channels you'll get with Hulu + Live TV, you also get access to your local news and sports channels in many cities. To find out exactly which local channels you'll have access to, you can enter your ZIP code on Hulu's website. The ability to live-stream local channels is one of the big Hulu selling points for those subscribers who want to fully replace their current cable plan.
Is Hulu Right For You?
Hulu is an excellent choice for anyone looking to switch to a live TV streaming service. The streamer's flexible plans make it easy to tailor the service to fit your budget and streaming preferences. You can customize your monthly cost by choosing whether to have ads on shows and movies, premium channels, or extra features.
And if you're looking for something that more closely resembles your cable package, Hulu offers two live TV plans, which give you access to more than 85 channels -- plus Hulu's extensive on-demand content -- and even more if you opt to purchase add-ons.
If flexibility, on-demand content, and a robust streaming replacement for your cable package are what you're looking for, then Hulu + Live TV is probably right for you. The best Hulu plan for you depends on your budget, but there are plans here to fit any cord-cutter's budget and streaming needs. However, if you're looking for a larger collection of cable networks or live sports, it may be worth comparing Hulu + Live TV with other options like YouTube TV or fuboTV.