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Value for money only if you buy Hulu, ESPN and Disney plus bundle

Paushali Banerjee | Streaming Expert

I rate Hulu an 9.2 on 10 for its vast content library and updated content catalog. In addition, Hulu is an excellent pick if you only acquire one streaming service because of its combination of on-demand programming and live TV.

 

The offline downloads are limited to higher-tier Hulu subscription plans, and the service lacks primary 4K programming. However, some systems do allow 1080p live channels. Despite the recent price hike to its live TV plan, the strength of its separate on-demand and live TV offers outweighs those issues.

 

Hulu Plus Live TV is a fantastic choice for folks who want to get rid of their cable subscription. 

 

It also offers a great user experience, with subscribers able to establish up to six accounts per account and limit the content visible to each user. In addition, the availability of numerous channels and its focus on live sports gives it an edge over its competitors. 

Get Started With Hulu Now!

Hulu is the most popular service in the burgeoning live video streaming market with over four million customers. It lists a vast selection of recognizable episodes from ABC, Fox, and NBC networks that you can watch right after they air.   It also encompasses a growing portfolio of critically acclaimed original series. As a result, Hulu is the ideal complement and counterpoint to Netflix.

Hulu subscription package 2021

  1. Hulu's $5.99 per month ad-supported on-demand streaming option is currently available. However, if you want to prevent commercials, you'll have to pay $11.99 every month.
  2. For $13.99 a month, you can get Hulu (ad-supported version), Disney+, and ESPN+
  3. A $19.99 per month provides the ad-free version of Hulu in the same bundle. Hulu's ad-free version is $1.99 per month for college students. Hulu subscription cost affects the ad frequency.
  4. The Hulu subscription, which costs $64.99 per month, includes live TV as well as ad-supported access to the service's on-demand library.
  5. It costs $70.99 a month to get Hulu's live channels and the ad-free on-demand bundle.
  6. Hulu has two major on-demand membership plans: $6 for basic Hulu and $12 for Hulu (No Ads). To get a sense of the differences, I tried viewing a few shows on each.
  7. The frequency of advertising on basic, ad-supported Hulu varies a lot. This was definitely more disruptive, but it was equivalent to watching it on ordinary live television. During Hulu Originals, there appear to be fewer advertisements.

Hulu streaming features

User Interface:

 

With big, bright sliders and easily discoverable material, Hulu's web interface for live and on-demand entertainment seems considerably more current than in years past. Live TV and My Stuff have their own sections at the top of the page. On the upper right-hand corner, you'll see the Search and Account options.

 

Live TV:

 

Live TV is a much-desired option for Hulu Plus Live TV members who have cut the cord on cable. You may watch live Hulu channels including National Geographic, Disney Channel, TNT, USA, FX, Lifetime, HGTV, CNN, Cartoon Network, CBS Sports, and more whether you have the ad-supported or ad-free bundle. 

 

Vast content library:

 

Hulu's main strength is its thousands of TV shows, many of which are added the day after they air on networks like ABC, NBC, and Comedy Central on live television. Hulu Plus Live TV includes 26 of the top 35 cable channels and a few regional sports networks (RSNs). In addition, it has over 10,000 movies and TV programs in its repertoire, including Hulu's best movies and originals. 

 

Sports:

 

Hulu + Live TV has a superb array of live and on-demand sports content that will appeal to even the most ardent fans. Hulu + Live TV provides access to ESPN, ESPN 2, and a range of other sports channels in addition to local networks like CBS and ABC.

 

Profiles:

 

During the signup process, your account's primary Profile is automatically established. Following that, you can create up to five more profiles (six in total). Although several profiles are available, the live TV service is only for one household. Therefore sharing a subscription is not permitted.

 

Free Trial:

 

Hulu, like many other streaming services, offers a free trial period. Varying subscription options provide different trial periods, but the Live Hulu free trial is a week long while Hulu basic and Hulu no ads offer a free trial of 30 days.

 

Parental control:

 

You can designate a profile as a Kids Profile on Hulu. This limits the Profile's content to a kid-friendly centre.

Hulu streaming Add-ons

Hulu also has add-ons for the following networks.
  1. Cinemax ($9.99)
  2. HBO Max ($14.99)
  3. Showtime ($8.99)
  4. Starz ($8.99)
  5. Additional DVR up to 200 hours ($9.99)
These networks allow you to view series and movies from those networks as well as live streams from those channels.

What does Hulu lack?

Scarce 4K content: Hulu's 4K Ultra HD content catalog is growing, and it already contains the majority of Hulu Originals, but it still lags behind Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. However, many of Hulu's newest original episodes are available in 4K on Apple TV (5th generation or later) and Chromecast Ultra only.   VPN Compatibility:   As it is strictly US-based, Hulu tries its best to block any VPN access on its platform. However, PIA VPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark all have dedicated sections to help you stream Hulu and Hulu + Live TV in my VPN comparison. Check out our Top 10 VPNs to unlock Hulu.   Weaker DVR:   The subscribers can record up to 50 hours of content with Hulu and preserve the recordings for as long as you have a subscription. Users can pay an additional $9.99 per month to expand their recording time limit to 200 hours and bypass commercials in recordings.

Top 15 Hulu shows/ Web series

  1. The Handmaid's Tale
  2. Normal People
  3. Castle Rock
  4. Casual
  5. The Act
  6. PEN15
  7. Ramy
  8. Letterkenny
  9. The Great
  10. Devs
  11. House Hunters
  12. What we do in the shadows
  13. Love, Victor
  14. Atlanta
  15. Rick and Morty

Top 15 movies on Hulu plus

  1. Parasite (2019) 
  2. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
  3. Honeyland (2019) 
  4. I, Tonya (2017) 
  5. The Princess Bride (1987) 
  6. Booksmart (2019) 
  7. Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019) 
  8. Sorry to Bother You (2018)
  9. Palm Springs (2020)
  10. Die Hard (1988)
  11. Captain Fantastic (2016)
  12. The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years (2016)
  13. Shrek (2001)
  14. Creed II (2018)
  15. The Assistant (2019)

Conclusion

Differentiation is becoming increasingly vital as the competition between video streaming services heats up.   Hulu continues to provide a broad live TV choice as well as a substantial on-demand streaming library. Even if Hulu's original series is hit-or-miss, the site is a fantastic alternative for watching popular TV shows.

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