In light of the fact that Netflix has announced its subscription prices are going up and Hulu’s are actually going down, The Verge just published a side-by-side ratings comparison of these two mega-popular subscription streaming services to help us all decide which is really the better deal.
Least Expensive: Hulu (Sort of)
Hulu’s traditional ad-supported plan is dropping to just $5.99 per month, BUT that is their basic plan with those super irritating commercial interruptions. Maybe they don’t bother you, but if you just can’t deal, Hulu has a “No Commercials” plan for $11.99, which eliminates most, but not all the commercial breaks, because a few shows still stream with ads. Okay, so now you’re paying $6 more and you still get ads… sometimes.
Netflix has announced that it’s raising its subscription rates to $8.99 for Basic (only gives you standard definition streaming), $12.99 for Standard (which includes high-def), $15.99 for 4K Premium. Most people go for the Standard plan, which if you compare apples to apples (i.e. no commercials), it’s still just a $1 more than Hulu’s. The real price break here is only if you go for Hulu’s basic plan with ads.
If you’re someone who currently pays for both services, Netflix’s price increase and Hulu’s price drop basically cancel each other out. Netflix’s standard and premium plans each got $2 more expensive, and Hulu dropped its core plan by $2. So you’re coming out spending the same amount of money; you’re just giving Netflix more and Hulu less.
Best Streaming Options: Netflix
Both Hulu’s Base plan (the cheap one with ads) as well as their more costly “No Ads” plan are currently limited to one stream at a time, so it’s not very practical for sharing with friends or a partner unless you maintain very different schedules. If you step up to Hulu with Live TV, you get two concurrent streams. To get more than that, you can pay $10 (on top of your live TV package) for one additional use-anywhere stream and “unlimited” access for devices in your home.
Netflix’s Basic Plan offers one stream at a time, but as soon as you jump to Standard, you get two, and Netflix’s Premium plan gives you four simultaneous streams, which is a number that Hulu can’t currently match. This make’s Netflix much more flexible for customer use.
Best Features/Perks: Netflix
Netflix streams in 4K. Netflix supports HDR video. You can download Netflix content to watch offline on a mobile device when you’re traveling or for your daily commute on the bus / train. While 4K requires Netflix’s most expensive plan, their offline playback feature, which is available across all of its plans, makes it the clear victor. And let’s say it again, Netflix doesn’t have ads interrupting your binge-watching enjoyment.
Best Features/Perks: Netflix
Hulu offers none of those things and they still have no clear idea of when 4K and offline downloads might arrive. At this point, it’s getting inexcusable that even Hulu’s original programs like The Handmaid’s Tale don’t stream in 4K when that’s now become status quo on Netflix.
The main thing Hulu has that Netflix can’t give you is live television: Hulu with Live TV (now $44.99 monthly) pairs the video-on-demand service with a bundle of live cable and broadcast networks that you can stream from anywhere whenever you want. But if live TV is what you’re after, you can see how the pricing skyrockets. For that money, you might as well get basic cable.
Best Device Support: Draw
These are two of the most prominent streaming apps in existence today. No matter what device you’re using, odds are you won’t have much trouble watching either of them. Hulu is currently available on the Nintendo Switch, which is certainly an advantage. But again, a lack of offline downloads is at odds with the Switch’s portability.
It is important to note that Hulu isn’t offered outside of the U.S., so if you live in London, the point is moot. Still, it really doesn’t look like much of a contest. Netflix, even with the new rate hike, has far more plusses than minuses. So essentially, you’re getting what you pay for.
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