Netflix vs. Hulu: Which Service is Best?

For streaming enthusiasts, it isn’t easy to select a streaming platform when the options are Netflix and Hulu. Sometimes they subscribe to both platforms because of FOMO. However, there are many other things except the number of titles we should consider before selecting any platform.

Netflix and Hulu are the top-performing streaming platforms in the world. Both offer a large variety of content and various plans. If you want to access all content available on these platforms, subscribe to both platforms.

However, if you can only afford one platform, consider it after research. Netflix and Hulu have enough content to keep you engaged for a long time. Still, both offer various features, including content quality, packages, pricing, compatibility, free trials, offline viewing, and more.

In this guide, we will discuss the major differences between these streaming giants. So, let’s find out which platform is suitable for you.

Hulu vs. Netflix: A quick comparison

Hulu vs. Netflix: Packages and pricing

Hulu’s basic subscription is free, but as you know, there’s nothing as a free lunch, so it shows you ads to bear the cost. In addition, the basic plan users have access to fewer titles.

On the other hand, the Hulu Plus plan costs $7.99 per month, but you can access more titles than the basic plan and use it on devices like smartphones and tablets.

However, it includes annoying ads. You can try it through a free trial and can decide whether to subscribe to it or not. It also offers another premium plan that costs $14.99 per month. It lets its subscribers enjoy streaming without any ad interruption.

If we compare Hulu with its top competitor, Netflix, then Netflix offers its basic subscription plan (with ads) is a buck cheaper than Hulu’s standard plan. However, it allows only one user to stream content in standard definition.

Netflix’s basic ad-free subscription costs $9.99 per month. Subscribers can access the whole content library, but only one user can stream simultaneously.

Netflix’s standard and Hulu’s no-ad plans cost the same, but only two users can stream simultaneously. However, its premium plan costs a few more if you want to use this platform with your roommates or family.

Netflix’s standard and premium plans allow you to watch HD and 4K content.

Hulu vs. Netflix: Which has better content

Both streaming platforms are streaming giants and offer different content.

• Both offer video on Demand.
• Both offer high-quality and the latest content.
• Netflix offers more titles as compared to Hulu.
• Both streaming giants are compatible with multiple devices, including gaming consoles and Smart TVs.
• Netflix contains more original content than Hulu.

You can access over 5,000 titles on Netflix, including originals, movies, and TV shows. You can stream content in HD or 4K quality if you have a strong internet connection.

Some of the most famous originals on Netflix are Strangers Things, House of Cards, Money Heist, The Crown, etc. The content library is regularly increasing, and there’s no doubt that Netflix fulfills both quality and quantity requirements.

Hulu recently started offering on-demand streaming. The famous originals available on this platform include Breakfast Club, 3 Idiotas, The 40-year-old Virgin, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, etc. The comprehensive collection of this streaming giant is smaller than Netflix.

So, it’s on you to decide if you want more content with Netflix or newer content with Hulu. You can also subscribe to both platforms if they meet your budget.

Hulu vs. Netflix: Which has more original content

In the race for more original content, Netflix wins. Netflix’s original films and series mainly focus on providing quality content instead of quantity like other streaming platforms. 

The streaming giant contains original content for everyone. It offers films and series for adults and kids. You can watch all episodes of a specific TV show in one sitting. Unlike Hulu, Netflix doesn’t like to air one episode of a TV show in a week.

The platform’s famous original “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” won an Oscar in 2021. There are many other famous Netflix originals, including Stranger Things, The Crown, Lucifer, House of Cards, Cobra Kai, Dragon Ball Z, and the list goes on. 

Hulu needs improvements to compete with Netflix in providing more originals. It focuses on providing more traditional content. One of the most famous TV shows, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is a Hulu original.

Hulu also provides a few quality originals, including Reservation Dogs, The Great, WeWork, and Prey. In addition, if you live in the UK, don’t have a traditional cable connection, and want to watch “Killing Eve,” Hulu is the only platform to watch it.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Which has a better user experience

Netflix and Hulu’s interfaces are almost identical. Both are investing to make their interface more user-friendly and appealing.

When you land on the main page of Hulu, you will encounter various tabs like movies, TV shows, My Lists, and more. If you have subscribed to a plan that includes ESPN+ and Disney+, you will probably see suggestions regarding sports in the top row.

Hulu contains a unique tab that is different from Netflix. It contains movies and shows categorized by TV channels like ABC, Cartoon Network, and FX. You can easily find your favorite title from a specific channel.

On the other hand, Netflix’s interface is quite similar and smooth to the interface of Hulu. It offers some tabs like movies, TV shows, and My List. A unique tab on Netflix is “New & Popular.” It helps you to navigate new titles on Netflix easily.

In conclusion, the interfaces of both platforms are simple, intuitive, and user-friendly. Both streaming giants are working to simplify it and adding aesthetics to make it appealing or eye-catching.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Devices compatibility

Fortunately, Netflix and Hulu are compatible with most of our daily devices. Below is the list of devices with which these streaming platforms are compatible.

• Smartphones
• Smart TVs (LG TV, Samsung TV, Fire TV, Apple 4K TV)
• Laptops
• Computers
• iOS devices
• Android devices
• Roku
• Chromecast
• Play Stations
• Xbox
• Nintendo Switch

To enjoy streaming on Netflix in high-quality, ensure your internet speed is more than 5Mbps. Similarly, on Hulu, your internet speed should be more than 3Mbps.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Sound and picture quality

While streaming, two things matter the most; video and audio quality. If a streaming service isn’t good at providing these things, then it will ruin your streaming experience.

For streaming enthusiasts who love streaming in high audio and video quality and want to enjoy their home theater setup, then Netflix is a great winner.

Unfortunately, the basic Netflix plan subscribers can’t stream their favorite content in HD or 4K video quality. However, the standard and premium subscribers can stream content in HD and 4K video quality. 

By contrast, Hulu also lets its users enjoy streaming in HD quality. Unfortunately, only a few titles are available in 4K quality. The service also offers a stereo sound which enhances the streaming experience.

So, according to the above analysis, if you want to flex your home theater, then Netflix will be a perfect choice.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Free trials and deals

Like many other streaming platforms, Hulu offers a 30-day free trial so beginners can use it for a few days and can easily decide whether to subscribe to it or not. This free trial helps stream enthusiasts who can’t afford the subscription but want to enjoy its content.

Netflix isn’t generous like Hulu and other streaming platforms. It doesn’t offer any free trial to new users. In addition, it doesn’t offer any discounts or student packages.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Offline viewing

Many people don’t have internet all the time, so they fulfill their streaming needs using the offline viewing feature. Almost every reputed streaming platform offer offline viewing.

Hulu and Netflix offer offline viewing features. You can download any TV show or movie and watch it later at your convenience. Netflix gives this feature in all its plans, but Hulu doesn’t offer it in its basic package.

On Hulu, the downloaded content lasts for 30 days, but on Netflix, each title has a different expiry date. However, if you watch the downloaded content, it will be deleted in the next 48 hrs. You can redownload the content and watch it again.

Netflix vs. Hulu: Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Which streaming service wins? Hulu or Netflix

Hulu is one of the top-performing competitors of Netflix. Its library is continuously increasing by adding more originals and TV shows. It is gaining more audience but still has 48 million subscribers, less than Netflix.

Undoubtedly, Hulu is cheaper than Netflix, but due to the lack of quality content, people go for Netflix. However, Hulu has the latest content, and Netflix has a larger library. Both service providers offer different content, so if you can afford both platforms, you should subscribe to both of them. It’s not too expensive for users who don’t have cable.

However, if you ask to pick one, then Netflix is a winner because of the quality & quantity of content and other multiple features Hulu doesn’t offer. Hulu needs a lot of improvements to beat Netflix.

Conclusion

Netflix and Hulu are top-performing streaming platforms and are great competitors. Both are good according to their audiences’ needs. But Netflix offers more quality content and features like a user-friendly interface, high audio, and video quality, etc.

By contrast, Hulu doesn’t offer that much bigger content library. However, it offers the latest content and focuses on providing traditional content. Moreover, Hulu is less expensive than Netflix. If you can bear the cost of the two stages, then buy into the two of them. It will not be excessively costly in the event that you don’t have the link. Eventually, picking one, then Netflix, will be an incredible decision.

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