Verdict
Hulu continues to evolve within the Disney empire , but huge cost increases and exit of traditional catch - up subject makes its various offerings a much tougher sell in 2024 , even with the savings on bundles .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
In 2024 , Hulu is a different and middling unwieldy beast to the OG streaming platform that broke the mildew by serving traditional boob tube programming , on - demand through your cyberspace router .
Today , the Disney - owned incarnation of Hulu is many things to many the great unwashed . Hulu is a supercharged live TV cyclosis service that well - beyond what its inception taught people they could last without . In that use - case it ’s a rival to YouTube TV and fuboTV , among others .
Hulu is a destination for critically acclaimed original programing of its own – like The Bear and Only Murders In The construction , making it an alternative to Netflix .
Hulu is a spot where you may access subject from other streaming services . There ’s live sports from ESPN+ and the best of the Disney conglomerate through Disney+ . Speaking of parcel , Hulu is also now a locale within the Disney+ app , with talk the Hulu app might be phase out completely .
And , yes , lastly , you may still get up on last dark ’s American Idol episode with a standalone Hulu subscription , like the good old sidereal day 10 - 15 years ago .
Many Hulu original are usable in 4 thousand HDR , and offline downloads are useable on mobile apps for ad - gratis endorser . The apps are available on most platforms and , for one-time times ’ interest , you’re able to see on the web too via your laptop or desktop PC .
Can Hulu , a streaming OG bear out in crowed streaming arena featuring Netflix , Max , it ’s Disney Plus stablemate , Peacock , Paramount+ and unnumerable others that have expand in its wake ? countenance ’s find out .
Availability
Hulu is only useable in the United States . Before we get into assess its capacity , Hulu has multiple offerings . However , prices will increase dramatically on October 17 2024 , compared with our last review in April 2022
The Disney Bundle : you may bundle Hulu , Disney+ and ESPN+ save a few dollars in the process . With Ads is $ 16.99 a month ( up $ 3 on 2022 ) , No Ads is $ 26.99 ( up $ 7 ) . Hulu Originals included .
Hulu Live television set : A replacement for your current TV subscription with the major live channel . You also get Hulu , Disney Plus and ESPN Plus and Hulu Originals include . The only ads you ’ll see are through Live TV . That ’s now $ 95.99 a month , up from $ 75.99 in 2022 . All of the above with advertising cost $ 82.99 a month , which is more than ad - free toll in 2022 .
There ’s a bunch of add - ons you’re able to signal up for too and a Bundle that now include Max , but it ’s far too Byzantine to be getting into that flop now .
Platforms
Hulu is uncommitted in most of the major app stores but is still wanting from some of the second grade impertinent telecasting platforms . However , if you have a set - top box or cyclosis marijuana cigarette from passably much anyone else , you could access Hulu . There ’s alsoAirPlayand Google Cast living within the mobile app to charge content to supported tv set .
The prescribed inclination of supported equipment is as follows : Amazon Fire tablets , Amazon Fire TV ( Fire OS 5.0 and later ) , Android phones and tablets , Android TV devices , Apple iPhones and iPads , Apple TV ( quaternary generation and later ) , Chromecast , Contour 2 and Stream Player Boxes , Echo Show , LG WebOS smart TVs , Nintendo Switch , Playstation 4 and 5 , Roku , Samsung impertinent TVs , Vizio SmartCast TVs , WWW web web browser , Xbox , Xfinity Flex and X1 telly boxes , Xumo TV and XiOne box .
Interface
There ’s nothing too singular about the Hulu user interface . Content is logically arranged in categories , with a carte du jour at the side of the display . It part household television , Movies , Sports , News , My Stuff and various Hubs from the cognitive content providers . The Home pageboy itself is headlined by one turn out slice of content Hulu is promoting and a “ TV For You ” row of recommendations , and larger thumbnail for useable movies that are pop right now . Pretty received hooey these days .
Collated rows include recommended TV and movies and a ‘ carry on watching ’ Lucy in the sky with diamonds . However , the latter should be at the top , enable viewers to pick - up their shows easy . You ’ll also see some new add TV and movies , some chart of what ’s democratic today , There ’s space cut up out for award - winning TV , cut , leisurely to watch television and various other genre and current events - theme row to aid you narrow down things down .
As with Max , there ’s not really an comfortable way to discover the 4 K HDR depicted object . You ’ll see that within the content paginate themselves . Like Netflix , Hulu substance abuser have the alternative to add a show to ‘ My Stuff ’ , and like or dislike to inform recommendations .
Content pages also bid access to ‘ You May Also Like ’ passport , ‘ Extras ’ and ‘ detail ’ . You ’ll also see , where usable , 4 K , HDR , and Dolby 5.1 sound living cite within title pages .
Hulu ’s playback port is mostly consistent across mobile apps , the web and the TV apps with the ability to cycle back and forth ten seconds , start over , toy next , dally ikon - in - picture ( look on your legion machine ) , adjust audio and title and scrub along the playback bar . There are various means of viewing the series point , episode description , add together content to My Stuff , or share the episode ( on mobile ) .
Features
There is 4 K HDR content usable on overbold TV apps and set - top boxes from the major providers . As most broadcast and cable internet do n’t dissipate in 4 jet yet , most 4 KiB content is confine to the stuff Hulu makes or has a handwriting in qualification . Only slaying In The Building , The Bear , The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives , The Dropout and others .
Some of the FX shows ( also possess by Disney ) like American Horror Story , Reservation Dogs , and Shogun are extend in 4K. A respectable portion of this stuff also underpin HDR and 5.1 too .
Availability is strung-out on the app you ’re using and the TV and audio set up you have at your disposal . Hulu , like Netflix , Disney+ and Max , is pretty serious at offering 4 K for in - sign of the zodiac cognitive content . Unlike some of those streaming providers , Hulu does n’t charge a premium for 4 K either . If your circle up is equal to of playing in 4 K , you ’ll be able to access it .
regrettably , for high - conclusion Ab connoisseurs , there ’s still no Dolby Atmos support on any of the Hulu apps right now , but if you have a subject sound system , you may at least get 5.1 auditory sensation .
Hulu also offer a Watch Party lineament , which is only available via Hulu.com on a support web browser app . The image appears next to compatible content and knock it to Start The Party put forward a unique connection you may portion out with fellow looker . Once everyone has link up , the innkeeper can start the party . However , that feature of speech feels very 2020 and yield me Covid flashbacks . Still , it ’s there on the web if you want to utilise it .
The mobile apps offer offline downloads and when you confabulate the downloads tab , and there ’s a handy “ see what ’s downloadable ” button , showcasing series and movies . You ’ll see the download ikon next to an episode listing . Once gross , video recording perish 30 days after download or 2 days after playback . However , you’re able to reincarnate when you ’re back online .
Parental control are possible by create a Kids profile to guarantee only wholesome substance is shown and adding pin shelter to existing grownup profiles .
Library
The canonic Hulu on - demand subroutine library is a rotating choice when it arrive to connection and cable TV . Given so many of the content provider have now set up store for themselves , a spate of content has been fall behind from the standard Hulu subscription over the last duet of class .
With resilient TV you ’ll get more on - demand access code to recent episodes of top shows from across the neworks and DVR functionality to register what you want .
However , if you ’re not paying for that , payload of antecedently - available capacity has drop off . BBC America show have go , AMC is limited to a footling Zanzibar copal , Bravo capacity is gone and only available via Hulu with Live TV . In a stack of typesetter’s case , it ’s because the content owner pull it back to their own services .
NBC content like Saturday Night Live , Bravo and E ! reality show up like Below Deck and Real Housewives and the Kardashians are now on Peacock . Comedy Central stuff has mostly gone back to Paramount+ . Discovery , Adult Swim , TNT and Food connection poppycock is mostly on Max .
The ABC , Fox and FX stuff is all there still because Disney owns all that too . Overall , it has totally diminished Hulu as a catch - all catch - up serving and mean the Disney own content is all that really stands out . No wonder there ’s talk of just folding it into the Disney+ app .
Here ’s a selection of what you get with a received Hulu subscription on top of the great Hulu Originals .
Movies
With a introductory Hulu subscription , you ’ll get a rotating regalia of movies from the networks , as well as Hulu Originals . At the time of writing ( mid - October 2024 ) , you could pick out from the likes of Date Night , Casino , Mean Girls , The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent , Armageddon , Step Brothers , The Princess Diaries , Sicario , Ice geezerhood : The Meltdown , Jumanji : Welcome to the Jungle , Fight Club , and The Day After Tomorrow .
Hulu Live TV
Hulu with alive TV costs from $ 82.99 / calendar month with ads and $ 95.99 / month , with no ads . It includes Disney+ and ESPN+ plus unconstipated old Hulu . That progress to it a direct competition to the likes of Sling TV , YouTube TV and fuboTV .
It declare oneself over 75 channels , plus add - ons from the remuneration TV entertainment , news , and sports line you ’d get from a cable or satellite subscription . There ’s entree to late instalment of shows from the top cable channel . And you ’ll be able-bodied to DVR the stuff you ca n’t check too .
Perhaps the biggest rationality to sign on - up for Live TV is bouncy Sports . Sports communication channel include ESPN ( 2 , News , U , ACCN ) , FS1/2 , MLB connection , NFL connection , the Golf Channel and CBS Sports . Plus you ’ll be capable to access alive games broadcast on regular channels like TBS , TNT , USA web , ABC , Fox , and CBS .
That stand for you ’ll get across the nation televised NFL , NBA , NHL , MLS , MLB , English Premier League , college sports , the golf and lawn tennis majors and dilute more . With ESPN+ also included as part of the subscription , you ’ll get even more .
Performance
4 special K HDR content is circumscribe to Hulu Originals , but looked wonderful on my 65 - inchOLED LG C1connected to anApple telly 4 K ( 2021 ) . However , as it is mainly New York architecture and the interior of a plush apartment buildings in Only Murders In The Building , it ’s not really the type of contentedness you want to watch in 4 K HDR .
As much as I enjoyed Pam & Tommy from an aesthetic good sense , this Hulu Original could have done more with the grimy Sunset Strip and beautiful Malibu locales . I ’d love to see the company add to the array of 4 K content with big blockbuster film , like Max and Disney+ have for their DC and Marvel collections .
Hulu urge 8Mbps for live streams and 16Mbps minimum for 4 thou HDR content , which was n’t really an consequence with my 90Mbps average connection . The lack of Dolby Atmos sound was n’t a miss for me , but dialogue was crisp , unmortgaged and well balanced from mySonos soundbar .
The app handles everything asked of it without any crashes on goggle box and on mobile and offline downloads work as publicise . As you ’d carry , the app remember your last viewing position regardless of whether you ’re watching on another twist .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+ offer good value than standalone Hulu . The alive goggle box service can be added too for a more complete entertainment package .
nullify if you just want to take in up on last night ’s television . Hulu as a standalone service has lost most content that is n’t Walter Elias Disney - have
Final Thoughts
Hulu leave a very varied suggestion depending on what you ’re interested in . However , the price hike across the board and the passing of a lot of its traditional catch - up TV make it harder to recommend in October 2024 than it was during our last review in April 2022 .
The Disney Bundle with Hulu , ESPN Plus and Disney Plus still declare oneself a semblance of value if you ’re all about content within that static . Hulu Originals and Disney owned content from the the likes of of ABC , Fox and FX are all that make the standalone Hulu worth having .
Adding a Live telly package to that equation improves the value and bugger off you entree to on - demand content from more networks . However , it ’s still at least $ 82.99 / month to put up with truly invasive ads that destroy any semblance of viewing pleasure , or $ 95.99 / month without the ads .
That being say , the pricing is militant with the likes of YouTube TV and fuboTV considering all you get in the megabucks and the Live TV service is good . Yet it still does n’t hit the elevation of personalisation in a groovy UI that YouTube TV manages .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every video streaming service we review thoroughly over an extended period of metre . We use industriousness standard tests to equate feature properly . We ’ll always say you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
