Netflix vs. Hulu: A Detailed Comparison

Still unsure?

Listed below are some key features that will help you decide which streaming platform is best for you without breaking the bank!

Price & Plans

Hulu’s basic plan price is $6.99/month. This plan comes with ads during streaming, and the duration is almost 2 minutes.

If you get annoyed by commercial interruptions while watching your favorite show, you can buy Netflix basic plan for $8.99. It includes two screens. Netflix also gives you an option to download the content to watch offline. 

You might feel like Netflix is expensive, but it is also ad-free, while Hulu’s No-ads subscription costs $12.99. In this regard, Netflix offers pretty much the best deal.

However, if you wish to have all the bells and whistles of Netflix Premium, it’ll cost you $19.99 with 4k HD streaming and four screens. 

Free Trials:

Hulu offers a free 30-day trial, and then you have to pay for a monthly subscription that can be canceled at any time. Meanwhile, Netflix stopped offering its free trial after offering it for several years.

Content Catalog

Content is the deal breaker when choosing one from two streaming services. Although Netflix and Hulu don’t publicize their library volume, according to reports the volume of Netflix is larger.

Moreover, Netflix is best known for its original shows such as Stranger Things, Squid Game, Bridgeton, The Umbrella Academy, and many more. 

The Netflix library of content is a winner when it comes to binge-watching your favorite shows.

Alternately, Hulu is your ultimate companion if you enjoy watching old aired TV shows. It has many still-airing TV shows from ABC, FOX, CBC, and others if you missed an episode of a recently aired TV show on traditional cable. 

Netflix, however, releases an entire season of a particular show every week or even longer, requiring a prolonged waiting period.

Video Resolution

Netflix and Hulu both offer 4k Ultra HD content streaming. 

The 4K resolution on Netflix can only be accessed with a premium plan. Although Hulu offered Ad-supported subscriptions ($6.99) and no-ad subscriptions ($12.99), they have never compromised on the quality of their videos.

All the content on Hulu is available in HD, plus you get 4K resolution for all originals.

Simultaneous Streaming

As a general rule, streaming services limit the number of devices that can access your account at once, but here is some good news!

Hulu and Netflix allow you to share your screen with your family and friends.

There are some exceptions to this unique feature; Netflix gives up to 4 screens depending on the subscription plan. In comparison, Hulu allows you to watch on two devices, irrespective of the plan.

Downloading

Hulu and Netflix vary when it comes to downloading content. Let’s break them down!

On Netflix, you can download the content in all the plans, and the number of devices is the same as the number of screens. 

With Hulu, you must opt for an Ad-Free plan to download the content for offline watching.

Both streaming services have a certain limit according to which you can download up to 25 episodes on Hulu, but Netflix allows you to download up to 100 titles.

So Which One Is The Best?

Even though Hulu and Netflix both provide an enticing experience but they can’t be the substitute for each other. If we focus on features and content, Netflix provides more value for your money.

You can watch the service’s excellent original content on more screens in chorus, and you can also access a different Netflix library from almost anywhere in the world.

It entirely depends on you and your budget. That being said, you can always switch between the two because you can cancel the subscription at any time.