Hulu Review 2023: Is Hulu On-Demand Worth It?

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What is Hulu?

Hulu is one of the oldest streaming platforms in the business. Since its launch in 2007, it has grown steadily, adding more content every year and now boasting over 48 million subscribers. 

Hulu's strength has long been its vast library of TV shows, but it has since expanded that to include much of its own award-winning programming alongside many hit feature films. In terms of its breadth of content, Hulu is tough to match — especially at a starting price of $8/mo.

Whether you want to binge an old classic show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or watch a Hulu Original like The Handmaid's Tale or Palm Springs, you can probably find your niche on this streaming platform. And you can upgrade your plan to drop ads, add the Disney bundle, or tack on premium services like HBO Max. 

All in all, Hulu is one of the best values you can find for an on-demand steamer. But don't just take our word for it — read on to learn more.

In Hulu's 15-plus years in the streaming business, the service has managed to keep costs low while maintaining a premium content library. Hulu continues to grow its library with deep catalog of originals and a wide range of shows from other networks — many of which you can stream the day after they air. You can also stream much of Hulu's content in 4K if you have the right hardware.

The Hulu free trial is 30 days, which is much longer than its competitors (many of whom no longer offer free trials at all). It's also worth mentioning that Hulu has historically offered more promotions than its competitors, and there's always been a handful of ways to keep the service affordable.

How Much Does Hulu Cost?

The Hulu price varies based on the plan you get. Hulu currently offers two plans. The ad-supported plan will cost you $8/mo. or $80/yr., and the No Ads plan goes for $15/mo. The cost of the ad-free plan will jump to $18 on October 12, 2023.

Keep in mind that Hulu frequently offers promotions to new and existing subscribers. For instance, the service launched a promotion that offered the ad-supported monthly plan to all enrolled college students for $2/mo. You can also purchase the Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ ad-supported bundle for $15/mo. or the no-ads bundle for $20/mo. 

Hulu also offers a live TV option that lets you tune into more than 85 cable channels for an additional cost. Hulu + Live TV comes in two plans; there's the ad-supported Hulu + Live TV plan, which will set you back $70/mo. and the Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV plan, which costs $83/mo.

Both of these plans now include Disney+ and ESPN+, as well as unlimited DVR space. You can purchase additional add-ons like unlimited screens and the Sports and Español add-ons to further customize your subscription. The price of the Live TV plans are each increasing by $7 on October 12--to $77 for ad-supported, and to $90 for ad-free. 

But Hulu is offering a major discount to new and returning subscribers right now on the Live TV plans. If you subscribe to the ad-supported plan before the price goes up on October 12, you get your first three months for just $50. 

Hulu's Content and Add-ons

Wondering what to watch on Hulu? Your options are plentiful. A subscription to Hulu comes complete with a vast library of shows and movies. Some of the best shows on Hulu include fan-favorites Ramy and Only Murderers in the Building, and some of the best movies on Hulu include classics like Fight Club and originals like Palm Springs. Hulu's library currently contains more than 50,000 movies and show episodes, so there's probably something on the service for everyone to enjoy.

Hulu Originals

Many of the best shows and films on Hulu are its originals. Hulu has everything from gut wrenching dramas to surreal comedies, some of which have even been recognized by the Oscars, Emmys, and more. Here are 10 of the best Hulu original shows and movies you can find on the service:

• The Handmaid's Tale

• Letterkenny

• Shrill

• The United States vs. Billie Holiday

• Only Murders in the Building

• Palm Springs

• Madagascar: A Little Wild

• Castle Rock

• The Hardy Boys

• Happiest Season

Hulu Add-ons

A Hulu subscription will give you access to Hulu's complete library of on-demand content. You can also purchase multiple premium add-ons to upgrade your service and stream the way you want. Here are three premium add-ons you should know about.

Starz: This add-on will give you full access to Starz premium streaming service. With this add-on you'll be able to watch shows like Power and American Gods and get your superhero fix with Venom: Let There Be Carnage. This add-on costs an additional $10/mo.

Cinemax:  This add-on gives you access to Cinemax content and boasts an impressive lineup of behind-the-scenes content for Hulu subscribers to enjoy. Ever wonder how your favorite episodes of Banshee or The Knick are made? Well, look no further. This add-on costs an additional $10/mo.

Max: While it's the most expensive add-on listed, it's also one of the most well-rounded you can buy with a Hulu subscription. The Max add-on costs $16/mo. and comes with tons of content from HBO, Warner Bros. and more.

There's no other add-on you can use to watch all six seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and then turn around to binge almost every DC movie that's been made in the past 20 years. It's easy to get lost in all Max has to offer as this add-on adds a lot of value to your Hulu subscription.

Hulu Features

Cloud DVR

Hulu does offer cloud DVR space, but it's not something you'll have to worry about with the regular Hulu subscriptions as everything is available on demand. DVR space is only relevant if you get Hulu + Live TV, which comes with unlimited DVR space for recording and watching your favorite programs.

Simultaneous Streams

Hulu allows you to stream simultaneously on two screens with the regular plan. If you're solo or have a small household, this will likely be sufficient. However, if you're sharing your subscription with roommates or a family, this could be a drawback. Unfortunately, you can only upgrade to unlimited screens with a Hulu + Live TV subscription.

Sports

A regular Hulu subscription doesn't offer much in the way of sports; you need a Hulu + Live TV subscription for that. While you can get the Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ bundle for ESPN+ content, Hulu itself doesn't include any live sports. You'll only find documentaries, movies, and TV shows about sports or sports stars but no live action.

Offline Downloads

Hulu allows you to download content to watch online, but only if you're a Hulu (No Ads) or Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV subscriber. Because you can't download the ads, the streamer doesn't allow those on the ad-supported plan to download content for offline viewing. You also need to have a mobile device compatible with Hulu to download the content.

Profiles

With any Hulu subscription, you can make up to six user profiles to track the programs you're watching. Each user profile frequently updates itself with new recommendations for Hulu users to watch based on their streaming habits, making it easy to find your next binge. And, with simultaneous streams, two users can watch two different shows on different devices at the same time.

Categories

Hulu's massive library of content is broken into more manageable categories based on genre, network, and other criteria. If you're looking for a new rom-com to watch while indulging in a tub of ice cream, then all you need to do is search for romance in the Hulu search bar. Some genres will even be featured on your home page when you first log into your account, and you can select your favorites when you first sign up. Hulu will also often feature special categories for certain seasons or holidays, such as Black History month.

Parental Controls

Hulu also lets you set blocks and limits on the type of content your kids or other young users can watch. To do this, you simply need to create a user profile for the member of your family who will have restricted access to the service, designate them as a kid when prompted, and you're all set. Hulu will automatically restrict any mature content from the new user's profile, and you can set a pin to prevent them from accessing adult profiles for additional protection.

Hulu Supported Devices

• You can stream Hulu on most streaming and gaming devices in your home, including many smart TVs. Here's a list of compatible devices you can use to watch the service:

• Android smartphones and tablets

• Android TV (Google TV)

• Apple TV

• Google Chromecast

• Echo Show

• Fire Tablets

• Fire TV and Fire TV Stick

• Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

• LG TV

• Nintendo Switch

• Mac and PC browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox)

• Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (live TV not available)

• Roku and Roku Stick

• Samsung TV

• Vizio SmartCast TVs

• Windows 10

• Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

You can watch Hulu on some older devices, including older Samsung TVs, TiVos, older generations of Apple TVs as well. Just keep in mind that you probably won't be able to access new features, add-ons, or the Hulu + Live TV option.

Is Hulu Worth It?

Hulu has maintained its status as one of the biggest names in streaming since its launch in 2007 by sticking to what it knows best, TV. This is the perfect service for television show fanatics and obsessive bingers, alike. That said, Hulu now has a wide range of movies and its own original programming, making one of the most well-rounded streaming options.

The ad-supported version of the plan comes with plenty of commercials, so be prepared to sit through a couple of ads. But, if you're looking for a streaming service with plenty of shows and movies to veg out to, then Hulu is the perfect service for you.