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Hulu vs. Netflix
Hulu and Netflix anchor the U.S. streaming market, but they emphasize different strengths: Netflix scales globally with a heavy slate of originals, while Hulu focuses on U.S. general entertainment, next‑day network TV, and a Live TV bundle integrated with Disney’s broader streaming portfolio.
Netflix reports roughly 286 million global paid memberships (Q3 2024) in its investor materials (140 million monthly subscribers reflects older estimates and has more than doubled). For most viewers, Netflix offers a wide variety of originals and licensed titles with multiple plans, including a 4K/HDR option.
Hulu’s scale is U.S.-centric: Disney’s latest disclosures show approximately 55–56 million total paid subscribers when combining Hulu SVOD‑only (~50–51M) and Hulu + Live TV (~4.9M) as of Disney’s fiscal Q4 2024 (Disney Q4 FY2024 press release; see Disney Investor Relations). Hulu also now surfaces much of its on‑demand catalog inside Disney+ for eligible bundle subscribers via “Hulu on Disney+,” reducing app‑switching for discovery and playback (Disney+/Hulu integration).
Hulu vs. Netflix Overview
Netflix leads by global subscriber count and breadth of original programming, offering ad‑supported and ad‑free tiers, with 4K/HDR reserved for its Premium plan (Netflix plans and pricing; Ultra HD requirements).
Hulu’s U.S. library emphasizes general entertainment, next‑day ABC and FOX shows, FX on Hulu, Hulu Originals, and an optional Live TV bundle. Disney has been integrating Hulu more deeply into its streaming ecosystem, including making Hulu programming accessible within the Disney+ app for bundle subscribers (Hulu on Disney+).
Here are a few more details you might want to consider when deciding whether you’re more interested in Hulu or Netflix.
| Hulu | Netflix | |
| Monthly price range | $7.99/mo.–$18.99/mo. (SVOD); Live TV from $81.99/mo. (Hulu pricing) | $6.99/mo.–$22.99/mo. (Netflix pricing) |
| Number of account users | 2 concurrent streams by default (SVOD); Unlimited Screens add‑on available for Live TV (Hulu plans) | 2 streams on Standard with ads and Standard; 4 on Premium (Netflix plans) |
| Number of titles | Varies by region; independent U.S. trackers generally show a smaller catalog than Netflix by title count (Reelgood analyses) | Varies by region; mid‑sized U.S. catalog relative to peers by title count (Reelgood analyses) |
| Number of originals | Hulu Originals + FX on Hulu; lower output than Netflix by global volume (Parrot Analytics; Ampere Analysis) | Leads major streamers in global original output volume and demand share (Parrot Analytics; Ampere Analysis) |
| Offline viewing | Yes (No Ads plan only; eligible titles/devices) (Hulu downloads) | Yes (Standard and Premium; not on ad plan) (Netflix downloads) |
| Streaming speed | 4K available on select titles/devices; use a high‑speed connection (Hulu does not publish a single Mbps requirement in its 4K help) (Hulu 4K support) | For Ultra HD, Netflix recommends at least 15 Mbps; 4K/HDR requires Premium plan and compatible device (Netflix Ultra HD) |
Quantity of streaming content
Catalog size and mix change frequently and vary by country. Independent trackers consistently show Netflix with a larger U.S. title count than Hulu and a heavy emphasis on originals, while Hulu’s U.S. catalog leans into general‑entertainment TV and films (Reelgood reports).
For fresh TV episodes, Hulu offers next‑day streaming for many ABC and FOX series (ABC is Disney‑owned; FOX licenses next‑day rights to Hulu), whereas NBC’s next‑day episodes stream on Peacock instead (FOX 10‑K; Peacock next‑day).
Disney is consolidating Hulu more tightly into its streaming stack: “Hulu on Disney+” brings a large portion of Hulu’s on‑demand library into Disney+ for bundle subscribers, with Hulu remaining a standalone app and the destination for Hulu + Live TV (Disney+ press).
Strong original programming
Originals are a key differentiator because licensed titles rotate. If you prioritize first‑run exclusives, Netflix typically leads in the volume and global demand share of streaming originals among major services (Parrot Analytics; Ampere Analysis).
Netflix’s tentpoles span genres and regions, from buzzy series to international hits, and many titles stream in 4K with HDR/Dolby Vision on compatible devices for Premium members (Netflix Ultra HD).
Hulu combines Hulu Originals with FX on Hulu to deliver prestige series and limited series that skew adult/general entertainment, complemented by next‑day ABC/FOX availability. With Disney’s integration moves, Hulu originals and FX titles are more discoverable inside Disney+ for eligible subscribers (Hulu on Disney+).
User interface
Netflix overhauled its TV app to speed up decision‑making with a simplified top navigation and richer details on focus/hover, so you scroll and click less to choose something to watch (Netflix TV app redesign).
Inside the Netflix interface, personalized rows (Top 10, Trending, Continue Watching) and a consistent layout across devices surface content quickly; ad‑free plans also support downloads on compatible mobile devices (Netflix downloads).
Hulu’s on‑demand catalog is also available within Disney+ in the U.S. for bundle subscribers via a dedicated Hulu hub, using Disney+’s profiles and parental controls; Hulu + Live TV (guide, DVR, add‑ons) remains in the Hulu app (Disney+ press; Disney+ help).
Value
Both services offer ad‑supported and ad‑free options at different price points, with plan features that affect video quality, downloads, and simultaneous streams.
Netflix (U.S.) plans: Standard with ads at $6.99/month (up to 1080p; two streams; no downloads), Standard at $15.49/month (up to 1080p; two streams; downloads), and Premium at $22.99/month (up to 4K UHD with HDR where available; four streams). Ultra HD also requires compatible devices and at least 15 Mbps sustained bandwidth (plans/pricing; ad plan features; Ultra HD requirements; downloads).
Hulu (U.S.) SVOD: Hulu (With Ads) $7.99/month or $79.99/year, and Hulu (No Ads) $18.99/month (most titles ad‑free; two streams by default; downloads available only on No Ads). Hulu + Live TV starts at $81.99/month (with Ads) or $89.99/month (with Hulu No Ads), includes Unlimited DVR, and offers an Unlimited Screens add‑on for more simultaneous viewing (Hulu plans/pricing; downloads).
4K/UHD: Netflix restricts 4K/HDR to Premium; Hulu supports 4K on select titles/devices without a separate 4K tier, though selection is more limited than HD (Netflix Ultra HD; Hulu 4K support).
The Bottom Line
Both Hulu and Netflix deliver strong value but serve different priorities. Netflix brings scale (about 286M global paid memberships) and the deepest slate of originals across genres and countries, with 4K/HDR reserved for Premium.
Hulu is best for U.S. viewers who want next‑day ABC/FOX series, FX on Hulu and Hulu Originals, and the option to add Live TV—plus tighter integration with Disney+ that simplifies discovery for bundle subscribers.
Disney is moving to full ownership of Hulu, further unifying product, advertising, and bundles across Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, which should continue to shape Hulu’s catalog and user experience (Disney announcement).
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