Hulu vs Hulu Plus: What are the major differences

Hulu

What is Hulu Plus?

Hulu is a video streaming service that uses an internet connection. With Hulu Plus you can stream movies and TV shows on your device without having to purchase them individually or permanently.

Eminently, Hulu Plus uses wireless internet connections, allowing you to access shows and movies on your devices from anywhere and anytime. 

What is the difference between Hulu and Hulu Plus?

The notable difference between Hulu and Hulu Plus is that Hulu is the free version. Hulu is more of a free teaser into what Hulu Plus is like. Since you do not pay for anything in Hulu, the content is very limited by the service. For instance, just a part of an entire show may be available, making it difficult for viewers to binge-watch.

One must remember that Hulu’s content is always being altered. This is not only due to new episodes that are being aired but also due to the contracts between content providers and Hulu. Hence making it difficult to list down the content available on Hulu.

It would be better for a user to visit the site and search for a specific title to watch. When you click on the title, it shows how many episodes are available on Hulu and Hulu Plus.

Once you check Hulu, you’ll see only a few episodes from a show, while Hulu Plus offers the whole season. If you’re looking for just the first few episodes or ending episodes, those can be found on Hulu. After that, you can decide on Hulu Plus if it interests you.

Hulu is available only on selected devices. It is mostly available only through web-based streaming. Whereas Hulu Plus is accessible on a wide variety of devices like iOS and Android devices, Windows, Kindle Fire, and more. 

Hulu Plus Pricing

Hulu Plus will cost you $7.99 per month. With just an additional $4, i.e $11.99 a month you can get a commercial-free version of Hulu Plus. You can also avail of the one-week free trial before you decide to pay. However, to avoid making any payments after the free trial, you will have to deactivate your Hulu Plus account.

In comparison to Netflix that starts from $7.99, Hulu Plus isn’t very highly-priced. And with $9.99, Netflix gives you HD and access to two screens at a time. 

How can I access Hulu Plus?

Hulu Plus works as an app that can be downloaded on any device that supports an internet connection. With a strong internet connection and Hulu Plus, you’ll have an abundance of options to watch from.

When it comes to set-top boxes, Hulu Plus is available on Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also download it on modern gaming consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Decides with Windows 8 and above also support Hulu Plus. The recent iPad and iPhone also support Hulu Plus. 

Comparing Hulu Plus with Netflix (Which is better?)

This is one of the most common questions that arise when it comes to streaming services. Let’s list down some of the notable differences between Netflix and Hulu Plus.

Netflix has a larger catalog for its viewers. The shows offered are plenty across various genres. They also have many more movies and shows from past seasons and decades. They have a good collection of shows and movies for kids. Netflix movies are a little more contemporary as compared to Hulu Plus.

Now, the movie and show selection depend on the contracts the platform has and when those contracts have been updated. You can look it up, however, it may not always be accurate considering the dynamic rosters of Netflix and Hulu Plus.

On the other hand, Hulu Plus offers a lot of the current episodes from a variety of shows that are being aired. This is a great fit for those who need to catch up with shows or movies and those who don’t have easy access to cable. They do have contracts with major networks like Fox and whatnot.

You must note that there are a few exclusive contracts too. For instance, Netflix has AMC which offers Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, etc., while Hulu Plus doesn’t.

You should also consider original shows when comparing Netflix and Hulu Plus. Many of the Netflix original shows are often in the news. You have Orange Is the New Black, Making a Murder, House of Cards, and many more. Whereas, Hulu Plus has its own original shows like the Awesomes and Misfits. And of course, these shows are only available on the platforms that have created them.

Now when it comes to the ads, Hulu uses ads regardless of the version, whether it is Hulu or Hulu Plus. However, if you pay $11.99 for the no commercial Hulu Plus, you won’t be getting any ads. Netflix does not use ads of any kind.

List of Shows on Hulu Plus

So if you’re wondering what kind of content Hulu Plus offers, you can browse through this sample to get an idea:

  • American Horror Story (3 seasons)
  • Hell’s Kitchen (13 seasons)
  • Top Chef (12 seasons)
  • Shark Tank (1 season)
  • Saturday Night Live (16 seasons)
  • Top Gear (20 seasons)
  • South Park (18 seasons)
  • Family Guy (12 seasons)
  • Scrubs (9 season)
  • Law and Order SUV (16 seasons)
  • Revenge (1 seasons)
  • Workaholics (4 seasons)
  • Tosh O (3 seasons)
  • Modern Family (1 season)
  • Key and Peele (4 seasons)

There are just a few of them. Hulu Plus offers over 9000 shows. So there is plenty of content for you to browse and watch.

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Safdarali Rizvi

Safdarali Rizvi the management graduate. Has been an avid book reader all his life so naturally loves playing with his words. His curiosity for discovering futuristic opportunities drives him to enlighten the entire Geekymint team with exclusive and intriguing news. He has a real passion for calisthenics and sports. His management abilities and hunger for learning brings tremendous value to our team.

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