Netflix vs. Hulu | Streaming Services

As two of the most popular on-demand streaming services on the market, Netflix and Hulu have a lot to offer subscribers, both in terms of content and features. Choosing between such strong services can be tough, but there are a few things that set them apart. In this guide, you’ll be able to compare these two industry heavy-hitters head to head to see which is the better choice for you.

Read on to find out more about the pricing options each service offers, as well as information on user profiles, original shows and movies, simultaneous streams, parental controls, and other key features.

Netflix and Hulu both offer multiple subscription options, with different price points available depending on the features you need. Netflix’s cheapest option, the Basic package, costs $8.99 per month. Its Standard package costs $13.99 per month and upgrades the user to two simultaneous streams and HD streaming quality. Its Premium subscription option costs $17.99 per month and includes four simultaneous streams and Ultra HD streaming quality. In any package, you can create up to five user profiles.

Hulu’s most basic subscription costs $5.99 per month, or $59.99 per year, and is ad-supported. If you want to avoid commercials, you can get ad-free Hulu for $11.99 per month. Both options allow for up to two simultaneous streams and up to six profiles.

Both Netflix and Hulu are compatible with most devices that support streaming. Most smart TVs from companies like Samsung and Vizio are compatible with these services, as are most laptops, mobile devices, and streaming players like Roku and Apple TV. You can also use a gaming console like the Xbox or PlayStation to stream.

As with many streaming services, Netflix and Hulu have content that is only available in certain countries. A VPN could help, but you should be cautious when using a VPN with either service, as they both have countermeasures in place to avoid users tapping into additional content with a VPN.

Netflix and Hulu both have solid feature sets, available at different price points. With Netflix, you can upgrade to up to four simultaneous streams and download content on up to four devices. You can also stream in HD and Ultra HD in its premium package.

Hulu’s basic package is ad-supported, but you can upgrade to an ad-free version. You can also set up up to six profiles and a watchlist for each in Hulu. Both Hulu and Netflix have parental controls, so you can set parameters for children who may be viewing content through either service.

Netflix comes in at No. 1 in our rating of the Best Streaming Services of 2021 and is currently the most popular streaming service in the world. This fan-favorite service is perhaps best known for its massive lineup of content, including beloved original series such as “Stranger Things” and “BoJack Horseman,” as well as an easy-to-navigate library of movies, TV series, documentaries, and even some interactive content like “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend.”

This streaming service’s many features make it a great fit for many streaming households, including parental controls like kid-specific profiles, downloadable content to watch on the go, and personalizable profiles which can keep track of individual user preferences.

If you’re looking for live TV, Netflix isn’t the service for you because it only has on-demand content to offer. It’s also not the most economical streaming service; though it starts at $8.99 per month, if you want up to four simultaneous streams and the service’s top streaming quality, you’ll have to pay $17.99 per month.

Netflix earns its relatively high price by offering some of the best content available to stream and an impressive list of features. It’s a good choice for most streamers.

Hulu comes in at No. 4 in our ratings of the Best Streaming Services of 2021. This popular service has an awesome content library, with up-to-date episodes of network TV shows, original series such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Little Fires Everywhere,” and plenty of other TV shows and movies for the whole family.

This streaming service starts at $5.99 per month for an ad-supported subscription, though it has other options to get the most bang for your buck. If you’re willing to commit to a full year, you can grab an annual subscription for $59.99. In addition, Hulu offers a bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ to get all three services for $13.99 per month. All these options include the ad-supported version of the service, but you can get ad-free Hulu for $11.99 per month.

Hulu is also a great choice if you’re interested in live TV or sports, with upgrade options starting at $64.99 per month so you can keep all your live and on-demand content in one place. There are also options to add more content, such as HBO Max, though those will cost you extra.

This streaming service is a great choice for many TV fans, with a strong content library, plenty of features, and upgrade options that can help expand your entertainment experience.

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