Hulu vs. Netflix: Which streaming service fits your needs?

Hulu vs. Netflix overview

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Hulu vs. Netflix

If you can only afford one, should you choose Netflix or Hulu?

Netflix spent years at the top of the streaming game, but has faced recent competition from notable streaming services like Hulu, fuboTV, Amazon Prime and YouTube TV. It’s still hard to beat the quality and quantity of original content available on Netflix, though.

Hulu offers competitive pricing compared to Netflix and also has a live TV option, Hulu + Live TV so you can catch a favorite sports event or stay current with new sitcoms.

Below we’ll break down the defining characteristics and features to help you decide if Hulu or Netflix is better based on your budget, tastes and preferences.

Does Netflix or Hulu offer better content?

TV content

In 2023, Netflix reported it has a 6,135-title library for U.S. subscribers. Of those, more than 2,200 are TV shows, compared to Hulu’s 1,300 TV shows.

Netflix’s original claims to fame were affordability and a huge bank of movies. However, with a growing number of streaming services crowding the market, Netflix’s offerings have skewed away from just movies and more toward TV series and original content.

Hulu, which started as a service owned by three different TV networks (and is now owned by Disney), leans heavily towards network television and Disney content like the hugely popular hit The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as original television content like The Act, Castle Rock, Catch-22, The Mindy Project, Ramy and Shrill.

Plus, TV show-centric Hulu offers one important feature that Netflix doesn’t: the next-day airing of network TV shows from ABC, NBC and Fox. However, unlike Netflix, Hulu doesn’t provide the entire back catalog of episodes for all of the shows in its library.

Netflix budgeted $13 billion for in-house content creation in 2018 alone and offered popular series like GLOW, Grace and Frankie, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Ozark, Queer Eye, Stranger Things, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and more.

Now, in 2022-23, “According to research from Wells Fargo, Netflix ranks fourth place in terms of total projected 2022 spending ($19 billion, up 13% from 2021). When sports are removed, it ranks second. In contrast, Warner Bros. Discovery will spend $22.4 billion in 2022 (including sports), while Walt Disney Co. will spend $33 billion on content,” reported Comparitech.

On a binge-loving note, Netflix regularly drops entire seasons of original content all at once, so users don’t have to wait a week for the next episode.

Movie content

While some users might complain about Netflix’s constantly-changing library of movies, they still have more movie titles than Hulu’s 1,300, with over 3,800 — an important distinction for watchers who fancy themselves movie buffs. If you’re mostly interested in watching movies, Netflix is the clear winner. TV buffs, on the other hand, will probably be happier with Hulu. 

Other content

According to JustWatch.com, Hulu has over 300 documentaries to Netflix’s 1,000. For your funny bone, Netflix has over 2,300 comedies to Hulu’s 975.

If live TV is important to you, Hulu also offers that:

• $69.99/mo. for Hulu (with ads) + Live TV
• $75.99/mo. for Hulu (no ads) + Live TV
• Both live TV plans include Hulu’s on-demand library

Content Winner: Netflix

Pricing comparison

When it comes to price, Netflix has both the cheapest (by $1) and the most expensive plans.

Netflix and Hulu’s mid-grade packages are comparable in value if you opt for a Hulu plan with no ads. 

Hulu offers a ton of bells, whistles and add-ons that Netflix doesn’t. You have the option to stream shows from premium channels such as Cinemax, HBO, SHOWTIME and STARZ. If you’re a die-hard Disney and/or sports fan, you’ll want to check out Hulu’s bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+.

Neither Hulu nor Netflix offers first-timer discounts or savings, but Hulu does have a free trial.

There are no hidden costs, long-term commitments or cancelation fees with either streaming service.

Price Winner: Netflix

User experience 

Both Netflix and Hulu offer a sleek user experience. Netflix’s user interface has a relatively uniform look and feel across different devices and platforms. Most streaming services have followed Netflix’s design with scrollable new features at the top, followed by a breakdown of personalized offerings.

In April 2023, Hulu launched a redesigned interface with a sidebar for easier searching that looks similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Hulu and Netflix are comparable in the number of accounts allowed on each service, with Netflix offering a maximum of five profiles on all plans and Hulu permitting a maximum of six. In terms of the number of screens, Netflix’s lower-priced plans have Hulu beat.

However, if you subscribe to either of the Hulu + Live TV plans, you’ll get the option to add an unlimited number of screens for an extra monthly fee.

Netflix still has a leg up on Hulu, with its movie library being substantially larger. 

User Experience Winner: Netflix

So, is Netflix or Hulu better?

So when it comes to Netflix and Hulu, which one reigns supreme? It really boils down to what type of streaming you are interested in. If you want lots (and we mean LOTS) of great original content, a huge catalog of movies and a comprehensive back catalog of TV shows, Netflix is your ticket to streaming paradise.

However, some viewers are simply TV fanatics who want the latest episodes from various network shows as soon as they’re available. If you’re in this crowd, you won’t find a better investment than Hulu. With on-demand and live TV options, it’s a TV lover’s happy place.

Something to keep in mind: Netflix started cracking down on password sharing in early 2023, making it nearly impossible to share your account with friends or family. Hulu doesn’t have those precautions, but if Netflix’s program is successful, other streaming services will probably follow suit.

Need a faster internet plan for your streaming?

Hulu recommends 3 Mbps for its streaming library, 8 Mbps for live streams and 16 Mbps for 4K content. Netflix also recommends 3 Mbps for an SD stream and 5 Mbps for an HD stream.

For either service, if you are streaming or watching live content simultaneously on multiple devices, you’ll need that much speed available for each device. For example, if you have three devices streaming in 4K for Hulu, it will take about 48 Mbps to keep them running at the same time without lag.

If you need more speed with your internet plan, check your address with Allconnect to show your options.