Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
While both Hulu and AppleTV+ excel at producing original shows, there are a couple of differences between the two popular streaming services. Hulu has more variety both in terms of price range and content. You can choose ad-supported or ad-free, and you can even bundle it with add-on channels if you want to. It also goes beyond originals, streaming new episodes of ABC shows like Abbott Elementary and other Disney-owned properties like National Geographic documentaries. Meanwhile, the pricier AppleTV+ is limited to its own films and TV shows. But boy, are they good. What it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality—Severance, Pachinko, Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses are only some of the many award-winning shows it has to offer. So, which is better? If you value variety and want more value for money, go for Hulu. If you like seeing big stars in quality productions, go for AppleTV+. Both have free trials anyway, so you can test them out for yourself. In the meantime, we break down all you need to know about Hulu vs AppleTV+.
| Feature | HuluOur pick | Apple TV+ |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 264 | 88 |
| Try Hulu free for 30 days | Try Apple TV+ free for 7 days |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, Hulu currently streams 264 qualifying titles, compared to 88 on Apple TV+. Here are the picks our readers are watching most on each right now.
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | Hulu With Ads | Apple TV+ Apple TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $14.99 |
| Annual Price | $119.99 | $119.00 |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 6 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 6, more with Family Sharing |
| Profiles | 7 | 6 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 sound |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps |
| Get With Ads → | Get Apple TV → |
| Hulu 3 plans | Apple TV+ 4 plans | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Apple TV | Apple One Individual | Apple One Family | Apple One Premier | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $14.99 | $21.95 | $31.95 | $37.95 |
| Annual Price | – | $119.99 | – | $119.00 | – | – | – |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 6, more with Family Sharing | 6 | 6, more with Family Sharing | 6, more with Family Sharing |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | – | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Student discount available
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Apple TV+ |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | Not listed |
| Android TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | Not listed |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | Not listed |
| Roku | ✓ | Not listed |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | Not listed |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
Hulu starts at $11.99/month, while Apple TV+ starts at $12.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Apple TV+, or $12.00 more per year.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
Most Hulu plans keep ads unless you pay roughly double for the ad-free tier, and Disney has been steadily folding Hulu into the Disney+ app, so the standalone experience keeps shifting.
Apple TV+ is originals only, with almost no back catalog, so a few weeks of heavy watching can exhaust what interests you.
Is Hulu cheaper than Apple TV+?
Yes. Hulu starts at $11.99/month, while Apple TV+ starts at $12.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.
Do Hulu or Apple TV+ offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial.
Are Hulu and Apple TV+ the same company?
No. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Apple TV+ is owned by Apple. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Hulu included with Apple TV+?
No. Neither service includes the other: a Apple TV+ subscription does not give you Hulu content, and vice versa. You need a separate subscription for each.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Hulu or Apple TV+?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hulu currently streams 264 qualifying titles, compared to 88 on Apple TV+.
Can I cancel Hulu or Apple TV+ anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and Apple TV+ are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
If you're a fan of TV shows, then Hulu has a lot to offer, with a pretty comprehensive list of popular shows from major networks, including classic sitcoms, as well as children's programs like Sesame Street. Hulu is also acclaimed for its ace original programming, with hit shows from comedies like The Mindy Project to dystopian dramas like Handmaid's Tale.
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