Hulu and Paramount+’s ad-supported tiers both cost $8/month, but which of them is better? That depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a constant and consistent release of original titles, Hulu might be a better fit for you. With award-winning shows like The Bear, The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building, and Shogun, you’ll likely find something to tune into on the platform. Not to mention, it carries next-day episodes of ABC shows like Abbott Elementary and High Potential, so that’s something to consider if you’ve gone fully cordless. Meanwhile, Paramount+ has the Star Trek and Yellowstone spin-offs going for itself. Don’t be fooled by the quantity, though. Paramount+ also has rights to Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET, and MTV shows. It also covers NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League live; if you upgrade to their premium Showtime tier, you’ll even have access to your local CBS station. So which is better? For more value for money, Hulu. For more variety and sports content, Paramount+. Of course, there are many other factors to consider too, like device compatibility and free trial availability. So if you’re still on the fence, you can read about all those details and more in our breakdown below.
| Feature | Hulu | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days |
| Subscribers | 43,000,000 | — |
| Our rating | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Try Hulu — 30 days free | Try Paramount+ — 7 days free |
| Hulu 3 plans | Paramount+ 2 plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Essential | Premium | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $8.99 | $13.99 |
| Annual Price | — | $119.99 | — | $89.99 | $139.99 |
| 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 | 3 | 3 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3 | 3 |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | — | — | — | 4 | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 720p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo | 5.1 audio |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — | — |
| Dolby Atmos | — | — | — | — | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Only available for the standalone plan or the Hulu-Spotify bundle
0 channels are available on both services. Paramount+ has 4 exclusive channels not on Hulu.
| Channel | Hulu | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| CBS | — | ✓ |
| CBS Sports HQ | — | ✓ |
| CBS local channels | — | ✓ |
| Showtime | — | ✓ |
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a full breakdown of where you can watch each one.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | — |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | — |
| Hisense Android TV | — | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | — |
| Playsation | — | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sony Bravia Android TVs | — | ✓ |
| TCL 3-Series Smart TV | — | ✓ |
| Visio TV | — | ✓ |
| Vizio TV | — | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
Hulu has 43,000,000M subscribers compared to 0M for Paramount+.
Paramount+ starts at $8.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That’s $3.00 more per month for Hulu, or $36.00 more per year.
Is Paramount+ cheaper than Hulu?
Yes. Paramount+ starts at $8.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $3.00/month, or $36.00 per year.
Do Hulu or Paramount+ offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Paramount+ offers a 7-day free trial.
What channels does Paramount+ have that Hulu doesn't?
Paramount+ has 4 channels not available on Hulu, including: CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports HQ, Showtime.
Can I cancel Hulu or Paramount+ anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and Paramount+ are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
<p>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.</p>
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