Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
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 | HuluOur pick | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 256 | 98 |
| Try Hulu free for 30 days | Try Paramount+ 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 256 qualifying titles, compared to 98 on Paramount+. 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 | Paramount+ Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $8.99 |
| Annual Price | $119.99 | $89.99 |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 3 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3 |
| Profiles | 7 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | – | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 720p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get With Ads → | Get Essential → |
| 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 → | |
Student discount available
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | Not listed |
| Hisense Android TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | Not listed |
| Playsation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sony Bravia Android TVs | Not listed | ✓ |
| TCL 3-Series Smart TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| Visio TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| Vizio TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
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.
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.
Outside CBS content, sports, and the Taylor Sheridan universe, the Paramount+ catalog is one of the thinnest among the major services.
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.
Are Hulu and Paramount+ the same company?
No. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Paramount+ is owned by Paramount. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Hulu included with Paramount+?
No. Neither service includes the other: a Paramount+ 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 Paramount+?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hulu currently streams 256 qualifying titles, compared to 98 on Paramount+.
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.
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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