Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Hulu and Peacock cost the same at $8/month, but which is better? If you take new releases seriously, then Hulu might be for you. It’s constantly producing new shows and films, many award-winning like The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and Atlanta, while also borrowing some titles from the larger Disney/ABC network, including Abbott Elementary and The Conners. On the other hand, if sports is more your thing, then you’ll appreciate the live events Peacock offers. Apart from a handful of originals (including the underrated We Are Lady Parts and enjoyable The Traitors), it also streams live Premier League, Sunday Night Football, and Big Ten matches. That’s a pretty good deal for less than $10 every month. Of course on both platforms, you’ll have to endure a slew of ads if you’re not upgrading to their premium tier. Hulu is more forgivable for offering a 30-day free trial though. You can read our more detailed breakdown of the two services below.
| Feature | HuluOur pick | Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Subscribers | 55 million | 41 million |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 256 | 104 |
| Try Hulu free for 30 days | Try Peacock |
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 104 on Peacock. 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 | Peacock Select |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get With Ads → | Get Select → |
| Hulu 3 plans | Peacock 3 plans | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Select | Premium | Premium Plus | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $8.99 | $12.99 | $19.99 |
| Annual Price | – | $119.99 | – | $89.99 | $129.99 | $199.99 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo | 5.1 sound | 5.1 sound |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | – | – | – | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 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 | Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | Not listed |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | ✓ |
| LG TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | Not listed |
| PlayStation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Visio 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.
Hulu has 55 million subscribers compared to 41 million for Peacock. That makes Hulu 34% more popular by subscriber count.
Hulu starts at $11.99/month, while Peacock starts at $12.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Peacock, 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.
Every Peacock plan below the top tier includes ads, and films rotate in and out monthly with NBCUniversal licensing.
Is Hulu cheaper than Peacock?
Yes. Hulu starts at $11.99/month, while Peacock starts at $12.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.
Do Hulu or Peacock offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Peacock does not currently offer a free trial.
Are Hulu and Peacock the same company?
No. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal (Comcast). They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Hulu included with Peacock?
No. Neither service includes the other: a Peacock 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 Peacock?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hulu currently streams 256 qualifying titles, compared to 104 on Peacock.
Can I cancel Hulu or Peacock anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and Peacock 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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