Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
From a distance, it’s hard to pick out significant differences between Hulu and Starz. Both produce popular original shows, and both cost less than $10/month. But upon closer inspection, you’ll notice some details that might affect you in the long run. For instance, Starz’s monthly price is $3 more expensive, which can add up to major costs. You also can’t try Starz for free, unlike Hulu, which has trials that last up to 30 days. On the flip side, Starz is more available as an add-on (in Prime Video and Sling for example) and it has rights to major blockbusters, whereas Hulu is often limited to whatever Disney can license. So which is better? We think you’ll get a lot more for the price with Hulu, but you can read our thorough breakdown below to see which streaming service fits you best.
| Feature | HuluOur pick | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $11.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Subscribers | 55 million | 29 million |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 253 | 31 |
| Try Hulu free for 30 days | Try Starz |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, Hulu currently streams 253 qualifying titles, compared to 31 on Starz. 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 | Starz Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $11.99 |
| Annual Price | $119.99 | $69.99 |
| New User Deal | – | 73% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 4 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 4 |
| Profiles | 7 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 surround sound |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| Get With Ads → | Get Starz → |
| Hulu 3 plans | Starz 1 plan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Starz | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $11.99 |
| Annual Price | – | $119.99 | – | $69.99 |
| New User Deal | – | – | – | 73% off 1st month |
| 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 | 4 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 4 |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 surround sound |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Student discount available
Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | Not listed |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | Not listed |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | Not listed |
| LG TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | Not listed |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 29 million for Starz. That makes Hulu 90% more popular by subscriber count.
Both Hulu and Starz start at $11.99/month for their base plan, so price alone won’t decide this comparison. Look at each catalog and features to make your call.
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.
Starz is a movie-first channel with a small originals slate; if its film library does not appeal to you, there is not much else here.
Is Hulu the same price as Starz?
Yes. Both Hulu and Starz start at $11.99/month for their base plan.
Do Hulu or Starz offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Starz does not currently offer a free trial.
Are Hulu and Starz the same company?
No. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Starz is owned by Starz Entertainment, a separate company spun off from Lionsgate. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Can you get Starz through Hulu?
Yes. Starz is sold as a paid add-on channel inside Hulu, so you can subscribe to it there and watch everything in one app instead of managing a separate subscription.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Hulu or Starz?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hulu currently streams 253 qualifying titles, compared to 31 on Starz.
Can I cancel Hulu or Starz anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and Starz 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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