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 | Hulu | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Subscribers | 43,000,000 | 28,900,000 |
| Our rating | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Try Hulu — 30 days free | Try Starz |
| Hulu 3 plans | Starz 1 plan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Starz | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $10.99 |
| 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 → | |
Only available for the standalone plan or the Hulu-Spotify bundle
Also available as an add-on on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Roku
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a full breakdown of where you can watch each one.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Starz |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | — |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | — |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | — |
| LG TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | — |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
Hulu has 43,000,000M subscribers compared to 28,900,000M for Starz. That makes Hulu 49% more popular by subscriber count.
Starz starts at $10.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That’s $1.00 more per month for Hulu, or $12.00 more per year.
Is Starz cheaper than Hulu?
Yes. Starz starts at $10.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $1.00/month, or $12.00 per year.
Do Hulu or Starz offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Starz does not currently offer a free trial.
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.
<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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