Hulu: how to sign up, apps, devices, shows, plans, and Hulu + Live TV explained

Hulu might not be as popular as its fellow House of Mouse-owned streamer in Disney Plus. But that doesn’t mean that one of Netflix’s first main streaming rivals isn’t one of the best streaming services around.

With a subscriber base totalling near 50 million, plus a back catalog of award-winning and top-rated movies and TV shows, Hulu shouldn’t be so easily dismissed. If you’re on the hunt for a new streaming platform – one of the cheapest around, too – to subscribe to over Netflix and company, then, Hulu might be the one for you.

Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the US-only streamer. That includes the variety of plans available to buy, the TV series and films you’ll want to watch as soon as you’ve signed up, what devices Hulu is available on, and more. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!

• Sign up to Hulu now and get a 30-day free trial on select plans!

Hulu explained: what is Hulu and Hulu + Live TV?

As our full Hulu review explains, purchasing to a basic Hulu subscription gives you access to over 2,500 films and 1,600 TV series. You’ll also get content from major networks and original stuff from Hulu Not bad for a streaming service that isn’t spoken about in the same way Netflix and Disney Plus are, eh?

Furthermore, one of its standout features is the sheer volume of options available with different bundles and add-ons. For instance, you can add premium channels like HBO Max or Showtime for an extra monthly fee, as well as cancel or switch up these perks whenever you want.

Want our advice on which bundle to buy? The Hulu + Live TV subscription should be your go-to. It delivers more than 75 channels for a reasonable cost  – keep reading for more details on its price point – plus Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. You can read more about this bundle deal in our Disney Plus bundle guide. 

With all of that additional content and Hulu’s Cloud DVR (Digital Video Recorder), which allows you to record up to 50 hours of live television, it’s absolutely worth investing in. You can purchase the Enhanced Cloud DVR to increase your storage to 200 hours and/or bolster your line-up with the Entertainment Network and Español Network Add-ons.

Know which plan you want to go for? You can sign up to Hulu now!

Hulu shows and movies: what can you watch now?

An entry-level Hulu membership lets you binge entire seasons of hit shows, catch new episodes the day after broadcast, enjoy kid’s entertainment and Hulu Originals, and watch TV series and films old and new from major studios. You’re truly spoiled for choice, then, no matter which subscription you buy.

The following list is just a sample of what’s available. For our roundups of the top options, see our best shows on Hulu and best Hulu movies lists.

• American Horror Stories
• Atlanta
• Devs
• Future Man
• House of Gucci
• Little Fires Everywhere
• Love, Victor
• Monsterland
• Normal People
• Only Murders in the Building
• Palm Springs
• Pam & Tommy
• PEN15
• Prey
• Ramy
• Schitt’s Creek
• The Act
• The Bear
• The Dropout
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• The Great
• The Patient
• The X-Files
• What We Do in the Shadows
• Woke

The platform also hosts older shows from dozens of networks, among them A&E, AMC, VH1, MTV, TNT, Disney Channel, and Discovery. So, you’re just a click away from shows like Sons of Anarchy (FX), Modern Family (ABC), Broad City (Comedy Central), and animated classics like Bob’s Burgers and The Simpsons (Fox). Whatever you pick, chances are you’ll have a lot of fun watching it.

With a Hulu + Live TV plan you can enjoy all this and over 75 live channels. Choosing the Disney Plus and ESPN bundle delivers a wild amount of content to your screen.

What’s new on Hulu?

There’s an impressive range of content coming to Hulu in March 2023, including classic movies, plus new film and TV releases. Here are a few of our top picks:

• 30 Days of Night (2007) – added March 1
• Anatasia (1997) – added March 1
• Glory (1989) – added March 1
• Groundhog Day (1993) – added March 1
• LA Confidential (1997) – added March 1
• The Departed (2006) – added March 1 
• The Shape of Water (2017) – added March 1
• Triangle of Sadness (2022) – added March 3
• History of the World, Part II (new) – added March 6
• Boston Strangler (new) – added March 17
• Philomena (2013) – releasing March 24
• FX’s Great Expectations (new) – releasing March 26
• Rye Lane (new) – releasing March 31

How much does Hulu cost?

2022 saw Hulu’s on-demand plans increase in price. The price bump was similar to what we saw with the ESPN Plus cost and the Disney Plus price, although the increase was a bit more severe than what we see with Disney’s other streaming offerings.

Hulu’s Basic Plan now costs $7.99 a month (with ads) and $14.99 a month (without ads). This brings the ‘with ads’ subscription in line with that of Disney Plus, but inflates the ads-free subscription above Disney Plus’ by some way – Disney Plus’ no-ads package costs $10.99. See our ‘versus’ section below for more on how Hulu compares to other big streamers.

The Hulu + Live TV plans, which include ESPN Plus and Disney Plus, are now $69.99 a month (with ads) and $82.99 a month (without ads). Alternatively, you can grab a Live TV-only subscription for $68.99 a month. However, seeing as you’ll have to forgo the Hulu streaming library as well as Disney Plus and ESPN Plus content, we don’t see why you wouldn’t just pay the extra dollar.

Check out our Hulu plans and prices guide for a full breakdown of subscription options and add-ons. Alternatively, if you’re ready to sign up, why not visit Hulu’s website now?

Hulu: is there a free trial?

There is – and it’s a great deal, too! You can try Hulu’s standard package or its no ads equivalent for 30-days (read our Hulu free trial guide for more), which gives you a month to explore the platform’s thrillingly diverse programming. That way, you can stream the best TV shows and movies on offer, see if its suite of content is worth the investment, and sign up for a subscription if you’re happy with what you see. ‘Try before you buy’ has never seemed so good.

How to sign up to Hulu

After all of that, if you’re interested in registering for a Hulu subscription, we’ve got the perfect walkthrough guide below. Happy signing up!

• Head to the Hulu website
• Click on the ‘Start Your Free Trial’ button
• Select a plan from those that are available
• Enter your email address, password, and other details
• Click ‘Continue’ and enter your billing information
• Submit your information and you’re good to go!

Hulu app: what devices can you watch on?

The Hulu app and its many features, including Live TV and Premium Add-ons, are supported by the devices listed below. If you own one or more of these, then, you’ll have no problem catching the best Hulu films and TV series around, no matter if you’re streaming from your couch or on the go.

• Android phones and tablets
• Android TV (select models)
• Apple TV (4th generation or later)
• Chromecast
• Echo Show (8, 10, and 15)
• Fire Tablets
• Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
• iPhones and iPads
• LG TV (select models)
• Nintendo Switch
• Mac and PC browsers/apps
• PlayStation*
• Roku (select models)
• Samsung TV (select models)
• VIZIO SmartCast TVs
• Xbox
• Xfinity Flex Streaming TV Box*
• Xfinity X1 TV Boxes*
• Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player*

Click here for a more detailed list of Hulu-compatible devices and models.

* While Contour devices, PlayStation 3, and Xfinity devices have the latest Hulu app, they do not support live TV programming.

Is Hulu available in 4K and HDR?

Own a piece of hardward that supports 4K Ultra HD? You’re in luck. Some of the best TV series on Hulu are available to stream with a sharper image, deeper color, and 8 million pixels (px) pummelling your eyeballs. 

That said, it’s a pretty small selection – Hulu is home to over 4,000 titles, but there are only 70 or so that support 4K. Almost every Hulu Original is available to stream in high definition (HD) format, though, so fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Bear, and Only Murders in the Building need not worry.

Other titles you can watch in 4K Ultra HD include supernatural thriller Helstrom, science-fiction comedy Future Man, and horror anthology series Into the Dark. There’s also a clutch of FX titles to enjoy, such as Mayans MC, Black Narcissus, and the star-studded miniseries Mrs America. Any content available in this format will display a 4K badge on their landing pages.

You can currently watch 4K UHD content on the following devices: Apple TV (5th generation and above), Chromecast Ultra, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, LG TVs (2017 UHD models and above), Roku, Vizio SmartCast TVs, and Xbox One (S and X models). HDR isn’t supported right now, so all 4K UHD content will be streamed in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).

Hulu vs Netflix vs Prime Video vs HBO Max

Netflix, he most ubiquitous video-on-demand (VOD) platform, boasts over 5,000 films and TV series. It produces hundreds of originals – shows and movies – a year, including Oscar-nominated films and highly popular shows like Stranger Things. 

Hulu’s price increase means we can’t vouch for it as a cheaper alternative anymore, but it still provides great value for money. Netflix’s basic with-ads is $6.99 a month ($1 less than Hulu’s ads plan) and the basic without-ads plan is $9.99 compared to Hulu’s $14.99. However, you can only stream on one device with Netflix’s basic subscriptions, whereas Hulu offers two (or the option to buy unlimited streams for $9.99 a month). Hulu doesn’t put limits on streaming quality, either. Compare that with Netflix’s two cheapest plans only being available in SD, and the fact you’ll pay $15.49 (and $19.99 for four Ultra HD simultaneous streams) for two-device HD streaming on Netflix, Hulu becomes more of an option.

Prime Video is comparable in price for a full Prime membership ($14.99 for Amazon Prime or $8.99 for just Prime Video). With around 18,000 titles, its content library is metaphorically stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Granted, the overall quality is questionable, but Prime Video includes plenty of high-profile Amazon Originals including The Boys, The Rings of Power, and Invincible, as well as high-calibre movies old and new. 

The Prime membership also delivers other bonuses like free order delivery, Prime reading, and ad-free music streaming, which justifies the inflated price. On the downside, you’re limited to three streams per account and, when it comes replicating the cable experience, Hulu + Live TV is far more cost-effective than adding individual Amazon Channels.

HBO Max’s ad-free services is now the same price as the Hulu equivalent and is a couple of dollars more for the ads-supported version. It allows you to watch three different devices at once – and in HD if your connection allows. If you’re a fan of HBO’s output – our guide to the best HBO shows and best HBO Max movies will remind you why you should be – then registering is as simple as shouting “Dracarys!”. 

As well as ground-breaking dramas like The Last of Us, The Wire, and Game of Thrones, subscribers get a wide range of titles from Warner Brothers, their subsidiaries, and third-party companies. That means easy access to all Studio Ghibli animations, DC Comics movies, The Lord of the Rings films, and a selection of classic movies curated by TCM. 

There is a string to Hulu’s bow that makes it a more appealing option than HBO Max, though. Right now, you can add HBO Max to your Hulu subscription as a premium add-on, meaning you get two streamers – and all of their fantastic content – for the price of one (technically, at least). You can get more details via this Hulu with HBO Max page.