Hulu: an explanation of how to sign up, devices, shows, plans, applications, and Hulu + Live TV

Among the top streaming services available worldwide is Hulu. Not convinced by us? Take a look at the variety and caliber of films and television series available, ranging from thrilling new original productions to timeless masterpieces. Hulu is unquestionably worth signing up for, even though it may not garner as much attention as Netflix or even its more well-known stablemate, Disney Plus, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company.

How do I get Hulu on my TV?

Remarkable new releases on Hulu include The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, Normal People, and No One Will Save. You are seated next to an enduring back library featuring classic shows like The X-Files, Frasier, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Additionally, you may follow Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’s journey to the Premier League in the popular soccer documentary Greetings from Wrexham. You can see what else is available by perusing our in-depth guides to the top Hulu movies and series.

Before you sign up, this article will teach you everything you need to know about Hulu, including costs, free trials, where to watch, and whether 4K alternatives are available. We also go over how Disney Plus and Hulu will combine in 2024 to create a new, cohesive “one-app experience” and how you might be impacted by the streamer’s new password sharing policy.

HULU EXPLAINED: WHAT IS HULU AND HULU WITH LIVE TV?

Joining the streaming service gives you access to over 2,500 movies and over 1,600 TV series, as our Hulu review outlines. Your eyes will be spoiled for choice with that amount of stuff.

You may add a ton of various bundles and add-ons to your Hulu membership as well. For an additional monthly charge, premium channels like ESPN, Showtime, and Max may be added. Add-ons like Español Network, Entertainment Network, and limitless screens are also available. At any time, you are free to change or cancel these benefits.

But things are about to change. The Walt Disney Company-owned Hulu and rival streaming service Disney Plus are set to merge at some point in 2024 (specific date to be confirmed). A new cohesive “one-app experience” was put through beta testing in December 2023.

Disney Plus and Hulu will still be offered separately in the US, but with this new 2-in-1 option, the redesigned platform will undoubtedly be a stronger competitor to streaming giants like Netflix, Max, and Prime Video. Additionally, it will align the new platform with Disney Plus users in the UK and Australia, who may access a wider selection of films and TV series via the Disney Plus Star service.
So which package is the best one to buy at this time? Newcomers to Hulu may also want to have a look at the Hulu with Live TV package, which provides over 75 TV channels at a fair price. It’s an excellent substitute for cable and comes with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus as extras. Additionally, you will get access to Cloud DVR (Digital Video Recorder), which lets you record live TV for an infinite amount of time.

If we’ve merely whetted your appetite, we have lots more information in our Disney Plus package guide. You’ve already decided which strategy to pursue. Join Hulu right now!.

HOW MUCH DOES HULU COST?

The ad-supported Hulu Basic Plan is available for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. But for as low as $1.99 a month, students may get a Basic Plan (check out the Hulu Student plan to see if you’re qualified).

You will have to pay $17.99 a month for an ad-free Hulu subscription, but if you want to watch on both platforms, adding Disney Plus (with advertising) to your bundle would just set you back $2.00 extra. The breakdown of Hulu’s pricing tiers is as follows:

There are other bundle choices available as well. For example, the Duo option adds Disney Plus to your Hulu plan, while the Trio option includes ESPN Plus as well. The choices for the package look like this:

As an alternative to cable, Hulu + Live TV subscriptions are also offered, providing you with access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus in addition to live television channels. For $79.99 a month, you may get a Hulu membership that includes simply Live TV. But, because the Live TV-only bundle excludes the Hulu library in addition to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus programming, you may as well spend an additional dollar to have Hulu + Live TV in order to access all of the accessible streaming content. The following prices apply to Hulu Plus Live TV plans:

For a detailed explanation of all the available subscription packages and add-ons, see our Hulu plans and rates guide.

HULU FREE TRIAL: IS THERE ONE?

There is, and it’s a big one at that! For a whole month (see our guide on Hulu’s free trial), you may enjoy a 30-day trial of Hulu’s normal subscription or its ad-free version, giving you enough time to peruse the platform’s diverse selection.

By taking advantage of this deal, you may see Hulu’s greatest films and TV series, determine if its collection is worth the money, and, if you’re satisfied with what’s available, subscribe to the service. There has never been a more alluring chance to experience anything before you purchase.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO HULU

Ityou want to register with Hulu! This is how you do it:

1. Go to the Hulu homepage.
2. Select the option to “Start Your Free Trial.”
3. Choose a plan to enroll in.
4. Enter your password, email address, and further information.
5. After selecting “Continue,” input your billing details.
6. Enter your details to register.

HULU SHOWS AND MOVIES: WHAT’S AVAILABLE?

With an entry-level Hulu subscription, you can watch new episodes of several popular series the day after they air. In addition, there are a ton of kid-friendly selections, Hulu Originals, and both new and classic movies and TV shows from big studios.

You’ll see that we weren’t lying when we stated there will always be something to watch on Hulu if you continue reading.

• The Act
• American Horror Stories
• Atlanta
• The Bear
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Devs
• The Dropout
• Echo
• Fargo
• Fleishman is in Trouble
• Frasier
• The Full Monty (TV show)
• Futurama
• The Great
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• High Fidelity
• How I Met Your Father
• How I Met Your Mother
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Little Fires Everywhere
• Love, Victor
• No One Will Save You
• Normal People
• Only Murders in the Building
• Palm Springs
• Pam & Tommy
• The Patient
• PEN15
• Prey
• Ramy
• Reservation Dogs
• Rick and Morty
• Schitt’s Creek
• What We Do in the Shadows
• Woke
• Welcome to Wrexham
• The X-Files

TV shows from other networks, such as A&E, AMC, VH1, MTV, TNT, Disney Channel, National Geographic, and Discovery, are also available on Hulu, as we previously indicated. That implies that shows like Broad City (Comedy Central), Modern Family (ABC), Sons of Anarchy (FX), and beloved cartoon series like Family Guy (Fox), King of the Hill, and Bob’s Burgers are all only a click away.

HULU APP: WHAT DEVICES CAN YOU WATCH ON?

Numerous devices are compatible with the Hulu app and all of its features. It will be quite easy for you to access Hulu if you have any of the following:

• Amazon Fire tablets
• Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5.0 or later)
• Amazon Fire Stick
• Android phones and tablets
• Android TV devices (select models)
• Apple iPhones and iPads
• Apple TV (4th generation or later)
• Chromecast
• Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player*
• Echo Show (8, 10, and 15)
• LG WebOS smart TVs (select devices)
• Nintendo Switch (R1 and Lite)
• PlayStation*
• Roku (select models)
• Samsung smart TVs (select models)
• Various internet web browsers
• Vizio SmartCast TVs
• Xbox
• Xfinity Flex Streaming TV Box*
• Xfinity X1 TV Boxes*

* Although the newest Hulu app is available on Contour devices, PlayStation 3, and Xfinity devices, live TV content is not supported on these platforms.

IS HULU AVAILABLE IN 4K AND HDR?

Indeed. You can watch some of Hulu’s best series in higher definition, with richer color and support for up to 8 million pixels (px). All platforms do not, however, offer this capability. There are more than 4,000 titles available on Hulu, but only few of them support 4K.

However, lovers of The Handmaid’s Tale need not fear, since almost every Hulu Original can be seen in better resolution. The supernatural thriller Helstrom, which is influenced by Marvel, is one of the other films available in 4K Ultra HD. Moreover, other FX titles, like Mrs. America and Devs, are also in 4K. On their landing pages, any material that is accessible in this format will have a 4K badge.

Last but not least, the following devices support 4K UHD content: Vizio SmartCast TVs, LG TVs (2017 UHD models and above), Roku, Samsung TVs (2019 UHD models or later), Apple TVs (5th generation and above), Chromecast Ultra, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, and Xbox One (S and X models). Since HDR isn’t enabled at this time, Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) will be used to stream all 4K UHD material.

HOW DOES HULU COMPARE TO ITS RIVALS?

The primary competitor of Hulu, Netflix, claims more than 5,000 movies and TV programs and creates hundreds of TV episodes and features annually, including Stranger Things.

A Hulu membership costs a little more than the same amount on Netflix. Hulu’s $17.99 monthly plan is more expensive than Netflix’s $15.49 Standard (no advertising) plan if you wish to watch without commercials, but Netflix’s $6.99 monthly Standard (with ads) tier is $1 less expensive than Hulu’s $7.99 advertisements plan.

The two platforms’ offerings are remarkably similar now that Netflix has enhanced its Standard packages to include 1080p HD streaming and the ability to watch on two devices at once. This is especially true since both streamers’ ad-free options allow you to download content to view offline.

When you consider adding more viewers in your bundle, the primary distinction becomes apparent. The ability to stream Hulu on an infinite number of screens will set you back an additional $9.99 each month. Meanwhile, each extra person (outside of your home) you add to your Netflix account will cost you $7.99 a month.

For $22.99, Netflix also provides a premium option. This offers Netflix spatial audio, downloads on six compatible devices, Ultra HD streaming, and the ability to add up to two more household members. It also lets you view on four devices at once.

Hulu is likewise planning to enforce password sharing restrictions, following Netflix’s well reported example. As of March 14, 2024, you will be in violation of the subscriber agreement if you disclose your password to anybody who is not a member of your household.

For ad-free streaming, Prime Video is somewhat less expensive than Hulu. An Amazon Prime subscription costs $14.99 a month (or $139 a year), while Prime Video alone costs $8.99. The content catalog of Prime Video is enormous, with around 18,000 items, however opinions on its general quality differ. In addition to a large number of well-known Amazon Originals like The Boys, The Rings of Power, and Invincible, the service offers both new and old, excellent films.

In addition to these benefits, Prime membership offers free order delivery, ad-free audio streaming, and Prime Reading, which helps to justify its rather high cost. The drawbacks are that each account can only have three streams, and Hulu + Live TV is a much more affordable alternative than adding individual Amazon Channels if you want to emulate the cable experience.

The new Max service took the place of HBO Max, which had been one of Hulu’s main competitors in the US streaming market for a number of years, in May 2023. At $9.99 a month (or $99.99 annually), Max’s ad-supported tier (Max Ad-Lite) is a little more costly than the $7.99 a month (or $79.99 annually) you’ll pay for the Hulu equivalent.

But when you get into ad-free area, things become trickier. Max offers an ad-free alternative called Max Ad-Free, which costs $15.99 a month ($149.99 a year). This is less expensive than the $17.99 a month Hulu charges for ad-free viewing, particularly if you choose to pay yearly (which is not an option with Hulu’s ad-free package). You will have to pay extra for the $19.99/month Max Ultimate Ad Free plan if you want to view more than two streams at once and 4K UHD quality on Max. (You may also choose to pay $15.99 a month to add Max as an add-on to your Hulu subscription.)

In terms of pricing, therefore, there isn’t much to separate Max from Hulu, but it is important to remember that the newly partnered streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery may have a better content catalog. In addition to groundbreaking HBO dramas like Game of Thrones, The Wire, and The Last of Us, users also have access to a large library of films from Warner Bros., its affiliates, and independent businesses. This implies having simple access to all Studio Ghibli cartoons, DC Comics flicks, The Lord of the Rings movies, and a TCM-curated collection of vintage films.

Of course, once the new Hulu/Disney Plus 2-in-1 app launches later this year, the power dynamics might change once again. For the time being, nevertheless, our lists of the greatest Max television series and films provide helpful guidance on whether a Max membership is worthwhile.

UMISSIONS TO YOUR ACCOUNT

Should You Wish to Halt or Terminate Your Subscription:

• Use a PC or a mobile browser to visit Hulu.com.
• From the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the screen, choose your Account page.
• In the Your Subscription box, click Cancel Your Subscription.
• It’s possible that a pause option for your subscription may appear. If you would want to cancel, choose Continue.
• To complete the procedure, follow the on-screen instructions.
• Alternatively, you may choose to Pause Your Subscription from the Account page and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the procedure, which includes deciding how long the pause will last.
• Your account may be put on hold for a maximum of twelve weeks. When the allotted period has passed, your subscription will be automatically renewed.

If You Want to Change Your Premium Subscriptions or Plan:

• Use a PC or a mobile browser to visit Hulu.com.
• From the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the screen, choose your Account page.
• To modify your overall plan or add or remove premium subscriptions, go to Your Subscription and choose
• Manage Add-ons or Manage Plan, respectively.
• Under Plans, your active plan will be shown in green. Toggle the desired plan from Off to On to change to a new one.
• Toggle the x for any add-ons you want to delete, or tap + next to any you want to install.
• To be sure, choose Review Changes.

HOW TO SURF HULU LIVE CHANNELS

1. Open Hulu and choose the Live option located at the top of the screen.
2. Press the down button on your remote (or swipe up if you’re using an Apple TV) to get the Live TV guide.
3. To browse Live TV content by channel, scroll up and down. To watch a preview of upcoming episodes, scroll right. To filter content and limit the selection of channels that show up, scroll left.
4. Click on the title of the show you want to watch and choose Watch Live.

HOW TO CONTROL LIVE TV

Taken from the Live TV Guide:
1. Go to the Hulu main screen and choose the Live tab.
2. Press the down button on your remote (or swipe up if you’re using an Apple TV) to get the Live TV guide.
3. To browse Live TV content by channel, scroll up and down. To watch a preview of upcoming episodes, scroll right. To filter content and limit the selection of channels that show up, scroll left.
4. Navigate to the show title you want to view, then click OK to bring up the choices window.
5. Choose Record by swiping down.

METHODS FOR FINDING PROGRAMMING ON DEMAND

• To browse on-demand material, use the TV, Movies, and Hubs tabs at the top of the Home screen.
• material may be sorted by category, popularity, and highlighted material under the Movies tab.
• Look through material by categories such as Asian & Pacific Islander Stories and Hulu Originals under the Hubs tab.
• Are you trying to find a certain item? To locate it, using the search function.