Hulu is a premium on-demand streaming service with a robust library of TV shows and movies plus optional live TV, while YouTube is a free, user-generated video platform with the world's largest video catalog. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Hulu for curated entertainment, YouTube for diverse content consumption and creator monetization.
Hulu vs YouTube — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Disney-owned streaming service offering next-day TV access, 9,000+ titles, and live TV options.
World's largest video platform with 2.5B users supporting pre-recorded and live content.
Primary Content Model. Cost (Basic Plan). Live TV Channels Available. Live TV Monthly Cost. Simultaneous User Profiles. Cloud DVR Storage (Live TV). Content Library Size
Choose Hulu if you want premium, professionally produced TV shows, movies, and original content with flexible subscription tiers and optional live TV integration. Choose YouTube if you prefer free, unlimited access to diverse user-generated and professional content, including music, tutorials, gaming, and live streams without mandatory payment.
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
Hulu: $44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 8 participants (Watch Party) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Available with bundles | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Limited (select events only) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Top 3 among streamers | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, FX content | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: ESPN+ with premium sports | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Via ESPN+ partnership | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Standard mobile app | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Included (Hulu Watch Party) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Easier to browse and find content | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: $19.99/month (included) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Next-day episodes of current shows | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Standalone app ending, merging into Disney+ | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, FX) | YouTube: No
Hulu: Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: $119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Yes (add-on: $14.99/mo) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 4 streams (standard) / 6 streams (premium) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Yes ($14.99/month with Disney+/ESPN+) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 30 days (varies by plan) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Next-day (24 hours) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Available (600+ shows) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Available ($76.99/month add-on) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 500+ (Live TV tier) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 25+ diverse originals | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: ABC, Fox, NBC shows included | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: $14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Same-day or next-day | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: Limited (requires add-ons) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo) | YouTube: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Hulu: $7.99/month (with ads) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: ~15% of library in 4K | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 90+ channels (Live TV add-on) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: $14.99 | YouTube: $13.99 (YouTube Premium)
Hulu: ~24 hours (next day) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 0 games (requires ESPN+ add-on) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: 1080p Full HD (Premium) | YouTube: 8K (7680×4320)
Hulu: Full (most networks) | YouTube: N/A
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: AI-powered Recommendations
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: Stable parent (Alphabet)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 4,000 hours (last 12 months)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 30-180 days (evergreen potential)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 10 minutes - unlimited
Algorithm Accessibility for New Creators
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: Yes—shows overlay recommendations
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: Basic comments & community features
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: Strict (bans misinformation, hate speech, controversial politics)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 31 countries (as of March 2026)
Minimum Subscriber Requirement for Monetization
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 93% (recommendation engine)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: No (external links only)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: 4.8% (educational content)
Hulu: N/A | YouTube: $31.5B (YouTube advertising revenue)
Monetization Eligibility (Followers Required)
Hulu vs YouTube — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Hulu vs YouTube. Contains 210 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Hulu vs YouTube — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Hulu vs YouTube.
YouTube offers completely free access with ads on its base platform (800+ million videos), while Hulu's free tier is limited. Hulu's basic plan starts at $7.99/month with ads. Both offer premium ad-free tiers for $13.99-$14.99/month. Neither offers truly free, ad-free entertainment—YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV both require paid subscriptions ($46-$100/month).
Which has better live TV: Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV?
YouTube TV offers 100+ channels at $83/month, while Hulu + Live TV starts at $46-$65/month with 75+ channels. YouTube TV is more expensive but includes more channels and local networks (NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC). Hulu offers better value if you want flexible pricing tiers. Both provide unlimited cloud DVR storage and no annual contracts.
Hulu allows up to 6 user profiles per account with separate recommendations and watchlists. YouTube allows unlimited Google accounts to access a shared YouTube account, providing more flexibility for large families. However, simultaneous streaming limits may apply—check current terms of service for both platforms.
What's the main content difference between Hulu and YouTube?
Hulu specializes in professionally produced TV shows, movies, and originals with same-day episode releases from major networks. YouTube is a user-generated video platform with 800+ million videos including tutorials, music, vlogs, gaming, and live streams. Hulu is better for traditional entertainment; YouTube is better for diverse content discovery and creator content.
Does Hulu have a live streaming feature like YouTube?
Hulu does not natively offer live streaming for users. YouTube offers advanced live-streaming features including Shorts, Gifts, Super Chat, and dual-format streaming for creators. Hulu + Live TV provides access to live television channels from networks, but users cannot stream their own live content like on YouTube.
Primary Content Model: Hulu has Curated on-demand TV/movies + optional live TV, while YouTube has User-generated and professional video uploads.
Cost (Basic Plan): Hulu has $7.99/month (ad-supported), while YouTube has Free with ads; Premium $13.99/month.
Live TV Channels Available: Hulu has 75+ channels (Hulu + Live TV plan), while YouTube has 100+ channels (YouTube TV base plan).
Live TV Monthly Cost: Hulu has $46-$100 depending on tier, while YouTube has $83/month (base plan).
Simultaneous User Profiles: Hulu has Up to 6 profiles per account, while YouTube has Unlimited with YouTube accounts.
Cloud DVR Storage (Live TV): Hulu has Unlimited cloud DVR storage, while YouTube has Unlimited cloud DVR storage.
Content Library Size: Hulu has 10,000+ TV shows and movies, while YouTube has 800+ million videos (estimated).