Netflix offers a larger content library with 15,000+ titles and ad-free options starting at $6.99/month, while Hulu provides live TV integration, next-day episode releases, and lower base pricing at $7.99/month with ads, making them suited for different viewing preferences.
Netflix vs Hulu — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Subscription streaming service with 10,000+ titles, 282M subscribers, and 80+ annual originals.
Disney-owned streaming service with live TV, next-day episodes, and 10,000+ on-demand titles
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported). Total Content Library Size. Live TV Included. Ad-Free Premium Plan Cost. Original Series per Year (2024). Next-Day Episode Release. Simultaneous Screens (Basic Plan)
Choose Netflix if you want the largest content library, original programming depth, and flexibility to watch movies/series without ads at an affordable price. Choose Hulu if you prioritize live TV access, want next-day network TV episodes, need more simultaneous streams on a budget plan, or prefer a lower ad-free tier cost.
Netflix: $17 Billion | Hulu: $2.5 Billion
Original Content Releases in January 2026
Netflix: Restricted with extra fees | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Available on premium tiers | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: WWE Raw, NFL Christmas Day, exclusive live events | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Original content focus with viral hits | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Standalone streaming platform | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Scale-driven with high volume content | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Broad global audience across all demographics | Hulu: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Netflix: NFL, WWE Raw, major events | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 60+ original series | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: ~260 million Netflix subscribers | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Originals-focused, limited legacy franchises | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: >1.4 (higher volatility) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 30x (reduced from prior quarters) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Scale-driven content warehouse | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Available on Premium/Premium+ ($22.99) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Limited (varies by plan) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: High (comedies, young adult priority) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Vertical video feed expanding | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Verizon option ($10.99) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Extensive global coverage | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Restricted to household only | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Full gaming catalog included | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Available on all paid plans | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Undisclosed (declining) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: ~122 million equivalent | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: ~0.33 billion hours | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 0 channels | Hulu: 75+ channels
Netflix: 450+ nominations | Hulu: 120+ nominations
Netflix: $7.99/month | Hulu: $7.99/month
Netflix: Wide variety across genres | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 4K UHD (2160p) on Premium | Hulu: 1080p (Standard/Premium)
Netflix: Limited (documentaries only) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Limited, delayed 45 days post-theatrical | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 4K HDR (Premium tier) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 4K Ultra HD (2160p) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: No free trial | Hulu: 30 days (varies by plan)
Netflix: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, web, Smart TVs, Game Consoles, Roku, Fire TV (universal support) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Premium tier only ($15.49+) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: All tiers | Hulu: Premium tier only
Netflix: 75+ games (no extra cost) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: $6.99 (ad-supported) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 2,100+ originals | Hulu: 80+ originals
Netflix: 45+ days (no theatrical releases) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 8,000+ titles globally | Hulu: ~1,900 titles
Netflix: No bundle available | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 2-4 (depending on plan) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Yes (4 devices) | Hulu: All tiers
Netflix: $15.49 (ad-free) / $6.99 (with ads) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 0 (none as of 2023) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Up to 4 screens (Premium plan) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Available on Premium plan | Hulu: N/A
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Netflix: Limited music documentaries only | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 1-4 (tier dependent) | Hulu: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard/Ad-Free US Plan)
Netflix: None | Hulu: Limited (select events)
Netflix: Limited (select shows) | Hulu: Full (most networks)
Netflix: $15.49 (with ads $6.99) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 250+ series and films | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Yes, $15.49/month and $22.99/month tiers | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: $22.99 (4K required) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 30-90 days post-theater | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: 4 screens | Hulu: 2 screens (ad tier) / 4 screens (ad-free)
Maximum Simultaneous Screens (Base Plan)
Netflix: 0 (not available) | Hulu: 95+ (with Hulu + Live TV)
Netflix: 280+ million (2024) | Hulu: 60+ million (2024)
Netflix: 4K/120fps (Premium) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Available (select titles) | Hulu: N/A
Netflix: Drama, comedy, sci-fi, documentaries, international | Hulu: N/A
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)
Netflix: 98 nominations | Hulu: 18 nominations
Netflix: 4-6 ads/hour in Basic plan | Hulu: N/A
Simultaneous Streams (Standard/Base Plan)
Netflix: All ages including mature (TV-MA, R-rated) | Hulu: N/A
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 8 participants (Watch Party)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Available with bundles
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Limited (select events only)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Top 3 among streamers
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, FX content
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: ESPN+ with premium sports
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Via ESPN+ partnership
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Standard mobile app
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Included (Hulu Watch Party)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Easier to browse and find content
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $19.99/month (included)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Next-day episodes of current shows
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Standalone app ending, merging into Disney+
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, FX)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Yes (add-on: $14.99/mo)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Yes ($14.99/month with Disney+/ESPN+)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Next-day (24 hours)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Available ($76.99/month add-on)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 25+ diverse originals
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: ABC, Fox, NBC shows included
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Same-day or next-day
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Limited (requires add-ons)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $7.99/month (with ads)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: ~15% of library in 4K
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 90+ channels (Live TV add-on)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: ~24 hours (next day)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: 0 games (requires ESPN+ add-on)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: $14.99 (Disney+/ESPN+ bundle)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: Yes (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu)
Netflix: N/A | Hulu: TV-MA to TV-Y (all ratings)
Netflix vs Hulu — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Netflix vs Hulu. Contains 424 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Netflix vs Hulu — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Netflix vs Hulu.
Is Netflix or Hulu better for live TV and sports?
Hulu is significantly better for live TV. Hulu + Live TV ($76.99/month) includes 95+ live channels covering sports, news, and entertainment. Netflix does not offer live TV and requires a separate service. For sports-focused viewing, Hulu's ESPN integration through the bundle is also superior.
Which service has cheaper ad-free viewing?
Hulu's ad-free plan costs $14.99/month, which is 35% cheaper than Netflix's $22.99/month Premium plan. However, Netflix's basic ad-supported plan ($6.99/month) is $1 cheaper than Hulu's ($7.99/month), making Netflix the most affordable entry point overall.
Does Netflix or Hulu have more original content?
Netflix produces significantly more original content, releasing 85+ series annually compared to Hulu's 42 series in 2024. Netflix also has a larger overall catalog (15,000+ titles vs. Hulu's 10,000+), making it better for variety and discovery.
Can I get next-day episodes on both services?
Only Hulu offers next-day episode releases for select ABC, FX, and ABC Studios content. Netflix primarily uses weekly release schedules for originals. If catching network TV episodes immediately after broadcast is important, Hulu is the clear winner.
Hulu offers the Disney Bundle at $19.99/month (with ads) or $24.99/month (ad-free) that includes Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+. Netflix doesn't offer bundle discounts. For families wanting multiple Disney properties, the Hulu bundle provides exceptional value compared to separate subscriptions.
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported): Netflix has $6.99, while Hulu has $7.99.
Total Content Library Size: Netflix has 15,000+ titles, while Hulu has 10,000+ titles.
Live TV Included: Netflix has No (separate service), while Hulu has Yes (with Hulu + Live TV plan).
Ad-Free Premium Plan Cost: Netflix has $22.99/month, while Hulu has $14.99/month.
Consider: Original Series per Year (2024)
Original Series per Year (2024): Netflix has 85 originals, while Hulu has 42 originals.
Next-Day Episode Release: Netflix has No (weekly releases), while Hulu has Yes (for select ABC/FX shows).
Consider: Simultaneous Screens (Basic Plan)
Simultaneous Screens (Basic Plan): Netflix has 1 screen, while Hulu has 2 screens.