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
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.
Broad-based streaming service with next-day TV episodes, live TV, and extensive entertainment variety.
World's largest video platform with 2.5B users supporting pre-recorded and live content.
Structured comparison data for Hulu vs YouTube with 216 attributes.
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Algorithm Accessibility for New Creators
Minimum Subscriber Requirement for Monetization
Monetization Eligibility (Followers Required)
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.