Peacock and Hulu are both major streaming platforms offering ad-supported and premium tiers, with Peacock at $4.99/$9.99 and Hulu at $5.99/$11.99 monthly. Hulu excels with broader content libraries and live TV options, while Peacock offers sports-focused content including NBA and Olympic events.
Our Verdict
AI-assisted
Hulu edges out Peacock for general viewers with its larger subscriber base, broader content library, and live TV option with 75 channels, making it ideal for cord-cutters. Peacock is the superior choice for sports enthusiasts and NBC content fans, offering competitive pricing and exclusive live events like NBA games and the Olympics.
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Peacock7.5
7.5Hulu
Choose Peacock if
Sports fans and NBC show enthusiasts
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Key Differences at a Glance
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Ad-Supported Tier Price:Peacock wins ($4.99/month vs $5.99/month)
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Ad-Free Tier Price:Peacock wins ($9.99/month vs $11.99/month)
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Paying Subscribers (2026):Hulu wins (55+ million vs 46 million)
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)(USD per month)
$44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited)
$44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited)
—
Simultaneous Stream Devices(devices)
2-4 devices
2-4 devices
—
Watch Party Maximum Participants(people)
8 participants (Watch Party)
8 participants (Watch Party)
—
App Merger Timeline(year)
Early 2026
Early 2026
—
Base Subscription Price (Ad-Supported)(USD per month)
$7.99
$7.99
—
Premium Subscription Price (No Ads)(USD per month)
$14.99
$14.99
—
Base Subscription Price (Ad-Supported)(USD/month)
$7.99
$7.99
—
Premium Subscription Price (Ad-Free)(USD/month)
$14.99
$14.99
—
Live TV Channels Included(channels)
75+
75+
—
2026 Emmy-Contending Series(count)
Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
—
Content Library Size (Estimated)(titles)
15,000+
15,000+
—
Content Library Size(titles)
4,000+ titles
4,000+ titles
—
Basic Plan Price(USD/month)
$7.99
$7.99
—
Premium Ad-Free Plan(USD/month)
$14.99
$14.99
—
Original Content Awards(Emmy nominations)
120+ nominations
120+ nominations
—
Simultaneous Streams (Standard)(screens)
2 screens
2 screens
—
User Satisfaction Score(%)
76%
76%
—
Standalone Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$11.99/month
$11.99/month
—
Standalone Monthly Price (Ad-Free)(USD)
$19.99/month
$19.99/month
—
Bundle Price (Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+)(USD)
$19.99/month (included)
$19.99/month (included)
—
Monthly Cost (Base Tier)(USD)
$7.99
$7.99
—
Monthly Cost (Premium/Ad-Free Tier)(USD)
$14.99
$14.99
—
Live TV Base Plan Cost(USD/month)
$46-$65
$46-$65
—
Live TV Channels (Standard Plan)(channels)
75+
75+
—
On-Demand Content Library Size(titles)
10,000+
10,000+
—
User Profiles Per Account(profiles)
6
6
—
Ad-Supported Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
$11.99
—
Premium Tier Monthly Price(USD)
$18.99
$18.99
—
Maximum User Profiles(profiles)
6
6
—
TV Episode Next-Day Availability(hours after air)
Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours)
Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours)
—
Hulu + Live TV / All-In Bundle Cost(USD/month)
$119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+)
$119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+)
—
Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$14.99
$14.99
—
Total Content Library Size(titles)
~10,000+
~10,000+
—
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens)
2 screens
2 screens
—
Annual Content Budget(USD billions)
$2.7B
$2.7B
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2024 Emmy Nominations(nominations)
32 nominations
32 nominations
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All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
NBC/Sports/Live Events
Primary Content Focus
Movies/TV Shows/Live TV
Limited sports focus
Live TV Channel Options
75+ cable channels🏆
NBC properties only
Bundle Availability
Disney+, ESPN+ included🏆
NBA, Olympics, NFL exclusive🏆
Sports Content
Through ESPN+ addon
Strong (Bravo, NBC focus)
Original Content Quality
Extensive library
Ad-Supported Tier Price
Peacock
$4.99/month🏆
Hulu
$5.99/month
Ad-Free Tier Price
Peacock
$9.99/month🏆
Hulu
$11.99/month
Paying Subscribers (2026)
Peacock
46 million
Hulu
55+ million🏆
Primary Content Focus
Peacock
NBC/Sports/Live Events
Hulu
Movies/TV Shows/Live TV
Live TV Channel Options
Peacock
Limited sports focus
Hulu
75+ cable channels🏆
Bundle Availability
Peacock
NBC properties only
Hulu
Disney+, ESPN+ included🏆
Sports Content
Peacock
NBA, Olympics, NFL exclusive🏆
Hulu
Through ESPN+ addon
Original Content Quality
Peacock
Strong (Bravo, NBC focus)
Hulu
Extensive library
Pros & Cons
Peacock
5 pros4 cons
Pros
Lowest ad-supported tier at $4.99/month
Exclusive live sports content (NBA, Olympics, NFL)
Strong NBC and Bravo original programming
Personalized content recommendations
Vertical video format for mobile viewing
Cons
Smaller subscriber base than competitors
Limited movie selection compared to Hulu
No traditional live TV bundle
Newer platform with less established library
Hulu
5 pros4 cons
Pros
75+ live TV channels available
Largest streaming subscriber base
Bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+
Extensive movie and TV show library
Day-after TV episode availability
Cons
Higher pricing ($5.99-$11.99)
Frequently Asked Questions
Peacock is cheaper with ad-supported tier at $4.99/month compared to Hulu's $5.99/month. The ad-free tiers are $9.99 (Peacock) vs $11.99 (Hulu), making Peacock $2/month less expensive overall.
Best Streaming Services 2026: Netflix vs Disney Plus vs HBO Max
Choosing the right streaming service in 2026 doesn't have to be complicated. We break down Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max to help you find the best fit for your entertainment needs and budget.
Full Comparison
Attribute
Peacock
Hulu
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
$14.99
Subscription Pricing(USD/month)
$5.99-$11.99
—
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$4.99
$5.99
Monthly Price (Premium/Ad-Free)(USD)
$9.99
$11.99
Monthly Price (Basic/Select Tier)(USD)
$7.99
—
Show 25 more attributes
Monthly Price (Ad-Free Premium Tier)(USD)
$16.99
—
Annual Plan Cost (Premium)(USD)
$169.99 (estimated)
—
Premium Monthly Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$11.99
—
Free Tier Availability
Yes (900+ titles, ad-supported)
—
Monthly Subscription (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$5.99
—
Monthly Subscription (Ad-Free)(USD)
$11.99
—
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$13.99
—
Free Tier Option
Free with ads ($5.99 ad-free)
—
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)(USD per month)
$44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited)
—
Base Subscription Price (Ad-Supported)(USD per month)
$7.99
—
Premium Subscription Price (No Ads)(USD per month)
$14.99
—
Base Subscription Price (Ad-Supported)(USD/month)
$7.99
—
Premium Subscription Price (Ad-Free)(USD/month)
$14.99
—
Basic Plan Price(USD/month)
$7.99
—
Premium Ad-Free Plan(USD/month)
$14.99
—
Standalone Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$11.99/month
—
Standalone Monthly Price (Ad-Free)(USD)
$19.99/month
—
Bundle Price (Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+)(USD)
$19.99/month (included)
—
Monthly Cost (Base Tier)(USD)
$7.99
—
Monthly Cost (Premium/Ad-Free Tier)(USD)
$14.99
—
Live TV Base Plan Cost(USD/month)
$46-$65
—
Ad-Supported Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
—
Premium Tier Monthly Price(USD)
$18.99
—
Hulu + Live TV / All-In Bundle Cost(USD/month)
$119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+)
—
Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$14.99
—
Simultaneous Streams(count)
4 simultaneous
4 simultaneous
Free Trial Period(days)
7 days
7 days
Live TV Option(available)
No
Yes (Hulu+Live TV)
Mobile Download Feature(yes/no)
Yes
Yes
Live TV Channels(channels)
Sports-focused limited
75+ channels
Show 10 more attributes
Bundle Options
Limited to NBC/Comcast
Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu
Parental Controls Available
Limited (basic PIN protection)
—
Simultaneous Streams (Premium)(screens)
4 (all tiers)
—
Simultaneous Stream Devices(devices)
2-4 devices
—
Live TV Access(availability)
Available with bundles
—
Simultaneous Streams (Standard)(screens)
2 screens
—
Watch Party Co-Viewing Feature
Included (Hulu Watch Party)
—
Maximum User Profiles(profiles)
6
—
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens)
2 screens
—
Live TV Option Available(yes/no)
Yes (add-on: $14.99/mo)
—
Nielsen Rankings (Jan 2026)(position)
Top 5 among streamers
Top 3 among streamers
Original Series Count(active)
45+
60+
Sports Content Coverage(categories)
Premier (WWE, Olympics, NFL)
Limited (select events only)
Total Content Library Size(titles)
15,000+
20,000+
Theatrical Release Window(months)
45 days exclusive
120 days standard
Live Sports Content
NBA, NFL, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics
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Show 18 more attributes
Original Series Quality
Strong NBC franchises
—
Content Release Frequency
Regular updates, weekly sports
—
Live Sports Coverage
Peacock
—
Movie Library Size
Peacock
—
Original Content Strength
Peacock
—
Exclusive Sports Rights
NBA, Olympics, select NFL
Via ESPN+ partnership
Live Sports Events(coverage types)
NFL, NBA, NHL, Olympics
—
Exclusive 2026 Live Features(features)
Courtside Live, Rinkside Live, Multiview
—
Total Content Library(titles)
15,000+
—
Original Series Produced Annually(series)
85+
—
Live Sports Events Available(leagues)
4+ (NFL, Premier League, WWE, Olympics)
—
Live TV Channels Included(channels)
75+
—
Sports Content Availability
ESPN+ with premium sports
—
Content Library Size(titles)
4,000+ titles
—
Current TV Episode Availability
Next-day episodes of current shows
—
On-Demand Content Library Size(titles)
10,000+
—
Total Content Library Size(titles)
~10,000+
—
Annual Content Budget(USD billions)
$2.7B
—
4K Content Available(yes/no)
Yes (premium tier)
Yes (premium tier)
Dolby Atmos Support(yes/no)
Yes
Yes
Paying Subscribers(millions)
46 million
—
Innovative Tech Features
Vertical video for sports, gaming integration
—
Innovative Features
Peacock
—
Mobile-First Features
Vertical video format
Standard mobile app
User Engagement(percent increase)
25% more content engagement vs traditional TV
—
Global Subscribers(millions)
Peacock
50+ million
Global Subscribers(millions)
40M+
—
Annual Viewing Hours(billions)
Peacock
—
Viewer Engagement Boost(percent)
Peacock
—
Content Engagement vs Traditional(%)
25% more than NBC viewers
Industry standard
YoY Growth Rate(percent)
Peacock
—
Paying Subscribers (2026)(millions)
46 million
55+ million
4K Streaming Available
No (not available)
—
4K/HDR Content Coverage(percent of library)
45%
—
4K Content Availability(availability level)
Limited, mostly HD
—
4K Streaming Support
Not available
—
Target Demographic Age Group
18+ (sports, adult content)
—
Maximum Video Resolution(pixels @ fps)
1080p HD
—
Annual Content Investment(billion USD)
$2.5B
—
On-Demand Movie Titles(titles)
~3,000
—
Original Series Launched (2025)(series)
50+
—
Maximum Video Quality(resolution)
4K UHD (Premium+ plan)
—
Simultaneous Streams (Premium Plan)(screens)
4 screens
—
Video Quality Support(max resolution)
4K HDR, Dolby Atmos
—
Live Sports Events (Annual)(events)
200+ (Premier League, WWE, golf)
—
Live Sports Availability
NFL, Premier League, WWE, PGA, Olympics
—
Next-Day TV Episode Access
Yes (NBC, Bravo, Universal networks)
—
Same-Day TV Episode Releases(availability)
Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, FX)
—
2024 Emmy Awards Won(awards)
18 Emmy awards
—
Maximum Concurrent Streams(streams)
4 concurrent streams (Premium+)
—
Subscribers
50M+
—
Content Budget(USD/year)
$2.5 Billion
—
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$17.99
—
Bundle Inclusions
Disney+, ESPN+, FX content
—
Watch Party Maximum Participants(people)
8 participants (Watch Party)
—
App Merger Timeline(year)
Early 2026
—
2026 Emmy-Contending Series(count)
Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
—
Original Content Awards(Emmy nominations)
120+ nominations
—
Same-Day Theatrical Releases
Limited
—
Content Library Size (Estimated)(titles)
15,000+
—
User Satisfaction Score(%)
76%
—
Content Discovery Usability
Easier to browse and find content
—
Merger/Platform Status (2026)
Standalone app ending, merging into Disney+
—
Live TV Channels (Standard Plan)(channels)
75+
—
Cloud DVR Storage (Live TV)(storage)
Unlimited
—
User Profiles Per Account(profiles)
6
—
TV Episode Next-Day Availability(hours after air)
Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours)
—
Integrated Non-Streaming Benefits
None
—
2024 Emmy Nominations(nominations)
32 nominations
—
Next-Day TV Show Episodes(available)
Yes (most series)
—
Peacock
Hulu
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
$14.99
Subscription Pricing(USD/month)
$5.99-$11.99
—
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$4.99
$5.99
Monthly Price (Premium/Ad-Free)(USD)
$9.99
$11.99
Monthly Price (Basic/Select Tier)(USD)
$7.99
—
Show 25 more attributes
Monthly Price (Ad-Free Premium Tier)(USD)
$16.99
—
Annual Plan Cost (Premium)(USD)
$169.99 (estimated)
—
Premium Monthly Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$11.99
—
Free Tier Availability
Yes (900+ titles, ad-supported)
—
Monthly Subscription (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$5.99
—
Monthly Subscription (Ad-Free)(USD)
$11.99
—
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$13.99
—
Free Tier Option
Free with ads ($5.99 ad-free)
—
Recommended Bundle Price (All Services, No Ads)(USD per month)
$44.99 (with ESPN Unlimited)
—
Base Subscription Price (Ad-Supported)(USD per month)
$7.99
—
Premium Subscription Price (No Ads)(USD per month)
