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Paramount+ vs Hulu 2026: Sports, Price & Series

Paramount+ focuses on Paramount studio content with stronger sports integration through NFL/NBA/NHL, while Hulu offers broader entertainment variety and includes live TV options. Hulu typically costs $2-8 more monthly but provides access to 500+ live channels, whereas Paramount+ emphasizes on-demand premium movies and exclusive originals.

Paramount+

Paramount+

Paramount-owned streaming service featuring CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Pictures content with live sports integration.

Sports fans wanting NFL/hockey access, Paramount movie enthusiasts, and budget-conscious streamers prioritizing live sports.

Score71%
VS
Hulu

Hulu

Disney-owned streaming platform with extensive original series, on-demand shows, and optional live TV with 500+ channels.

TV series fans wanting daily content updates, cord-cutters seeking live TV replacement, and viewers wanting integrated Disney ecosystem access.

Score71%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Paramount+ focuses on Paramount studio content with stronger sports integration through NFL/NBA/NHL, while Hulu offers broader entertainment variety and includes live TV options. Hulu typically costs $2-8 more monthly but provides access to 500+ live channels, whereas Paramount+ emphasizes on-demand premium movies and exclusive originals.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Paramount+ if you want NFL/sports coverage, a larger movie library, and lower pricing for on-demand streaming with Paramount studio focus. Choose Hulu if you prioritize diverse original series, need live TV channel access, or prefer a broader entertainment catalog beyond studio-specific content.

Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

Paramount+
7.7/10
Hulu
7.3/10
Paramount+

Choose Paramount+ if

Best pick

Sports fans wanting NFL/hockey access, Paramount movie enthusiasts, and budget-conscious streamers prioritizing live sports.

Hulu

Choose Hulu if

TV series fans wanting daily content updates, cord-cutters seeking live TV replacement, and viewers wanting integrated Disney ecosystem access.

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Monthly Base Price:Paramount+ wins($5.99 (ad-supported) vs $7.99 (ad-supported))
  • Live Sports Coverage:Paramount+ wins(NFL games, NHL, NBA select games, March Madness vs Limited sports (ESPN+ add-on required for most))
  • Live TV Channels:Hulu wins(500+ channels (Hulu Live TV tier) vs 0 channels (streaming only))
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

109 numeric metrics compared

MetricParamount+HuluRatio
Global Subscribers(millions)Paramount+50+ million
Annual Viewing Hours(billions)Paramount+
YoY Growth Rate(percent)Paramount+
Ad-Supported Monthly Price(USD)$5.99$7.99
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)$13.99$7.99
Live TV Channels (with Live TV Plan)(count)Not available90+ channels
Total Content Library(titles)16,000+8,500+
Original Series (2024-2025)(series)28 new originals38+
4K HDR Content Available(titles)60% of library72% of library
Free Trial Period(days)7 days30 days (varies by plan)
Premium Monthly Price (USD)(USD)$11.99
Movie Library Size(films)4,200+ films4,000
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(streams)4 screens4 streams (standard) / 6 streams (premium)
Annual Premium Cost(USD)$143.88/year
Base Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)$5.99$7.99
Premium Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)$11.99$14.99
Movie Library(titles)2,500+ films1,800+ films
Original Series Count(shows)42 originals80+ originals
Live TV Channels(channels)0 (streaming only)500+ (Live TV tier)
Simultaneous Streams (Ad-Free Tier)(devices)4 devices4 devices
NFL Game Availability(games/season)13+ Thursday Night games0 games (requires ESPN+ add-on)
Same-Day TV Episodes(shows)50+ shows200+ shows
Subscribers50M+50M+
Content Budget(USD/year)$2.5 Billion$2.5 Billion
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)$17.99$17.99
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 devices2-4 devices
Watch Party Maximum Participants(people)8 participants (Watch Party)8 participants (Watch Party)
App Merger Timeline(year)Early 2026Early 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
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)$14.99$14.99
Original Series Count(active)60+60+
Free Trial Period(days)7 days7 days
Total Content Library Size(titles)20,000+20,000+
Simultaneous Streams(count)4 simultaneous4 simultaneous
Theatrical Release Window(months)120 days standard120 days standard
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+ titles4,000+ 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+ nominations120+ nominations
Simultaneous Streams (Standard)(screens)2 screens2 screens
User Satisfaction Score(%)76%76%
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)$5.99$5.99
Monthly Price (Premium/Ad-Free)(USD)$11.99$11.99
Paying Subscribers (2026)(millions)55+ million55+ million
Live TV Channels(channels)75+ channels75+ channels
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)66
Premium Tier Monthly Price(USD)$14.99$14.99
Maximum User Profiles(profiles)66
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+
Annual Content Budget(USD billions)$2.7B$2.7B
2024 Emmy Nominations(nominations)32 nominations32 nominations
Original Series Produced Annually(series)95+95+
Live TV Channels (with Live Bundle)(channels)90+90+
Same-Day TV Episode Coverage(percent of shows)95%95%
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)$7.99$7.99
Monthly Price (Ad-Free)(USD)$14.99$14.99
Original Series Library(series)450+450+
Simultaneous Streams (Premium)(screens)22
Average Monthly Ad Load (Ad-Supported)(minutes per hour)4-6 minutes4-6 minutes
Current-Season TV Episodes Access(days after air date)Next-day (24 hours)Next-day (24 hours)
Original Series Released Annually(series)40-5040-50
Global Subscriber Base(millions)57 million57 million
Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)(concurrent streams)2 screens2 screens
Ad-Supported Base Price(USD/month)$7.99$7.99
Ad-Free Premium Price(USD/month)$24.99$24.99
Total Title Library(titles)~2,500 titles~2,500 titles
Original Series Per Year(series)25+ diverse originals25+ diverse originals
Monthly Price (Base Plan with Ads)(USD)$7.99$7.99
On-Demand Content Library(titles)10,000+10,000+
Cloud DVR Storage Capacity(hours)50 hours50 hours
Free Trial Length(days)7 days7 days
Premium Plan Price (Ad-Free)(USD)$14.99$14.99
Total Content Titles(titles)10,000+10,000+
Disney Bundle Cost(USD/month)$14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+)$14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+)
TV Episode Release Schedule(days)Same-day or next-daySame-day or next-day
2024 Emmy Awards Won(awards)1616
Ad-Supported Monthly Cost(USD)$7.99$7.99
Ad-Free Monthly Cost(USD)$14.99$14.99
On-Demand Title Library(titles)10,000+10,000+
Simultaneous Streams (Premium Tier)(streams)22
Live TV Channels (with add-on/included)(channels)65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo)65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)(USD)$7.99/month (with ads)$7.99/month (with ads)
Total Available Titles(titles)~10,000+~10,000+
Original Emmy Nominations (All-Time)(nominations)120+ total120+ total
Base Subscription Cost(USD/month)$7.99$7.99
Ad-Free Premium Tier Cost(USD/month)$14.99$14.99
TV Show Episodes Available(episodes)10,000+10,000+
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported Tier)(USD)$7.99$7.99
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier)(USD)$14.99$14.99
TV Series Available(titles)8,000+8,000+
Simultaneous Device Streams(devices)22

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

Paramount+
4Paramount+
Paramount+ leads1 tie
Hulu
2Hulu
  • Monthly Base Price

    Paramount+

    $5.99 (ad-supported)(winner)

    Hulu

    $7.99 (ad-supported)

  • Live Sports Coverage

    Paramount+

    NFL games, NHL, NBA select games, March Madness(winner)

    Hulu

    Limited sports (ESPN+ add-on required for most)

  • Live TV Channels

    Paramount+

    0 channels (streaming only)

    Hulu

    500+ channels (Hulu Live TV tier)(winner)

  • Original Series (2024-2025)

    Paramount+

    42 originals in catalog

    Hulu

    80+ originals in catalog(winner)

  • Movie Library Size

    Paramount+

    2,500+ films(winner)

    Hulu

    1,800+ films

  • Premium Ad-Free Tier

    Paramount+

    $11.99/month(winner)

    Hulu

    $14.99/month

  • Simultaneous Streams

    Paramount+

    4 devices (all tiers)

    Hulu

    2 devices (basic) / 4 devices (premium+)

Full Comparison

Paramount+
Hulu
Global Subscribers(millions)
Paramount+
50+ million
Global Subscriber Base(millions)
57 million
Annual Viewing Hours(billions)
Paramount+
Viewer Engagement Boost(percent)
Paramount+
Content Engagement vs Traditional(%)
Industry standard
YoY Growth Rate(percent)
Paramount+
Live Sports Coverage
Paramount+
Movie Library Size
Paramount+
Original Content Strength
Paramount+
Total Content Library(titles)
16,000+
8,500+
Original Series (2024-2025)(series)
28 new originals
38+
Show 21 more attributes
Movie Library(titles)
2,500+ films
1,800+ films
Live TV Channels(channels)
0 (streaming only)
500+ (Live TV tier)
Same-Day TV Episodes(shows)
50+ shows
200+ shows
Sports Content Coverage(categories)
Limited (select events only)
Original Series Count(active)
60+
Total Content Library Size(titles)
20,000+
Theatrical Release Window(months)
120 days standard
Live TV Channels Included(channels)
75+
Sports Content Availability
ESPN+ with premium sports
Content Library Size(titles)
4,000+ titles
Exclusive Sports Rights
Via ESPN+ partnership
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
Original Series Produced Annually(series)
95+
Same-Day TV Episode Coverage(percent of shows)
95%
Original Series Library(series)
450+
On-Demand Content Library(titles)
10,000+
On-Demand Title Library(titles)
10,000+
Live Sports Access
Limited (requires add-ons)
Innovative Features
Paramount+
Mobile-First Features
Standard mobile app
Ad-Supported Monthly Price(USD)
$5.99
$7.99
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$13.99
$7.99
Free Trial Period(days)
7 days
30 days (varies by plan)
Premium Monthly Price (USD)(USD)
$11.99
Free Ad-Supported Tier Available
No
Show 36 more attributes
Annual Premium Cost(USD)
$143.88/year
Base Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$5.99
$7.99
Premium Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$11.99
$14.99
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
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$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
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$5.99
Monthly Price (Premium/Ad-Free)(USD)
$11.99
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
Premium Tier Monthly Price(USD)
$14.99
Hulu + Live TV / All-In Bundle Cost(USD/month)
$119.99 (with ads, includes Disney+ & ESPN+)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Ad-Free)(USD)
$14.99
Monthly Price (Ad-Supported)(USD)
$7.99
Monthly Price (Ad-Free)(USD)
$14.99
Ad-Supported Base Price(USD/month)
$7.99
Ad-Free Premium Price(USD/month)
$24.99
Monthly Price (Base Plan with Ads)(USD)
$7.99
Premium Plan Price (Ad-Free)(USD)
$14.99
Disney Bundle Cost(USD/month)
$14.99 (with Disney+, ESPN+)
Ad-Supported Monthly Cost(USD)
$7.99
Ad-Free Monthly Cost(USD)
$14.99
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)(USD)
$7.99/month (with ads)
Base Subscription Cost(USD/month)
$7.99
Ad-Free Premium Tier Cost(USD/month)
$14.99
Monthly Cost (Ad-Supported Tier)(USD)
$7.99
Monthly Cost (Ad-Free Tier)(USD)
$14.99
Live TV Channels (with Live TV Plan)(count)
Not available
90+ channels
Disney Bundle Compatibility
Not available
Yes ($14.99/month with Disney+/ESPN+)
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(streams)
4 screens
4 streams (standard) / 6 streams (premium)
Simultaneous Streams (Ad-Free Tier)(devices)
4 devices
4 devices
Simultaneous Stream Devices(devices)
2-4 devices
Show 24 more attributes
Live TV Access(availability)
Available with bundles
Free Trial Period(days)
7 days
Live TV Option(available)
Yes (Hulu+Live TV)
Simultaneous Streams(count)
4 simultaneous
Mobile Download Feature(yes/no)
Yes
Simultaneous Streams (Standard)(screens)
2 screens
Live TV Channels(channels)
75+ channels
Bundle Options
Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu
Watch Party Co-Viewing Feature
Included (Hulu Watch Party)
Maximum User Profiles(profiles)
6
Live TV Option Available(yes/no)
Yes (add-on: $14.99/mo)
Live TV Channels (with Live Bundle)(channels)
90+
Offline Download Support
Premium tier only
Simultaneous Streams (Premium)(screens)
2
Current-Season TV Episodes Access(days after air date)
Next-day (24 hours)
Next-Day TV Episode Access
Available (600+ shows)
Live TV Option
Available ($76.99/month add-on)
Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)(concurrent streams)
2 screens
Next-Day Network TV Episodes(null)
ABC, Fox, NBC shows included
Cloud DVR Storage Capacity(hours)
50 hours
Simultaneous Streams (Premium Tier)(streams)
2
Live TV Channels (with add-on/included)(channels)
65+ (Hulu+Live TV $76.99/mo)
Live TV Availability(channels)
90+ channels (Live TV add-on)
Simultaneous Device Streams(devices)
2
4K HDR Content Available(titles)
60% of library
72% of library
2026 Emmy-Contending Series(count)
Tell Me Lies (7.2 rating)
Original Content Awards(Emmy nominations)
120+ nominations
Original Emmy Nominations (All-Time)(nominations)
120+ total
Movie Library Size(films)
4,200+ films
4,000
Original Series Count(shows)
42 originals
80+ originals
Original Series Released Annually(series)
40-50
Total Title Library(titles)
~2,500 titles
Total Content Titles(titles)
10,000+
Show 3 more attributes
Total Available Titles(titles)
~10,000+
TV Show Episodes Available(episodes)
10,000+
TV Series Available(titles)
8,000+
Live Sports Coverage(sports leagues)
NFL (select games only)
NFL Game Availability(games/season)
13+ Thursday Night games
0 games (requires ESPN+ add-on)
4K/Ultra HD Content Availability(coverage %)
Premium tier only (limited)
4K Content Available(yes/no)
Yes (premium tier)
Dolby Atmos Support(yes/no)
Yes
2024 Emmy Nominations(nominations)
32 nominations
Subscribers
50M+
Content Budget(USD/year)
$2.5 Billion
Ad-Free Monthly Price(USD)
$17.99
Bundle Inclusions
Disney+, ESPN+, FX content
Bundle Monthly Savings(USD)
None
4K Content Availability(percent of library)
Limited, mostly HD
Video Quality Support(max resolution)
4K HDR, Dolby Atmos
Watch Party Maximum Participants(people)
8 participants (Watch Party)
App Merger Timeline(year)
Early 2026
Nielsen Rankings (Jan 2026)(position)
Top 3 among streamers
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
Paying Subscribers (2026)(millions)
55+ million
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
Same-Day TV Episode Releases(availability)
Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, FX)
TV Episode Next-Day Availability(hours after air)
Same-day/next-day (typically 8-24 hours)
Current-Season TV Episode Access(hours after air)
~24 hours (next day)
Integrated Non-Streaming Benefits
None
Next-Day TV Show Episodes(available)
Yes (most series)
4K/HDR Support
Yes, on Premium
4K Streaming Included(null)
Premium plan only
4K Streaming Support
No
4K Content Titles(% of library)
~15% of library in 4K
Maximum Video Resolution (Ad-Supported)(pixels)
1080p Full HD
Average Monthly Ad Load (Ad-Supported)(minutes per hour)
4-6 minutes
Original Series Per Year(series)
25+ diverse originals
Free Trial Length(days)
7 days
TV Episode Release Schedule(days)
Same-day or next-day
2024 Emmy Awards Won(awards)
16
Free Shipping Benefit
No
Free Tier Availability
No free tier

Pros & Cons

10 pros·4 cons across both

Paramount+
Hulu
Paramount+

Paramount+

+5-2

Pros

  • NFL games live (Thursday Night Football, select playoff games)
  • Largest movie catalog with 2,500+ films including Paramount Pictures releases
  • NHL and select NBA games included at no extra cost
  • Lower base price at $5.99/month with ads
  • March Madness college basketball coverage

Cons

  • Fewer original series (42 active shows vs Hulu's 80+)
  • No live TV channels available; streaming-only service
Hulu

Hulu

+5-2

Pros

  • 80+ original series including Emmy-winning shows (The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Only Murders)
  • Live TV tier includes 500+ cable/network channels (sports, news, reality)
  • Same-day new episodes of 200+ current TV shows
  • Disney bundle integration (Disney+, ESPN+)
  • Stronger international content library

Cons

  • $14.99/month for premium ad-free tier (highest among main competitors)
  • Limited live sports; ESPN+ required separately for most sports content

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Paramount+ includes NFL games (Thursday Night Football and select playoff games) directly in the base subscription. Hulu does not include live NFL games; you need ESPN+ as a separate $11.99/month subscription to access NFL content through Disney's ecosystem.

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