With on-demand services like Hulu and Netflix, you can watch your favorite movies and shows anytime. Streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch also keep you entertained for hours on end. Gone are the days of cable.
In this article, we highlight both Hulu + Live TV and Amazon Prime Video, putting their features under the microscope to see if either is worth your money.
Enjoy Amazon Prime Video for one month free
Amazon Prime Video wins this category, offering a very generous free-trial period of one month. You can sample all the live channels and on-demand content—and other bonuses we’ll get into later.
While Hulu also offers a 30-day free trial, it’s only for its on-demand plans. A free trial isn’t offered with any of the live TV plans.
Amazon Prime Video has the lower prices
When it comes to pricing, Amazon Prime Video takes the upper hand. The service offers one plan, giving you access to everything Prime Video has to offer. Plus, if you already have an Amazon Prime account, Prime Video comes included with your subscription, so you may already have access to the streamer.
Prime Video
- On demand content
- Stream on three screens
$8.99/month
Hulu offers six plans, two for their on-demand service, and four for their live tv service. While the live tv plans are definitely much pricier than Amazon Prime Video, you get quite a lot for your money with access to Hulu’s live tv and on-demand service, as well as subscriptions to Disney+ and ESPN+.
Hulu (with ads)
Get 3 HULU, DISNEY Plus, ESPN
- Stream on two screens
- Big movies
- Hit TV shows
- On demand content
$9.99/month
Hulu (no ads)
Get 3 HULU, DISNEY Plus, ESPN
- Stream on two screens
- Big movies
- Hit TV shows
- On demand content
- No ads
$18.99/month
Hulu Live TV only
- 90+ live channels
- Stream on two screens
$81.99/month
Hulu Live TV (with ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$82.99/month
Hulu Live TV (some ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$87.99/month
Hulu Live TV (no ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$95.99/month
Enjoy 90+ channels with Hulu + Live TV
When choosing an internet TV service, the platform that carries your favorite channels will trump the competition. Another thing to consider is how broad its channel line-up is. Hulu takes the win in this category, mostly because its channels are included in its plans. There are 90+ channels to watch with Hulu + Live TV, including ESPN, NBC, TNT, HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark, and more.
Amazon Prime Video also offers live tv channels, believe it or not, but they’re largely premium or curated channels like STARZ, Showtime, BET Plus, NBA League Pass, and more. These channels also aren’t included in your subscription, so you’ll have to pay extra for any channels you want to add to your plan.
Stream on more devices with Amazon Prime Video
When it comes to simultaneous streaming, Amazon Prime Video offers more screens to watch on at once. You get 3 simultaneous streams with your Prime Video account, but only 2 of those streams can be watching the same show or movie.
With Hulu, you get 2 simultaneous streams across all 4 of their plans. However, there is the option to pay for the unlimited device plan, which would add another $10 to your monthly subscription costs.
Store endless hours of content with Hulu + Live TV
Hulu’s live tv plans come with unlimited cloud DVR space, allowing you plenty of room to record any shows or movies you might miss.
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t have a DVR service, since their channels are all add-ons. You can, however, download on-demand titles to watch at a later date. You can save whatever content you can find in the Amazon media catalog to view on a long plane ride or when you’re out of range of the internet.
Both services have great device support
Being two of the most popular streaming services in the market, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video naturally have pretty impressive device support, offering apps on a wide variety of devices, including:
- Smart TVs - Select Samsung, LG, Android TV, and Vizio models
- Streaming Devices - Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and Roku devices
- iOS - AppleTV, iPhone, and iPad
- Game Consoles - Xbox consoles, PS4 and PS5, and Nintendo Switch
- Internet Browsers - Chromium-based browsers
Hulu takes a small victory here by being available on the Nintendo Switch, where Amazon Prime Video is not.
On-demand content
Between Hulu + Live TV and Amazon Prime Video, you have 2 examples of industry leaders for on-demand streaming. However, Hulu does have one advantage over Amazon Prime Video: its library is more organized.
Amazon Prime Video’s interface can be a bit cluttered, making it a bit of a pain to navigate. But, if you’re not a stickler for organization, you can’t go wrong with either Hulu + Live TV or Amazon Prime Video when it comes to an on-demand catalog.
Our takeaway: Choose the service that works for you
Cable-cutting will never be easier when you have platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. You’ll get a wide range of internet TV channels and an ever-growing library of on-demand content. It all depends on what you’re looking for and what will satisfy your needs.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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