Whether you’re a long-time streamer or just thinking about cutting the cord, you’ve probably heard of Hulu. Launched in 2007, it’s known for its low price, wide range of packages, and popular original content. But it’s got room for improvement, so we look at the top 4 Hulu on Demand alternatives.
Be sure to read all the way to the end if you’re interested in seeing our top pick for overall best alternative to Hulu on Demand.
Paramount+: Cheapest Hulu on Demand Alternative
Even though Hulu raised its prices back in the fall, it’s still competitively priced. But there are still more affordable options out there. Apple TV+ is only $4.99/month, but as it stands now, its library is rather limited.
However, Paramount+ is also just $4.99/month, and it has enough content to last a lifetime.Â
Paramount+ Pricing and Packages
There are 2 plans to choose from with Paramount+, as well as one add-on available.Â
The cheapest option is the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential plan, which is $4.99/month ($49.99/year). For an extra 5 bucks you can ditch the ads and get Premium for $9.99/month, which is $3/month cheaper than when you get rid of the ads with Hulu.
Premium also includes the local CBS station for your area and costs $99.99 when paid by the year.
Bundling Showtime with your plan will cost $11.99/month ($119.99/year) with Essential and $14.99/month ($149.99/year) with Premium.
Essential - With Commercials
7-Day Free Trial
$4.99/ month
TRY FREE
Premium - Commercial Free
7-Day Free Trial
$9.99/ month
TRY FREE
Paramount+ Pros and Cons
At $4.99/month, Paramount+ offers an excellent selection of movies and TV shows. It even has live news and sports, including NFL football. The Premium plan gets you even more sports, like PGA golf and NCAA basketball.
While some originals, like 1883, Halo and Picard, are attracting attention, Paramount+ has yet to reach the status of must-watch TV. But it’s certainly on the right path.
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Amazon Prime Video: Best Hulu on Demand Alternative for Home Theater Features
When it comes to home theater features, Hulu has been making improvements but still has a ways to go. On the plus side, Hulu doesn’t charge extra for 4K content like some services (HBO Max and Netflix, for example). However, the list of devices supporting Hulu’s 4K and HDR streaming is still limited to 5 devices and 2 TVs, many requiring specific models or generations.
Like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t hold higher quality streams hostage behind more expensive plans. With hundreds of shows and movies in 4K, the list expands to thousands when taking into account the titles available to rent exclusively for Prime members.
Amazon Prime Video Pricing and Packages
With only a single tier available, Amazon Prime Video costs $8.99/month. It also comes included with an Amazon Prime membership for $14.99/month ($139/year). Unfortunately, there is no annual subscription for Prime Video as a standalone service.
Also, movies and TV shows are available to rent exclusively to Prime members. They range in price from a buck to $20, depending on factors like whether they’re a new release.
Amazon Prime Video
30-Day Free Trial
$8.99 / month
SIGN UP
Amazon Prime Video Home Theater Features
With hundreds of titles in 4K UHD and HDR, Amazon Prime Video is one of the best platforms to put your home theater to the test. There’s also a growing library of titles available in 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos surround sound.Â
And there’s no need to upgrade.
Further helping it on the home theater front, Amazon Prime Video supports a long list of devices to deliver its 4K and HDR content. This includes its own Fire devices, cable STBs, and numerous smart TVs. For a deeper look, check out our article on Amazon Prime Video Device Support.
Amazon Prime Video Pros and Cons
At $8.99/month, Amazon Prime Video is only $2 more than Hulu. It supports a wide range of devices to enjoy its impressive library of titles in 4K, HDR and surround sound. It has also added live TV (linear broadcasting) to its lineup and is the new exclusive broadcaster of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football.
However, its interface and navigation is far from user-friendly, and the 3-stream limit might be an issue for some.
Take a look at our complete Amazon Prime Video Review for all the details.
Disney+: Best Hulu on Demand Alternative for Large Families
Hulu offers a solid amount of family content, but a major downside is its limited streams. For large families–or roommates with different tastes–Hulu’s 2-stream limit probably won’t cut it. Especially as you can’t upgrade to more.
Another downside is that you need to upgrade to the Hulu (No Ads) plan if you want to download shows to watch offline.
While it delivers in a number of categories, Disney+ is our top choice for big families. Not only is it a family viewing icon, it’s got Hulu beat in streams and downloads as well.
Disney+ Pricing and Packages
Disney+ offers a single tier plan and it costs $7.99/month. You can save money with an annual subscription for $79.99/year, which is like getting 2 months for free.
Unsurprisingly, as Disney owns ⅔ of Hulu, there’s also the Disney Bundle available, which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $13.99.
Disney+
Bundle
$13.99/ Year
SIGN UP
Disney+
Standalone
$7.99/ month
SIGN UP
Disney+ Simultaneous Streams & Devices
It may only have one plan, but Disney+ comes with 4 simultaneous streams, which should satisfy most families. It also lets you create 7 profiles with a range of parental controls.
If 4 streams are not enough, you can download content on up to 10 devices for offline viewing, compared to 5 devices with Hulu (which requires an upgrade). Downloads remain until you delete them, whereas Hulu automatically deletes unwatched videos within 30 days–or 48 hours after you start watching them.
Disney+ Family Content
Disney is the premier name in family content, not to mention it owns Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic. Most of its shows and movies need no introduction, so we’ll just list a few originals created exclusively for Disney+.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- The Mandalorian
- Moon Knight
- Togo
- Turning Red
Disney+ Pros and Cons
With its 4 streams, 7 profiles, and 10 devices Disney+ is built for families. It’s competitively priced while supporting a wide range of devices and home theater features. All that is on top of having the hottest properties in family entertainment history.
The only downside of Disney+ is that it might be too family-friendly for some. The introduction of parental controls and content changes in overseas markets might signify a change is coming in that regard, but until then, you’ll need the Disney Bundle with Hulu for more mature content.
Take a look at our in-depth Disney+ Review for more information.
Netflix: Best Hulu on Demand Alternative for Original Content
With hits like The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building and Pam & Tommy, Hulu is no slouch when it comes to original content. However, it still falls short of competitors like Amazon Prime Video and #1 rival Netflix.
How long Netflix will remain the champ of original content is anyone’s guess, but it’s still the industry favorite today.
Netflix Pricing and Packages
The price of a Netflix subscription went up again last month. At $9.99/month, the Basic plan still qualifies for the under-$10 class, but it only streams up to 480p.
The Standard plan, Netflix’s most popular, is $15.49/month and streams in 1080p. It also doubles the simultaneous streams and download devices from 1 to two.
The Premium plan bumps things up to 4 simultaneous streams and delivers 4K UHD content for $19.99/month.
Netflix Original Content
Its originals have been winning awards since Netflix made its first show, House of Cards, in 2013. More importantly, they’re what attract subscribers to the service. Shows like Stranger Things, Tiger King and Squid Game have become part of popular culture.
From romance to thrillers to kids shows, Netflix continues to deliver top-notch content. Here are a few titles from various genres that keep those subscriptions rolling:Â
- Bridgerton
- Inventing Anna
- Money Heist
- The Sinner
- Word Party
Netflix Pros and Cons
Access to some of the most bingeworthy shows around is reason enough to subscribe to Netflix. And things like simultaneous streams and audio/video quality improve each step up from the Basic plan.
The biggest drawback of Netflix is price. It’s the most expensive on-demand service out there and 4K content requires the Premium plan. And allowing only 2 streams and 2 devices with the Standard plan might not appeal to large households.
For more on the streaming giant, check out our Netflix Review on Flixed.
Our Verdict: The Best Alternative to Hulu on Demand
Paramount+ is as similar to Hulu on Demand as it can get. Both are backed by Hollywood heavyweights, have growing libraries of quality originals, and their lowest-priced plans are ad-supported.
However, Paramount+ is $2/month cheaper for the ad-supported plan and $3/month cheaper without commercials. Also, Paramount+ includes a bit of live TV with its Premium plan, something that Hulu only offers with its much pricier Hulu with Live TV plan.
