Every year, more and more people are cutting the cord and saving a few bucks by subscribing to a streaming service instead. But with so many options to choose from, how do you decide which one to go with?
In this guide, we'll do an in-depth comparison of Shudder and Hulu to help you decide which is the better option for you.
Quick overview: Shudder vs. Hulu
If you're a horror fan, Shudder was made just for you. Shudder is an on-demand streaming service, but with a twist: all its content falls into the horror genre. Subscribers not only get thousands of classic horror movies but also all kinds of horror-related TV shows as well, including a growing list of Shudder originals to enjoy.
Hulu, with more than 40 million users worldwide, is a widely popular streaming service owned by Walt Disney and NBCUniversal. With tons of popular content and Emmy award-winning exclusive original shows and movies, the streaming service is one of Netflix's biggest competitors.
Let's begin with an overview of the basics:
| Shudder | Hulu |
|---|---|
| $5.99/month | Ad-supported: $7.99/month Ad-free: $17.99/month |
| 7 days | 30 days (no live TV) |
| Up to 720p | Up to 4K, Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound |
| No | Yes |
| Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, select Samsung TVs | Apple, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation, most smart TVs |
| 1 simultaneous stream | 2 simultaneous streams |
Shudder wins in pricing
When it comes to pricing, Shudder is cheaper than Hulu's cheapest ad-supported plan, with the added benefit of no ads. However, if you're looking for more variety beyond titles in the horror genre, Hulu is the better choice.
When it comes to Shudder, wherever you live, the cost is the same. You can either pay monthly or save money with an upfront yearly payment. In Canada, the UK, and Ireland, pricing is adjusted to reflect the local currency, but the rate is the same.
Shudder
$6.99/month
In contrast, Hulu's ad-free plan is more than double the price of Shudder. You’ll get a lot more content including non-scary shows, but that’s still something to consider if you’re on a budget.
Hulu’s free trial is a great deal
Hulu wins by a landslide in this category with a formidable 30-day free trial. When it comes to the best free trial, few streaming services have Hulu beat. That said, Shudder's 7-day trial is not bad at all.
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
Hulu has a well-rounded content library
When it comes to which has the better overall content library, Hulu is the winner. Not only does it offer a ton more content to choose from with thousands of titles available, but also tons of good original horror content that you won't find anywhere else, like Blood Moon, Tentacles, The Current Occupant and more.
That said, if you prefer scary flicks, Shudder may be the better choice, with over 400 horror titles to browse and watch - much more than Hulu offers.
What to watch on Hulu
Hulu has an unmatched range of shows, movies, documentaries, reality shows, and even offers from networks like ABC, NBC, FOX and HBO. You can also customize your plan and get even more content by adding on Max, Showtime, Cinemax, or Starz for a small fee.
Some popular titles on Hulu include:
- Into The Dark
- American Horror Story
- Pam & Tommy
- Monsterland
- The Act
Want to learn what other content is available on Hulu? Flixed is here to help with the Flixed Hulu Content Guide.
What to watch on Shudder
Thrillers, horror movies, zombie flicks, and all kinds of other horror-related titles can be found in Shudder's online vault. One of the service's main attractions is its growing library of original content. New releases come out very frequently, as well. In addition to on-demand content, some themed live channel feeds are also available.
Some popular titles include:
- Anything for Jackson
- Kandisha
- Knife + Heart
- Scare Me
- They Look Like People
Hulu’s home theater features take the cake
When it comes to a better home theatre experience, Hulu wins.
Shudder is lacking behind most other streaming services by only offering up to 720p streaming quality and no support for Dolby Atmos. In contrast, Hulu supports 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos for select content, making for an all-around better watching experience.
If video and audio quality are your top priorities, Hulu definitely comes out on top.
View content offline with Hulu
Hulu will let you download certain shows and movies. You can then watch this content, later on, offline, on supported mobile devices including most iPhones, Androids and Fire tablets.
Unfortunately, you can't download content with Shudder. The standalone Shudder app doesn't support this feature.
The only way to get around this and watch Shudder content offline is to get the Shudder add-on for Amazon Prime Video. if you have an Amazon Fire Tablet or the Amazon Prime Video app, you can download content for offline viewing.
Device support is great all-around
When it comes to device support, Shudder and Hulu don't differ too widely. Hulu just offers slightly more options than Shudder.
To check out the full device support for each streaming service, check out our complete Shudder and Hulu supported devices lists.
Hulu just barely wins with simultaneous streaming
Neither streaming service goes above and beyond in this category.
Hulu only beats Shudder by the slightest bit, offering 2 simultaneous streams instead of just 1 stream at a time, and lets you create up to 6 profiles on a single account.
Unfortunately, you can only stream to one device at a time with Shudder. You can try and get around this by getting YouTube TV's Shudder add-on. Since YouTube TV supports three simultaneous streams, you'll be able to watch Shudder through the YouTube TV app even if two other people are watching streams through your account.
Like YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video also has a Shudder add-on and supports simultaneous streaming. If you get Shudder through Amazon Video, you can watch Shudder content on three devices at once. But keep in mind that if you subscribe to Shudder through a different streaming service, you won't be able to watch Shudder's live feeds.
Our takeaway: Hulu is the better option
We recommend Hulu as the better overall choice for most viewers. With better features and more variety in terms of content, you'll find something to watch for any mood that you're in. The only downside is that you'll have to get the pricier plan to avoid having your episode interrupted by 80-second ads.
But Shudder shouldn't be completely written off. If you love the horror genre, Shudder is definitely worth checking out with the 7-day free trial. Despite its lower streaming quality and lack of special features, it has tons of positives to fall back on: a reasonable price, a commitment to carrying the best scary flicks and series, and a consistent release schedule. Why not give it a shot?
Tara Khudairi • Author
Tara Khudairi is a freelance content writer and copywriter based in Toronto. Since 2014, she has contributed to brands and blogs alike to tackle popular topics relating to technology, personal finance, entertainment, travel and lifestyle. Whether it’s the latest streaming service or cryptocurrency, she’s passionate about making the complex simple. When she’s not busy typing away, you’ll find Tara watching Netflix’s latest true crime doc or a classic 90’s horror flick.
Kelsey Reynolds • Editor
Kelsey is a content strategist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Kelsey was drawn to working at Flixed because the team was so open, motivated, and curious. She most enjoys thinking about how to blend programmatic and editorial content to answer readers’ questions as completely and efficiently as possible. When she’s not at her computer, Kelsey can usually be found working in her garden or walking her two dogs in the park.
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