Netflix vs Hulu: which should you pick?

By Sam Barth · Prices checked November 9, 2026

Pick Netflix for a bigger original library and 4K; pick Hulu (ideally in the Disney+ bundle) for next-day TV episodes. With ads, Netflix is cheaper at $8.99 versus $12.49, but the $12.99 Disney+, Hulu bundle gives you two services.

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How do Netflix and Hulu compare?

	Netflix	Hulu
Cheapest plan	$8.99/mo	$12.49/mo
Ad-free from	$19.99/mo	$21.49/mo
4K	Premium plan only	Limited 4K titles
Live sports	Selected live events. Netflix has streamed NFL Christmas Day games and carries WWE Raw weekly.	Only through Hulu + Live TV, which includes ESPN channels and local networks where available.
Kids and family	Kids profiles with maturity-rating controls and a large library of animated originals.	Kids profiles; most family content sits in Disney+, which is why the bundle is popular.
Local channels	No local channels.	Next-day episodes of many network shows on demand. Live locals only with Hulu + Live TV.
Free trial	No free trial.	Varies by offer; check the sign-up page.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on Netflix Help Center: Plans and Pricing. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on Hulu Help Center: Hulu plans and prices. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

What are the key differences?

Price with ads: Netflix $8.99, Hulu $12.49.
Ad-free: Netflix Standard $19.99, Hulu Premium $21.49.
Hulu gets many network and FX episodes the day after they air; Netflix focuses on originals and licensed seasons.
Only Hulu offers a live TV package (Hulu + Live TV).

Which one should you choose?

Choose Netflix if you want

A deep library of originals in every genre
Households that want one service and do not need live TV

Visit Netflix

Choose Hulu if you want

Next-day TV episodes and FX series
People who also want Disney+ (the bundle costs 50 cents more than Hulu alone)

Visit Hulu

Can you have both?

Together they cost $21.48 a month on the cheapest plans. Try the cord-cutting calculator to see how that compares to a cable bill.

How was this researched?

This page is research-based, not a hands-on test. Prices and plan details come from each provider's own pricing or help pages, checked on the date shown. Feature and sports details come from provider pages and published news reports, which are linked. We do not assign star ratings. Read how we research.