Hulu
Hulu is a subscription streaming service providing on-demand access to current TV episodes and catalog content through ad-supported and premium tiers.
Hulu Pricing 2026: Plans, Bundles & Cost Breakdown
Last updated
June 18, 2026
TL;DR
Hulu starts at $11.99/month, above Netflix and Paramount+ entry tiers at $8.99 and $8.99, but bundling with Disney+ and ESPN can offset the gap for households that want the full Disney ecosystem.
| Factor | Summary |
|---|---|
| Cost of Plans | $11.99/mo to $99.99/mo, plus Disney bundles from $12.99/mo to $44.99/mo |
| Cost of Add-Ons | Premium channels run $9.99–$13.99/mo each (Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax, HBO Max) |
| Free Tier | Trial only — No free ad-supported tier, but Hulu + Live TV offers a 3-day free trial for eligible new subscribers |
| Vs. Competitors | Pricier — Hulu starts above Netflix and Paramount+ at $8.99/mo, and Hulu + Live TV costs more than YouTube TV at $82.99/mo |
| What Users Say | Mixed to negative — Reviewers complain about heavy ad loads on paid plans, repeated price hikes, and bundle confusion that inflates cost |
| Best for | Skip if |
|---|---|
| Disney+ and ESPN fans who want live sports and current-season TV at a bundle discount. | You want fewer ads or only need one service — Netflix and Paramount+ undercut Hulu's entry tier. |
Hulu Pricing
We found that Hulu splits into three lanes: ad-supported and ad-free on-demand streaming, a Hulu + Live TV package that folds in Disney+ and ESPN Select, and Disney bundles that combine Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ at a discount. Annual billing is only offered through Hulu's $119.99/year annual offer on the ad-supported standalone plan, so most tiers are monthly-only.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (as $/mo) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu With Ads | $11.99 | $9.99 | Budget cord-cutters who tolerate ads |
| Hulu No Ads | $18.99 | Not offered | Viewers who want minimal interruptions |
| Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) | $89.99 | Not offered | Sports and live TV households |
| Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) | $99.99 | Not offered | Live TV viewers avoiding ads |
| Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic | $12.99 | Not offered | Families wanting Disney+ cheaply |
| Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium | $19.99 | Not offered | Disney households avoiding ads |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Select Bundle Premium | $29.99 | Not offered | Households wanting Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Select |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle (With Ads) | $35.99 | Not offered | ESPN households that can tolerate ads |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle (No Ads) | $44.99 | Not offered | ESPN households avoiding on-demand ads |
Hulu Add-Ons
Beyond the plan tiers, Hulu lets subscribers attach premium channels for an additional monthly charge:
- Paramount+ with Showtime: Hulu lists Paramount+ with Showtime at $13.99/month on top of your base plan, with Showtime originals and Paramount+ content.
- STARZ: Hulu's STARZ add-on costs $11.99/month and brings the STARZ catalog of films and originals.
- Cinemax: Hulu's Cinemax add-on includes Cinemax movies and series for $9.99/month.
- HBO Max: Hulu's HBO Max add-on costs $10.99/month and layers in the HBO Max library.
Hulu Total Cost of Ownership
Sticker prices rarely match what households actually pay, since add-ons and bundles stack quickly. The scenarios below show realistic monthly totals for common cord-cutting situations:
| Scenario | What you pay for | Ballpark/month |
|---|---|---|
| Budget cord-cutter | Hulu (With Ads), annual billing | $9.99 |
| Family wanting Disney+ | Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic (With Ads) | $12.99 |
| Sports fan needing live TV | Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) (includes Disney+ and ESPN Select) | $89.99 |
| Entertainment enthusiast | Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) plus STARZ and HBO Max | $112.97 |
Figures use listed monthly prices except Budget cord-cutter, which uses annual billing.
What Reviews Say About Hulu Pricing
Pricing-specific sentiment skews negative: Hulu has a 1.3/5 on Trustpilot across 3,226 reviews, while the Apple App Store shows a 4.6/5 from 1.4 million ratings that reflects app functionality more than pricing satisfaction.
We found fewer than two positive pricing-specific reviews, so the praise side is too thin to summarize as a pattern.
What People Tend to Dislike
- Heavy ad loads: Users report four to five ads per 20-minute episode, which makes the $11.99/month plan feel less valuable.
- Ad-free confusion: Subscribers report that the No Ads tier does not feel fully ad-free on all content outside Hulu Originals.
- Repeated price increases: Reviewers say prices climb without matching content additions.
- Bundle frustration: Some users feel pushed into bundles they do not want.
Example Reviews
"How is it that Hulu and Disney Plus have to have SO MANY ads and commercials, but Netflix is still doing fine without them? Hulu already had many commercials and ads before merging with Disney, but now there are more than ever! It is beyond ridiculous!" — Chris Henderson
"Constant ads at the worst possible time. Not even worth it for the cheapest version. I get ads right before the credits of my show then immediately at the beginning of the next episode. They are roughly 2 minute long unskippable ads. 4-5 ads for a 20 minute episode is ridiculous" — Brandon Latimer
"Every other free streaming service on the planet show less commercials than Hulu. How dare they charge you for the service and tell you…. Oh …. You need premium service for no commercials.…… give me a break … Tubi Pluto TV Or anything else will be better than HULU!!" — Bradley Reed
Hulu Pricing vs. Alternatives
Cord-cutters comparing Hulu against rivals face small gaps on ad-supported entry pricing but bigger differences on live TV and bundle inclusions:
| Platform | Starting Price | Free Tier | Live Channels | Best When You Need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu | $11.99/mo | No | Disney+, ESPN, and current TV bundled | |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo | No | 100+ channels | Broad live TV with the most channels |
| Netflix | $8.99/mo | No | A large on-demand library with lower entry pricing | |
| Sling TV | $60.99/mo | No | 50+ channels | Cheaper live TV with fewer channels |
| Max | $10.99/mo | No | HBO originals and 4K on premium tier | |
| Peacock | $10.99/mo | No | Peacock Premium at $10.99/mo | |
| Paramount+ | $8.99/mo | No | Live CBS on Premium tier | CBS sports and Showtime content |
Is Hulu's Pricing Worth It?
Hulu's value depends heavily on whether you want the Disney ecosystem and live TV, not just on-demand streaming:
- You want Disney+ and Hulu together: The Bundle Basic at $12.99/mo costs less than buying both services standalone.
- You need live sports and current TV: Hulu + Live TV folds in ESPN Select and live TV access that on-demand-only rivals can't match.
- Your household commits annually: The ad-supported annual plan drops the effective rate to $9.99/mo.
- You qualify for the student rate: Eligible students get Hulu (With Ads) for $1.99/month.
Consider another platform when:
- You only need on-demand streaming: Netflix and Paramount+ both start at $8.99/mo.
- You want the most live channels: YouTube TV includes 100+ channels for less than Hulu + Live TV.
- You want lower live TV costs: Sling Orange + Blue runs $60.99/mo, roughly $29 below Hulu's live tier.
- You are sensitive to ad frequency: Reviewers consistently flag Hulu's ad volume as heavy on paid tiers.
