What channels come with your Hulu plan? And is it worth it? Learn the full lineup, price, and how to watch your favorite shows.
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- Hulu Standard Plan
- Channels You Get with Hulu + Live TV
- Hulu + Live TV Local Channels
- What Features Come with Hulu + Live TV?
- Can You Add Channels?
- Does Hulu + Live TV have Ads?
- How to Watch Hulu on TV
- FAQs
Tip: Streaming services can get expensive, especially if you like variety. By bundling your subscriptions, you can save money and watch your favorite shows and movies.
Instead of paying over $31/month separately for Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, get the bundle and enjoy shows, Disney, Marvel, live sports, and more for just $16.99/month. Find out more.
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Hulu Plans and Pricing
Hulu offers 6 streaming plans. You can also buy add-ons for extras like Sports and unlimited screens. Take a look at each plan and the monthly price:[1]
Plan | Price | # of Screens |
---|---|---|
Hulu (Standard) | $9.99 | 2 devices at once |
Hulu (No Ads*) | $18.99 | 2 devices at once |
Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ | $82.99 | 2 devices at once |
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ | $95.99 | 2 devices at once |
Hulu + Live TV w/ Unlimited Screens | Add $9.99 | Unlimited |
*Grey's Anatomy still shows ads even if you subscribe to the No Ads plan.
Hulu Standard Plan
Hulu's $9.99 starter plan offers full, on-demand access to the entire Hulu catalogue with limited ads.[2]
Here's what else you'll get:
- Ability to stream on 2 devices at the same time
- TV and movie classics
- All of Hulu's original programming (The Handmaid's Tale, The Act and more).
- Episodes of current network and basic cable shows 1 day after they air
- FX on Hulu, which includes past and current FX-exclusive shows 1 day after they air
- Ability to add premium channels for an added fee (Max, CINEMAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ)
If you'd rather watch your favorite shows live, don't miss Hulu's Live TV options below.
How to Save on Streaming Services
Streaming is cheaper when you bundle. Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ all for just $16.99/month when you sign up below.
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Channels You Get with Hulu + Live TV
Hulu has 95+ live and on-demand channels. Here are the cable channels it has on its live TV service:
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Learn More
You can also include extra networks as add-ons—we'll discuss them below.
What's your favorite thing to watch on TV?
Hulu + Live TV Local Channels
Hulu also offers live local CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox channels. However, what's available depends on the deals they have with local affiliates.
Here's a list of local channels for each market:
City | Channels Offered |
---|---|
Atlanta | ABC, ANF, Atlanta 69, Fox 5, Alive, GPB, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Austin | ABC, CBS, Fox 7, KBVO, KXAN-TV, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Boston | ABC, WBZ, WSBK-TV, WFXT, CBS, NECN, PBS, GBH, CW, Telemundo |
Charlotte | ABC, WBTV, Fox 46My 12, CBS, PBS, etv, Telemundo, CW |
Chicago | ABC, WQTA, Fox 32, myTV, CBS, WGN9, PBS, wttw, Telemundo, CW |
Dallas/Ft. Worth | ABC, KTVT CBS, KTXA, Fox 4, my TV, NBC KXAS-TV, Kera, Telemundo, CW |
Detroit | ABC, Detroit50, CBS, Fox 2, CBS, PBS, wgte, Telemundo |
Gainesville | ABC, CBS 4, FOx 51, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Hartford/New Haven | ABC, WFSB, Fox 61, WCTX TV, NBC, nech, PBS, nepm, SNY, Telemundo, CW |
Houston | ABC, KHOU11, Fox 23, my TV, KPRC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Los Angeles | ABC, CBS, WBFS, WSVN 7, NBC, PBS, WLRN, Telemundo, CW |
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale | ABC, CBS, Fox, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Sun, My TV, NBC, Telemundo |
Minneapolis/St. Paul | ABC, WCCO, Fox 9, Fox 9+, NBC, TPT, Telemundo, CW |
New York | ABC, WCBS-TV, WLNY TV, Fox 5, my TV, NBC, PBS, SNY, Telemundo, CW |
Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne | ABC, News 6, Fox 35, my TV, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Philadelphia | ABC, CBS, Philly 57, Fox 29, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Phoenix | ABC, CBS, Fox 10, my TV, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
San Diego | ABC, CBS, Fox 5, NBC, kpbs, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
SF/Oakland/San Jose | ABC, CBS, KPIX+, Fox 2, KTVU PLUS, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Tampa/St. Petersburg | ABC, Tampa Bay 44, WTSP-TV, Fox 13, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, CW |
Washington, D.C. | ABC, WUSA9, Fox 5, Monumental, myTV, NBC, DC New Now, MPT, PBS, WHUT-TV, Telemundo, CW |
You can also check what's available at your location by entering your zip code on Hulu's website.
If you're only interested in local channels, you can easily get by without paying for Hulu. Antennas have come a long way from the old rabbit-ears you had way back when. HD antennas, which are usually less than $30 online, can access local channels at no ongoing cost.
Learn More
What Features Come with Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV offers these features with their basic package:
Cloud DVR
The basic package comes with Unlimited DVR storage.
Multiple Screens
You can watch Hulu + Live TV on 2 screens at once. However, you can only stream the service on your mobile phone if you're outside your home network. You can't use streaming devices like the Roku or Fire TV when you're away.
Who will you share your Hulu account with?
On-Demand
Hulu + Live TV also gives you access to their on-demand library. It has plenty of on-demand TV shows and video, including original Hulu series like Marvel's Runaways and The Handmaid's Tale.
Even with these features, there won't be much to watch unless you get good channels. Find out below if you can get your favorites.
Can You Add Channels?
You can add extra channels with their add-ons. Here's what they have:[3]
Available with any Hulu plan:
Premium Channel Add-On | Price Per Month |
---|---|
Max (With Ads) | $9.99 |
Max (No Ads) | $16.99 |
Cinemax | $9.99 |
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME | $12.99 |
STARZ | $10.99 |
Available with Live TV plans only ($7.99 total for all channels):[4]
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Hallmark Drama
- Great American Family
- Military History Channel
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- Nick Toon
- Science
- Teen Nick
Nothing gets in the way of your TV time like ads. See what you can do to stop wasting time and skip through them.
Learn More
Does Hulu + Live TV have Ads?
Just like broadcast TV, Hulu's live TV service has ads. With the Enhanced Cloud DVR upgrade, you can record your programs and skip ads during replay. Other than that, there's no way to avoid them.
For on-demand services, it'll depend on the version of Hulu you picked. If you chose regular Hulu (with ads) + Live TV, then you'll still get ads.
You'll have to choose the Hulu (No Ads) version + Live TV to get rid of it.
However, bear in mind that even with the no ads Hulu, you'll still get ads with Grey's Anatomy. Hulu says that this show has ads due to its streaming rights
Some people like to test the waters before jumping into a paid plan. Learn more about free trials in our FAQ at the bottom.
How to Watch Hulu on TV
If you don't have a Hulu account:
- Visit the Hulu website and click "Login"
- Scroll to the bottom then click "Start Your Free Trial"
- Choose your preferred plan as well as any add-ons
- Enter your personal information, email, and create a password
- Enter your payment details (you won't be charged until your free trial has ended)
- Complete your account sign-up and begin watching.
If you do have a Hulu account:
- Download and open the Hulu app on your streaming device
- If watching on a computer, visit the Hulu website.
- For either method, log in if needed. (You'll usually need to log in if you just signed up)
- Begin watching.
Learn More
You'll need a high-speed internet connection for an enjoyable watching experience (even if you're watching on a smart TV app). Slower speeds affect video quality and may not be able to load the stream.) You can read more about this in our guide on how to cut the cord.
Will It Work On My Device?
To watch Hulu, you'll need a streaming device like Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Google Chromecast.
Hulu's latest app (including live TV) will also work on these devices:[5]
- Amazon Fire Tablets
- Fire HD 6 (4th generation)
- Fire HD 7 (4th generation)
- Fire HDX 8.9" (4th generation)
- Fire (5th generation or higher)
- Fire HD 8 (5th generation or higher)
- Fire HD 10 (5th generation or higher)
- Fire HD 6 (4th generation)
- Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5.0 and later)
- Android phones and tablets
- Most models running Android 5.0 and above
- Screen size of at least 800x480 pixels
- Most models running Android 5.0 and above
- Android TV devices
- Sony Bravia Android TV* (2015+ models)
- Nvidia Shield
- Hisense Android TV
- Select Xiaomi devices
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Sony Bravia Android TV* (2015+ models)
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- iOS 13.4 and above
- iPhone 5S or later
- iPad 5th generation or later (iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, and iPad mini 2, 3, and 4)
- iPod Touch 6th generation
- iOS 13.4 and above
- Apple TV (4th generation and later) and Apple TV 4K
- Chromecast
- Contour 2 and Stream Player Boxes
- Echo Show (8, 10, and 15)
- LG devices
- All LG TVs with webOS 3.5 or higher
- Select devices with webOS 3.0 — not including the B6, UH6350, and UH6330 models, or the UH77, UH76, and UH61 series
- LG TVs powered by Roku TV (LF5700 series)
- All LG TVs with webOS 3.5 or higher
- Nintendo Switch (R1 and Lite)
- Playstation 4 and 5
- Roku
- Roku 2 (4210X)
- Roku 3
- Roku Streaming Stick (3600X, 3800X), Stick+, 4K, 4K+
- Roku Express, Express+, 4K, 4K+
- Roku Premiere, Premiere+
- Roku Ultra, Ultra LT
- Roku Smart Speaker
- Roku TV, 2K, 4K, 8K
- Roku 2 (4210X)
- Samsung smart TVs (2016 or later)
- Vizio SmartCast TVs (2016 or later)
- Web browsers
- Mac OS X 10.13 or above, Microsoft Windows 10, and Chrome OS
- The latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
- HTML5 enabled
- JavaScript and Cookies enabled
- Mac OS X 10.13 or above, Microsoft Windows 10, and Chrome OS
- Xbox
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Boxes
- Xumo TV and XiOne Box
- Xumo TV
- Xumo XiOne Box
- Xumo TV
*Note that live TV and select add-ons are not supported on Xfinity X1 TV Boxes and Contour devices.
Offline Downloads: How to Stop Wasting Data
Don't want to use up all your data while streaming on the go? You can download shows and movies on compatible iPhones, iPads, Android devices, or Amazon Fire tablets. To download, you'll need a Hulu (No Ads) subscription.
You can download any episode or movie that has a Download icon in the Details page. There are some limits:[6]
- Up to 25 downloads across five devices at once
- 30 days to access unwatched downloads unless the episode/movie expires form the Hulu streaming library before that.
- 48 hours to finish content you've started watching
If you didn't get to your downloads before they expired, you can always download them again from the Details page.
Overall, it's a really convenient way to take your favorite shows with you. You'll never be bored on a long trip again.
Hulu Video and Sound Quality
Hulu Live TV offers HD streaming. Your video quality depends on your device, internet speed, and the show's available resolution. Take a look at Hulu's list of compatible streaming devices:
720p at 60fps
- Android TV (select models)
- Android phones and tablets (select models)
- Apple TV
- Chrome browser (supported versions)
- Chromecast
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Fire Tablet (4th generation or later)
- iPhone and iPad
- LG TV (WebOS 3.0 and above)
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Roku (supported versions)
- Samsung TV (select models)
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
1080p at 60fps
- Apple TV (4th generation or later)
- Chromecast
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Playstation 4
- Samsung TV (select models)
- Xbox One
4K Ultra HD is available for only a select list of programs. If you see a badge on the details page of a movie/show then it's available in 4K. Most Hulu Originals are available in 4K. Here are the devices you can use to watch 4K programming:
- Apple TV (5th generation or later)
- Chromecast Ultra
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- LG TVs (2017 UHD models or later)
- Roku
- Samsung TVs (2019 UHD models or later)
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Xbox One (S and X models)
Hulu also offers certain Hulu Originals in HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision on select devices:
- Roku (HDR compatible models)
- Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube devices (HDR compatible models with Fire OS 6 or later)
- Apple TV 4K (Gen 5 or later)
- Vizio (HDR compatible models)
- Chromecast Ultra (HDR-compatible models)
- LG (2018 HDR compatible models or later)
- Samsung TVs (2019 HDR compatible models or later)
Hulu recommends internet speeds of at least 3 Mbps for 720p streaming, 6 Mbps for 1080p streaming, and 16 Mbps for 4K streaming.
As for sound quality, Live TV and on-demand streaming is available in 2.0 stereo quality. Although 5.1 surround sound is available for some on-demand titles, this isn't available for Live TV. Here are the devices compatible with 5.1 surround sound:
- Android TV (select models)
- Apple TV (4th generation and above)
- Chromecast
- Fire TV (3rd generation and Cube) and Fire TV Stick 4K
- iOS (turn WiFi on and Low Data Mode off)
- LG TV (WebOS 3.0 and above)
- Mac (Safari 11 and later)
- Microsoft Edge
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation 4
- Playstation 5
- Roku and Roku Stick
- Samsung TV (select models)
- VIZIO SmartCast TVs
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- Xfinity X1 TV Boxes
Learn More
Compare Streaming Deals
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What Experts Say
CreditDonkey assembled a panel of industry experts to answer readers' most pressing questions:
- What does having so many streaming options easily accessible mean for consumers?
- Do you think streaming services will eventually make cable TV completely obsolete?
- What does the future look like for streaming services?
Here's what they said:
Hulu FAQs
Is Hulu free with Amazon Prime?
Hulu does not come free with Amazon Prime. Hulu starts at $9.99 per month, while Amazon Prime $14.99 per month ($139 per year).
If you want the perk of multiple streaming services, consider bundling your Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ together for $16.99 per month. Otherwise, you'll have to pay for Hulu and Amazon Prime separately.
How long is the Hulu free trial?
Currently, you can get a 30-day free trial of Hulu's standard plan ($9.99/month) and their ad-free plan ($18.99/month).
How many devices can you stream Hulu on?
With any Hulu plan (ads and ad-free) you can stream your Hulu account on 2 devices at the same time. If you have Hulu Live TV, you can get the Unlimited Screens add-on for an extra $9.99 per month.
This allows for unlimited devices on your home network to access Hulu and up to 3 separate mobile devices if you're on the go.
What's the difference between Hulu and Hulu Plus?
Years ago, Hulu offered free, ad-supported streaming content. Then, they decided to offer a bigger library of content for a price, referred to as "Hulu Plus". They've since abandoned that name and now offer Hulu (standard), Hulu (No Ads), and Hulu Live TV.
Does Hulu + Live TV Include DVR?
Hulu + Live TV subscribers get unlimited cloud DVR storage at no additional cost. You can fast-forward through ads in Cloud DVR recordings but not during live TV or on-demand videos. You can playback and fast-forward your recordings for up to 9 months.
Does Hulu + Live TV have PBS?
All local PBS stations can be streamed live on Hulu + Live TV. But you must reside in the US to be able to stream PBS.
How do I get Hulu for free?
The only way to score Hulu for free is with one of their free trials. You can get a 30-day free trial of Hulu's standard plan and No-Ad plan.
After the free trial ends, your account will be charged and your billing cycle will begin.
How do you cancel Hulu?
Go to your Account on a computer/mobile device. Click "Cancel" under the "Your Subscriptions" section. If you pay for Hulu through a third party (Apple, Amazon, Xfinity, Disney, Roku, Spotify, T-Mobile, Verizon), there are different ways to cancel based on the billing party.
You can cancel any time or renew your subscription at any time. If you cancel, you'll still be able to watch Hulu until your billing period ends.
Bottom Line
Hulu + Live TV offers the cable and local channels you'd want, without the typical high-cost plan.
Keep in mind that their Live TV plans only workwith certain devices. Plus, the standard DVR doesn't let you skip throughads.
But if you want a simple package at a reasonable price, Hulu + Live TV is a good choice. Just be sure that it will work with your device and includes the channels you want.
References
- ^ Hulu. Plans and Prices, Retrieved 10/09/2024
- ^ Hulu. Hulu (With Ads) plan, Retrieved 10/09/2024
- ^ Hulu. Premium Add-ons, Retrieved 10/09/2024
- ^ Hulu. Entertainment Add-on, Retrieved 2/24/2023
- ^ Hulu. Hulu supported devices, Retrieved 04/15/2024
- ^ Hulu. Download TV shows and movies on Hulu, Retrieved 2/24/2023
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