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What Is Hulu & How Does It Work?

All you want to know about this popular TV and movie streaming service

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 4, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section How Does Hulu Work Hulu Plans What's Available on Hulu? Step-by-Step: Create a Hulu Account Where You Can Watch Hulu How to Download Movies and Shows From Hulu How Is Hulu Different From Other Services Frequently Asked Questions Hulu is a streaming content service that started as a platform for recently-aired TV shows but has since grown into a massive service with full movies, original programming, and live TV options. Hulu no longer offers free content unless you’re taking part in a trial plan. If you're looking for truly free movies and shows, please know that there are still free movie sites and websites with free TV shows.

How Does Hulu Work

You can use Hulu from various screens, and five other people can access your account with their own profile. Each profile is separate from the others, but they don't cost any extra. All viewing history and recommendations are unique to each profile. Even kids can have their own Hulu profile to restrict their usage to kid-friendly content. All of Hulu’s content is 100 percent free and legal to stream. This is because it has genuine deals with content providers, which gives Hulu permission to publish content from their networks. Hulu includes original programming and content from Disney, Fox, BBC America, Showtime, TLC, CBS, ABC News, Animal Planet, Complex, Freeform, FX, and others. Streaming from Hulu isn't free, so you must first purchase a plan. Some of the content isn’t included in the plan by default but can be added, which comes at an additional cost. If you want to remove ads on Hulu, that’s an additional fee as well.

Hulu Plans

You can choose from four base plans, all of which include access to Hulu’s full library of movies and shows. A standard Hulu plan can be purchased with or without ads. Hulu: $6.99 /month or $69.99/year; includes adsHulu (No Ads): $12.99 /month; removes ads The Hulu Live TV plan includes more content since it resembles a traditional cable subscription. There are live and on-demand channels covering news, sports, lifestyle, movies, kid-friendly content, and entertainment, depending on your location (check the list of Hulu channels in your area). It’s also available ad-free. Hulu + Live TV: $69.99 /month; includes adsHulu (No Ads) + Live TV: $75.99 /month; removes ads Hulu Student Accounts include not only Hulu (the ad-supported plan) but also Showtime and Spotify Premium. A Sprint and Hulu combo is available for some Sprint plans. Other streaming services, like HBO Max and Disney Plus, can also be bundled with your Hulu subscription. How To Add Disney Plus To Hulu

What' s Available on Hulu

Hulu has lots of genres to help you find specific movies and shows, such as Action, Crime, Late Night, Latino, Horror, Comedy, News, Classics, Sports, Cooking & Food, Thriller, Teen, LGBTQ+, Science & Technology, Adult Animation, Sitcom, Romance, and Reality. If you don't want to spend time browsing through Hulu genres, you can view available movies and shows by what's most popular, the newly added titles, Hulu originals, and other categories. Yet another method for finding what to watch on Hulu is through the Hubs page. From here, you can browse by the channels you're subscribing to, such as any premium add-ons and categories for kids, news, and channels like Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, A&E, Discovery, Bravo, Disney Channel, CMT, HGTV, Lifetime, History, and many others. Hulu also has some collections available like Quick Bites, Binge-Worthy TV, For The Family, '80s Binge, Indies, Terrifying TV, Cult, and Staff Picks. This is an enjoyable way to get to know programs that you may have normally passed up. You don't need to pay for Hulu to see what you can watch; open the Hulu content page to sift through the library. However, to actually stream something, you'll need a Hulu account. It's free for a little while, so you can get a feel for what you'll get out of it.

How to Create a Hulu Account

All new users can get a free trial of Hulu before committing to a monthly plan. Depending on the plan you chose, you can get up to one month free at no cost. If you don’t cancel your Hulu subscription by the end of the trial, you’ll be charged for the next month/week. Here’s how to get started: Visit the Hulu Plans page. Choose a bundle or select Sign up for Hulu only. Choose Select under the plan you want. Be sure to double-check the length of the trial for the plan you’re choosing. The Live TV option is free only for the first week while the other two are free for a whole month. Create your Hulu account by filling out the form and selecting Continue. Enter your payment details and then press SUBMIT. Or, use the EXPRESS OPTIONS tab to pay with PayPal. Select a premium add-on if you want it included in your trial, and then press REVIEW CHANGES. Otherwise, select SKIP. Again, be sure to check the free trial length; they might only last a week while your Hulu trial is for a month. Press NEXT to personalize your profile and begin using Hulu. The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (September 2022)

Where You Can Watch Hulu

Hulu is available from Hulu.com and on various devices, from smart TVs and gaming consoles to phones, tablets, streaming devices, and computers. Download For: Android iOS

How to Download Movies and Shows From Hulu

The option to download select movies and shows from Hulu is available on either of the ad-free plans. Saving a video to your device lets you watch it without a data connection, and it doesn't count against your screen limit. Downloading Hulu movies and TV shows is available only for Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices. To see only content available for download, search for downloadable. After you make a selection, tap Download next to the video to save it. Anything you download from Hulu is accessible through the DOWNLOADS tab in the app. There are several limitations to be aware of when it comes to downloading movies and shows from Hulu: You can have up to 25 movies and episodes saved at any given time, per account.Not all videos are downloadable. Any content from a premium add-on service can't be saved for offline viewing, nor can you download any ad-supported content from a network.Downloads aren't permanent. They'll be removed if any of these conditions are met: it's been 30 days since it was saved, it's been 48 hours since you started watching it, the content has been removed from Hulu's library, you cancel your plan, or you switch to a plan that doesn't support offline viewing.Only five devices using your account can simultaneously store movies and shows offline. How Many Devices Can Stream Hulu at Once?

How Is Hulu Different From Other Services

With so many premium video streaming services available today, it can be difficult to decide which one(s) are best for you. If they all stream movies and shows, how are they really that different? Don't they include the same videos? The major differences between Hulu, Netflix, and other services like Sling TV, are their content selection, the cost for streaming, features, and the devices and locations you can stream from. To get started in your quest to pick the best video streaming service for you, whether that be Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc., see these helpful comparison articles: Netflix vs. Hulu Hulu Live TV vs. Sling TV What Is YouTube TV? FAQ How do I fix it when Hulu is not working? First, check to see if Hulu is down. If it isn't working only for you, look for a Hulu error code. The fix could be as easy as closing and reopening the app, or you may need to troubleshoot your internet connection. What original shows and movies are on Hulu? Original movies on Hulu include comedies like Vacation Friends and The Binge, documentaries like Kid 90 and I Am Greta, and horror films like Run and Books of Blood. Hulu original shows include The Handmaid's Tale, Love Victor, and Ramy.
How do I watch Hulu on my TV? Watch Hulu on your TV using an app or browser, a casting device, a smart TV, or by hooking up a computer to the TV. Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick all support Hulu. Gaming consoles like the PS5 and Nintendo Switch can also play Hulu on your TV. How do I cancel my Hulu subscription? Log in to your Hulu Account page, then select Cancel under Your Subscription. If it asks you whether or not you want to pause your subscription instead, choose Continue to Cancel. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the cancellation process. Who owns Hulu? Hulu is currently owned by The Walt Disney Company and Comcast. Disney completely controls the platform, however, and Comcast has agreed to sell its stake in Hulu to Disney in 2024. Why does Hulu have ads? If you're subscribed to the Hulu (No Ads) subscription plan but you're still seeing ads, it could be because you're watching an excluded show that still airs a small ad break before and after each episode. If you're a Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV subscriber, you gain access to a lot of on-demand network content that still shows ads. Live TV on Hulu airs the same commercial breaks cable watchers see as well. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Hulu vs. Sling: Which Live TV Service is Best? Where to Watch Friends Online The Top 7 Streaming Services with Local Channels How to Stream The Office 11 Best Free Movie Download Sites How to Get a Netflix Student Discount How to Connect Spotify to Hulu The 10 Best Ways to Watch Movies With Friends Online How to Stream Oscar Nominated Movies (2022) How to Use Amazon Prime Video The 8 Best TV Streaming Services in 2022 How to Install Local Channels on Amazon Fire Stick How to Stream Law and Order Is YouTube TV Worth It? 5 Reasons to Sign Up How to Upgrade Hulu How to Fix It When Hulu Keeps Freezing Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies