Considering all you get, Hulu + Live TV is a pretty sweet deal. That’s why we’ve named it our choice for Best Value among live TV streaming services.
You probably already know Hulu—it’s the on-demand service where you stream TV shows the day after they air or watch originals like Palm Springs and The Handmaid’s Tale.
But you may not have tried out the live version, the service’s bid to woo you away from cable and satellite. And at a base price of $65.99 a month, Hulu + Live TV has some serious woo.
We were already fans of Hulu’s growing slate of original series, including gems like Shrill, Woke, and Ramy. Hulu + Live TV sweetens the deal by giving us one less reason to click out of the app to watch a live TV streaming channel.
But, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t carry several of our favorite entertainment and sports networks, and availability of local channels is spotty from city to city.
Hulu and Hulu + Live TV offer a free 30-day trial.
As of December 2021, both the ad-supported and ad-free Hulu + Live TV plans include Disney+ (regularly $7.99 a month) and ESPN+ (regularly $6.99 a month) bundled at no extra charge.
Check out more money-saving tips in our Hulu Deals guide.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The difference between classic Hulu and the newer Hulu + Live TV is made reasonably clear in the titles: Hulu is the original on-demand programming model (like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video); Hulu + Live TV adds live streaming cable and broadcast channels (as YouTube TV and fuboTV do).
The common ground: Hulu on-demand is a part of Hulu + Live TV, with no separate service hassles or secondary apps.
Like other live TV streaming services making moves into cord-cutter territory, Hulu and Hulu + Live TV don’t deliver all the entertainment and sports options you may want. But together, they come closer than most—and don’t forget the endless buffet of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes.
| Price | Editorial rating | Channels | Multiple streams | Cloud DVR | Details |
| $69.99–$75.99/mo. | 4.2/5 | 70+ | 2 | 50 hrs. | View plans |
| $64.99/mo. | 4.5/5 | 100+ | 3 | Unlimited (9 mos.) | View plans |
| $25.00/mo. | 3.7/5 | 60+ | 3 | Unlimited (1 yr.) | View plans |
| $64.99–$79.99/mo. | 4.0/5 | 100–150+ | 3–10 | 250–1,000 hrs. | View plans |
| $35.00–$50.00/mo. | 3.9/5 | 30–50+ | 1–4 | 50 hrs. | View plans |
| $69.99–$139.99/mo. | 3.5/5 | 65–140+ | 3 | 20 hrs. | View plans |
| $55.00–$79.95/mo. | 3.8/5 | 95+ | 3 | N/A | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Before it began producing its own original series and movies, Hulu was best known as a destination to watch TV classics and new network shows after episodes aired on regular television (the dawn of cord-cutting, in other words).
This still applies today—you can see new episodes of ABC, NBC, and Fox series on Hulu soon after they air. CBS and The CW aren’t as available through Hulu as they once were, though, thanks to CBS All Access and The CW’s free streaming app.
Shows from Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and other cable networks turn up post-broadcast on Hulu, as do many recent theatrical release movies.
Worth noting: Hulu + Live TV plans don’t livestream several popular channels, including AMC, Hallmark, WEtv, and IFC. An additional app like Philo can help fill the channel gaps if you’re willing to spend a little more on live TV streaming.
Check out our Hulu Channels guide to see all you can get with Hulu and Hulu + Live TV.
The Handmaid’s Tale is Hulu’s best-known original, and in-house productions like The Great, Letterkenny, and Shrill aren’t far behind rivals like Netflix originals. Hulu has been producing its own content since 2012, with an equal number of hits and misses.
Hulu doesn’t crank out original content with the same frequency of Netflix, but its series and documentaries generate serious buzz. In 2015, Hulu scored its first Golden Globe nomination with an under-the-radar comedy called Casual years before The Handmaid’s Tale debuted.
Don’t know where to start? We’ve compiled a few lists of acquired shows and Hulu originals we think are worth checking out on our What to Watch on Hulu guide.
Aside from five seasons of Friday Night Lights, you won’t find much in the way of sports in Hulu plans—but Hulu + Live TV is another matter. Live regional and college ball get plenty of play, and several of the bigger sports networks are repped in the channel grid.
On the downside, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t carry MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, or NHL Network, and fútbol favorites like beIN Sports and FOX Soccer Plus are also M.I.A.
Hulu + Live TV features over 70 entertainment and sports channels, including most popular cable networks, as well as local stations that carry ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW.
But local channel availability varies greatly by area, and very few ZIP codes get all of them—check with Hulu for what’s available in your area. Sorry, Riverdale fandom: The CW is the least-available livestreaming channel on Hulu Live lineups across the US. Double sorry, Antiques Roadshow buffs: PBS isn’t on Hulu + Live TV (currently, it’s only on YouTube TV and DIRECTV STREAM).
| Premium channel add-on |
| HBO Max |
| CINEMAX |
| SHOWTIME |
| STARZ |
| Entertainment package |
| Español package |
| Disney+ |
| ESPN+ |
| Hulu, Hulu + Live TV |
| $14.99/mo. |
| $9.99/mo. |
| $10.99/mo. |
| $8.99/mo. |
| $7.99/mo.; Hulu Live TV only |
| $4.99/mo.; Hulu Live TV only |
| Included with Hulu + Live TV |
| Included with Hulu + Live TV |
You can customize any Hulu plan with premium add-ons like HBO Max, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, and STARZ.
Hulu + Live TV also offers an “Entertainment” add-on package, which includes channels like American Heroes, Destination America, DIY, FYI, and Lifetime Movies.
There’s also an Español package that includes CNN en Español and Discovery Famila.
Hulu offers no sports channel add-ons—sorry, sports ball fans. We recommend fuboTV as the best streaming service for sports fans.
As of December 2021, Disney+ and ESPN+ come bundled with Hulu + Live TV at no extra cost.
| Plan |
| Hulu + Live TV |
| Cloud DVR | Upgrades |
| 50 hrs. | 200 hrs. ($14.99/mo.) |
Hulu + Live TV’s included cloud DVR gives you 50 hours of storage for recording live shows. Not bad, but, unlike other cloud DVRs, you can’t fast-forward through all commercials.
Skipping through commercials on recorded shows is allowed if you opt for the $14.99 a month Enhanced DVR that comes with 200 hours of cloud storage. That many hours seems excessive until you realize how quickly 12 seasons of Bob’s Burgers can pile up (that’s nearly 100 hours of hamburger puns, FYI).
| Plan |
| Hulu, Hulu + Live TV |
| Simultaneous streams | Upgrades |
| 2 | Unlimited ($9.99/mo.) |
Hulu and Hulu + Live TV allow two simultaneous streams between TVs, tablets, phones, and computers.
For an additional monthly $9.99, you can upgrade to unlimited simultaneous Hulu + Live TV streams. That’ll get you watching on multiple TVs and up to three mobile screens—as long as they’re all on the same home Wi-Fi network.
Yes, you read that right. So even if your mom across town has the password to your account, she’ll just have to wait to watch Blue Bloods.
Hulu and Hulu + Live TV are compatible with most streaming devices and smart TVs. Find out more in our Hulu Supported Devices guide.
Hulu + Live TV streams at 720p, which lines up with the HD picture quality you’re used to with other live TV streaming services. On-demand Hulu content can stream at up to 1080p and 4K.
Hulu’s connection quality is consistently strong, with little buffering or interruptions. If you’re binge-watching the first season of ER and George Clooney looks a little fuzzy, it’s only because it was filmed in 1994.
On the sound side, most of Hulu’s content, both its on-demand library and live channels, streams in 2.0 stereo audio. Some on-demand shows and movies support Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround Sound—if your device can handle it. Audiophiles may want to locate their device’s manual.
For Hulu devotees, there’s even more to like about Hulu + Live TV, especially if you’ve been looking for an excuse to cut the cord completely.
It’s missing a few key entertainment and sports channels but, at $69.99 a month—which includes the content-loaded, on-demand Hulu experience—Hulu + Live TV offers more than cable or satellite ever could at the same price.
On the literal plus side, both Disney+ and ESPN+ are now included with Hulu + Live TV.
Our experts employed hours of hands-on testing with Hulu and Hulu + Live TV, rating the streaming service on bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. Then we matched up Hulu and Hulu + Live TV with other on-demand streaming services head to head to give a clearer picture of its strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
As of December 2021, Disney+ and ESPN+ are included with either Hulu + Live TV plan. The previous, popular on-demand Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle is still available.
In most cases, we think Hulu + Live TV is as good as cable. But, if you’re a diehard sports fan, for example, Hulu + Live TV might not make the cut.
Yes, Hulu + Live TV is reliable. In our experience, most problems with Hulu + Live TV either have to do with your streaming device or your internet connection.
