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Software · head to head

Hulu vs Patreon

Hulu logo

Hulu

Software

Stream TV and movies live and online

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Patreon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Hulu the App Store listing states Hulu offers three plans, Hulu with Ads, Hulu No Ads, and Hulu plus Live TV, and caps simultaneous streaming at two screens at once while allowing up to six profiles per account, without stating any plan price in the visible description.; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hulu and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Hulu and Patreon differ
AttributeHuluPatreon
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20072013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hulu

  • On-demand streaming
  • Live TV
  • Cloud DVR
  • Downloads
  • Current episodes
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hulu

  • TV streamingnot Patreon
  • Live TVnot Patreon
  • Next-day episodesnot Patreon
  • Sportsnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot Hulu
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot Hulu

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hulu

  • The App Store listing states Hulu offers three plans, Hulu with Ads, Hulu No Ads, and Hulu plus Live TV, and caps simultaneous streaming at two screens at once while allowing up to six profiles per account, without stating any plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states premium network add-ons such as MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, CINEMAX, and STARZ are each available only for an additional monthly fee on top of a Hulu plan.

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

Pricing, plan by plan

Hulu

$7.99/month
  • Hulu (With Ads)$7.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-supported
  • Hulu (No Ads)$17.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads
  • Hulu + Live TV$76.99/month
    • Live TV
    • On-demand
    • Cloud DVR

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose Hulu if

  • You need on-demand streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live tv.
Hulu review

Choose Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want exclusive content.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is Hulu or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Hulu starts at $7.99/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hulu or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for Hulu and Free for Patreon.
Does Hulu or Patreon run on more platforms?
Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Yes. Patreon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hulu starts at $7.99/month.
What is Hulu best used for?
Hulu is most often used for tv streaming, live tv, next-day episodes, sports. Of those, tv streaming and live tv are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Hulu do that Patreon cannot?
Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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