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Entertainment · head to head

Hulu vs Roku

Hulu logo

Hulu

Entertainment

Stream TV and movies live and online

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Roku has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Hulu pricing page redirects to Disney+ bundle site rather than standalone Hulu pricing, preventing direct pricing lookup; Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)
  • They diverge on capability: Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hulu and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where Hulu and Roku differ
AttributeHuluRoku
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consolesRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded20072002

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

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 Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Roku-devices support

Both cover

  • Parental controls
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Hulu

  • TV streaming
  • Live TVnot Roku
  • Next-day episodesnot Roku
  • Sportsnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streaming
  • Content discoverynot Hulu
  • Free entertainmentnot Hulu

Both are used for tv streaming, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Hulu

  • Pricing page redirects to Disney+ bundle site rather than standalone Hulu pricing, preventing direct pricing lookup
  • No specific Hulu pricing details published on accessible landing pages; pricing information requires interaction with Disney+ ecosystem
  • Bundling with Disney+ through default redirects obscures Hulu standalone plan options and costs

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

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

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

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 Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku review

Questions people ask

Is Hulu or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. Hulu starts at $7.99/month and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hulu or Roku?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for Hulu and Free for Roku.
Does Hulu or Roku run on more platforms?
Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
Can I use Roku for free?
Yes. Roku 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, live tv and next-day episodes are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can Hulu do that Roku cannot?
Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Parental controls, Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hulu: What is Hulu's pricing?

Hulu pricing details are not available on the standard pricing page due to redirect to Disney+ bundle offerings. Specific Hulu standalone plan costs require navigation through Disney+ site or direct contact with support.

Source
Hulu: Does Hulu offer a free trial?

Free trial availability for Hulu is not disclosed on accessible pricing pages; details require checking Disney+ bundling options or contacting support directly.

Source
Hulu: Can Hulu be purchased separately from Disney+?

Hulu pricing and availability as a standalone product is unclear from published pricing pages; Hulu appears bundled with Disney+ offerings without separate pricing disclosure.

Source
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