Entertainment · head to head
Hulu vs Showtime
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Hulu pricing page redirects to Disney+ bundle site rather than standalone Hulu pricing, preventing direct pricing lookup; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- They diverge on capability: Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Showtime covers Streaming.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hulu and Showtime actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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
- Gaming consoles
- Mobile devices
- Parental controls
Only in Showtime
- Streaming
- Original series
- Movies
- Sports
- Live events
- Streaming devices
- Content filtering
Both cover
- Smart TVs
- Account security
- Web support
- 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 streamingnot Showtime
- Live TVnot Showtime
- Next-day episodesnot Showtime
- Sportsnot Showtime
Showtime
- Premium streamingnot Hulu
- Sports watchingnot Hulu
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
Showtime
- Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing
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
Showtime
$10.99/month- Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
- Original content
- Ad-free
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.
Choose Showtime if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want original series.
Questions people ask
- Is Hulu or Showtime better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hulu starts at $7.99/month and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hulu or Showtime?
- Hulu starts at $7.99/month and Showtime at $10.99/month.
- Does Hulu or Showtime run on more platforms?
- Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- 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 Showtime is typically brought in for.
- What can Hulu do that Showtime cannot?
- Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Both handle Smart TVs, Account security, Web support, Ios 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.
SourceHulu: 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.
SourceHulu: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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