Software · head to head
Paramount+ vs Hulu
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.; 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.
- They diverge on capability: Paramount+ covers Streaming, Hulu covers On-demand streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Paramount+ and Hulu actually diverge.
| Attribute | Paramount+ | Hulu |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/month | $7.99/month |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles |
| Founded | 2021 | 2007 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Paramount+
- Streaming
- Live sports
- CBS shows
- Nickelodeon
- Profile management
Only in Hulu
- On-demand streaming
- Live TV
- Cloud DVR
- Downloads
- Current episodes
- Mobile devices
- Profile PINs
- Account security
Both cover
- Smart TVs
- Gaming consoles
- Parental controls
- 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.
Paramount+
- TV streaming
- Sports
- Kids contentnot Hulu
Hulu
- TV streaming
- Live TVnot Paramount+
- Next-day episodesnot Paramount+
- Sports
Both are used for tv streaming, sports, 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.
Paramount+
- The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
- The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Paramount+
$5.99/month- Essential$5.99/month
- Limited ads
- Full library
- With Showtime$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Showtime
- Downloads
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Paramount+ if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want live sports.
Choose Hulu if
- You need on-demand streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- You also want live tv.
Questions people ask
- Is Paramount+ or Hulu better?
- Neither clearly leads. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and Hulu at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Paramount+ or Hulu?
- Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and Hulu at $7.99/month.
- Does Paramount+ or Hulu run on more platforms?
- Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- What is Paramount+ best used for?
- Paramount+ is most often used for tv streaming, sports, kids content. Of those, kids content is not what Hulu is typically brought in for.
- What can Paramount+ do that Hulu cannot?
- Paramount+ covers Streaming, Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon. Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Both handle Smart TVs, Gaming consoles, Parental controls, Web support.