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Software · head to head

Showtime vs Hulu

S

Showtime

Software

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hulu logo

Hulu

Software

Stream TV and movies live and online

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile); 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: Showtime covers Streaming, Hulu covers On-demand streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and Hulu actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and Hulu differ
AttributeShowtimeHulu
Starting price$10.99/month$7.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded19832007

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 Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Only in Hulu

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

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.

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Hulu
  • Sports watchingnot Hulu

Hulu

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Showtime review

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

Questions people ask

Is Showtime or Hulu better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/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, Showtime or Hulu?
Showtime starts at $10.99/month and Hulu at $7.99/month.
Does Showtime or Hulu run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
What is Showtime best used for?
Showtime is most often used for premium streaming, sports watching. Of those, premium streaming and sports watching are not what Hulu is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that Hulu cannot?
Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Both handle Smart TVs, Account security, Web support, Ios support.
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