Streaming Services · Tool Face-Off

Apple TV+ vs Hulu

Quick answer

Hulu wins on sheer volume and flexibility; Apple TV+ wins if you only want prestige originals and hate decision fatigue.

Our pick

Apple TV+

Small library, big ambitions — Hollywood A-listers only

3.8★

Hulu

Everything, everywhere — live TV, classics, and next-day network hits

3.8★

Monthly Base Price

$9.99/mo

$7.99/mo (ads)

Ad-Free Option

No ads (included)

$17.99/mo

Library Size

~200 titles

90,000+ titles

Live TV Add-on

Not available

$82.99/mo (Hulu + Live TV)

Simultaneous Streams

Up to 6

2 (upgradeable)

Offline Downloads

Yes, unlimited

Yes (ad-free plan only)

Free Trial

7 days

Varies / often none

Bundling

Apple One bundle

Disney+/ESPN+ bundle

4K HDR Content

Yes, all originals

Limited 4K titles

Next-Day Network TV

Yes (ABC, NBC, Fox, etc.)

Kids Content

Moderate (Peanuts, etc.)

Extensive library

Award Wins (recent)

Multiple Emmys & Oscars

Emmy wins (Handmaid's Tale era)

Apple TV+

Pricing★★★★½

Ease of Use★★★★½

Live & Sports★★☆☆☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Content Library★★½☆☆

Original Quality★★★★★

Offline Downloads★★★★☆

Hulu

Pricing★★★☆☆

Ease of Use★★★½☆

Live & Sports★★★★½

Device Support★★★★½

Content Library★★★★½

Original Quality★★★½☆

Offline Downloads★★★☆☆

Worth knowing

Apple TV+ has won the Academy Award for Best Picture (CODA, 2022) — a first for any streaming service.
Hulu is majority-owned by Disney, making the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle a legitimately great deal.
Apple TV+ launched in 2019 with only a handful of shows and was widely mocked — then Ted Lasso happened.
Hulu is one of the only streamers offering next-day episodes from major broadcast networks.
Apple TV+ is included free (up to 1 year) with purchase of a new Apple device.
Hulu's live TV tier competes directly with cable, offering 90+ channels in real time.

Apple TV+ has fewer total titles than some people have items in their Netflix 'My List' — yet somehow keeps winning Emmys anyway.

If you want

You want prestige originals with zero ads and a tiny decision tree

Apple TV+'s entire library fits in an afternoon of browsing, and almost everything on it is genuinely good.

→ Pick Apple TV+

If you want

You want maximum content variety including next-day TV and live sports

Hulu's 90,000+ titles plus live TV option makes it a near-cable replacement in one app.

→ Pick Hulu

If you want

You're already in the Disney/Marvel/Star Wars ecosystem

The Hulu + Disney+ + ESPN+ bundle is one of streaming's best value combos.