These days, people have more choices than ever when it comes to online streaming services. With so many options, picking the perfect option for you can seem overwhelming. If you’ve narrowed down your search to Hulu and Disney+, you may be wondering which will be best for your household. The Disney+ vs Hulu comparison below will cover all you need to know to make an informed decision.
Before we get started, keep in mind that this article will mostly focus on the on-demand version of Hulu (not Hulu with Live TV). We will briefly cover the live version as well, but for the sake of comparison the bulk of this guide will focus on Hulu’s on-demand offerings.
Disney+ vs Hulu: The Basics
Starting off with the basics, you will see that these two services share a lot of similarities:
- Both are streaming services for on-demand viewing
- Both are compatible with most devices, including streaming players and mobile devices
- Both have large content libraries with tons of show and movies to watch
- Both produce their own original content, which is available exclusively on the platform
- Both are priced affordably, and do not require a contract or commitment
- Both offer free trials for new users
Also, keep in mind that Hulu and Disney+ are owned by the same parent company. And right now, you can actually subscribe to both – and get ESPN+ – for only $12.99 per month. Click here to learn more about this special offer.
You can find the full details of these two services in our Disney+ review and our Hulu review. Next, let’s move on to the selection of shows on Disney+ vs Hulu.
Shows, Movies and Content Selection
An important consideration to make when choosing a streaming service is the variety of content that it offers. For most people, this is the single biggest factor.
Both Hulu and Disney+ offer impressive content libraries, full of shows, movies, documentaries, and original content not available anywhere else. But which offers the better selection?
Hulu offers a much larger content library. It has been around for many years, while Disney+ just launched in 2019. Hulu features thousands of shows and movies, ranging from classics to modern hits. One area where Hulu really shines is in recent TV coverage. Many shows will have their new episodes posted to Hulu as early as the same week that they air live on cable. No other streaming service comes close to carrying this much recent content, so if you’re after the latest episodes of hit TV shows, Hulu is a great option.
Disney+ offers a smaller, yet perhaps more exclusive content library. Disney+ is brand new, so its library is still growing. It has around 500 movies, and about 1,500 episodes of TV shows. Disney+ primarily offers content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, and the Star Wars franchise. It also offers ample content for kids. If you’re someone who loves these franchises, or you have children, Disney+ is a great option.
When comparing Hulu vs Disney+ in terms of content, it’s important to remember that the type of content is quite different across the two platforms. So, a direct comparison is somewhat difficult. We recommend taking a closer look at the content libraries for each service – starting with original content, as discussed below.
Original Content
How do Disney+ and Hulu compare in terms of original content? “Original content” refers to movies and shows that are created specifically for these streaming services. They cannot be accessed anywhere else, as they are exclusive to the services.
Both Hulu and Disney+ have created a variety of original content. Hulu has the lead, mostly because it’s been around for a lot longer.
Hulu offers a variety of original shows and movies (mostly shows). Highlights include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mindy Project, 11.22.63, Marvel’s Runaways, and many more. You can find a full list of Hulu Originals here.
Disney+ offers some original shows, with plans for many more. Currently, highlights include The Mandalorian (of the Star Wars universe), High School Musical: The Series, and Hero Project (of the Marvel universe). We expect Disney+ will have way more original content in the future.
Price & Value
How do Disney+ and Hulu compare in terms of cost? Both are offered at very reasonable monthly rates:
Disney+ costs $6.99 per month, with no contract. Click here to try Disney+ free for 7 days.
Hulu costs $5.99 per month (with ads) or $11.99 per month (without ads). Click here to try Hulu free for 30 days.
A big difference to consider here is that Disney+ is advertising-free, while Hulu offers an ad-supported version ($6/month) and an ad-free version ($12/month). Personally, I like to avoid ads so I will pay extra for the ad-free version, but that is of course a personal choice.
In terms of value, there is a lot to be gained from both services. Disney+ has a very attractive price point, and the fact that it doesn’t have ads is a big selling point. On the other hand, Hulu has a far larger library of content overall.
Lastly, keep in mind that you can get BOTH of these services together for a discounted price, and it even comes with ESPN+. If you pay $12.99 per month, you’ll get Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ – a value of $17.97 per month, yours for just $12.99 a month.
So, if you can’t choose between Disney+ and Hulu, why not get both? Click here to learn more about this special offer.
Features & Device Support
What about the devices that these services support? Luckily, both Disney+ and Hulu support a wide range of devices. Essentially all of the popular options are covered, including smartphones (Android/iOS), streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc.), computers (Mac & PC), and smart TVs. You won’t find a big difference between the two in terms of device support, as both cover most of the bases.
So, what about unique features?
Streaming Quality – Both Hulu and Disney+ offer most content in HD. You’ll get HD streaming regardless of which plan type you choose (so long as your internet speeds support buffering of HD content).
Simultaneous Streams – This feature refers to the number of devices that can be streaming on a single account at the same time. It’s an important consideration for families and large households. Hulu subscribers are allowed 2 simultaneous streams, while Disney+ subscribers are given 4. So, this is one area where Disney+ offers a better value.
Offline Viewing – If you’d like to be able to download movies and shows to your devices to watch while you’re offline, you’ll be able to do that on both services. All content on Disney+ is eligible for download, while select content on Hulu is available.
Advertisements – Disney+ is a completely advertisement-free service, so you’ll never see ads on it. Hulu offers an ad-free version, and a cheaper ad-supported version.
Free Trial – Both services offer free trials, so you can test each out without spending a dime! Disney+ offers 7 days for free, while Hulu offers an entire month long free trial!
Overall, the features of these two services are fairly similar, with a few distinctions (such as advertisements and the number of devices you can watch on at once).
Disney+ vs Hulu: Bottom Line
In the end, which is the better service: Hulu, or Disney+?
Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer here. It really depends on your preferences and budget.
Hulu comes out ahead in terms of content selection, as it offers a massive library of shows and movies that is far larger than Disney+’s library. On the other hand, Disney+ offers some of the most exclusive and popular content out there.
Disney+ comes out ahead in terms of value, as it offers a lot of great content at a very low price. On the other hand, Hulu’s ad-supported version is cheaper than Disney+, if you don’t mind advertisements.
For most people, the biggest factor to consider is the content libraries, and what types of shows/movies are on each service. To get a grasp for the libraries of each service, it’s best to simply sign up for each and explore. Remember, both are contract-free, so you can cancel any time – and both offer free trials.
Want the best of both worlds? Click here to sign up for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for only $12.99 per month (and get a free trial while you’re at it!)
