Hulu
6.0Next-day network TV plus solid originals, Disney-owned
Best forSomeone who cut the cable cord but still wants to watch ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS shows the day after they air — without paying for live TV.
Scores — click any row to see our rationale
Monthly Cost & Tiers▼6/10
Original & Exclusive Shows▼7/10
Simultaneous Streams & Sharing▼7/10
4K & Video Quality▼6/10
Ads & Ad-Free Options▼4/10
Pros
✓The only major streaming service that carries next-day episodes from ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS — catch Grey's Anatomy or Saturday Night Live the morning after
✓FX originals like The Bear and Shogun are exclusive to Hulu and have won multiple Emmy Awards
✓Live TV add-on at $82.99/mo includes 90+ channels, unlimited DVR, and ESPN+ — a genuine cable replacement in one package
✓Disney ownership means you can bundle Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $14.99/mo with ads
✓Two simultaneous streams on standard plans; no household-only crackdown as strict as Netflix's
✓Hulu + Live TV includes Disney+ and ESPN+ at no extra cost, making it one of the highest-value bundles if you want live sports and streaming
Cons
✕Removing ads costs $18.99/mo — that's a $7/mo jump from the base plan, the steepest ad-removal penalty in this comparison
✕The base $11.99/mo ad plan shows ads even inside Hulu Originals, not just during licensed network content
✕Only 2 simultaneous streams on standard plans — families with multiple TV rooms will hit the limit quickly
✕4K library is limited compared to Netflix and Disney+; most of Hulu's catalog streams in 1080p
✕Live TV at $82.99/mo is expensive — if you only want it for sports or local news, Peacock or Paramount+ may be cheaper
✕The interface mixes Hulu originals, licensed content, and network TV in a way that can make it hard to find what you're looking for