Hulu Pricing 2026 – Every Plan, Bundle, Hidden Cost & Discount

Hulu offers four core pricing tiers in 2026. The ad-supported plan costs $11.99/month (or $119.99/year). The ad-free plan is $18.99/month. Hulu + Live TV with ads starts at $89.99/month and includes Disney+ and ESPN+; the ad-free Live TV version is $99.99/month. A student discount brings the ad-supported plan down to $1.99/month with verified enrollment. Bundle options with Disney+ start at $16.99/month. There is no standalone free plan — only a 30-day free trial for new on-demand subscribers and a 3-day trial for Live TV. Add-ons such as HBO Max, Paramount+, and STARZ are available at extra cost. In 2026, Hulu is also undergoing a full merger with Disney+, which will consolidate both services into one app by the end of the year.

Hulu in 2026: What You Need to Know First

Hulu has been part of the American streaming landscape since 2007, and in 2026 it remains one of the most versatile platforms available — not for having the biggest library or the lowest price, but for the specific combination of current-season network TV, original programming, and an optional live TV layer that no other service packages in quite the same way.

The biggest story surrounding Hulu in 2026 is the ongoing merger with Disney+. Disney is fully absorbing Hulu into the Disney+ app, with the unified experience expected to launch by the end of calendar year 2026. The Nintendo Switch Hulu app was already shut down in February 2026, marking the first platform closure ahead of the full consolidation. For current subscribers, the practical impact so far is minimal — your plan, pricing, and login continue to work normally while the technical migration proceeds.

What that transition means for pricing going forward is not yet confirmed, but it is worth factoring into any long-term subscription decision. For now, Hulu operates as a fully functional standalone service, and this guide covers every pricing option available as of May 2026.

Hulu Pricing Plans 2026: Every Tier at a Glance

Hulu’s pricing structure in 2026 covers four main tiers, ranging from a relatively accessible on-demand entry point to a full live TV bundle that competes with traditional cable. Here is how each plan breaks down.

Hulu (With Ads) — $11.99/month

The ad-supported tier is the starting point for most new subscribers. At $11.99 per month — or $119.99 per year if you commit annually, saving roughly $24 — you get access to Hulu’s complete on-demand streaming library: current-season episodes of network TV shows typically available the day after broadcast, Hulu originals including The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and The Handmaid’s Tale, a broad catalogue of acquired films and series, FX content, and more. Two simultaneous streams are included.

Ad interruptions run approximately four to five minutes per hour, which is lighter than traditional broadcast TV but more frequent than some competitors. You cannot skip ads. If ad tolerance is your primary concern, this is the most important deciding factor between this plan and the one above it.

Hulu (No Ads) — $18.99/month

The ad-free tier removes commercials from the on-demand streaming library at a premium of $7 per month over the ad-supported plan. The content access is identical — the only difference is an uninterrupted viewing experience. One nuance worth knowing: some network content licensed under specific broadcast deals still carries ads even on the No Ads plan. These exceptions are noted in Hulu’s subscriber agreement and affect a relatively small subset of content, but they exist.

At $18.99/month, Hulu’s ad-free plan is among the more expensive ad-free on-demand options in the streaming market. Netflix’s ad-free Standard plan is $15.49/month, and Disney+ ad-free is $13.99/month. If avoiding ads is the primary goal and budget is a constraint, the comparison is worth making before committing.

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) — $89.99/month

This is the plan for cord-cutters who want to replace cable entirely. For $89.99 per month, you get 95+ live and local channels spanning sports (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, MLB Network), news (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC), entertainment, and lifestyle, alongside the full Hulu on-demand library and unlimited DVR storage. Critically, every Hulu + Live TV subscription now bundles Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional charge — a combination that adds meaningful value, particularly for families or sports fans.

Two simultaneous streams are included as standard, expandable via the Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99/month) which allows unlimited streams on your home network and up to three outside the home. The inclusion of Disney+ and ESPN+ alongside 95+ live channels makes this one of the most content-complete streaming bundles in the US market.

Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) — $99.99/month

The premium Live TV tier removes ads from the Hulu and Disney+ on-demand libraries, while keeping standard commercial breaks on live TV broadcasts and ESPN Select content — because live content is inherently ad-supported regardless of plan. At $10 more per month than the ads version, this plan is best suited to households that do the majority of their viewing in the on-demand library rather than watching live.

Note: There is also a Live TV Only plan at $88.99/month that excludes the Disney Bundle. Saving just $1 versus the full $89.99 bundle while losing access to Disney+ and ESPN+ makes this plan very poor value for almost all subscribers. Avoid it unless you have a specific, documented reason to exclude on-demand content.

Hulu Plans Comparison Table 2026

Feature	With Ads $11.99/mo	No Ads $18.99/mo	Live TV + Ads $89.99/mo	Live TV No Ads $99.99/mo
On-Demand Library	Full	Full	Full	Full
Ad-Free On Demand	No	Yes	No	Yes
Live TV (95+ Channels)	No	No	Yes	Yes
Disney+ Included	No	No	Yes (w/ ads)	Yes (ad-free)
ESPN+ Included	No	No	Yes	Yes
Unlimited DVR	No	No	Yes	Yes
Simultaneous Streams	2	2	2 (upgradable)	2 (upgradable)
Annual Billing Option	Yes	No	No	No
Free Trial	30 days	30 days	3 days	3 days
Best For	Budget streamers, TV fans	Binge viewers who hate ads	Cord-cutters, families, sports fans	Premium all-in-one households

Pros & Cons of Each Hulu Plan

Hulu (With Ads) — Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lowest entry price: $11.99/month is competitive for the breadth of content available, and the annual option at $119.99 saves around $24 versus monthly billing.
• Current-season TV: Next-day access to network shows from ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox is a genuine differentiator that Netflix, Max, and Apple TV+ do not offer.
• 30-day free trial: One of the longest free trials in major streaming, giving meaningful time to evaluate the library before committing.
• Student discount: Verified students pay just $1.99/month — an 83% reduction that makes it essentially free for most budgets.

Cons

• Ads are genuinely present: Four to five minutes per hour is lighter than broadcast TV but noticeably more than zero, especially for binge viewing.
• No annual option for upgrades: The annual billing discount is only available on the base With Ads plan, not on No Ads or any Live TV tier.
• Content library varies by region and licensing — not every show available is available everywhere.

Hulu (No Ads) — Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clean viewing experience: No ad interruptions on the on-demand library is the single biggest quality-of-life improvement for heavy streamers.
• Same full content library as the ads plan — no content is withheld for paying more.
• Pairs well with Disney+ bundle options for a comprehensive ad-free stack.

Cons

• Most expensive ad-free on-demand option: $18.99/month is higher than Netflix Standard ($15.49) and Disney+ ($13.99), making it harder to justify without the bundle.
• Some network-licensed content still includes ads regardless of plan tier.
• No annual billing option — month-to-month only, which limits flexibility for cost-conscious subscribers.

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) — Pros & Cons

Pros

• Three services in one: Live TV, Hulu on-demand, Disney+, and ESPN+ bundled at $89.99/month represents strong aggregate value — subscribing separately would cost significantly more.
• 95+ live channels: Comprehensive coverage of sports, news, and entertainment, including local channels in most markets, making this a true cable replacement.
• Unlimited DVR: Record as much as you want with no storage cap — a significant advantage over some competitors with limited DVR space.
• Pause subscription: Hulu allows you to pause for up to 12 weeks without cancelling, preserving your history, profiles, and DVR recordings. This is particularly useful for sports fans during the off-season.

Cons

• $89.99/month is a substantial commitment: This is the highest price point in the on-demand streaming category, though competitive with comparable live TV alternatives like Sling TV and FuboTV.
• On-demand content still includes ads — only the live TV layer is inherently live, but on-demand viewing is ad-interrupted.
• Only two simultaneous streams by default, which can be limiting for larger households without the add-on upgrade.

Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) — Pros & Cons

Pros

• Full ad-free on-demand experience across Hulu and Disney+ libraries combined with live TV access.
• Maximises value for households that split time between live viewing and on-demand binging.
• Best-in-class content breadth: live sports, news, originals, network TV, and Disney+ all in one.

Cons

• At $99.99/month, this is a premium price that exceeds what many households will want to spend on streaming alone.
• Live TV still includes standard broadcast ads — the No Ads designation applies only to the on-demand libraries.
• No annual billing discount available.

Hulu Bundles, Discounts & Hidden Costs

Disney Bundle Options

The Disney+, Hulu bundle — which combines Hulu with ads and Disney+ with ads — starts at $16.99/month, saving approximately 46% versus subscribing to each separately. The Trio Premium bundle adds ESPN+ into the mix at $19.99/month with ads, or $29.99/month for a fully ad-free version of both Hulu and Disney+ (ESPN Select still carries ads). The Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle offers three of the largest streaming libraries together at $19.99/month with ads or $32.99/month without ads — widely regarded as the strongest multi-service value package available in 2026.

Student Discount

Eligible college students can access Hulu (With Ads) for $1.99/month through SheerID student verification — an 83% reduction from the standard $11.99 price. This discount continues as long as student status remains verified and is valid through December 31, 2026. It applies only to the ad-supported plan and only to new or eligible returning subscribers. Students who graduate lose eligibility and roll to the standard monthly price.

Military Discount

US military members (active duty, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve) are eligible for a 25% discount on Hulu subscriptions through verification. This applies to base plans and represents a meaningful saving, particularly on the Live TV tiers over an annual period.

Carrier Bundles

T-Mobile’s Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans include Hulu (With Ads) at no additional cost as a plan perk. Verizon subscribers on eligible 5G Get More and Play More plans can access the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle for free or at a discounted rate depending on plan status. Spectrum also bundles streaming perks with select home internet plans. Check your current mobile and internet provider before subscribing independently — you may already be eligible for Hulu at reduced or zero cost.

Annual Billing Savings

The Hulu (With Ads) plan is the only tier that offers annual billing, at $119.99/year versus $143.88 if paid monthly — a saving of approximately $24 per year. No other Hulu tier currently offers an annual billing option. This is worth factoring into the total cost calculation if the base plan meets your needs.

Premium Add-Ons (Hidden Costs)

Hulu’s add-on ecosystem can meaningfully increase your monthly spend beyond the base plan price. These are optional but commonly purchased:

• HBO Max (with ads): $10.99/month added to any Hulu plan.
• HBO Max (without ads): $18.49/month.
• Paramount+ with Showtime: $13.99/month.
• ESPN Select: $12.99/month (on standalone plans — included in Live TV bundles).
• Starz: $10.99/month.
• Cinemax: $9.99/month.
• Unlimited Screens (Live TV only): $9.99/month for unlimited home streams + 3 outside.

A subscriber on the base With Ads plan who adds HBO Max and Paramount+ is spending $35.97/month before taxes — nearly three times the headline plan price. This is the most common source of sticker shock for Hulu subscribers and the most important area to budget for in advance.

Free Trials

New Hulu subscribers can access a 30-day free trial on the on-demand plans (With Ads and No Ads). Hulu + Live TV plans offer a 3-day free trial that includes full access to Disney+ and ESPN+. The Disney+ Hulu bundle currently has no free trial. Note: Disney confirmed that the student plan is available through December 31, 2026, and Hulu gift cards can be used to fund subscriptions with no auto-renewal.

Is Hulu Worth It in 2026?

The honest answer is: it depends on which plan you are evaluating and what you are comparing it against. Hulu is not a single product — it is four meaningfully different products with four different value propositions.

The With Ads plan at $11.99/month is worth it for anyone who watches current-season network TV, values Hulu originals, and can tolerate moderate ad frequency. No other major streaming service delivers next-day network episodes at this price point. If you already pay for Netflix or Disney+ and want to add current-season TV access without jumping to a full cable alternative, this is a logical, cost-effective addition.

The No Ads plan at $18.99/month is harder to justify as a standalone proposition. It is the most expensive ad-free on-demand service in the market. Its value increases substantially when bundled with Disney+ in the Trio Premium configuration, where the per-service cost becomes more competitive. As a standalone monthly spend without bundling, it sits in a difficult position relative to what competitors offer.

The Live TV plan at $89.99/month is worth it for cord-cutters who watch live sports, local news, and current network television, and who would otherwise spend comparable money on a traditional cable or satellite package. The inclusion of Disney+ and ESPN+ at no extra cost is genuine, quantifiable value. Compared to Sling TV (which starts around $40/month but lacks Disney+ and has limited DVR), FuboTV, or DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV holds its own on content breadth. For a household that would subscribe to Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ anyway, the Live TV tier adds full live channel access for a marginal premium.

The No Ads Live TV plan at $99.99/month is a premium tier for premium users. If your household watches extensively from both the live grid and the on-demand library and strongly prefers ad-free viewing, the $10 upgrade is reasonable. For most households, the With Ads Live TV plan at $89.99 provides comparable practical value.

Best Hulu Alternatives in 2026

Hulu is not the right service for every viewer. Here is how the major alternatives compare for different use cases.

Service	Starting Price	Ad-Free Option	Best For	Key Differentiator
Netflix	$7.99/mo	$15.49/mo	Broadest content variety, global originals	Biggest original content budget; offline downloads standard
Disney+	$7.99/mo	$13.99/mo	Families, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar	Best value ad-free; 4K included; merging with Hulu in 2026
Max (HBO)	$9.99/mo	$15.99/mo	Prestige TV, HBO originals, Warner Bros. films	Highest-rated original programming; Dolby Vision on top tier
Paramount+	$7.99/mo	$13.99/mo	Sports (NFL on CBS), Showtime content	Live CBS stream on Premium; strong sports rights
Apple TV+	$9.99/mo	Included	High-quality originals, small curated library	Best hit-to-miss ratio; ad-free on all plans as standard
Sling TV	$40/mo	N/A	Budget live TV cord-cutting	Cheapest live TV option; flexible add-on channel packs
YouTube TV	$72.99/mo	N/A	Sports, local channels, DVR	Unlimited DVR; 100+ channels; no contract

The clearest alternative is the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle at $19.99/month with ads — which delivers three full streaming libraries (including Hulu) at a discounted blended rate. If you are considering Hulu standalone, this bundle is worth evaluating first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hulu Pricing

What is the cheapest Hulu plan in 2026?

The cheapest standard Hulu plan is the ad-supported tier at $11.99/month, or $119.99/year on the annual plan. For eligible college students, the price drops to $1.99/month through SheerID verification — making it the most affordable premium streaming option for enrolled students in the US. Military members can qualify for a 25% discount through their own verification channel.

Does Hulu offer a free trial in 2026?

Yes — but with conditions. New subscribers to the Hulu on-demand plans (With Ads and No Ads) receive a 30-day free trial. The Hulu + Live TV plans offer a 3-day free trial that includes full access to Disney+ and ESPN+ for the trial period. The Disney+, Hulu bundle does not currently include a free trial. Eligible returning subscribers may also qualify for trials depending on how long they have been away from the platform.

How does Hulu + Live TV compare to cable?

Hulu + Live TV at $89.99/month provides 95+ channels covering sports, news, and entertainment, unlimited DVR, and the bundled Disney+ and ESPN+ services. A comparable cable package from a major provider typically costs $80–$120/month for the channels alone, with additional equipment rental fees, installation costs, and annual contracts. Hulu + Live TV requires no equipment rental, no installation, and no long-term contract, making it a meaningfully more flexible and often comparably priced alternative to traditional cable for most households.

Can I share my Hulu account with family?

All Hulu plans allow up to two simultaneous streams by default. Hulu’s subscriber agreement limits account sharing to members of the same household — defined as your primary residence. For Hulu + Live TV subscribers, the Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99/month) allows unlimited simultaneous streams on your home network and up to three outside the home, which is practical for multi-room or multi-device household use. Profile sharing outside the household is not permitted under Hulu’s current terms.

What happens to Hulu when it merges with Disney+?

Disney announced it will fully integrate Hulu’s content library into the Disney+ app by the end of 2026, discontinuing the standalone Hulu app. The Nintendo Switch app was already shut down in February 2026 as part of this transition. For current subscribers, existing plans, pricing, and login credentials continue to function normally through the transition. Disney has indicated that subscribers will be migrated to the unified app experience without service interruption, though specific details on how plan pricing will evolve post-merger have not yet been confirmed.

Are there hidden fees on Hulu?

The plan prices themselves are transparent, but there are several costs that frequently surprise subscribers. Sales tax is added to all plans at the applicable state rate, which can add $1–$3/month depending on location. Premium add-ons (HBO Max, Paramount+, Starz, Cinemax) are charged separately and can significantly increase your monthly total if added at signup without careful attention. The Unlimited Screens add-on for Live TV subscribers costs $9.99/month on top of the base plan. None of these are hidden in a deceptive sense — they are disclosed during signup — but the base plan price is frequently cited in isolation in advertising.

Which Hulu plan offers the best value overall?

For most households, the Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) plan at $89.99/month offers the strongest value proposition because it bundles three services (Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+) with 95+ live channels and unlimited DVR. For on-demand-only subscribers, the With Ads plan at $11.99/month is the best value at entry level, especially with the annual billing discount. The Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle at $19.99/month with ads is the strongest value for viewers who prioritise on-demand content across the three largest streaming libraries and do not need live TV.