Paramount+
Essential $8.99 / Premium $13.99 per mo
Hulu
Ads $9.99 / No ads $18.99 per mo
Paramount+ offers CBS, Star Trek, Paramount films, live sports, and (on Premium) Showtime. Hulu offers next-day network TV, FX, and a deep general library. They are priced similarly. Paramount+ wins on live sports and the Showtime bundle; Hulu wins on current TV and breadth.
Pick Paramount+ if you want CBS, Star Trek, live sports, and the Showtime bundle on Premium, with a cheaper ad-free tier.
Pick Hulu if you want next-day current-season network TV, FX shows, and a broader general-audience library.
Paramount+ and Hulu are both mid-priced general streamers, but they lean different ways. Paramount+ is tied to CBS and Paramount: CBS shows, Star Trek, Paramount films, live sports like NFL on CBS, and, on the Premium tier, the Showtime catalog and your local CBS station. Hulu is about current television and breadth: next-day episodes of network shows, FX series, and a deep library of mature, general-audience content.
On price, Paramount+ is $8.99 (Essential, with ads) or $13.99 (Premium, ad-free with Showtime), while Hulu is $9.99 with ads or $18.99 ad-free. So Paramount+'s ad-free Premium tier is cheaper and bundles Showtime, while Hulu's strength is current network TV. The choice is mostly sports and the Showtime bundle (Paramount+) versus current TV and breadth (Hulu).
We compare content focus, price, live sports, originals, and library.
| Quick facts | Paramount+ | Hulu |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | Essential $8.99/mo | Ads $9.99/mo |
| Ad-free plan | Premium $13.99/mo | No ads $18.99/mo |
| Live sports | NFL on CBS, UEFA | Limited |
| Premium channel bundle | Showtime (Premium) | No |
| Best for | Sports + Showtime | Current TV + breadth |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | P Paramount+ | H Hulu |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-supported tier | Yes | Yes |
| Ad-free under $15 | Yes | No |
| Live sports | NFL on CBS, UEFA | Limited |
| Includes Showtime | Premium tier | No |
| Next-day network TV | CBS | Best-in-class |
| FX / mature originals | Some | Strong |
| Library breadth | Moderate | Broad |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-06-23.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
Paramount+ has a cheaper ad-free tier and live sports plus Showtime; Hulu has the deeper current-TV and general library.
Hulu's ad-free plan costs more, but its next-day network TV and FX catalog are stronger.
Both are owned within large media groups and frequently bundled, so check bundle deals before subscribing separately.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add Paramount+, Hulu, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.
See how the price has moved