Netflix and Hulu Plus are video services that allow subscribers to watch movies and TV shows on demand. Both are marketed as alternatives to traditional cable TV, satellite service and brick-and-mortar video rental stores. Although Netflix and Hulu have similar functionality and target markets, the two services have some key differences in terms of subscription plans, available content and compatible devices. A point-by-point comparison will allow you to choose the service that best fits your needs
Subscription Plans
- Netflix and Hulu Plus both offer a free trial so that you can test out their streaming video services before subscribing. Netflix offers a one-month trial period, while Hulu Plus limits the trial to one week. If you decide to sign up for Hulu Plus, you’ll pay a flat monthly rate of $7.99 for unlimited streaming as of March 2012. A Netflix subscription for unlimited streaming costs $7.99 as well; for the same price, Netflix gives you the option to instead receive one rental DVD at a time by standard mail with return postage paid. If you want unlimited streaming as well as the disc rental option, the price is around $16 per month. Prices are slightly higher if you want to rent Blu-ray discs rather than DVDs. Hulu Plus does not rent physical discs.You can cancel your subscription to Netflix or Hulu Plus at any time without penalty. Prices for both services change regularly, so check online for current pricing in your area.
TV Content
- Hulu Plus advertises that it offers more than 16,000 TV episodes from over 400 different shows. Netflix advertises a catalog of more than 20,000 current and classic TV episodes. If you are trying to decide between Hulu Plus and Netflix based solely on TV offerings, be aware that Netflix does not let you view current seasons of most shows, while Hulu Plus generally posts episodes of current shows the day after they air on TV. Neither service provides every season of the TV shows listed in their catalogs; for example, Hulu Plus offers eight seasons of “The Office” but only one season of “House.” Most Hulu Plus TV shows include advertisements.
Movie Content
- Netflix has a much larger collection of current and classic films, advertising more than 100,000 titles available for rent through its disc-by-mail program and over 10,000 movie titles available for streaming. Hulu Plus offers more than 2,000 streaming movies, including 800 or so contemporary and classic titles available as part of the Criterion Collection. As with TV episodes, Hulu Plus movies include advertisements.
Subscription Plans
- Netflix and Hulu Plus both offer a free trial so that you can test out their streaming video services before subscribing. Netflix offers a one-month trial period, while Hulu Plus limits the trial to one week. If you decide to sign up for Hulu Plus, you’ll pay a flat monthly rate of $7.99 for unlimited streaming as of March 2012. A Netflix subscription for unlimited streaming costs $7.99 as well; for the same price, Netflix gives you the option to instead receive one rental DVD at a time by standard mail with return postage paid. If you want unlimited streaming as well as the disc rental option, the price is around $16 per month. Prices are slightly higher if you want to rent Blu-ray discs rather than DVDs. Hulu Plus does not rent physical discs.You can cancel your subscription to Netflix or Hulu Plus at any time without penalty. Prices for both services change regularly, so check online for current pricing in your area.
TV Content
- Hulu Plus advertises that it offers more than 16,000 TV episodes from over 400 different shows. Netflix advertises a catalog of more than 20,000 current and classic TV episodes. If you are trying to decide between Hulu Plus and Netflix based solely on TV offerings, be aware that Netflix does not let you view current seasons of most shows, while Hulu Plus generally posts episodes of current shows the day after they air on TV. Neither service provides every season of the TV shows listed in their catalogs; for example, Hulu Plus offers eight seasons of “The Office” but only one season of “House.” Most Hulu Plus TV shows include advertisements.
Movie Content
- Netflix has a much larger collection of current and classic films, advertising more than 100,000 titles available for rent through its disc-by-mail program and over 10,000 movie titles available for streaming. Hulu Plus offers more than 2,000 streaming movies, including 800 or so contemporary and classic titles available as part of the Criterion Collection. As with TV episodes, Hulu Plus movies include advertisements.
Compatible Devices
- Netflix and Hulu Plus both offer broad device compatibility. In addition to computers running major operating systems like Windows and Mac OS X, Netflix and Hulu Plus content can be streamed using smartphones and tablet computers running Windows Mobile, Google Android and Mac iOS. Both services are compatible with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles, provided you have an Internet connection. With Netflix, you can also stream video content through the Nintendo Wii. Both services are compatible with Web-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players.
Bandwidth Requirements
- If you want to stream video content from either service over the Internet, you will need a broadband connection for streaming to work properly. Netflix recommends a connection with a download speed of at least 500 kilobits per second; Hulu Plus recommends a download bandwidth of at least 1,500 kbps for standard-definition content and 3,000 kbps for high-definition content.
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