Streaming movies and TV shows have become quite popular in recent years. If you haven’t already subscribed to a service, you will find that there are dozens of services that you can choose from. There’s Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO GO, and so on. And then there’s Hulu. Several years back, Hulu was one of the few sites where people could watch full-length videos of television show episodes, anime, and even movies. While the competition has increased in recent years, Hulu remains one of the more enduring streaming services.

If you are an avid streamer, you would have asked yourself this question at least once: should I subscribe to Hulu? Indeed, what does Hulu have that all these others streaming services don’t? Read this article to learn about Hulu and to decide for yourself if you want to subscribe to the service.

What is Hulu

Hulu is a streaming service similar to Netflix or Amazon video. Hulu has an extensive catalog of TV shows, movies, anime, and other video content. Hulu offers episodes from TV shows that are currently showing on a television channel or have been concluded or canceled. If you are looking to stream episodes of shows that aired years back, then Hulu is an excellent service to start with.

Hulu has deals with many of the big-name networks, like ABC, Fox, MTV, NBC, A&E, History Channel, Bravo, and even Comedy Central. You can watch episodes of some of the most popular shows shown on these channels.

Hulu, however, is not an unlimited live streaming service. You won't be able to access episodes of shows as they air. But Hulu adds new episodes of shows about 24 hours after they have been aired, so you only have to wait for a day. Hulu has just recently added live TV features, but you have to pay extra for a plan with live television. It's also still in the beta stage, therefore, what you get is rather limited. Hulu is best for on-demand video, not watching live TV online (yet).

How Much Does Hulu Cost?

Hulu offers users the option for free and subscription services. The free Hulu streaming plan allows access to hundreds of video clips from shows and movies. But if you want access to full-length versions, you will need to get a subscription. Some videos are available completely for free like you would find on YouTube.

Hulu’s subscription cost is more affordable than most other services. Prices start at $7.99 per month in the U.S. Prices will be similar in other countries. The biggest advantage Hulu offers is that you don't have to sign up for a long-term contract, like with Netflix. Hulu subscription is contract-free, and you can pay on a monthly basis. That is a major advantage for users who might only want to tune in for a season or two, and not the whole year. 

Which Devices Can I Use with Hulu?

Hulu works on many devices including all the popular ones people use to stream content. Hulu works with all computers that have access to the internet via a browser. It works with handheld mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that run on either Android or iOS. Hulu works with Smart TVs and Blu Ray players that stream content. You can access Hulu on gaming consoles like Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and Wii too.

Hulu, of course, works with various streaming devices like Roku boxes, Nexus Player, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. If there are any other devices that you have that can stream online video, then Hulu would very likely work on it. So, there’s a good variety of devices Hulu works on so it’s all very convenient.

What Makes Hulu Different from Other Streaming Services?

Hulu is largely similar to most other streaming services. You may still ask what’s so special about Hulu that warrants a subscription. Here is a list of features that sets Hulu apart from most other streaming services out there:

Never-Ending On-Demand Content

The Hulu library has over 700 million hours of streaming content. That's right; it's so massive you probably won't be able to watch it all. Hulu also has hundreds of content partners all over the world. You will never run out of things to watch with a subscription. Some other streaming services are limited in the content they offer, but not Hulu.

No Contract Subscription

As mentioned before, you can sign up for Hulu on a monthly basis. When you get a subscription, you don't have to sign a contract. That means you can cancel your subscription any time you want, or subscribe whenever you want to.

No Cable TV Needed

Hulu is an independent online streaming service, so you don't need to get a cable TV to stream content. Cable TV costs a lot of money while you can subscribe to Hulu for less than $10 a month.

No In-Video Commercials

If you pay for the premium version of Hulu, you don't have to put up with in-video ads that some streaming services still use to annoy customers. You can watch your favorite shows without frustrating commercials in between. The cheapest subscription plan does have commercials, but only in a limited capacity that doesn't disrupt viewing.

Multi Device Compatible

Hulu works on your laptop, smartphone, gaming console, smart TV, or any other streaming device. This offers a lot of flexibility when watching shows. You don’t have to get multiple subscriptions for each device. One subscription will work on all these devices at once. Because Hulu works on many different devices, you can stream content on the go with ease.

Original Content

Hulu offers original content that you can find on no other streaming platform. This is similar to what Amazon Instant Video and Netflix offers. But you won’t find original Hulu-produced content on those platforms. You can go through the Hulu catalog to see if there are any original shows you’d like to watch. If you do, you will need to get a subscription because you won’t find these shows on regular television.

Premium Content

In addition to original content, Hulu also offers premium content, mainly channels like Showtime that are hard to find on some other subscription services. Premium content costs extra, but if you watch a particular channel a lot, you will get good value for the money you spend.

Free Version

If you don’t want to subscribe to Hulu, you can still watch a limited amount of content on the service. So, Hulu is always useful to have on a device.

Hulu Exclusive Shows and Original Content

One of the main reasons many people subscribe to Hulu is to get access to older shows that are rarely found on other streaming platforms. Hulu has all seasons and episodes of classics such as South Park, Seinfeld, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Angel, and Firefly. Buffy, Firefly, and Angel are no longer available on Netflix so you can only stream all episodes of these shows on Hulu.

Even some popular TV shows are available only on Hulu. When deals don’t go through with Netflix, or when Netflix lets old licenses expire, Hulu snaps these shows up. If you want to watch Fargo the show, it’s now available on Hulu, but not on other streaming services.

Hulu also produces original TV shows exclusive to the platform. The most popular of these right now is The Handmaid's Tale, the acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood's award-winning novel. There are also some other original shows like Difficult People, Marvel's Runaways, and James Corden's The Wrong Mans that are only available on Hulu.

If you like any of these shows, then a Hulu subscription is a must.

Is Hulu Available in All Regions?

Hulu is only available right now in U.S. and Japan, nowhere else. This is a significant disadvantage to fans of shows like South Park and Handmaid’s Tale. However, you can still get access to all content on Hulu outside of U.S. or Japan using Smart DNS Proxy. It’s a legal and harmless way to let the Hulu website think you are connecting from a physical location in the U.S. or Japan.

Hulu can determine the location you are connecting from by the IP address associated with the device you are using. When you log in to the internet using any device, it issues an IP address that identifies your device on the web. The IP address contains information about the location of the server you are connecting to. Your ISP's server is located closest to you, so it quickly gives away your actual location.

Smart DNS Proxy uses an ingenious and easy-to-implement method to mask your real location. You can manually enter an IP address provided by the service to the network settings of the device you are using. And voila, you can pretend to connect to Hulu from the U.S. and get unrestricted access to all content your subscription allows. You can use Smart DNS Proxy on any device Hulu is available on.

There are free web proxies like this online as well. But Smart DNS Proxy additionally ensures your security when you connect to Hulu. The service makes sure that your Hulu username, password and any other sensitive information transmitted through the connection is safe from hackers and government spies.

Hulu is an incredibly worthwhile streaming service that offers incredible value for your money. There's no reason that you shouldn't watch Hulu shows just because you are not in the U.S.  So, go ahead and use Smart DNS Proxy to enjoy some of the best TV shows and movies ever made.