Hulu is a popular online streaming service that provides its users access to premium television shows, movies, and on-demand programming. Its largest competitors are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney. Hulu is for people who prefer to stream their favorite shows and movies on their computers as opposed to watching them through cable television. Online streaming is quickly becoming the way to go for people's entertainment. The following is some information on Hulu's features, benefits, disadvantages, pricing and more.

Hulu Pricing Plans

The least expensive Hulu plan costs $5.99 a month. Consumers can save a little money on their subscriptions by paying $59.99 for an entire year. The basic Hulu plan includes access to a streaming library that has thousands of television shows and movies. Users also get Hulu original television shows and movies. Each user can create up to six profiles and watch on two screens at the same time. Furthermore, users can access Hulu on their smartphones, tablets and laptops. The downside is that the basic plan has ads. Therefore, users will have to watch ads on this plan in-between quality viewing of their favorite shows and movies.

Users who are not interested in watching ads can upgrade to the next available plan at $11.99 a month. This plan will give them access to ad-free viewing of the material. They will also receive the extra benefit of being able to download shows and movies and watch them later.

Hulu wants to provide a full experience for users who are transitioning from television watching. Therefore, they offer the Hulu + Live TV plan for $64.99 a month. It provides everything that users with the basic plan get, plus it gives them access to live television. The live television part of the plan gives users access to more than 65 top cable channels without the need to have cable. They'll also have a guide to help them navigate the channels. Furthermore, such subscribers will receive 50 hours of cloud DVR storage with the ability to record live television.

Add-Ons and Premium Channels

Some viewers may want to get the existing Hulu package and then add some extras to their experience. Hulu provides this through their add-ons menu. Users can add premium viewing channels such as HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime and Starz. They can also add a feature that will allow them to watch their Hulu on unlimited screens. Furthermore, users can also add Espanol, enhanced cloud and an entertainment add-on. The entertainment add-on provides the user with access to a number of channels. Those channels include options such as The American Heroes Channel, The Cooking Channel, CNBC World and Discovery Family.

Special Hulu Discounts

Some people will have access to discounts on their Hulu service. For example, college students can get a 65 percent discount on their basic Hulu service. They'll end up paying only $1.99 for as long as they remain students. Interested parties will have to go through a verification process to ensure that they are currently enrolled in school to take advantage of the program.

Other people can search for discounts and promotional codes discounting sites such as Groupon. Legitimate sites may provide them with codes they can use when they first sign up for Hulu services. The option will be there when it comes time to checkout.

Navigating Hulu

It's easy for someone to navigate Hulu. The top menu bar has five sections, which are:

• Home
• My Stuff
• TV Shows
• Movies
• Hubs

The home tab provides users with access to information about new shows and suggestions for shows and movies that might interest them. The suggested content comes from an algorithm that matches their recent activities. The Home tab also has blockbuster movies, Hulu picks and unwatched items. The "My Stuff" tab is a list of shows and movies the user has saved to watch later. The way to save a show or movie is to click the little plus sign under the show's description.

The "TV Shows" and "Movies" tabs are self-explanatory. They take the users to the breakdown of various movies and television show categories where they can search for items they want to watch. The "Hubs" tab takes the users to the individual channels, where they can look for content to watch. Overall, the navigation experience on Hulu is hassle-free.

The Benefits of Getting Hulu

Hulu has a wealth of benefits. Many people may want to get Hulu to take advantage of some of the benefits. For one, Hulu is affordable. Secondly, it gives its users access to a wealth of channels. Thirdly, each user can customize his or her subscription in a way that seems fitting.

The Disadvantages of Getting Hulu

There aren't too many disadvantages to deciding to get Hulu. The ads on the basic plan are one of the only disadvantages that users will have to deal with. Another disadvantage is that some of the premium channels and packages can be expensive. However, it may be the perfect solution for a person who watches television and movies moderately and wants quick and easy access to programming.

How to Get Hulu

Interested persons can use several techniques to get Hulu. One way is to go directly to the Hulu desktop site or download the app to sign up for membership. Hulu is available at the Google PlayStore, and it works on smartphones and tablets alike. Hulu often has promotions going on that allow new members to use the services for a month. That gives newcomers time to thoroughly review Hulu and see if it's something they'd like to keep for a long time. After the initial promotional period, Hulu's plans start at the low price of $5.99 per month.

Another way to get Hulu is to get it for free from a smartphone service provider. For example, Sprint and T-Mobile users can receive a free basic Hulu service on their unlimited plans. They can enjoy hundreds of television channels and the movies they want to watch just by updating their plans with their service providers. The smartphone provider absorbs the cost. Therefore, there is no additional expense involved. That means easier bill management and fewer payouts for the consumer.

Is Hulu for You?

Consumers must consider the pros and cons before deciding whether Hulu is the right product for them. They must also consider their budget and whether Hulu meets their budgeting guidelines. Entertainment level is the third thing to consider. Interested persons must take a thorough look at their streaming desires and decide if Hulu will provide them with everything they want. We recommend Hulu for people who want to stream movies and television shows for an affordable price. Hulu is extremely affordable and will satisfy most people.