Streaming Deal: From ‘Summer of Soul’ to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ Here’s How to Watch Everything on Hulu for Free

Whether you want to watch award-winning docs or acclaimed weekly series, here's how to get the most out of your Hulu subscription (or stream it for free)

By John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale

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April 7, 2022

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Searchlight Pictures/Hulu

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“Yeah, it’s on Hulu.” With everything from Oscar-winning music documentaries to new true crime-inspired shows you can obsessively watch every week, everyone seems to be talking about what’s on the go-to streaming platform these days.

Setting itself apart from other streamers, Hulu has become the streaming platform that has it all, including reality TV, critically acclaimed dramas, and classic sitcoms — all available to stream with a free trial. But what’s exactly available to watch, and how can you keep track of all of your subscription options?

Here’s what you need to know about the streaming service, including how much Hulu’s multiple plans cost, what you can watch, and some of the best Hulu deals you can score online right now.

What Can You Stream on Hulu’s Ad-Supported Plan?

Even though Hulu’s ad-supported plan might be its most affordable choice, you’re still getting plenty of series and movies you can binge for hours. You can stream newly released films, including Oscar-winning docs like Summer of Soul, and exclusive new movies like Hellraiser that you can only watch with a Hulu subscription.

On top of all the new movie releases, Hulu has even more critically acclaimed TV series to stream like The Bear, Pam & Tommy with Sebastian Stan and Lily James, Ramy, and even buzzy reality shows like The Kardashians — all for $7.99 each month (and a 30-day free trial before it). Annual Hulu plans, meantime, cost $79.99 for the year.

When you sign up for a Hulu (With Ads) package, you can also watch new episodes of shows like Tell Me Lies, American Idol, and a bunch of titles like The Handmaid’s Tale, Dave, Atlanta, and ABC sitcoms, including Abbott Elementary and more.

Buy Hulu Unlimited Streaming $7.99

How Much Does Hulu Cost?

Hulu has three different packages, and each of them offers a different experience at a different price point.

First, Hulu’s ad-supported plan, which runs you $7.99 each month, opens up all of Hulu’s extensive streaming library of TV series, films, and documentaries with the occasional ad thrown in the mix. After all, it’s not Hulu’s most popular streaming subscription for no reason.

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If you go with the annual subscription, you’ll only pay $79.99 for the year, saving you a little money instead of going month-to-month.

Buy Hulu Unlimited Streaming $7.99

Next up, Hulu’s ad-free plan costs $14.99 every month, and you’ll get to watch almost all of the content on the app without any interruptions.

Finally, Hulu + Live TV lets you stream, well, live and on-demand streaming events, from SNL to different awards ceremonies and sports. You can sign up for the Hulu + Live TV package on its own, or bundle it with Disney+ and ESPN+ for an annual rate of $69.99 (ad-supported) or $82.99 (ad-free). With Live TV, you can even record up to 50 hours of content.

If you’re not sure which package to go with, there’s a way you can try them out ahead of time without paying a single cent. Read on for how to get Hulu, including its standard package, for free.

Does Hulu Have a Free Trial?

Hulu has multiple free trials for all of its packages, and that includes its ad-supported subscription for $7.99 per month. With the base plan, you can stream Hulu free for an entire month — no weird hidden fees, just free streaming for 30 days until your subscription payment starts.

To get the free trial, you’ll need to sign up for the subscription upfront with your email and login information, and Hulu won’t charge you the $8 monthly subscription fee until your trial ends.

Buy 30-Day Free Trial Hulu

The Hulu free trial is available online for all new subscribers — no promo code needed.

Best Hulu Deals, Discounts, and Promo Codes

Hulu has a pretty wide range of packages, but the streaming service offers a few deals and promotions that you might not be aware of right now. All of these Hulu deals are available online without needing a promo code or discount code.

Hulu Student Discount: If you’re a college student who wants to stream the best new shows and films, you can get Hulu with a student discount for only $1.99 every month, instead of paying the regular monthly price for the ad-supported plan.

Buy Hulu Unlimited Streaming $1.99+

With the student discount, you’re saving as much as 65% with the current promotion, and you can cancel the package whenever you need to. There’s not a free trial with this plan, but you’re still saving money in the long run, and you can still stream all the new series hitting Hulu.

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Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ Bundle: Want even more out of your Hulu plan? Of course, if you already subscribe to Disney+ and ESPN+, you can bundle them both with Hulu’s ad-supported plan at just $12.99 each month. When you go with the bundle, you’ll save money instead of paying for each streaming service individually.

Buy Hulu's Disney Bundle $12.99

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