Hulu is a streaming app designed to help you watch a huge library of TV shows, movies, and original series. I use it all the time to catch up on current seasons of network TV, binge classic series, and watch their exclusive Hulu Originals. The app launched way back in 2007 and is now available on pretty much every device you can think of—you can download it from Google Play, the App Store, or on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming sticks. It has millions of installs on Google Play alone. You can download and install the Hulu app for free, but you need a subscription plan to watch anything. Registration is super simple, just an email and password. The good news is there are no in-app purchases in the traditional sense; you manage your subscription through your account on Hulu's website. As for ads, it depends on your plan. I started with the cheaper, ad-supported plan, and yeah, you do get ad breaks, just like regular TV. It's not too intrusive, but if you hate commercials, you'll want to upgrade to the no-ads tier.

Using Hulu is pretty straightforward. After you install the app and log in, the home screen shows you personalized recommendations based on what you've watched. I mostly watch on my TV, but the mobile app is great for when I'm commuting. A real user tip: make sure to use the 'My Stuff' feature. Whenever you find a show you like, just hit 'Add to My Stuff,' and new episodes automatically show up there when they're available. It's way better than trying to remember what you were watching. Another tip is to check out the 'Hubs'—they have sections dedicated to specific networks like FX or ABC, which makes it easy to find everything from one channel. The live TV guide, if you have that plan, works just like cable, so it feels familiar.

Compared to other apps like Netflix, Hulu feels more focused on TV. Netflix has bigger movie blocks and famous originals, but Hulu gets new episodes from networks the day after they air, which is a huge deal if you follow shows weekly. Compared to HBO Max (now Max), Hulu has a broader mix of network TV, which I prefer for casual watching. I chose Hulu over others because it's my go-to for staying current with TV seasons without needing a cable box. The interface is clean, and the price for the basic plan is really competitive, especially with the massive library you get access to.

• 📺 Next-Day TV Episodes: This is Hulu's killer feature for me. I can watch shows from ABC, Fox, FX, and others the morning after they broadcast. No other major streamer, not Netflix or Amazon Prime, offers this breadth of current-season TV in such a simple way.
• 📺 Extensive Content Hubs: The app organizes content into dedicated network hubs (like NBC, Disney, ESPN). It makes browsing feel less overwhelming than the single, algorithm-driven homepage on something like Netflix, helping me find my favorite channel's lineup fast.
• 📺 Bundled Live TV Option: Unlike standalone apps, Hulu lets you bundle a live TV channel guide with its on-demand library in one app. This is a cleaner experience than juggling between, say, YouTube TV for live and another app for on-demand.
• 📺 "My Stuff" & Watchlist Management: Adding shows to 'My Stuff' is seamless and tracks new episodes perfectly. It's more reliable and central than the watchlist features I've used in similar apps like Peacock, which can feel a bit clunky.

• 👍 Speed to Current TV: Beats Netflix and Amazon by having next-day episodes for so many popular network shows, keeping you in the cultural conversation.
• 👍 Content Variety: Offers a unique mix of recent TV, classic series, and award-winning originals like The Handmaid's Tale, giving more TV-focused depth than Disney+.
• 👍 Plan Flexibility: The ad-supported plan is a very affordable entry point compared to the typically higher, ad-free starting price of competitors like HBO Max.

• 👎 Ad Frequency on Base Plan: The ad load on the cheapest plan can feel heavier than on a similar tier from Paramount+, with slightly longer breaks.
• 👎 Interface Inconsistency: The menu layout and navigation can vary a bit between the phone app and the TV app, which is less unified than the experience on Netflix.