Disney has confirmed Hulu will be absorbed into the main Disney+ app in 2026, ending the standalone Hulu brand as we knew it. For viewers who liked Hulu specifically for current-season network shows, the live TV bundle, or the smaller-than-Netflix monthly bill, that shakeup is a reason to look around. We tested eight Hulu alternatives on Android and ranked them by what most ex-Hulu subscribers actually want next: current network episodes the day after broadcast, a watchable price, and a library that doesn’t feel like a digital bargain bin.
The picks split into three buckets. There are full-catalogue streamers in the Netflix/Max class, the live TV services that replace Hulu Live, and the free ad-supported services for anyone tired of paying. Each one runs cleanly on Android phones, tablets, and Android TV.
Why people are leaving Hulu
The complaints we saw on r/Hulu and r/cordcutters cluster around four themes:
- The price climbs. The ad-supported plan crept to $9.99/mo and the ad-free tier sits at $18.99 in 2026, with Hulu Live at $82.99/mo.
- The ad load on the basic plan is heavier than competitors at the same price point. Several users reported four-minute ad breaks before a single 22-minute network episode.
- The catalogue rotation. Hulu loses a lot of acquired content every quarter, and the next-day network episodes (Hulu’s historical selling point) now sit behind delays for some networks.
- The Disney+ merger uncertainty. The unified app rolls out through 2026 and 2027, and current Hulu profiles, watchlists, and parental controls have to migrate. Some viewers want to be on a stable service before the transition forces a move.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Originals catalogue depth | No | $7.99 ad-supported | Largest worldwide subscriber base |
| Disney+ | Marvel, Star Wars, plus the new Hulu library | No | $9.99 ad-supported | The destination Hulu is merging into |
| Max | HBO prestige plus Discovery library | No | $9.99 ad-supported | HBO releases day-and-date |
| Paramount+ | Current CBS and Showtime shows | No | $7.99 Essential | Live NFL on CBS in the bundle |
| Peacock | NBC current shows next day | Limited ad-supported* | $7.99 Premium | Direct Hulu replacement for NBC |
| YouTube TV | Replacing Hulu + Live TV | No | $82.99 | Unlimited cloud DVR |
| Amazon Prime Video | Bundled with Prime shopping | Yes with Prime | $8.99 standalone | Original sports rights |
| Tubi | Free ad-supported alternative | Yes | Free | 200,000+ free titles |
*Peacock’s free tier was retired for new signups in 2023 but remains active for some legacy users.
The 8 best Hulu alternatives
1. Netflix — best overall replacement
Netflix is the obvious move for Hulu subscribers who watched mostly drama, comedy, and reality content rather than next-day network episodes. The originals catalogue is still the deepest in the business, the recommendation engine handles broad taste better than Hulu’s, and the production pipeline on Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday keeps fresh tentpoles arriving every quarter. The ad-supported tier at $7.99/mo is cheaper than Hulu’s equivalent and the ad break length is shorter in our side-by-side.
Where it falls short: No next-day network content. The basic ad-supported plan caps streaming at 1080p and blocks downloads. Password sharing is locked down hard.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Paid: $7.99/mo ad-supported, $17.99/mo standard, $24.99/mo premium
- vs Hulu: cheaper at the ad-supported tier, comparable at premium
Migrating from Hulu: No profile import. Build a watchlist fresh; Netflix’s “Continue Watching” syncs across devices once you sign in.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: The default move for Hulu users who don’t need next-day network episodes.
2. Disney+ — best for Hulu library continuity
Disney+ is the destination Hulu is being merged into, so for many viewers this is the path of least resistance. The unified app is rolling out throughout 2026 and 2027, and the bundled tier already includes the full Hulu catalogue inside a single browser tree. Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, and the FX library make this the strongest single-app catalogue if your taste skews mainstream.
Where it falls short: Standalone Disney+ without the Hulu add-on still feels family-skewed and light on prestige drama. The ad-supported tier in 2026 caps audio at stereo on many shows.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Paid: $9.99/mo ad-supported, $15.99/mo no-ads, Duo Basic bundle with Hulu at $10.99/mo
- vs Hulu: comparable, slightly cheaper at the entry tier
Migrating from Hulu: If you already pay for the Disney+/Hulu bundle, your watchlists migrate when the unified app reaches your region. Standalone Hulu profiles need manual export of watch history through Disney’s account portal.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: Pick this if you want the Hulu library to come with you. The merger makes it the lowest-friction switch.
3. Max — best for prestige drama and HBO
Max (formerly HBO Max) is the home of HBO’s prestige catalogue plus the Discovery library that came with the merger. Succession, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, and the Sopranos archive sit alongside Food Network, HGTV, and Discovery+. The Max app on Android has finally caught up to the old HBO Max app on stability after the rough 2023 transition.
Where it falls short: The basic ad tier limits 4K and surround sound to the premium plan. Some Discovery content is region-locked.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Paid: $9.99/mo ad-supported, $16.99/mo no-ads, $20.99/mo Ultimate Ad-Free with 4K
- vs Hulu: equivalent at the basic tier
Migrating from Hulu: No data import. Sign in, set parental controls, build a fresh watchlist. The “My List” feature persists across devices.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: The pick when prestige TV and movies matter more than next-day network episodes.
4. Paramount+ — best for CBS, Showtime, and live sports
Paramount+ is the most direct functional replacement for Hulu’s next-day network play, just for CBS instead of ABC and NBC. Current-season CBS shows arrive the day after broadcast, the Showtime catalogue is bundled at the higher tier, and live NFL on CBS is included for free during the regular season. Star Trek’s full archive lives here too.
Where it falls short: The Essential ad tier blocks the CBS live feed. Originals catalogue is smaller than Netflix or Max. The recommendation engine pushes Paramount-owned content aggressively.
Pricing:
- Free: No
- Paid: $7.99/mo Essential ad-supported, $12.99/mo Paramount+ with Showtime
- vs Hulu: slightly cheaper at the entry tier
Migrating from Hulu: No profile import. Add your CBS shows to “My Stuff” and the watchlist syncs across devices.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: Pick Paramount+ if your Hulu use was mostly CBS, NCIS, Survivor, or Showtime drama.
5. Peacock — best for NBC next-day episodes
Peacock is the closest match to what Hulu used to be: NBC shows the next day, Universal movies on a delay, and a decent live sports surface for Premier League, Sunday Night Football, and the next Olympics cycle. The catalogue grew quietly through 2025 and 2026 as NBCUniversal stopped licensing to other services.
Where it falls short: The interface still feels rougher than competitors. Search misses titles that are clearly in the catalogue. Some live sports require region verification.
Pricing:
- Free: Limited free tier for legacy users only; new signups need paid
- Paid: $7.99/mo Premium ad-supported, $13.99/mo Premium Plus
- vs Hulu: cheaper at entry, similar at premium
Migrating from Hulu: No profile import. Build your watchlist on Peacock and the continue-watching state syncs across devices.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: The next-day-NBC play. Pick Peacock if you watched Hulu mostly for Saturday Night Live, The Voice, or Law & Order.
6. YouTube TV — best Hulu + Live TV replacement
YouTube TV is the live TV bundle most Hulu Live subscribers move to after a price hike. The channel lineup covers ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, and the regional sports networks; unlimited cloud DVR means you can record any show without storage caps; and the multi-view feature lets you watch up to four sports streams at once on Android TV. The price is the same neighborhood as Hulu Live, but the DVR experience is a clear step up.
Where it falls short: $82.99/mo is still expensive. Regional sports availability varies. Local channels missing in some smaller markets.
Pricing:
- Free: 14-day trial
- Paid: $82.99/mo base, $92.99/mo with NFL Sunday Ticket bundle discount
- vs Hulu + Live TV: equivalent price, larger DVR, no ad load on recordings
Migrating from Hulu Live: Cancel through Hulu’s account settings, sign up for YouTube TV with a different email, and rebuild your favorites list. Recordings on Hulu cannot be exported.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: The default cord-cutter alternative to Hulu Live. Bigger DVR, smoother app, same total bill.
7. Amazon Prime Video — best if you already have Prime
Amazon Prime Video is the most underrated streaming pick because it comes bundled with Prime, which a majority of US households already pay for. The Reacher, Fallout, and The Boys originals carry the originals slate, the rental catalogue is the deepest of any service, and the live sports rights (Thursday Night Football, NBA late in the decade) keep growing. If you already pay $14.99/mo for Prime, the standalone video upgrade is the cheapest premium tier on this list.
Where it falls short: The “X-Ray” overlay still gets in the way more than it helps. Many titles ask for extra rental fees mid-browse. Ad-supported by default since early 2024 unless you pay extra.
Pricing:
- Free: Bundled with Prime ($14.99/mo or $139/yr)
- Paid: $8.99/mo standalone with ads, $11.99/mo no-ads upgrade for Prime members
- vs Hulu: cheaper if you already pay Prime; equivalent standalone
Migrating from Hulu: No profile import. Sign in to your Amazon account; Prime Video remembers continue-watching state across devices automatically.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: Pick Prime Video if you already have Prime; it’s already paid for.
8. Tubi — best free alternative
Tubi is the answer when the question is “I want to stop paying for streaming.” The catalogue has 200,000+ titles, including a surprising number of recent theatrical releases that cycle through within a year. The app is ad-supported, but ad breaks are roughly two to three minutes per hour-long show, in line with broadcast TV from the Hulu basic tier. Tubi also carries a growing originals slate (Tubi Originals) and a free live-channel surface.
Where it falls short: Catalogue rotates more aggressively than paid services; new titles disappear without notice. No 4K. Ad targeting can repeat.
Pricing:
- Free: Full catalogue, ad-supported
- Paid: None
- vs Hulu: cheaper (it’s free)
Migrating from Hulu: No profile import, just sign up. Continue-watching is per-device unless you create an account.
Download: Google Play · App Store · Aptoide
Bottom line: The free pick. Tubi won’t replace HBO, but it covers a casual movie night.
How to choose
- Pick Disney+ if you want your Hulu library to come with you and you mostly want one app to handle everything.
- Pick Netflix if your Hulu use was originals and drama rather than next-day network shows.
- Pick Max if HBO prestige drama was what you watched on Hulu.
- Pick Paramount+ if CBS shows or Showtime drama were the draw.
- Pick Peacock if you watched mostly NBC shows next-day.
- Pick YouTube TV if you specifically need live TV with a real DVR.
- Pick Tubi if the goal is to stop paying entirely.
- Stay on Hulu through the merger if you’re already on the Disney+/Hulu bundle; the migration will happen automatically.
FAQ
Is Hulu shutting down completely? Hulu the brand is being folded into Disney+ throughout 2026 and 2027. The catalogue isn’t disappearing; it’s moving inside the Disney+ app. Standalone Hulu subscriptions will eventually convert into Disney+ bundle subscriptions.
What is the best free Hulu alternative? Tubi has the largest free catalogue and the lowest ad load of the free options. Pluto TV and the Roku Channel are close runners-up if you want more live-channel surface.
Which Hulu alternative has next-day network episodes? Peacock (NBC) and Paramount+ (CBS) are the closest one-network replacements. ABC and FOX content moved to Disney+ through the Hulu merger.
Can I keep my Hulu watchlist when I switch? No streaming service imports another’s watchlist. The Disney+/Hulu bundle is the only exception — your data migrates inside the unified app when it reaches your region.
What is the cheapest live TV alternative to Hulu Live? Sling TV starts at $45.99/mo for the Orange or Blue package and is significantly cheaper than YouTube TV, but the channel list is narrower and the DVR is capped.
Is Disney+ better than Hulu? For new releases and family content, yes. For next-day network drama and reality TV, Hulu had the edge. The merger inside Disney+ closes most of the gap because the Hulu catalogue lives inside the new app.
