Hulu is one of the best online streaming services there is. This is because it gives you total control over your viewing experience. However, one part of streaming online still mirrors mainstream T.V. – commercials.
Keep reading to learn more about the Hulu ad-free package.
Why does Hulu have ads even though I pay?
The reason Hulu no ads still has ads is because Hulu sells ads to make money. Hulu and a few others follow the business model that allows for limited commercials, usually for a lower price. Additionally, these promos are meant to showcase other premium content with the add-on. For example, certain content available through the ESPN+ Add-on may include ads.
Hulu relies on ads as a way to keep prices down for customers. However, if you’re willing to spend some more cash, there’s a quick way to get rid of ads on Hulu. You can pay for the Hulu no ads plan.
Hulu and Hulu + Live T.V. subscribers will see some ads while streaming shows and movies in the Hulu streaming library. In contrast, Hulu (No Ads) and Hulu (No Ads) + Live T.V. subscribers can watch those same videos without interruptions.
How to get rid of Hulu ads
Hulu offers two different pricing tiers to subscribers: a standard subscription for $6.99/month and a premium plan for $12.99/month. If you’re a student with a .edu email, you can get Hulu for $1.99/month. Keep in mind that the student discount will also play ads.
The easiest way to remove ads from Hulu is to upgrade to the premium plan, also called Hulu (No Ads). While it may cost you a few dollars more per month, Hulu’s No Commercials plan is worth it for frequent binge-watchers.
To get rid of ads on Hulu;
Upgrade to Hulu No Ads
This will help to get rid of Hulu ads. Next, log in and click “Manage Your Account.” On that page, you can upgrade your subscription, select any add-ons (HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz are all available options), or even cancel your Hulu account.
However, if you’re watching a premium cable channel through Hulu, your show or movie will play uninterrupted, regardless of whether you have the standard or No Ads plan.
For $75.99/month (price changes, this as by the time of publishing), subscribers can access the Hulu No Ads plan plus Live T.V. This means that you’ll be able to watch your Hulu shows with no commercials and then flip over to ESPN to catch the third quarter of the basketball game.
But, unfortunately, because Hulu + Live T.V. is just a live stream of regular cable networks, you’re going to see what’s playing on that network at any particular moment — even if it’s a Tide commercial.
You can access a variety of major broadcast networks (A.B.C., Fox, N.B.C., C.B.S.), entertainment networks (E!, Bravo, T.B.S., T.N.T.), sports channels (ESPN, A.C.C. Network, FS1), and more.
Pay for Premium and Partner Add-ons
This is a great way to block ads on Hulu. Shows and movies from HBO, SHOWTIME, Cinemax, and S.T.A.R.Z. don’t have ad breaks, but there may be promotional content before certain videos. These promos are meant to showcase other premium content with the add-on.
Subscribe for Cloud DVR
With Cloud DVR, you can record unlimited live news, sports, shows, movies, and events. Your recordings are all stored in the Manage DVR section of My Stuff. They’re organized by airdate, so the most recent ones will appear first.
Recordings are grouped under one list on mobile and living room devices, but on Hulu.com, the Manage DVR page stores your T.V. shows, sports, and movies under separate tabs.
Unlock your Hulu account
You can also crack your Hulu account and manage the setting to prevent ads. But this is illegal, and Hulu may penalize you once they are onto you.
Hulu Ads Vs. Hulu No Ads
Below is a comparison of Hulu ads vs. Hulu no ads;
Hulu with ads
This plan is best for casual viewers. It is ideal if you are used to watching live T.V. with commercials, you are primarily using the service to watch short comedies, and you want to save some cash.
Hulu No Ads
This plan is best for serious/ binge-watchers. However, the ad-free plan is also a solid choice if you frequently use Hulu to watch hour-long shows. This way, your bingeing experience is uninterrupted.
If most of your T.V. watching happens ad-free on Netflix or through fast-forwarding ads on your DVR, and you hate watching commercials, upgrading to Hulu (No Ads) is probably worth the $12 a month.
As the name suggests, the experience is ad-free, so you won’t see any commercials, making for a more Netflix-like experience. However, due to licensing issues, a few shows will still have ads, even on the ad-free plan.
Hulu says the list is subject to change, but right now, it includes the A.B.C. shows Grey’s Anatomy, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and How to Get Away with Murder.
Note: Hulu with Live T.V.’s ad-free option also shows ads with some on-demand titles.
The biggest advantage of Hulu’s no-ads plan is that it’s the only way to download shows to watch offline. The $12-a-month price for Hulu (No Ads) puts it into the higher end of the price range for its streaming service competitors.
But if Hulu will be a major part of your streaming service rotation, the extra $6 to cut out pesky commercials is worth it.
Tip: If you are a student, you can sign up for the student discount. With Hulu’s Student Discount, eligible college students can sign up for Hulu’s ad-supported plan for $1.99/month.
Hulu no ads student is only for students currently enrolled in graduate or advanced degree programs at Title IV accredited colleges or universities in the U.S. For existing subscribers, only those billed directly by Hulu are eligible.
How often does Hulu play ads?
For every 30 minutes of programming, there will be 8 minutes of ads, a commercial break every 3 minutes, and 45 seconds. If this still feels like too many ads on Hulu, remember that regular T.V. tends to have more ads than this.
Check this too: Hulu How-to & Troubleshooting Guide
Moreover, Hulu delivers fewer ads per break than traditional T.V., with one or two commercials shown each intermission, generally ranging from 30 to 60 seconds.
According to Hulu, the company never delivers more than 50% of the ads shown on traditional T.V. More often than not. The ad load is closer to 25% of what you’d see on television.