Three of the most popular streaming services in the world today are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. They offer a variety of content (both original and otherwise), are available on multiple devices, and are priced slightly differently.

So how do you choose which one is right for you? We're here to help you decide which is best.

Pricing Plans

netflix cost

Netflix offers three price plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium. The Basic plan costs $9/month, Standard is $14/month, and Premium is $18/month.

The only plan with 4K content is Premium. It is also the only plan that lets you watch on four screens at the same time. Standard permits two screens and has HD shows. The Basic plan is one screen and no HD videos. The content you can watch on each plan is the same and no annual plans are available.

Amazon Prime Video plans are only available to Amazon Prime subscribers; you cannot buy the service on a standalone basis. In the United States, an Amazon Prime membership costs $119/year or $13/month. Non-Prime members can still purchase or rent movies and TV shows from the Prime Video catalog on an ad-hoc basis.

Hulu is $6/month or $60/year for the basic plan, $12/month for the ad-free plan, $55/month if you want to add live TV, and $60/month if you want live TV and no ads on the on-demand content. It is the only one of the three services with a live TV option, but is also the only one that has in-content advertising on the basic plan.

Winner: Hulu's $6/month plan is the cheapest available, but we think the best all-round value for money can be found in Amazon's $119 annual plan. That works out to just $10/month and bags you a whole lot of extra benefits (more on that later).

International Availability

Netflix is available in 190 countries around the world, with the only notable exception being China.

After only being available in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Austria upon launch, Amazon Prime Video now serves exactly the same markets as Netflix. Again, the main exception is China.

Hulu, however, is different. It is only available in the United States. You need to supply a US-issued form of payment when you sign up, so a VPN will not work.

Winner: It's a tie between Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Their international availability means you can tune in when on vacation.

Available Content

amazon video

Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video all offer a mix of original content and reruns. The content genres are diverse; you will find everything from horror series to kids shows and from black and white silent movies to modern Hollywood blockbusters.

The original shows aren't to be overlooked either. Netflix alone had a budget of $17 billion for original content in 2020, up from $15.3 billion in 2019. Today, there are many Netflix originals worth watching

Sadly, the streaming industry has faced criticism in recent years for the fragmentation of content. The arrival of Disney+ has only worsened the situation. At the time of writing, Netflix has an estimated total of 14,000 shows/movies in its international library (with 5,500 in the US), Hulu has 4,000, whereas Amazon has more than 13,000 movies, and a further 2,000 TV shows.

If you subscribe to Netflix, you can use a VPN to access movies or TV shows outside of your country's library. We recommend ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.

Winner: Netflix. Amazon might have more movies, but Netflix's original content is the best and it offers content from more movie studios and TV production companies than its rivals.

Supported Devices

hulu devices

The evolution of cord-cutting means a streaming provider will be left behind if they do not support all of the major platforms and devices.

That means that mainstream operating systems like Android TV, Roku OS, Apple TV, Fire OS all have apps available.

But the list of supported devices is much longer. In addition to media players, you will also find that Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have apps on smart TVs, games consoles, smartphones, PCs and laptops, and even Blu-ray players.

Winner: It's a draw; the services have no major differences between them.

Video Quality

As discussed earlier, Netflix offers three tiers of video quality: 4K (3,840 x 2,160), HD (minimum of 720p, 1,280 x 720), and standard (640 x 480).

All Amazon Prime Video subscribers get automatic access to 4K videos where available. Almost all Amazon's originals are available in the 4K format, as well as several other shows and movies.

Similarly, Hulu gives all users 4K videos where available, though across the service you will see 720p, 1080p, 4K Ultra HD, and 60FPS HD, depending on what you're watching.

Winner: This is a tie between Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. We don't like that Netflix forces you to buy the premium plan if you want to watch in 4K.

User Interface

netflix watchlist

Each of the three streaming services organizes content in a logical manner, with separate groups available trending content, new shows, different genres, and so on.

Each also has a watchlist feature which lets you collect together TV series and films that you want to check out at a later date.

Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video all support voice input, assuming the device you are watching on also supports it.

We've written a list of tips to manage what you watch on Netflix and a list of Amazon Prime tips to supercharge your streaming if you would like to learn more.

Winner: Again, it's a three-way tie. The user interface features are almost identical, meaning it comes down to personal preference on layout and graphics.

Any Extras?

hulu tv channels list

This is where the three services start to differ.

Netflix is a video-on-demand streaming company. It has a library of (admittedly excellent) content, but offers nothing else.

In contrast, Amazon Prime Video is just one item on a long list of Amazon Prime benefits. Some of those benefits include Amazon Music, same-day shipping, free online photo storage, ebook rentals, and Prime Pantry.

Hulu's major extra selling point is live TV. If you buy the Live TV plan, you get access to 65 live channels, including ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX Sports, ESPN, Cartoon Network, ESPN News, National Geographic, FOX News, Telemundo, HGTV, and many more.

You can customize your Hulu package further with premium channels such as HBO Max (an extra $15/month), SHOWTIME ($11/month), and STARZ ($9/month). Bundled add-on packages are available for more entertainment and/or Spanish-language channels. Add-ons for an enhanced cloud DVR and unlimited screens are also available.

And lastly, Hulu is owned by Disney. That means you can get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ as a bundle for $13/month. That price does not include access to Hulu's live TV channels.

Winner: Hulu. No contest. The addition of live TV means it instantly blows Amazon and Netflix away, at least from a video-watching perspective.

Which Is Best? Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime Video

In practice, there is little to choose between them in terms of price or devices supported.

Therefore, much of your decision will come down to content and extras. Which services carry the shows and movies you want to watch? And are there any additional features that you need?

Remember, all of the apps' libraries are in a constant state of flux. The smart cord-cutters, therefore, have started rotating between the services as needed. Just make sure you don't sign up for 12-month plans on Amazon or Hulu, as no refunds are available.

Overall Verdict: From a video-on-demand perspective, Netflix just edges it thanks to the quality of the shows available. However, for a more holistic cord-cutting app, Hulu wins out due to its live TV bundle.