By Maddie Sievers
Trying to decide which streaming service is best for you? Look no further than this comprehensive list of the advantages and pitfalls of both Netflix and Hulu.
HULU
Pros:
1.) The price of this streaming service is by far Hulu’s greatest advantage. Recently, Hulu paired with Spotify to offer college students a dual subscription for just $4.99 per month. If there’s anything college students like, it’s watching movies, listening to music, and paying as little as possible for things. This Spotify/Hulu combination offers all three!
2.) Hulu has several shows that can’t be found on Netflix. As of late, a handful of shows have even been ditching Netflix altogether to become Hulu exclusives.
3.) Finally, Hulu offers instant gratification for viewers who want to watch the most recent episode in a series. Unlike Netflix and its delayed releases, Hulu uploads the most recent episodes quickly after their premiere on cable television.
Cons:
1.) The one major downfall of Hulu is the fact that it displays ads even if you pay. Both its “Limited Commercials” plan (which costs $7.99 per month) and student plan show commercials in between and during and episodes. Unless you’re willing to shell out a few extra dollars each month and pay $11.99 for the “No Commercials” plan (which is more than what most college students can or are willing to afford), you’ll just have to deal with it.
2.) Another thing that can be annoying about Hulu is how clips and trailers are placed among actual shows and movies. It creates a more cluttered home page overall, making Hulu a little more difficult to navigate than Netflix.
NETFLIX
Pros:
1.) One of the biggest draws of Netflix is its tremendous amount of original series and movies. Netflix has been cleaning up at the Emmys and consistently features big-name stars (Kathy Bateman, Ashton Kutcher, and Jason Bateman, to name a few). The list is extensive, but it’s safe to say that if you haven’t watched a Netflix original series yet, you’re missing out!
2.) Another pro: Netflix is owned by the Walt Disney Company (for now, anyways… Disney is planning to create its own streaming service). This means you can find plenty of your favorite Disney classics, both new and old. Most recently, Finding Dory, Beauty and the Beast, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Moana have been added alongside older favorites such as Lilo & Stitch, The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Fantasia.
3.) Netflix also allows you to simultaneously stream on up to four different devices, if you choose to pay more to upgrade.
4.) Finally, Netflix doesn’t have ANY ads, period! Here’s to eternal binge watching sessions with zero interruptions, am I right?
Cons:
1.) Netflix doesn’t offer any sort of student discount other than its free one-month trial.
2.) While it doesn’t happen frequently, Netflix has increased its prices a few times over the last couple of years.
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The Spread 