Both options have changed over the years, and Netflix even encountered some controversy when they tried to split into two companies–one for streaming and the other for mailing movies. This didn’t last long, but one thing I have noticed is that the studios and networks have clamped down and made the streaming libraries a bit more limited.
I’ve also noticed that deals and money have a lot to do with what types of movies and TV we receive, and most of it is out of our control. Regardless, Netflix and Hulu Plus are the bigwigs of the video streaming world, so lets take a look at which streaming service is best for your life.
Our Ratings:
Netflix: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Hulu Plus: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Google Play Ratings and Links:
Netflix: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Hulu Plus: 3.9 out of 5 stars
The Good
Netflix offers a full month for free before you have to commit to anything. Hulu Plus gives a free week, which is typically enough time to figure out if the service is for you. Netflix offers several plans ranging from just one screen and no HD capabilities to multiple DVDs and streaming screens, along with HD. Hulu Plus is quite affordable at $7.99 per month, giving you unlimited access to the entire site.
Both of these video streaming apps work seamlessly with media streaming boxes like Apple TV and Roku. The best thing about both of these services is that you can get Hulu for free if you want. You receive limited shows, but I’ve found the free version of Hulu to be quite accommodating. Learn how to watch Hulu on your Android device, if you are interested.
The Bad
Netflix makes it a bit pricey when you start wanting to receive new releases, and you typically have to wait several days to receive them in DVD form. Hulu Plus makes you pay for the service, but they still slam you with ads throughout the app and streaming of videos.
The Bottom Line
Netflix is the king in terms of movies, and you have the option to get brand new releases if you opt for a DVD mailing account. Hulu Plus destroys Netflix in terms of TV shows, because you get recent releases just a day or two after they air on television. The main downside to both of these apps is that you never see shows when they just come out, and you are limited to your internet in order to watch videos.
The Interface – Netflix Wins by a Hair
The setup for both Hulu Plus and Netflix are both quite flawless. You simply type in your information and your payment info and move on. Netflix wins the battle since it offers a month-long free trial, whereas Hulu Plus only gives you a week to figure out if you want to continue paying. I also noticed that Hulu Plus doesn’t give you the chance to checkout with your PayPal account, limiting the ease of setup.
Both Hulu Plus and Netflix open up with sleek interfaces, and they allow you to see the beautiful pictures and cover art from TV shows and movies. They also categorize items, tracking the most common shows you watch and the more popular items from other people. Both apps offer side menus for filters or navigating towards particular genres you want to view.
The main reason Netflix wins in the interface area is because Netflix has minimal ads, and it doesn’t interrupt your viewing experience with these ads, whereas Hulu Plus does. You’ll notice in both Hulu Plus and Netflix the apps give you nice filtering and genre selection options on the left hand side, making it quick and easy to decide if you want to watch an Action or Family movie.
One interesting feature in Hulu Plus is the sharing function, which is present right in the viewing screen, so you can send a video to Google Drive or share it on your Facebook page. This is not enough to make Hulu Plus’ interface better in my opinion, because I can’t imagine people share these videos that often.
For Watching TV on Android – Hulu Plus Wins
Hulu Plus started as a TV streaming service and it remains in that market. If you take a look at the TV database from Hulu, you’ll quickly notice that it blows Netflix out of the water. This isn’t because Hulu has more TV shows, but because the shows provided are quite recent. If you want to watch this week’s Modern Family, you would have to wait maybe a year to see that on Netflix, whereas Hulu Plus has it just a few days after the air date.
Some of my favorites include the Colbert Report, American Dad and Family Guy. Hulu Plus has solid recommendations to help you find cool new shows, and they send you emails when your favorite shows have new episodes.
That said, Netflix’s TV show catalogue is quite significant, with recent favorites such as Parks and Rec, The Walking Dead and Gilmore Girls. Although Netflix works to fill its library with recent TV shows, it’s still primarily a hub for watching old shows that you missed or for rehashing shows that you haven’t seen in a while.
If you want to discuss recent shows with friends, Hulu is the obvious choice.
For Watching Movies – Netflix Wins by a Long Shot
Hulu Plus is interesting, because it truly focuses on TV shows, and that’s where it excels. The movies are great if you are one of those folks that likes finding random Indy flicks that no one has heard of, but Netflix is the true cinefile’s goldmine. Netflix is nice because it also includes huge collections of Indy and foreign language films.
The genres are endless for people who have kids or for those who want to catch the biggest blockbuster of the summer.
Support – Netflix Wins
I’m a fan of companies giving me support features inside apps. Unfortunately Netflix doesn’t seem to offer any support functions within the app, forcing people to navigate to the website and learn there. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it would be nice to walk through an FAQ on a tablet if you are having problems on a tablet. Netflix offers a nice Help Center that lets you search for just about any problem you might be having. You can also call or live chat with the company. I really like the live chat area, since you don’t always see this, and it’s 100 times better than sitting on the phone for 30 minutes.
Hulu Plus also gives users a hefty help center online, but you can’t live chat. This is a killer for me, since I know that calling Hulu Plus is just going to tick me off, and sending in an email guarantees that I wait for at least 24 hours.
App Permissions for The Two Biggest Video Streaming Services – Hulu Plus Wins
Netflix actually isn’t all that terrible in terms of app permissions, but it still has the ability to access your accounts and locate your email address. This means that the company can potentially use or sell the email address to make some extra revenue. Whether they do this or not is difficult to figure out, but Hulu Plus is one of those rare apps that doesn’t have any privacy concerns. They don’t access your contacts, accounts or anything that might make you feel uncomfortable. If you are a privacy freak, go with Hulu because they understand that companies can still respect their customers in today’s digital age.
Conclusion
That’s all we have to say about the Netflix vs Hulu Plus Android app battle, so I hope you learned a little something. Watching movies and TV shows is a past time for me, making it particularly important to share information like which video streaming service is the best. Netflix is still the best for movies and Hulu Plus is ideal for new TV shows. If you are more interested in older shows and Indy movies, Netflix comes up strong.
Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions about the Netflix vs Hulu Plus streaming video challenge. What’s next? Learn about the best apps to watch movies on your Android, along with the top live TV apps.
Source fromhttp://joyofandroid.com
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