Hulu’s online video service offers a pretty extensive catalog of movies and TV shows, including recent episodes of programs that are currently on the air, which helps set Hulu apart from rival Netflix.

But another thing that has historically set Hulu apart from Netflix is the ads: even paying subscribers have to sit through at least a few minutes of ads for every full-length video they watch.

Or at least they used to… because now Hulu is offering subscribers the opportunity to pony up an extra $4 per month for a completely ad-free experience.

hulu no commercials

That brings the total fee to $11.99 per month for commercial-free Hulu. Folks that don’t mind the ads can stick with the cheaper $7.99 per month plan.

The new option makes Huly one of the pricier subscription-based internet video services on the market. Netflix subscriptions run $7.99 per month, while Amazon includes Prime Instant Video as one of the perks of its $99-per-year Amazon Prime membership program. That comes to $8.25 per month.

Like Amazon and Netflix, Hulu has been investing in original content, with upcoming shows including a TV series based on Stephen King’s 11/22/63, a fourth season of The Mindy Project, and a comedy series called Difficult People that’s produced by Amy Poehler.

New and existing Hulu subscribers can check out the new commercial-free option at hulu.com/nocommercials.

When I asked recently whether you’d be willing to pay extra for an ad-free Hulu, plenty of people said they would. But now that Hulu is offering both commercial-free and commercial-ridden versions of its service, it’ll be interesting to see how many people are willing to pay the extra price to live in a world where a 23 minute TV show only takes 23 minutes to watch.

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8 replies on “Now you can watch Hulu without ads for $12 per month”

  1. OK. I’m ready. Big Wad of CASH to give you right here! What’s that you say? “Not Available in Your Region.” Really? You don’t want my money for your content? Well screw you idiots – off I go to get it from the Pirate, matey.

  2. Will be curious to see if there is any fine print. Certain content which still shows ads anyway, etc…

    1. This is from their FAQ:

      Will all shows and movies be commercial free?

      In response to feedback from our viewers, we started offering a
      commercial-free experience on Hulu. For a small number of shows,
      however, we have not obtained the rights to stream commercial free
      and they are not included in our No Commercials plan. You can still
      easily access these shows with a short commercial before and after each
      episode with no interruptions during the episode. Specific shows that
      still have commercials accessible through the No Commercials plan will
      be noted throughout the signup, switching, and playback
      experience. While the list of shows may change, these shows are
      currently: Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon A Time, Marvel’s Agents of
      S.H.I.E.L.D., Scandal, Grimm, New Girl, and How To Get Away With Murder.

  3. If I watch an hour of TV a day on average, or “Hulu”, then I’m saving 6-7 hours of my life per month to do other things by spending 4 dollars. I say it is a very reasonable cost, my time is more valuable than even that.

    I don’t understand our ad driven world. If we have ads the service should be free, you’re giving up valuable moments of your life to the void just to watch a show you enjoy. Time weighs heavier than money.

    1. There seems to be a huge segment of the entertainment industry which fails to realize a basic concept – people in general hate ads. HATE. Passionately. With the fire of a burning star.

      I think a handful of subsidiaries (like HBO) figured this out years ago, and have built their fortunes on that idea.

  4. I just wish it covered more channels. CBS and PBS is blatantly missing.

    1. They have CBS I thought – though it goes out to play on CBS player/site if I recall. So yes, probably still has ads.
      Also I recently was looking for an episode of ‘Extant’ which somebody in the house wanted to see. I found it readily on the Hulu web site but when looking on the Android tablet to use with Chromecast it wasn’t listed. Ended up having to play it on the chromebook and cast it. Workable but wasn’t pleased I had to work-around at all. I guess this is the kind of thing you mean about CBS not being there.
      Also, just to let you know, PBS has a great streaming site of its own.

  5. 4 extra bones for no ads? Sold. If I have to sit through another 1 billionth showing of that Mountain Dew commercial I’ll blow my brains out.

Comments are closed.