Hulu vs YouTube Premium Price History
Since 2021, Hulu has risen +100% versus YouTube Premium at +33%. YouTube Premium has been the more price-stable choice. Every Hulu and YouTube Premium tier tracked, 2021–2026, with every price change sourced.
Hulu
4 plans · default: Hulu (With Ads)
YouTube Premium
Better value4 plans + 1 retired · default: Individual
Better value: YouTube Premium
Since 2021, Hulu has risen +100% versus YouTube Premium at +33%. YouTube Premium has been the more price-stable choice.
The Numbers Behind the Verdict
Hulu (With Ads) vs Individual — the default tier of each service, 2021–2026. A green tick marks the better number in each row. Note: Hulu’s default tier includes ads while YouTube Premium’s is ad-free, so this isn’t a like-for-like matchup — the tier table below lines up every plan.
| Metric | Hulu Hulu (With Ads) | YouTube Premium Individual |
|---|---|---|
| Current Price (2026) | $11.99 (better) | $15.99 |
| Total Change | +100% | +33% (better) |
| Number of Hikes | 4 | 2 (better) |
| Hike Frequency | Every 1.3 yrs | Every 2.5 yrs (better) |
| Avg Annual Change | $1.20/yr | $0.80/yr (better) |
Which Tier Costs What Today
Every Hulu and YouTube Premium plan in one list, cheapest first. First Tracked is each plan’s price when our tracking began — 2021, or its debut year if it arrived later. Retired tiers sit at the bottom with their final price.
| Service | Plan | Price Now | First Tracked | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YYouTube Premium | Student | $8.99 | $6.99 (2021) | +29% |
| YYouTube Premium | Premium Lite | $8.99 | $7.99 (2025) | +13% |
| HHulu | Hulu (With Ads)DefaultAds | $11.99 | $5.99 (2021) | +100% |
| YYouTube Premium | Individual (Annual) | $159.99/yr | $159.99/yr (2026) | 0% |
| YYouTube Premium | IndividualDefault | $15.99 | $11.99 (2021) | +33% |
| HHulu | Hulu (No Ads) | $18.99 | $11.99 (2021) | +58% |
| YYouTube Premium | Family | $26.99 | $17.99 (2021) | +50% |
| HHulu | Hulu + Live TV (With Ads)Ads | $89.99 | $64.99 (2021) | +38% |
| HHulu | Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) | $99.99 | $70.99 (2021) | +41% |