Paramount+ is not included with a standard Hulu subscription

Paramount+ and Hulu are separate streaming services owned by the same parent company, Paramount Global. A basic Hulu subscription does not come with access to Paramount+. You need to pay for Paramount+ as an add-on to your Hulu plan, or subscribe to it independently.

Hulu offers its own library of shows and films — including originals like The Handmaid's Tale and Only Murders in the Building — but Paramount+ content is not part of that library. The two services keep their catalogs separate, even though the same company runs both.

The exception is the Hulu + Live TV bundle, which includes access to Paramount+ at no extra cost. If you subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, Paramount+ comes with it automatically. For all other Hulu plans — ad-supported, ad-free, or Hulu (No Ads) — you pay extra to add Paramount+.

Key Takeaways

  • Paramount+ does not come with standard Hulu subscriptions; you must add it separately or buy it on its own.
  • Hulu + Live TV is the only Hulu plan that includes Paramount+ at no additional cost.
  • Adding Paramount+ to an existing Hulu subscription costs between $6 and $12 per month depending on the Paramount+ plan you choose.
  • Paramount+ and Hulu maintain separate content libraries, so you cannot watch Paramount+ shows through the Hulu app unless you have the add-on.

How to add Paramount+ to your Hulu account

If you already have a Hulu subscription and want to add Paramount+, you can do this through your Hulu account settings. Log into your Hulu account, go to your profile menu, select "Manage Your Plan," and look for the option to add Paramount+. Hulu will show you the available Paramount+ tiers and the monthly cost for each.

You can also add Paramount+ directly through the Paramount+ website or app and link it to your Hulu account. Either way, the billing happens separately — Paramount+ charges appear on a different line item from your Hulu charges, even if both are billed to the same payment method.

Paramount+ pricing when added to Hulu

Paramount+ offers two subscription tiers: one with ads and one without ads. When you add Paramount+ to Hulu, the cost depends on which tier you choose. The ad-supported version typically costs $6 per month, and the ad-free version typically costs $12 per month. These prices can vary by region and change over time.

If you bundle Paramount+ with Hulu, you are paying for both services separately — there is no discount for having both. The total monthly cost is your Hulu plan price plus your Paramount+ plan price. For example, if you have Hulu (With Ads) at $8 per month and add Paramount+ (With Ads) at $6 per month, your total is $14 per month.

What's the difference between Hulu + Live TV and regular Hulu

Hulu + Live TV is a premium tier that includes live television channels, on-demand Hulu content, and Paramount+ all in one subscription. The price is higher than standard Hulu — typically around $75 to $85 per month depending on current promotions — but you get all three services bundled together.

Regular Hulu plans (With Ads, With Ads + Live TV, or No Ads) do not include Paramount+. If you want Paramount+ with a regular Hulu plan, you must add it as a separate subscription. The decision between Hulu + Live TV and regular Hulu depends on whether you watch live television and whether the bundled price makes sense for your viewing habits.

Can you watch Paramount+ content on the Hulu app

No. Paramount+ content does not appear in the Hulu app unless you have added Paramount+ to your account. If you have the add-on, you will see a Paramount+ section within the Hulu app where you can browse and watch Paramount+ shows and films alongside your Hulu content.

Without the Paramount+ add-on, the Paramount+ section of the Hulu app will show you promotional information about Paramount+ and an option to subscribe, but you cannot watch any of the actual shows or films. You would need to use the standalone Paramount+ app instead.

Paramount+ content you cannot get through Hulu

Paramount+ includes shows and films from CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and the Paramount film studio. Original series like Star Trek: Discovery, Yellowstone, 1883, and The Offer are exclusive to Paramount+. If you want to watch these shows, you need Paramount+ — they are not available on Hulu.

Paramount+ also has a large library of older films and TV shows from the Paramount catalog, plus live sports events like NFL games and college football. None of this content is included with a standard Hulu subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I cancel Paramount+, do I lose access through Hulu?

Yes. If you added Paramount+ as an add-on to Hulu and then cancel the Paramount+ subscription, you lose access to Paramount+ content in the Hulu app. The Paramount+ section will disappear, and you will only see Hulu's own content.

Can I get Paramount+ cheaper by bundling it with Hulu?

No. Adding Paramount+ to Hulu costs the same as subscribing to Paramount+ on its own. The only way to get a discount is through Hulu + Live TV, which includes Paramount+ at no extra charge, though the overall price of Hulu + Live TV is much higher than a basic Hulu plan.

Does Hulu + Live TV include the ad-free version of Paramount+?

Hulu + Live TV includes the ad-supported version of Paramount+. If you want the ad-free Paramount+ tier, you would need to upgrade separately, which costs extra on top of your Hulu + Live TV subscription.

Can I share my Paramount+ add-on with other people on my Hulu account?

Paramount+ allows multiple profiles on a single account, similar to Hulu. If you add Paramount+ to your Hulu account, other people using your account can watch Paramount+ content through their own profiles, depending on your account settings and the number of simultaneous streams allowed.