Most people did not choose Netflix and Hulu as a pair. One came first. The other got added for a show, a season, or a promo. Then both stayed.
This is rarely a quality problem. It is usually a duplication problem. Two apps doing the same job: being your default “I do not want to think” button.
Step 1: Look at the combined total (not each price)
Netflix US plans (Feb 2026): Standard with ads $7.99, Standard $17.99, Premium $24.99. (Netflix plan pricing)
Hulu US plans (Feb 2026): Hulu (With Ads) $11.99, Hulu (No Ads) $18.99. (Hulu plan pricing and Hulu No Ads plan)
Here is what people commonly end up paying without realizing it.
| Common setup | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix (Standard) + Hulu (No Ads) | $36.98 | $443.76 |
| Netflix (Standard with ads) + Hulu (With Ads) | $19.98 | $239.76 |
Taxes and promos can change your exact bill. The point is the same: once you see the combined total, “keeping both” stops feeling small.
If Netflix is the one you are unsure about, start here: Is Netflix Still Worth It in 2026?
Step 2: Three tests that usually settle it
Test 1: The first open test
In the last two weeks, when you wanted something easy, which app did you open first?
If one wins almost every time, the other is not a real choice anymore.
Test 2: The waiting for test
Name one title you are actively waiting for on each service. Not “maybe someday.” Something you will watch this month.
If one side is blank, that subscription is running on inertia.
Test 3: The replacement test
If Hulu disappeared tomorrow, what would you do?
- If your answer is “I would just watch Netflix,” that is overlap.
- If your answer is “I would miss a specific routine,” that is a real role.
Quick bundle check (this changes the decision)
Before you cancel anything, check how you are billed.
- If Hulu is part of a Disney bundle, you are not deciding on Hulu alone.
- You are deciding on the bundle structure and price.
Disney bundle pricing examples (US) are listed here.
The simplest decision method: run a clean 30 day rotation
If you feel stuck, do not force a permanent answer. Run an experiment that makes the answer obvious.
- Keep the service you opened first most often.
- Cancel or pause the other for 30 days.
- Only restart it for one specific reason (a specific show or a specific month).
- If you do not restart it, you just removed duplication.
This turns “Do I need both?” into a clean yes or no based on your real behavior.
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Bottom line
Keeping both is reasonable only when they serve two clearly different routines in your household. If they both function as your default “something to watch,” you are usually paying twice for the same convenience.