Hulu is one of the most popular streaming services in the United States, with award-winning originals and a massive back catalogue of shows and movies. There are ad-supported and ad-free subscriptions available, as well as a Disney bundle and a live TV option. But one of the most frequently asked questions over the years has been, “How many people can watch Hulu simultaneously once you sign up?”
Continue reading to learn how your Hulu account works, how many people can watch simultaneously, and more.
Short Answer
Hulu accounts allow you to watch content on two screens at the same time. In other words, only two people can watch Hulu at once. You can also create up to six distinct profiles, each with its own set of settings and watchlists.
How Many People Can Watch Hulu at the Same Time?
The user’s plan determines the number of people who can watch Hulu at the same time. If both people have a basic Hulu account, they can stream from different devices at the same time. Live TV subscribers, on the other hand, can choose the “unlimited screens add-on” to stream on any device connected to the customer’s home network or three mobile devices if they are not connected to the network.
Customers who also have HBO Max, Cinemax, SHOWTIME, and/or STARZ subscriptions on Hulu can stream on five screens at the same time.
How Many People Can Use Your Hulu Account at the Same Time?
While you can watch unlimited content on Hulu once you sign up, as earlier mentioned, there are restrictions on how many people can stream at the same time. If you have a large family, you can all watch TV at the same time, but only two screens at a time.
You get six Hulu profiles per account, even if they can’t all stream at the same time.
Of course, you can watch on multiple devices, whether a phone, tablet, laptop, or television. You simply cannot stream on more than two devices at the same time. You’ll have to wait your turn if one of your roommates is watching The X-Files in his room and another is bingeing Letterkenny on her phone.
If your household has more than two people, don’t worry; you don’t have to share profiles. You can have up to six distinct profiles. This entails making your own watchlist and receiving titles based on your specific viewing habits.
You cannot stream with all six profile holders at the same time, but your settings will be saved for the next time you have access to the account.
What Happens When a Large Number of People Watch Hulu at the Same Time?
You won’t get in trouble for watching too many screens at the same time. Nobody will fine you or cancel your account. Hulu simply prevents you from accessing content from the beginning.
For example, suppose you log into your Hulu app to watch How I Met Your Mother while two other household members are already logged in and watching The Rookie and Suits. You’ll most likely receive an error message informing you that your account has already reached its maximum number of screens.
From there, you can either ask one of your housemates to wait their turn, join them, and watch whatever’s on their screen, or wait until the account frees up to watch your show. Don’t be concerned about exceeding your limit. Because you simply cannot do it, there is no penalty.
Can You Add Additional Users to Your Hulu Account?
If you want more people to watch your account at the same time, you’ll need to create a second account.
Your second account will give you two new simultaneous screens and six separate profiles, just like the first, but you’ll have to start over with your profiles.
Customers who subscribe to Hulu Plus Live TV are an exception. If you want more than two simultaneous streams on your live TV account (which includes Hulu), you can pay an extra $9.99 per month to upgrade to unlimited screens in your household.
What Exactly Is Simultaneous Streaming?
The number of screens on which you can watch a streaming service at the same time is referred to as simultaneous streaming. Because many subscriptions are shared among groups of people, the number of simultaneous screens supported by a service is an important factor in determining whether or not someone will purchase a service. Most streaming services allow users to stream on multiple devices at the same time.
Most services will not allow you to stream the same content as someone else if you are logged into their individual user profile and trying to watch a programme at the same time. This shouldn’t be too difficult. Most major streamers allow you to create multiple user profiles, so you can simply switch to another profile when needed to avoid confusion.
How Can I Get More Hulu Screens?
The only way to get more screens on Hulu is to pay an extra $9.99 per month for the Unlimited Screens add-on. This add-on is only available to Hulu + Live TV subscribers and will cost you money. Here’s how to use the service to get unlimited screens.
- On Hulu’s website, look for the “Unlimited Screens” add-on.
- Navigate to the “Unlimited Screens” widget.
- Determine which payment method will be used to pay for your new add-on.
- Check your Hulu to see if the add-on has been activated.
After you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be well on your way to unrestricted streaming. Just ensure that your new add-on fee is added to your next monthly bill. There are no free trials for add-ons, so you should be charged immediately for any extras you purchase.
Can I Give Someone Access to My Hulu Account?
Again, Hulu allows only six user profiles on a single account. Profiles provide each user with a unique viewing history and content recommendations. Someone with your login information can stream content from any profile they want.
- Log in to your account on a desktop computer and follow these steps to add a Hulu profile:
- Select Manage Profiles from the drop-down menu in the top-right corner.
- Select Profiles > Edit Profiles > Add Profile from the menu.
- Fill out the profile information and click Create Profile to confirm.
To make a Hulu Kids profile, toggle the Kids slider in the Create a New Profile window. Hulu also has more information on parental controls.
Tips for Using Your Hulu Account Offline
Although a standard account does not allow you to stream Hulu on more than two screens simultaneously, you can still watch Hulu-sourced content by downloading videos offline. Offline viewing does not count against the two-screen limit.
You’ll need a Hulu (No Ads) or Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) subscription, as well as a supported mobile device, to do this. Downloadable content is not available on Hulu’s basic ad-supported plan.
Which Mobile Devices Does Hulu Support?
While not all Hulu content is downloadable, the platform includes a search filter that allows you to quickly find downloadable films and TV shows. Simply log in to Hulu on your mobile device and select Search > Downloadable. Swipe through the titles and tap the Download icon to save the video for later viewing.
Downloaded content from Hulu is subject to the following restrictions:
- A maximum of 25 downloads are permitted on each of the five supported devices. This is set at the account level, so you have 25 total downloads rather than 25 per user profile.
- Downloads that have not been watched expire after 30 days.
- Once playback begins, you have 48 hours to complete your viewing before the download expires. You can, however, renew expired content by downloading it again.
Can You Remove Someone From Hulu?
Because Hulu’s simultaneous streams are quite limited (even with the Unlimited Screen Add-on), you may be unable to use your account if there are too many other people streaming at the same time. This is not only inconvenient, but also potentially dangerous if you have no idea who else is using your account. Fortunately, there are a few methods for removing someone from Hulu.
The first method entails removing specific devices from your account. Select Manage Devices from the Account menu. It’s right next to Add Your Devices.
A list of devices that have logged into your account will be displayed. To remove a device from your account, click the REMOVE button next to it.
You can also log out of your account on all devices, which is useful if someone you don’t know has your login credentials. This option can be found under Account > Privacy And Settings > Protect Your Account.
To confirm, click Log Out Of All Devices. If you need to prevent someone from accessing your account in the future, change your password.
What Does Two Streams and Six Profiles per Household Mean?
Every account can handle two screens streaming at the same time, but you can create six distinct profiles, each with its own set of settings, saved watchlist, and so on. Only two of the six can stream at the same time.
Does Hulu Tell You When Someone Is Watching?
If you attempt to stream content while two other people are already logged in and watching, you will be notified that you have reached your limit and will be unable to stream from a third screen. However, you will not receive notifications if your family or roommates are watching. In your account settings, you can, however, control which devices can stream from your account.
Can you watch Hulu in two homes on one account?
You can access your Hulu account from multiple locations, but accounts are only meant to be used within one household. You’ll still be limited to two concurrent streams, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you have two addresses. Hulu Plus Live TV has more limitations, and you won’t be able to use your account in two households for long before one of them is terminated.
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