6 Alternatives to Hulu

Before we talk about video streaming, I’d like to thank World Classed News for the opportunity to reach out to their readers! This site has some really amazing articles, especially when you care a lot about internet security like I do. If you want to keep exploring, I recommend Three Important Security Measures to Protect Company Servers or What to Know About Cyber Bullying.

Hulu is a pretty good video streaming service, but it’s not perfect. After all, even though they update pretty regularly and have a good selection, they show you commercials when you’re already paying. Some people understandably find this unbearably annoying. Maybe you’re okay with that, but there are TV shows and movies you want to see that aren’t available on Hulu, or maybe you’re looking to cut the monthly subscription fee out of your budget.

If you’re looking to branch out and try some other video streaming services, here are some options for you to consider. Some are paid and some are free, but all of them have a great selection of video that you can access without leaving your favorite armchair.

Kickasstorrents

Torrenting is a special type of downloading that allows multiple people to share the weight. “Bits” from files (whether they’re video files or another type) are downloaded from many different sources at the same time. Torrenting, even though it’s just a type of file sharing, has a bad reputation because it’s often used for infringement of copyright, and it’s possible to be prosecuted for downloading or distributing files that you don’t have permission to share.

However, many people find it worth the risk because it’s quick, easy and free. When you have a torrented file of a show or a movie on your computer, you can watch it as easily as popping in a DVD.

Since the closure of the Pirate Bay, Kickasstorrents has taken over its place as the number one site to find torrent files. You can find almost anything on the site, including recent episodes of some of the most popular TV series. Torrented files of new episodes often appear on the site within hours of the episode’s release!

If you want to mitigate the risk of torrenting files illegally, you can subscribe to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs were originally invented to help employees work remotely, but now they’re put to a multitude of uses. They work by creating a secure tunnel between the source of data and its destination and then encrypting that data for an added layer of security. When you’re torrenting files, you can use a VPN to obscure your information from those who are tracking torrenters and greatly lower your risk of being caught. A VPN will also help you avoid the malware that is often hidden within torrented files.

Netflix

Netflix is such a popular service that its name has become almost synonymous with online video streaming. It’s an obvious alternative to Hulu, so why bother to include it on this list?

Well, if you have a VPN, there’s a twist. You can access Netflix from anywhere in the world as if you lived there. For example, if you live in Canada or Australia, where the Netflix selection is limited due to licensing issues, you can use a VPN to trick the service into thinking you’re in America where more movies and TV shows are available.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is a service from the bookseller-turned-online department store that rewards those of us who use Amazon for everything. For a yearly fee, you get free two-day shipping on all your Amazon purchases and unlimited use of all the movies, music and books in the Amazon library.

The downside to Amazon Prime is that it’s expensive. It now costs $99 per year, though there are discounts for students with .edu email addresses. If you’re ordering things online all the time and plan to make good use of the movies and music, then it might be worth it, but otherwise it’s best to save your money.

PBS

PBS might not seem like your thing, but there’s a surprising variety of programing available for streaming on the PBS website. Give it a try. You may really enjoy popular shows such as Antiques Roadshow, Nova, Nature or Martha Stewart cooking shows. Just because they’re educational it doesn’t mean they’re dull!

Signing in is as easy as confirming your location and local PBS station.

Google Play

If you have an Android device, you’re already very familiar with Google’s app store equivalent. However, you may not have thought of it as a source for video!

Yes, you have to purchase each show or movie individually, but you definitely won’t break the bank using this service. For example, you can buy the entire first season of Downton Abbey for $14.99, and the popular movie Ant-Man is only $4.99.

Yidio

Yidio aggregates video from a variety of streaming services to help you find what you really want to watch. It’s different from services such as Hulu, Netflix or Crackle that might have a limited selection. Yidio brings together everything you could possibly want to watch and shows you how to get it.

Say you want to watch the new episode of Steven Universe. Yidio will direct you to the sites where it’s available, such as the Cartoon Network website and iTunes. Alternatively, you can search by what’s available for free and then by category. There are some surprisingly popular TV shows and movies available for free, such as Grey’s Anatomy, Family Guy, Arrow, Supernatural and Hell’s Kitchen.

It also allows you to choose favorite shows and receive notifications about them, create a personalized TV schedule and add video to a queue to watch later.

If you have multiple subscriptions to manage, Yidio is a must. It can help you sync up Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Sling, Crunchyroll, DishWorld, VUDU, CBS, Feeln, Sundance and HBO NOW.

What video services do you use to kick back and relax? Are you going to use a different one now that you know more about the options? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!