Hulu

Hulu's job is simple and nobody else does it as well: next-day episodes of current network and cable television. If a show aired on FX, ABC, Fox or a long list of other channels, it's on Hulu the following morning — and a subscription is the cheapest way to stay current without a cable bill.

The catalogue character is comedy and current drama. Hulu has historically punched above its weight on half-hour comedy, and its FX output (The Bear, Reservation Dogs, Shōgun) has become appointment viewing in its own right.

Use it for: staying current on network TV, FX originals, and a strong comedy library. Don't expect it for: much use outside the United States — Hulu is a US service, and its content is folded into Disney+ elsewhere.

It pairs naturally with Disney+ as the "current TV" half of a streaming stack.