How to Watch Hulu Without Ads: 7 Effective Ways

Constantly interrupting the viewing and flow of content, commercials break the immersive experience viewers seek when watching movies or TV shows. Since you are here, you already know the prices for Hulu’s “no ads” plans and, most likely, seek alternative ways like a Hulu ad blocker or something. Consider yourself lucky, as we have several tips and tricks to share and we gladly will do so.
Keep reading to find the most effective ways to block Hulu ads and enjoy your leisure time even more!

Why Does Hulu Have Ads?

There are several key reasons for implementing ads, primarily revolving around the business model. Some of the key reasons are ad revenue, which is a significant source of revenue for the streaming service, licensing fees, original content production, etc.

How Much is Hulu Without Ads?

Streaming from Hulu is not free. Some content is not included in the plan by default but can be added at an additional cost. With a basic (ad-supported) plan users have access to all live and on-demand TV and movies offered, however, every title will be shown together with a certain amount of ads, both at the beginning of the stream and periodically appearing till the very end. Considering the affordable subscription price (only $7.99/month and only $1.99/month for students) this doesn’t at all sound like a rip-off, right? Well, only if you can stand an extensive amount of advertisements. So, if the ad-supported plan is roughly 8 bucks per month, then what are the current prices for the “no ads” plans? 

Let’s compile all available (for now) Hulu plans, their prices, and the presence of ads:

* A “No Ads” plan still has ad breaks in between episodes and shows — post and prerolls.

Hulu also has so-called “partner add-ons” and “premium add-ons” for an additional price to the monthly subscription. For instance, you can connect ESPN+ for $10.99/month to your regular (ad-supported) Hulu plan for a total of $19/month. For more info, visit this link.

Why do I still see ads when subscribing to Hulu (No Ads)?

Even with a “No ads” subscription tier you will encounter commercials. What are the reasons for that?

1. Streaming rights and licensing agreements
   Due to the specifics of streaming rights and licensing, some shows and movies on Hulu will include ads. This typically happens when Hulu doesn’t own the shows but licenses from other content providers.
2. Live TV
   Having the Hulu + Live TV add-on will also result in having ad breaks during live broadcasts and DVR recordings. This is because live TV addon works just like traditional cable, where commercials are a part (annoying) of the broadcast.
3. On-demand content
   Some on-demand content from live TV networks will also include advertisements. To be fair, this is not Hulu’s fault as they can’t remove such ads.

Ads are a deal-breaker, especially for a hefty subscription price. Hence, people are searching for ways to either remove commercials on Hulu or reduce their number. And, luckily, there are workarounds. Keep on reading as we’re about to consider the most efficient ways to do so.

Read also: How to get rid of ads on Peacock.

How to Get Rid of Ads on Hulu

Without further ado, let us consider the most effective Hulu ad blockers and some additional tweaks you can do to reduce their number.

Use AdLock Chrome Extension

Download here: AdLock Extension

A simple browser extension is one of the easiest ways of blocking ads on any website or streaming service. While the majority of those extensions are not really efficient or participate in the “acceptable ads program”, there is still a handful of good software.

The effectiveness of ad-blocker extensions can vary over time, and Hulu may actively work to prevent ad-blockers from working on its platform. It’s important to note that using ad-blockers to block ads on Hulu may violate Hulu’s terms of service. However, if you’re looking for popular ad-blocker extensions that are known for their effectiveness on streaming services and websites in general, you can consider the extensions below.

AdLock is known for its versatility in blocking ads and is available as both a browser extension and a standalone application. Our adblocking solution is one of the most efficient extensions available on the market as its adblocking algorithms and rules are constantly updated to meet the new ways of ad delivery. Blocks all ads on Hulu in a snap. Here’s how to get Hulu without ads using AdLock extension:

*AdLock extension is free of charge and has no hidden payments. Also, the standalone application has a neat 2-week trial period for you to try all its benefits before choosing a suitable plan.
Go to the Chrome web store and type in “Adlock”

Go to the extension’s page and click “Add to Chrome”

After AdLock is installed, check if it’s enabled (it should be by default). If not, toggle it on

Please, make sure you don’t have other adblocking extensions enabled as they will interfere with each other’s operation and result in poor adblocking.

Honorable mentions

• uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin is another popular and widely used open-source ad-blocker extension known for its efficiency and low resource usage. While it works decently on Hulu, it might be not as effective as the previous extension.

The process of adding uBlock to your Chrome is similar to AdLock and any other extension.

• Nano Adblocker

Nano Adblocker is an extension based on uBlock Origin and is known for its lightweight design and efficiency in blocking ads.

Use AdLock as The Best Hulu Ad Blocker

Get the best Hulu ad blocking solution for your device – Download AdLock

A standalone adblocking application will always be better than any extension, and here’s why:

• A standalone ad blocker protects against ads not just in web browsers but also in other applications, including games, video players, and even on smart devices. This broader scope ensures that ads are blocked regardless of the software or platform being used.
• Extensions are typically designed to be more efficient in their use of system resources. Browser extensions can slow down the browser and consume additional memory, which might not be noticeable initially but can become significant with multiple tabs and extensions running simultaneously.
• They (not all of them, of course) offer more advanced security features, such as blocking malicious websites, phishing attempts, and trackers at a system level. This level of protection is harder to achieve with a browser extension alone.

So welcome AdLock, the top-tier standalone adblocker and security provider. To not make this article a long story, we’d suggest you check out all of AdLock’s benefits on the dedicated product pages. And here’s a general guide on how to get rid of ads on Hulu and numerous other streaming platforms like YouTube or Twitch using AdLock on your PC:

1. Purchase and Install AdLock:

• Visit the official AdLock website to purchase and download AdLock. It’s available for various platforms, including Windows, Android, and iOS.
• Follow the installation instructions provided on the website or in the installation wizard to install AdLock on your device.

2. Configure AdLock:

• Once installed, open the AdLock application;
• Review and customize the ad-blocking settings to your preferences. AdLock allows you to enable or disable it on specific websites.

3. Access Hulu and check for ads:

• Open your web browser or Hulu app on your device.
• Navigate to the Hulu website or launch the Hulu app.
• AdLock will automatically remove ads on Hulu, providing you with a more ad-free streaming experience.

Watch Hulu without ads and enjoy your pastime!

And here’s to block Hulu ads on an Android device:

• Download here;
• Install the app carefully following the hints;
• Install the HTTPS certificate;
• Enable ad blocking;
• Enjoy an ad-free Hulu experience.

You’ll have a 2-week trial period to try and test it on any browser, app, or game of your choice. We promise you’ll fall in love.

Using Browser with In-Built Ad Blocker

Blocking ads on Hulu using ad-free browsers can be challenging since Hulu actively works to prevent adblockers from working on its platform. However, some browsers have built-in features that can help mitigate the impact of ads. Here’s a brief pro et contra overview of such browsers:

1. Brave Browser

Pros:

• Brave browser comes with a pretty good built-in ad-blocking functionality;
• It offers enhanced privacy features, such as blocking trackers and providing HTTPS everywhere;
• It speeds up the browsing experience.

Cons:

• Its adblocking is not the best when it comes to services like Hulu and such, as it lets ads bypass its blocking mechanisms;
• It often gets detected by sophisticated anti-adblock scripts, which results in inaccessible content;

2. Opera Browser

Pros:

• Opera provides a built-in VPN, tracker blocking, and more;
• Its adblocking module is frequently updated to match the novelties in ad delivery.

Cons:

• Hulu detects Opera’s adblocker 8 out of 10 times and restricts access to the website;
• If it doesn’t detect it, then ads bypass the ad blocking — so, no Hulu without ads.

By the way, if you want to know how websites detect adblockers, we’ve got a dedicated article.

Using VPNs with Hulu Ad Blocker

Some VPN services include built-in ad-blocking features that might help reduce the number of ads you encounter while surfing the web or watching a stream. Please note, that VPNs’ primary function is not adblocking but rather rerouting your traffic, so even these may struggle on Hulu.

NordVPN:

• Feature: CyberSec
• Description: Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
• Effectiveness: Good for general web browsing and some streaming sites, but Hulu’s integrated ads might still show up.

Surfshark:

• Feature: CleanWeb
• Description: Blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
• Effectiveness: Effective for general ad blocking, but may not completely block Hulu ads.

CyberGhost:

• Feature: Ad Blocker
• Description: Blocks ads and malicious content.
• Effectiveness: Works well for general ad blocking but has limited success with Hulu.

Other Tips & Best Practices

We would also like to mention a couple of workarounds to stop Hulu ads. While these require some sort of hassling around, they are free. So, if you want to know how to stop Hulu ads without paying a penny, here’s how you can do that.

Reload the Page with Video Streaming 

Next time the ad is on, just reload the page and the platform will make it shorter. Ads are not being stopped, and you will not skip them, but the duration will be radically decreased. Since ads airing on Hulu are of different lengths, sometimes up to an annoying 5 minutes, this might come in great handy when you are inside a very thrilling plot.  

The two-tab method

Here’s a little weird way how to avoid ads on Hulu using your wit. It is absolutely free and works every time:

1. Open two tabs of Hulu;
2. Mute one of the tabs;
3. On the muted tab fast-forward the stream to the ad marker(usually differs in color on the bar);
4. Start watching the title on the first tab;
5. When the ad starts, mute the tab;
6. Go to the second tab and continue streaming;
7. Continue switching between tabs the same way when ads appear.

Filter ads on the router level

This simple trick really works wonders if you hate being interrupted in the middle of the show! Second, the more advanced solution is reached through the web-filtering option of your WiFi router: 

1. Connect to your WiFi;
2. Open the browser and type in your default router IP address;
3. Now look for the web filtering option (can be as well named as URL block in Advanced options);
4. Type in ads-e-darwin.Hulustream.com domain;
5. Apply changes and restart the router.

However keep in mind, these do not 100% guarantee you’ll skip ads on Hulu every single time as the way of their delivery is constantly alternated, but you will drastically decrease the bombardment.

Conclusion

While one would say that blocking ads is unethical and such, we’d say that forcing people to watch 9 unskippable video ads of dubious quality in a row every hour or two is unethical. 

And now you know how to block ads on Hulu utilizing different methods we’ve considered in our article. Obviously, the most efficient and hassle-free method of blocking Hulu ads is installing a reliable adblocker like AdLock or upgrading your Hulu subscription to the “No ads” tier (that will show ads anyway) for a hefty price. It is up to you but before you go, go ahead and try out AdLock, as it has a free 14-day trial!

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