From survival-based competitions to the latest Kardashian drama, there’s a little something for everyone.

The 18 best Hulu reality shows, from competition hits to delicious drama

From survival-based competitions to the latest Kardashian drama, there's a little something for everyone.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Sophie van Bastelaer

February 4, 2026 10:00 a.m. ET

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Squirrel performing on 'The Masked Singer'; Grant Ellis on 'The Bachelor'; Jeff Probst on 'Survivor'. Credit:

Michael Becker/FOX; ABC; Robert Voets/CBS

Reality television is a thriving industry, and for good reason. Despite being perceived as lesser than other forms of media, the genre often contains some of the most compelling storytelling on the air.

Hulu, one of the most reliable streaming services for both older and newer television, is home to countless hours of reality TV. In addition to Hulu originals like *The Kardashians*, the streamer has a vast library of shows from other networks, including CBS stalwarts like *The Amazing Race* and *Survivor*, Nat Geo docuseries like *Life Below Zero*, and Fox's vocal competition *The Masked Singer*.

Ahead, we're recommending 18 reality shows currently streaming on Hulu to feed your appetite for competition and high drama.

Alone (2015–present)

Theresa Emmerich Kamper on 'Alone'. Brendan George Ko/History

For those who love *Survivor* but don't care for the backstabbing, *Alone* is your best alternative. Focusing strictly on survival, the History series strands 10 individuals by themselves in the wilderness, testing their primal instincts and adaptability. The contestants are isolated from one another, with the sole goal being to outlast everyone else and avoid tapping out.

The experience has had a lasting effect on many of its participants, with one winner who survived 74 days telling EW, "One of the biggest benefits of doing something like this is you get undistracted time to look inward and think about yourself. Like, when's the last time you had undistracted time to be introspective?" —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Alone*: Hulu

The Amazing Race (2001–present)

Brooke Camhi and Scott Flanary on 'The Amazing Race'. Michele Crowe/CBS

For those with intense wanderlust and without the funds for an action-packed trip around the world, *The Amazing Race* is a must. Basically an ad for all of the coolest and most beautiful places on earth, the show is also fascinating on a micro-level, with two-person contestant teams ranging from family members to couples to best friends to co-workers. Host Phil Keoghan has remained as neutrally pleasant as ever, even as the contestants get more interesting and diverse (middle-aged YouTubers, twin radio hosts, a man who spent nearly 10 years wrongfully imprisoned for a murder, etc.).

*The Amazing Race *is a great watch for anyone, overflowing as it is with interpersonal connection (and chaos), incredible views, terrifying feats, and near-constant thrills. —*Sophie van Bastelaer*

Where to watch *The Amazing Race*: Hulu

The Bachelor (2002–present)

Grant Ellis in season 29 of 'The Bachelor'.

Bachelor Nation has dominated reality TV since the early-2000s, and *The Bachelor* is the one that started it all. The dating competition centers on a single man looking for love as he fields a group of more than 20 women, narrowing his prospects down to one lucky lady over several weeks. While the relationships don't always last after the show, the drama is enough to keep viewers hooked year after year. Seasons 26 (Bachelor Clayton Echard), 27 (Bachelor Zach Shallcross), and 28 (Bachelor Joey Graziadei) are available in full on the streamer. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Bachelor*: Hulu

Catfish: The TV Show (2012–present)

Max Joseph and Nev Schulman on 'Catfish: The TV Show'. MTV

During the height of the pandemic, most reality shows took a season off, or had to alter their formulas drastically — but not *Catfish: The TV Show* (a spinoff of the 2010 documentary). The series, which you may be surprised to learn is still airing (how are so many people still getting catfished?!), took itself entirely onto Zoom, which could have gone poorly. But the show kept itself fresh, emotional, cringey, and funny — all the best parts of a dating show — thanks in small part to interesting cases and good editing, and in large part to hosts Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford. The well-rounded pair weathered their pandemic-influenced production changes with grace and good humor, and came out ever stronger for it. —*S.v.B.*

Where to watch *Catfish: The TV Show*: Hulu

Cutthroat Kitchen (2013–2017)

Alton Brown on 'Cutthroat Kitchen'. Food Network

If standard cooking shows are too low-stakes for you, Food Network's *Cutthroat Kitchen* may be a juicier item on the menu. Hosted by Alton Brown, each episode pits four chefs against each other as they try to concoct the best dish. The judges then eliminate the contestant with the weakest dish per round until only one remains. The catch is, each chef can bid on opportunities to sabotage their fellow contestants along the way, though it would mean dwindling their $25,000 prize money should they win the competition. Hulu is currently streaming 10 seasons of the addictive series. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Cutthroat Kitchen*: Hulu

The Golden Bachelor (2023–present)

Mel Owens in the second season of 'The Golden Bachelor'.

Disney/John Fleenor

Viewers tired of the immature singles featured on the flagship *Bachelor*/*Bachelorette* series now have a decidedly more grown-up alternative dating show. *The Golden Bachelor* features more than 20 women ages 55 and older vying for the affection of a successful older man. The general format may be the same as the regular *Bachelor* (one-on-one dates, rose ceremonies, etc.), but the maturity of the participants makes for a more emotionally resonant watch. Many of the women featured have experienced tumultuous lives and heartbreaking losses, allowing the producers to tell a different kind of story than we normally see on network television. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Golden Bachelor*: Hulu**

Impractical Jokers (2011–present)

Brian Quinn, James Murray, and Craig O'Connell on 'Impractical Jokers'. Warner Bros. Discovery

Watching *Impractical Jokers* is like hanging out with your most reckless buddies as they try to outdo each other. The hidden-camera series centers on Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Sal Vulcano, and — for the first nine seasons — Joe Gatto in a high-stakes game of Truth or Dare where the only option is Dare. The Jokers are instructed (by each other) to engage in pranks with the general public; if they don't complete the task at hand, they are punished in a humiliating fashion. While we won't deny the series is full of self-proclaimed "scenes of graphic stupidity," there are few shows that deliver as many laugh-out-loud moments as this one. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Impractical Jokers*: Hulu

The Kardashians (2022–present)

Kim Kardashian on 'The Kardashians'. Hulu

Love 'em, hate 'em, love to hate 'em, or hate to love 'em, they're one of the world's most famous families — and this show keeps proving why. *The Kardashians*' entertainment value is high, as is its production value, and the socialites' humanity (and relatability) as portrayed in the show may just shock you. It doesn't feel as overproduced and contrived as its predecessor, *Keeping Up With the Kardashians*, and is as lighthearted as it is poignant.

From unique perspectives on Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé's highly publicized relationships to surprisingly tender conversations on what it means to be a family, *The Kardashians *gives us the glitzy drama the KarJenners are known for with a new candor and vulnerability we didn't know we were missing. —*S.v.B.*

Where to watch *The Kardashians*: Hulu

Kitchen Nightmares (2007–2014; 2023–present)

Gordon Ramsay (right) on 'Kitchen Nightmares'. Everett Collection

After successfully launching the cutthroat *Hell's Kitchen* in 2005, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay took on a more charitable approach with this Fox reality show. Each episode found Ramsay traveling across America to lend a helping hand to struggling restaurants, hoping to turn their businesses around. While the chef's blunt personality remained, the tough love was ultimately put to good use, with the show running for seven seasons through 2014. Fox brought back *Kitchen Nightmares* after nine years, beginning in fall of 2023. The first six seasons of the original run are available in their entirety on Hulu, as is the revival series. —*K.J.*

Where to watch original *Kitchen Nightmares*: Hulu

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Life Below Zero (2013–present)

Sue Aikens on 'Life Below Zero'.

Jayce Kolinski/BBC Studios Reality Productions

Nat Geo's long-running reality series *Life Below Zero* is a testament to resilience against a harsh environment. The docuseries follows Alaskan subsistence hunters as they survive brutally low temperatures and make a living on their own terms. Among the cast are the blunt Kavik River Camp owner Sue Aikens; Chip and Agnes Hailstone and their growing family; and Ricko DeWilde, an Alaskan Athabaskan raising his children to respect their culture. The series has won multiple Emmys over its 20-plus seasons for its cinematography and editing; seasons 11 through 21 and 23 are available on Hulu. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Life Below Zero*: Hulu**

Love Island (2019–present)

Kassy Castillo, Robert Rausch, Leah Kateb, Miguel Harichi, Kaylor Martin, and Aaron Evans on 'Love Island'.

Ben Symons/Peacock

This American adaptation of the popular British series of the same name is a fun combination of everything we love about reality TV: colorful characters, high drama, surprising hookups, and the thrill of competition. Each season, a group of singles stay in a villa with the goal of coupling up or risk banishment. Naturally, things get messy, but we wouldn't have it any other way. The first three seasons of *Love Island* are available on Hulu, with seasons 4–7 on Peacock. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Love Island*: Hulu

The Masked Singer (2019–present)

Squirrel on 'The Masked Singer'. Michael Becker/FOX

Some shows commit so thoroughly to their concept, however limited it may be, that you can't help but keep watching. Such is the case with *The Masked Singer*, which became a ratings sensation when it premiered in 2019 and continues with two seasons per year on Fox. The series features celebrities donning elaborately designed costumes and performing song covers, with clues as to their identities embedded in clip packages. The all-star panel of judges is then tasked with determining who may be underneath the mask. Part of the fun of *The Masked Singer* is its interactive element, with the audience provided just enough hints (but not too many) to keep us guessing. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Masked Singer*: Hulu

MasterChef (2010–present)

Gordon Ramsay (right) on 'MasterChef'. Greg Gayne/FOX

Gordon Ramsay expanded his TV cooking empire with *MasterChef*, adapted from the British series of the same name. The show features chefs competing in challenges, highlighting technique and creativity. Ramsay and his fellow judges then critique the results of the Elimination Test, with contestants voted out every week until a winner is crowned. "Anyone who enjoys food can tune into *MasterChef* and learn something," said Ramsay in 2019. "It takes amateur cooks with a passion and a desire to become the very best, we mentor them, we put them through the mill, and we produce talent." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *MasterChef*: Hulu

Naked and Afraid (2013–present)

Matt, Amber, Alex, Serena, and Jeff of 'Naked and Afraid'. Discovery Channel

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of *Naked and Afraid* is that in return for spending three weeks in the wilderness, naked and starving, with a stranger of the opposite sex, contestants get...nothing. No reward, other than the pride of having survived. That alone is enough to garner this show's status on this list; watching contestants suffer and knowing they don't get any remuneration for said suffering adds a whole new level of intrigue.

Intended to emulate the earliest known iterations of society — the cave-dwellers — *Naked and Afraid* is both one of the crudest and most fascinating survivalist shows streaming at the moment. Five seasons (plus spinoffs) are currently streaming on Hulu. —*S.v.B.*

Where to watch *Naked and Afraid*: Hulu

Shark Tank (2009–present)

Mark Cuban, Jamie Siminoff, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, and Daymond John on 'Shark Tank'. Eric McCandless/ABC

Sometimes, after a long day at work, there's nothing more comforting than watching a bunch of richer-than-rich investors squabbling over the inventions of eager entrepreneurs. Perhaps it's the familiar rhythms, the banter between the "sharks," or the ingenuity of the inventors, but, either way, it's kept *Shark Tank* thriving since it premiered in 2009. The panel, which includes Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, and Lori Greiner, have all earned Emmy nominations, while the show won four consecutive Emmy awards for Outstanding Structured Reality Program from 2014 to 2017. Episodes from the first 15 seasons and season 17 are available to stream. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Shark Tank*: Hulu

Survivor (2000–present)

Jeff Probst on 'Survivor'. Robert Voets/CBS

While this list includes numerous long-running reality series, few can say they have the legacy and goodwill of *Survivor*. Numerous twists and format changes have been introduced to the show since its 2000 premiere, but its core concept remains: 16 to 20 people stranded on an island, forced to work together while also plotting their tribemates' demise. What's made *Survivor* last as long as it has is its focus on the unpredictability of human nature. Often hailed as one of the great "social experiments," the show reflects humanity's greatest strengths and weaknesses, and there isn't a set template for how to win the game. All that matters is surviving to the next day, even if it means voting out your closest friend. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Survivor*: Hulu

Undercover Boss (2010–present)

John Fuller (center) on 'Undercover Boss'. CBS

Beyond the baseline entertainment that comes with watching a CEO cluelessly clean a milkshake machine or scrub a toilet, *Undercover Boss* is one of the most heartwarming reality shows out there. Each episode is fairly predictable: A boss joins their blue-collar staff undercover as a trainee, is put through the wringer, and later enacts policies to change how the company is run.

The character arcs include giving special bonuses or opportunities to the hardworking "co-workers" and "bosses" they interacted with during their time as a trainee, but that doesn't make it any less interesting or meaningful. A degree of comfort comes from watching someone learn important lessons, and the show serves as a reminder that, underneath individual circumstances, human emotions are universal. —*S.v.B.*

Where to watch *Undercover Boss*: Hulu

Wife Swap (2004–2010; 2013; 2019–2020)

A family on 'Wife Swap'. Paramount Network

How does the other half live? *Wife Swap* attempted to answer this question, with everyday families with differing lifestyles swapping matriarchs for a couple weeks. For the first week, the wife must follow the rules of the family they're visiting, while the second week allows them to introduce their own mandates, to which the family must adhere. At the end of two weeks, the two families come together to discuss what they've learned — which sometimes results in conflict. The series aired from 2004 to 2010 on ABC (all seven original seasons are streaming now), with brief revivals in 2013 and 2019, plus the spinoff *Celebrity Wife Swap* from 2012 to 2015. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Wife Swap*: Hulu

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Source: “EW TV”