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Hayu Australia review: Is the reality TV streaming service any good?

Hayu
hayu
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
  • pro
    Tons of reality content
  • pro
    Low subscription fee
  • con
    App needs improvement
Georgia Dixon
May 18, 2022
Icon Time To Read3 min read

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Quick verdict

For lovers of reality TV, Hayu represents great value at $6.99 per month with a 7-day free trial. Its mobile apps could use some work, but the oh-so-juicy content it has on offer makes up for the clunky UI.

pro
What we like
pro Tons of reality content
pro Low subscription fee
con
What could be better
con App needs improvement
Rev Streaming
We waste our time, so you don’t waste yours
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What is Hayu Australia?

One-stop streaming shop for reality TV

Hayu launched in Australia back in 2016 and essentially is to reality TV junkies what Shudder is to horror fans - a mecca of all your guilty pleasures. Think Real Housewives, Kardashians, Million Dollar Listings and Top Chef. Basically, if you’re only keeping your Foxtel subscription for the Fox Arena channel, you can cancel it, because Hayu has you covered.

While the overall pitch for Hayu isn't all that different to something like Netflix. It does lack a few of the usual features, such as 4K playback or a kids mode.  The former isn't a surprise, given that most reality TV isn't broadcast or available in such a high quality format, nor is the latter, given the nature of the content offered by Hayu. Still, if you're looking for areas where more specialised subscription service from something with a more broad offering, they aren't hard to find.

Fortunately, offline viewing is supported. Those with an active Hayu subscription can download and save anything offered by the service to watch at a later date using the app. However, you cannot stream Hayu in multiple locations from the same account. For now, the service only supports one stream at a time.

How much does Hayu Australia cost?

$6.99 per month.

Sure, Hayu isn’t everyone’s thing, but at $6.99 per month with a generous 7-day free trial, it’s a killer deal for lovers of trash like myself. For comparison’s sake, Netflix will set you back from $10.99 per month, Stan from $10 per month and Disney Plus from $11.99.

Take a look at the table below to see how Hayu stacks up against the competition:

Service
Details
Monthly price
More info
Binge Standard plan
4K streaming
2 streams
Deal: 7-day free trial
$18/mth
Apple TV+Apple TV+ plan
4K streaming
6 streams (Family Sharing)
Deal: 7-day free trial
$12.99/mth
Disney PlusDisney+ Standard plan
HD streaming
2 streams
Deal: $139.99 for 12mths
$13.99/mth
Disney PlusDisney+ Premium plan
4K streaming
4 streams
Deal: $179.99 for 12mths
$17.99/mth
NetflixNetflix Standard + Ads
HD streaming
2 streams
$6.99/mth
StanStan Basic plan
SD streaming
1 stream
$12/mth
Kayo SportsKayo One Plan
HD streaming
1 stream
Deal: 7-day free trial
$25/mth
Foxtel Now | 2022 logo | Reviews.org AustraliaFoxtel Now Essentials
HD streaming
2 streams
Access to over 30 channels
Deal: 10-day free trial
$25/mth
ShudderShudder plan
HD streaming
1 stream
Deal: 7-day free trial
$6.99/mth
Hayu | Provider logoHayu Plan
HD streaming
1 stream
Deal: 7-day free trial
$6.99/mth
Paramount+Paramount+ plan
HD streaming
2 streams
Deal: 7-day free trial
$9.99/mth
Streaming Services in Australia

The best streaming services in Australia

You know Netflix, but have you heard of the horrors on Shudder?

What shows are on Hayu Australia?

Over 300 reality television shows and documentaries

Hayu is home to just over 300 titles, so it certainly doesn’t have the largest library in the world. That said, given the long-running nature of most reality series, there are plenty (we’re talking thousands) of episodes to keep you going.

If, like me, you love nothing more than watching grown women with obscene amounts of money fight over who said what behind who’s back, Hayu is heaven. It’s got every Real Housewives franchise from Atlanta to Vancouver, though you will need to keep that Foxtel subscription if you’re a devotee of the Aussie series (Melbourne and the god-awful short-lived Sydney series).

Desperate Housewives Meme

Look, we couldn’t mention Real Housewives and not include this iconic screencap from the Beverly Hills franchise.

Continuing the theme of dropping in on the lives of the ridiculously wealthy, you’ve also got access to all 19 seasons of Keeping up with the Kardashians, not to mention the many, many spin-offs.

For real estate junkies, Million Dollar Listing will have you lusting over eye-wateringly expensive properties in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and San Francisco. Doesn’t hurt to dream, right?

You’ll also find the likes of Top Chef, Below Deck and Vanderpump Rules, not to mention a bunch of true crime titles such as In Ice Cold Blood, Buried in the Backyard and 21 seasons of Snapped.

hayu devices

Which devices can I watch Hayu Australia on?

As much as I unashamedly love the shows that a Hayu subscription gets you access to, there’s one thing I’m not so keen on - the mobile app. I tried it on both iOS and Android, and while the iOS one was clunky but usable, I never managed to get it working on Android.

If you’re running into the same problem, you can simply watch directly on the Hayu website, otherwise, there are also apps available for Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Fetch TV, Telstra TV and most Android smart TVs. Having spent a longer time than I’d like to admit struggling with the mobile apps, the Chromecast with Google TV was a joy to use.

Hayu Australia on Amazon Prime

Prime Video Channels

If you're keen on tuning into Hayu's library of reality TV hits but less than thrilled with the idea of installing another app, you can subscribe to the service via Amazon Prime Video Channels.

Prime Video Channels are an optional add-on for Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service which allow you to bundle additional content from other streaming services into your Amazon Prime Video subscription, including Hayu.

Subscribing to Hayu via Amazon Prime Video Channels will cost you the exact same amount as subscribing to the service directly would: $6.99/month. Check out the table below for a sense of how the price of Hayu compares the rest of the Amazon Prime Video Channel lineup.

Channel
Add-on cost
Free trial
Paramount+$9.99 per month
MGM$4.99 per month
Hayu$6.99 per month
Starzplay$3.99 per month
AMC+$8.99 per month
Shudder$6.99 per month
Docplay$7.99 per month
AcornTV$6.99 per month
The Great Courses Signature Collection$7.99 per month
iWonder$6.99 per month
OutTV$3.99 per month
Love Nature$3.99 per month

Is Hayu Australia worth $6.99 per month?

At the very least, it's worth checking out the 7-day free trial.

The answer really depends on the kind of person you are. If you detest over-the-top drama, obviously a Hayu subscription isn’t going to be for you. But if you are a fan of reality TV, $6.99 per month is an easy-to-justify fee for so much juicy content.

Georgia Dixon
Written by
Georgia Dixon
Georgia Dixon has over seven years' experience writing about all things tech, entertainment and lifestyle, with bylines in TechLife magazine, 7NEWS and Stuff.co.nz. In her spare time, you'll find her playing games and daydreaming about good food, wine, and dogs.

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