Hayu Australia Review & Guide
Quiz time: What do The Situation, Heidi Montag, Snooki, Kim Kardashian, Lisa Vanderpump, Nicole Richie and JWoww all have in common? Answer: They all got their start on some of the worst television you will ever watch. Or arguably, the best.
If you knew any of those names, chances are you’re a reality TV fanatic, and could be familiar with Hayu. ‘Hey, you’ (or is it ‘Hi-oo’?) is one of many US TV streaming services to hit Australian screens, but with a little twist. It focuses solely on reality TV shows, more specifically all that delightfully trashy stuff straight from the US. As Paris Hilton would say, that’s hot. Labelled ‘reality on demand’, Hayu promises to deliver the hottest shows on the same day they’re aired in the US, so you’re never left out in the cold for too long. Read on as Canstar Blue reviews Hayu, some of the brilliant television available to us, and compares it to other streaming services in Australia.
What is Hayu?
Hayu is a streaming service that focuses primarily on reality TV shows from the US, making it a platform for those who can’t get enough of the juicy goss or trashy TV. First launched in2016, Hayu is available in multiple countries, with the service operating under the NBC banner.
How much does Hayu cost?
Hayu costs $6.99 a month, but not until you complete your free trial. Hayu comes with no lock-in contract, so you can leave at any time. In comparison to other streaming services available in Australia, Hayu is one of the cheapest, with the table below exploring other major streaming services.
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| Netflix | Stan | Disney+ | BINGE | Amazon Prime Video | Apple TV+ | Kayo | Paramount+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $6.99 – $22.99 | $10 – $21 | $13.99 | $10 – $18 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $25 – $35 | $8.99 |
| HD Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No. of screens | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Free trial | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Information collected from each streaming service’s website. Accurate as of May, 2023.
Does Hayu have a free trial?
Hayu offers a seven-day free trial to new customers, allowing you to try before you buy. You can sign up through the Hayu website, with the option to create an account or sign in through your Facebook account.
Sign up to BINGE!
Are you looking for something binge-worthy? Why not check out BINGE? With multiple subscription plans available, you can choose a plan that suits you (or your family) and settle in for a night on the couch with a wide range of movies and shows!
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $10 over one month |
1 | $10 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $19 over one month |
2 | $19 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $22 over one month |
4 | $22 |
Go To Site |
 |
^^View important information | |||
What shows are on Hayu?
Hayu knows what it wants, and sticks to it – they claim to have a library of more than 6,000 individual episodes of over 300 hit reality TV shows. Popular titles, which are a mix of old fan-favourites and current episodes streaming direct from the US, include:
- The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
- Vanderpump Rules
- Botched
- Deadly Cults
- Accident, Suicide or Murder?
- Player Gets Played
- Top Chef
- Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry
Although an already spectacular list, we’ve gone ahead and handpicked some of our favourites:
The Kardashians
Of those 6,000 episodes, it’s no secret that Keeping Up With the Kardashians (KUWTK) would occupy a large chunk – after all, the show is the King, Queen, Prince and Princess of reality TV rolled into one. It’s one of the most powerful television shows in pop culture and therefore one of Hayu’s most attractive qualities to viewers. The platform features full episodes of all 20 seasons, giving you plenty to catch up on.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians
All 20 seasons of the iconic show are available to stream via Hayu, with the series concluding in June, 2021. Considering the show lasted 14 years, and how much the family has ingrained itself within pop-culture and society in general (as much as we wish it wasn’t so), there’ll be more tears in the last season, with the Kardashians saying goodbye to fans of the series (and no doubt a bit of a paycheque too).
And the spin-offs?
If you’re stuck on the Kardashian train (whether that’s by choice or not) the good news is that Hayu is very accommodating, with ten KUWTK spin-off shows featuring the Kardashians and Jenners available for streaming. Shows include Caitlin Jenner’s controversial I Am Cait, Kourtney and Kim Take New York/Miami/Lots of Cities Around America, and a couple of shows that no one really asked for like Rob and Chyna and Sex With Brody. Our top picks are:
Flip it Like Disick
There’s no arguing that one of the most entertaining personalities to watch on KUWTK is Scott Disick, Kourtney’s ex-husband and father to all three of her children. In Flip It Like Disick, Scott turns to apparently one of his greatest passions – house flipping. Scott and his team spend the episodes tackling the task of flipping and remodelling high-end celebrity homes in Los Angeles.
Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashion
This is arguably one of the best spin-offs to come out of the Kardashians. Revenge Body follows Khloe as she helps Americans who are in a rut, not feeling like their best self, and want to seek revenge on those who have hurt you (often an ex-partner). Khloe rallies the best trainers, a glam squad, and provides emotional support to her guests as they work to create their ultimate revenge body.
The Real Housewives
Along with the Kardashians, we do admit that The Real Housewives series’ comes in a close second for most milked television series that we all hate to love, and love to hate. What started in 2010 with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has expanded into 26 – yes, you heard that right – other shows and spin offs, including the Vanderpump Rules series. Watch these shows direct from the US, the same day they land:
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
These ladies are 100% bonkers, and we are 100% here for it. The show follows affluent women as they soak up all that their beautiful and wealthy lives have to offer. The cast usually features actors/models, philanthropists and business owners who are usually married to successful and wealthy men.
Old Classics
Beyond these popular reality shows beamed straight from the US, are ‘box sets’ of ready for binge-watching. These include classic reality series like:
The Simple Life
“That’s hot.” This has got to be one of the greatest shows ever made. The Simple Life follows party girls Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as they swap their lavish lifestyles for five weeks on a… farm. “What’s Walmart? Like, a store filled with walls?”
Other classics
- Bad Girls Club
- Below Deck
- Dr. 90210
- Jerry Springer
- It’s a Brad, Brad World
All in all, expect high amounts of drama, fake tan and plastic surgery in this Los Angeles-oriented swathe of shows. If you like your beach bodies, hair gel and random bouts of ugly-crying, then Hayu delivers it all with its strong list of delightfully trashy reality TV shows… like, seriously. That’s hot.
How can I watch Hayu?
Hayu is able to be streamed in-browser on pretty much any device that can access the internet, including Windows and Mac computers. You can also stream through Google Chromecast and Apple TV, as well through the iOS and Android apps. Most notably, you also cannot watch Hayu abroad – you must watch in the country you purchased in.
Sign up to Disney+ Australia
There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription at $11.99 per month, or prepay for a year at $119.99 and save on the monthly cost. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $13.99 over one month |
4 | $13.99 |
Get Deal |
|
min. cost $139.99 over one year |
4 | $139.99 |
Get Deal |
|
^^View important information | |||
Is Hayu worth it?
Hayu may be a sign of things to come – streaming services dedicated towards a particular genre of television. Hayu lacks movies or anything but reality TV, and for many people this may be a turn off (although personally we can’t see why). However, Hayu’s purpose is to satisfy those who love reality TV, and for that reason we suspect the $6.99 monthly fee is probably worth it. If you’re looking for more general content, Netflix and Stan are probably more up your alley, and Hayu probably seems a bit too ‘trashy’ or specific. However, for those desperate for their dose of Snooki and Pauly G, Hayu may be their next favourite streaming service.
About the author of this page
This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Senior Telco Specialist, Emma Bradstock. An expert in all things phone, internet, gaming and streaming, Emma helps to make complicated subjects easier for readers to understand, as well as covering the latest news and reviews across the telco industry. She’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed telco choices and highlighting the next best deals.
Picture credits: Hayu