Bachelor in Paradise: Why You Can’t Find the Old Seasons (and Where to Watch)

Bachelor in Paradise: Why You Can’t Find the Old Seasons (and Where to Watch)

You're sitting there, craving the chaos of a beach in Mexico—or Costa Rica, depending on the year—and you realize the "continue watching" button is gone. It's frustrating. The Bachelor franchise has this weird, scattered way of handling its streaming rights that feels like a rose ceremony where nobody actually gets a rose. If you're hunting for where can you watch bachelor in paradise, the answer depends entirely on whether you want to see the new mess unfolding right now or if you're trying to revisit the iconic Season 4 era.

Honestly, the landscape has changed. Gone are the days when everything just sat on one platform forever.

The Short Answer: Where to Stream Right Now

If you are looking for the latest episodes—specifically from the massive Season 10 that shook things up in 2025—Hulu is your best friend. But there’s a catch.

New episodes typically land on Hulu at 5:00 a.m. ET the morning after they air on ABC. It’s not an "all at once" binge situation while the season is active. If you’re a cord-cutter who can't wait until morning, you need a live TV service like YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. These let you watch the drama live on ABC as it happens.

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Surprisingly, some people still use antennas. Since ABC is a broadcast network, a good old-fashioned digital antenna can pick up the signal for free in most US cities. No monthly fee, just pure, unadulterated beach drama.

Why the Old Seasons Keep Disappearing

It’s the question that haunts Reddit. "Why did Season 6 just vanish?"

Streaming rights for reality TV are basically a game of musical chairs. For a long time, a huge chunk of the franchise lived on HBO Max (now just Max). Then, suddenly, it didn't. As of 2026, the older library is a bit of a scavenger hunt.

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  1. Hulu: Usually keeps the most recent season and sometimes a small rotation of early ones (like Seasons 1-5).
  2. Tubi: Every now and then, Tubi strikes a deal and you'll find a random middle season there for free with ads.
  3. Purchasing: If you are a die-hard who needs to see the Dean and Caelynn saga or the Grocery Store Joe origin story, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV sell individual seasons. It’s about $15 to $20, but you own it forever.

The Costa Rica Twist and Live Watching

Season 10 changed the game by moving from the traditional Mexico location to the Opulent Azura Beach Resort in Costa Rica. This shift also brought in the "Golden" contestants, which meant the viewership numbers spiked, making the streaming links more competitive.

If you are trying to watch from outside the United States, you've probably noticed it’s nearly impossible. Services like Hayu used to carry it in the UK and Australia, but the latest seasons have become harder to find there. Most international fans end up using a VPN to access their US-based Hulu or YouTube TV accounts while traveling. It's a lot of hoops to jump through just to see who's crying in a sandcastle.

Breaking Down the Costs

  • Hulu (Ad-Supported): Roughly $9.99/month.
  • Hulu (No Ads): Around $18.99/month.
  • Disney Bundle: If you already have Disney+, adding Hulu is usually the cheapest route, often around $10.99 for the pair.
  • Live TV Streams: YouTube TV and Fubo are hovering around the $75-$85 range these days.

What Most People Get Wrong About ABC.com

You’d think the network’s own website would be the easiest place to go. It’s not. While you can watch the most recent episode for "free" on ABC.com or the ABC app, they usually require a "TV Provider" login. If you don't have a cable bill, you're locked out.

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However, there is a "locked" period. Usually, eight days after an episode airs, ABC unlocks it for everyone to watch for free on their site, even without a login. If you have the patience of a saint and can avoid spoilers for a week, that’s your winning move.

Your Next Steps to Get Watching

To get your fix of where can you watch bachelor in paradise without losing your mind, follow this path:

Check your existing subscriptions first; if you have T-Mobile or Verizon, you might actually have a free Hulu account included in your plan that you haven't activated yet. If you're looking for older, specific seasons, search JustWatch—it’s a free tool that tracks exactly which platform currently holds the license for specific years. Finally, if you're watching the current season, set a calendar alert for Tuesday mornings at 5:00 a.m. ET, which is the precise moment the Monday night madness hits the Hulu library.