If you’re looking for a new live TV streaming service, is YouTube TV or Fubo a better choice? The decision may depend on what you value most. Both are excellent streaming options with lots of pros and cons. If you’d like a quick comparison, check out The Streamable’s Service Matchmaker. Let’s dig in to compare your options.
Winner on Price: YouTube TV
Fubo is $91.99 / month for its base package. YouTube TV is $72.99 / month, so YouTube TV gets the edge. The price disparity is because of a hidden Regional Sports Network fee with Fubo, but some viewers who live far from pro sports teams might see a lower rate.
Winner on Overall Channels: YouTube TV
YouTube TV includes 32 of the top 35 cable channels, while Fubo has 25.
Overall, YouTube TV has 114 channels while Fubo offers 213.
YouTube TV offers these channels that Fubo doesn’t: AMC, Cartoon Network, CNN, TBS, TNT, truTV, and WE tv. Those are some major points in YouTube TV’s favor.
Channel Upgrade Bundles
Fubo offers an Entertainment add-on for $8/month. That addition gives you American Heroes, At Home with Family Handyman, BET Her, BET Jams, BET Soul, Cheddar, CNBC World, Cooking Channel, Destination America, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FXM, Great American Faith & Living, GINX Esports TV, Great American Adventures, GSN, INWONDER, JusticeCentral.TV, Law&Crime, LOGO, MLB Network, MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTV2, MTVU, Nat Geo Wild, NBA TV, NHL Network, Nick Music, Nicktoons, Outside Television, Pac-12 Network, PokerGO, Revry, Science, SEC Network, SEC Network+, Sony Movie Channel, TeenNick, Tennis Channel, and Zona Futbol.
YouTube TV offers an Entertainment Plus package with HBO Max, Showtime, and STARZ for $29.99 / month.
Both services allow for some individual channel add-ons at lower price points.
| YouTube | Fubo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “YouTube TV” | “fubo” | “Elite” | ||
| Sign Up | Free Trial | Free Trial | ||
| $72.99 | $91.99 | $101.99 | ||
| A&E | - | - | - | |
| AMC | ✓ | - | - | |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | - | - | |
| CNN | ✓ | - | - | |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Disney Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Disney Junior | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Food Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| HGTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| History | - | - | - | |
| Investigation Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lifetime | - | - | - | |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TBS | ✓ | - | - | |
| TLC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TNT | ✓ | - | - | |
| Travel Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| truTV | ✓ | - | - | |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| WE tv | ✓ | - | - | |
Winner on Local Channels: Draw
Both services offer ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo, The CW, and Univision.
YouTube TV does include your local PBS affiliate, while Fubo does not.
Winner on Sports Channels: Fubo
Pro Sports Networks
Your streaming preference for sports will greatly depend on which sports you follow. Fubo has one major downfall for NBA fans: TNT is not available. You can get the channel on YouTube TV. You also won’t get MLB on TBS with Fubo.
Starting with the 2023 season, YouTube TV will be the exclusive live TV streaming service for NFL Sunday Ticket. That add-on will certainly come at a premium, though the price has not yet been announced.
YouTube TV offers access to NBA TV and NFL Network in its base package.
Fubo’s base package includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, and NHL Network.
With YouTube TV, you can also add Sports Plus for $11/month to add beIN Sports, Billiard TV, FanDuel TV, Fight Network, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, IMPACT Wrestling, MAVTV, NFL RedZone, Outside Television, PlayersTV, PokerGO, SportsGrid, Stadium, Tennis Channel, TVG, and VSiN.
With Fubo, another $11/month gives you Sports Plus for ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Fight Network, IMPACT Wrestling, MLB Network, MLB Network Strike Zone, NBA TV, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, SEC Network+, SportsGrid, Stadium, Stadium Plus, Tennis Channel, and Zona Futbol.
You cannot watch MLB Network with YouTube TV.
For $6/month, you can also add International Sports Plus to Fubo for Next Level Sports, ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, TyCSports, and Zona Futbol.
Additionally, Fubo has Adventure Plus for $5/month. That adds INTROUBLE, MAVTV, Outdoor Channel, Outside Television, Sportsman Channel, and Waypoint.
Again, this can get complicated, so consult The Streamable’s Service Matchmaker.
| Fubo | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Sign Up | ||
| $91.99 | $72.99 | ||
| beIN Sports | ✓ | + $11 | |
| Billiard TV | ✓ | + $11 | |
| Fox Soccer Plus | + $6 | + $11 | |
| GOLTV | + $6 | + $11 | |
| MAVTV | + $5 | + $11 | |
| MLB Network | + $8 | - | |
| MLB Network Strike Zone | + $11 | - | |
| NBA TV | + $8 | ✓ | |
| NFL Network | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NFL RedZone | + $11 | + $11 | |
| NHL Network | + $8 | - | |
| Outside Television | + $8 | + $11 | |
| Pac-12 Network | + $8 | - | |
| PlayersTV | - | ✓ | |
| PokerGO | + $8 | + $11 | |
| SI TV | - | - | |
| SportsGrid | + $11 | + $11 | |
| Stadium | + $11 | + $11 | |
| Stadium Plus | + $11 | - | |
| Tennis Channel | + $8 | + $11 | |
| TNT | - | ✓ | |
| TVG | + $10 | + $11 | |
| TVG2 | - | - | |
| VSiN | - | + $11 |
Regional Sports Networks
Both services offer these regional sports networks: Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia, and NBC Sports Philadelphia+.
But Fubo got a major upgrade when it began broadcasting Bally Sports channels in February 2023.
Now, Fubo offers Altitude, Arizona's Family Sports, SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, Bally Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Marquee Sports Network, MASN, MSG, MSG Sportsnet, NESN, Rockies.TV Channel, Root Sports Northwest, Space City Home Network, and YES Network.
College Sports Networks
When it comes to college sports, neither service offers an advantage over the other. Both provide ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network.
Only YouTube TV offers ACC Network Extra and truTV in its base package.
Winner on Included Features: Fubo
DVR
If you’re the kind of person who records a lot of TV, you will prefer YouTube TV and its unlimited cloud DVR. You can store recordings up to nine months.
Fubo offers a 1,000-hour DVR.
4K
YouTube TV offers a 4K Plus plan for $9.99/month ($4.99/month for the first 12 months).
Fubo includes 4K streaming if you pay for the Elite Plan (a total of $101.99 / month). With the feature, you will be able to watch select events, including English Premier League, MLB on Fox, College Basketball, and College Football in 4K HDR. You will need to meet certain equipment requirements. Fubo lists its upcoming 4K events here.
Lookback
Fubo’s lookback feature lets you watch sports and entertainment shows that aired in the previous three days that aren’t available on demand. Some of these shows allow you to skip commercials.
Picture-in-Picture
Fubo allows you to watch four live streams at the same time. On iPhone and iPad, the service allows you to navigate your device’s interface while still having a P.I.P. window, even after exiting the app.
Multiview
Fubo allows users to watch up to four live channels at the same time on one screen with Multiview, but only on Apple TV.
YouTube TV introduced a multiview feature during the NCAA basketball tournament, but initially, the feature was limited to pre-selected channels.
Fan View
Fubo allows users to access a feature called Fan View, which shows scores and stats alongside the game you’re watching.
Verdict
If you’re a sports fan who needs lots of specific channels, Fubo is hard to beat. Your ability to load up on channel packages and cut them loose month-to-month is a tempting offer. The price has been increasing steadily, but the addition of Bally Sports channels may still make it an attractive offer.
YouTube TV’s inclusion of AMC, Cartoon Network, CNN, TBS, TNT, truTV, and WE tv will seal the deal for some people, while others might be swayed by the unlimited DVR. With the addition of NFL Sunday Ticket, YouTube TV may be the superior choice for some sports fans willing to pay for the privilege.