Fubo vs. YouTube TV: Which live TV streamer is best for you?
Fubo vs. YouTube TV: Which live TV streamer is best for you?
They aren’t “budget” live TV streaming services, but Fubo and YouTube TV deliver plenty for the money—here’s how they stack up side-by-side.
YouTube TV may be the most popular live TV streaming service of the moment, but Fubo is gaining ground. The sports-centric streamer closed 2024 with 2 million subscribers and is set to merge with Hulu + Live TV in 2025. However, even when Disney becomes the primary owner of Fubo, the two streamers will continue to run independently of each other.
Even with the combined behind-the-scenes acumen of Disney and Fubo, it might not be enough to catch up with YouTube TV, which now claims over 8 million subscribers, many of whom signed on for the YTTV-exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket in 2022. Besides that big sports get, YouTube TV also offers one of the most complete live channel lineups in streaming.
Overall, Fubo and YouTube TV are similar TV services, but they do have some notable differences. Check out our side-by-side comparison.
Which is better for you? Fubo or YouTube TV?
The Essentials
| Feature | Fubo | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $84.99-$94.99 per month plus applicable regional sports fee |
$82.99 per month |
| Channels | 212–293 | 121 |
| Local Channels | Yes | Yes |
| Sports Channels | Yes | Yes |
| Regional Sports Networks | Yes | Yes |
| DVR | Unlimited for 9 months | Unlimited for 9 months |
| On-Demand Services | Yes | Yes |
Price
Currently, there are three Fubo monthly plans: Essential (212 channels for $85 per month), Pro (212 channels for $85 per month), and Elite (293 channels for $95 per month). Keep in mind that if the channel lineup that you opt for comes with regional sports networks, Fubo will tack on a regional sports fee of up to $17. Additionally, Fubo regularly updates and changes its offerings, so it is always important to check what is currently available when you sign up.
However, when it comes to popular entertainment channels, there’s not much difference between these plans and Fubo’s competitors. However, the difference comes in the sports channels, which we will get into shortly.
YouTube TV only has one base plan at $83 per month. It comes with over 60 channels, numerous available add-ons, and a 4K tier with unlimited in-network simultaneous streams.
Overall Channels
Fubo’s fat channel lineups look impressive at first until you discover that popular channels like TNT, TBS, CNN, A&E, History, Lifetime, and AMC aren’t in the mix. But Fubo makes up for this shortfall on the sports side with a large field of pro and college sports channels, regional sports networks, and international soccer coverage (Fubo’s original content mission).
With a couple of exceptions, YouTube TV carries every major entertainment, news, kids’, and sports channel available on cable or satellite TV, as well as a full slate of local network affiliate stations in most areas of the country. YouTube TV is popular because it’s a one-stop shop for the channels you want.
Popular Channels
| Channel | Fubo | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| A&E | X | X |
| AMC | X | ✓ |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | X | ✓ |
| CNN | X | ✓ |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ |
| Discovery | X | ✓ |
| Disney Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ |
| Food Network | X | ✓ |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| HGTV | X | ✓ |
| History | X | X |
| Investigation Discovery | X | ✓ |
| Lifetime | X | X |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ |
| TBS | X | ✓ |
| TNT | X | ✓ |
| Travel Channel | X | ✓ |
| truTV | X | ✓ |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| WE tv | X | ✓ |
Local Channels
Fubo and YouTube TV both carry local affiliates for broadcast network channels ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW, and Telemundo, but only YouTube TV carries PBS. There are other ways to access PBS and PBS Kids programming, like subscribing to PBS Passport or making a one-time investment in a digital over-the-air antenna. After all, the airwaves are still free (for now).
Sports Channels
Pro Sports Channels
Fubo’s basic plans feature pro sports channels like ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, and NFL Network. There are also no less than six sports add-on channels available through Fubo, including International Sports Plus (international soccer and more for $7 per month), Sports Plus with NFL RedZone (RedZone and NCAA games for $11 per month), and Adventure Plus (racing and extreme sports for $5 per month). NBA League Pass and MLB.TV can also be added to your Fubo subscription.
With YouTube TV, you get pro sports channels CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, and NFL Network included. The Sports Plus add-on channel pack includes beIN Sports, NFL RedZone, Fox Soccer Plus, VSiN, Outside TV+, Overtime, PokerGO+, MAVTV, FanDuel TV, Stadium, Billiard TV, SportsGrid, PlayersTV, Fight Network, TNA Impact Wrestling, and Tennis Channel for $11 per month.
And don’t forget the NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass, both available through YouTube TV.
College Sports Channels
Fubo offers some college sports channels in its base plans, including Big Ten Network and SEC Network. With Fubo’s Sports Plus add-on channel pack, you’ll get ESPNU, ACC Network, and more.
YouTube TV carries college sports channels ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, SEC Network, and truTV.
Pro and College Sports Channels
| Channel | Fubo | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| ACC Network | Sports Plus | ✓ |
| beIN Sports | ✓ | Sports Plus |
| Big Ten Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| CBS Sports Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPNews | X | ✓ |
| ESPNU | Sports Plus | ✓ |
| FS1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| FS2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Golf Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| MLB Network | Sports Lite or Elite plan | X |
| MLB Network Strike Zone | Sports Plus | X |
| MotorTrend Network | X | ✓ |
| NBA TV | Sports Lite or Elite plan | ✓ |
| NFL Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| NFL RedZone | Sports Plus | Sports Plus |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | X | $379–$479 per year |
| NHL Network | Sports Lite or Elite plan | X |
| SEC Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sportsman Channel | Adventure Plus | X |
| Tennis Channel | ✓ | X |
Regional Sports Channels
Fubo is loaded with regional sports networks (RSNs), including the FanDuel Sports Networks (formerly Bally Sports RSNs), NBC Sports Boston, NESN, Chicago Sports Network, Marquee Sports Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, and Space City Home Network. Fubo doesn’t carry AT&T SportsNet or Spectrum Sports RSNs.
YouTube TV’s RSN lineup is less impressive, with NBC Sports channels for five markets (Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia) and Monumental Sports Network.
Included Features
On-Demand Library
Both Fubo and YouTube TV allow you to watch TV shows and movies from channels carried by each service (usually with ads), and you can rent or buy new and older theatrical-release and straight-to-video movies through YouTube TV (just as you can with regular YouTube).
Add-On Channel Packages
Premium add-ons through Fubo include Paramount+ with Showtime ($11 per month), Starz ($11 per month), and MGM+ ($7 per month), individually or as a discounted bundle for $20 per month. Fox Nation, Hallmark+, TV5MONDE (French sports and entertainment), and RAI Italia (Italian sports and entertainment) add-ons are also available, in addition to the Sports Plus channel pack.
YouTube TV offers 60+ add-on channel packages, ranging from popular premiums like Max ($17 per month), Paramount+ with SHOWTIME ($11 per month), and AMC+ ($10 per month), to niche channels like Shudder, Acorn TV, and Magnolia Selects, most of those under $10 per month. In sports, YTTV offers Sports Plus (with NFL RedZone), NBA League Pass, and the previously mentioned NFL Sunday Ticket.
DVR
Fubo and YouTube TV both feature an unlimited cloud DVR that will keep your recorded TV shows and movies for up to nine months.
Simultaneous Streams and 4K
Fubo gives you up to 10 simultaneous streams within your home network, and two outside of it. YouTube TV allows for three in-network streams, which can be bumped up to unlimited simultaneous streams with the $5-per-month 4K Plus add-on.
With YouTube TV’s 4K Plus plan, you can watch ultra-HD content from Discovery, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and select sports events. Fubo’s Elite plan includes 4K streaming for some content, or it can be added to the Essential and Pro plans for $5 per month.
Device Compatibility
| Device | Fubo | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV and devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| NVIDIA SHIELD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vizio | ✓ | ✓ |
| LG | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers | ✓ | ✓ |
Which Is Right for You?
There’s much to like about Fubo if you’re a sports fan, even more so if you can’t get enough of international soccer. However, the lack of big cable channels like A&E, AMC, Cartoon Network, CNN, The History Channel, Lifetime, TBS, and TNT is likely a dealbreaker for many who just want all of their familiar cable channels in one convenient stream.
Like Fubo, YouTube TV isn’t a cheap live TV streaming service, but it does offer a near-complete package of entertainment and sports channels to keep most households happy. A majority of those who’ve subscribed for the NFL Sunday Ticket haven’t ditched it in the off-season, which speaks volumes for the wide appeal of YouTube TV.
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Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service offering a robust lineup of approximately 150 premier channels, with plans starting at $63.99 per month. This entry-level package provides access to local broadcast affiliates 18 of the leading 35 cable channels channels, and valuable regional sports networks (RSNs).
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YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.
