Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM are two of the most popular live TV streaming services on the market, thanks to their cable-like channel offerings and massive brand familiarity. We all knew Hulu as an on-demand streamer before it jumped into the live TV game, and DIRECTV has been around for over 30 years, stretching back to when giant satellite dishes took up most of a suburban backyard.

As live TV streaming services, both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM have plenty to offer cord-cutters. Hulu + Live TV not only carries over 100 channels that appeal to a wide audience, but it also comes with on-demand Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ as part of the Disney Bundle. DIRECTV STREAM carries up to 200 channels, and its plans — for better or worse — mirror the satellite side of the company almost identically.

Let’s get into all the details about what makes Hulu + Live TV or DIRECTV STREAM the perfect live TV streamer for you.

Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM: Which is right for you?

The Essentials

Price

Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM are both pricey services, with plans that start at over $80 a month and just go up from there; although that has essentially become the standard for full-service live TV streamers these days.

With Hulu + Live TV, you can choose from a basic package at $83 per month (which includes ads on Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ on-demand content), or a $96 per month plan that cuts the commercials from Hulu and Disney+ (but not ESPN+). You’ll still see ads on live TV channels with either plan because that’s how live TV works, but for on-demand shows and movies, you won’t have to worry about commercials.

DIRECTV STREAM, like its satellite cousin, offers four plans with differing channel lineups: Entertainment (91 channels for $87 per month), Choice (167 channels for $115), Ultimate (195 channels for $130), and Premier (200 channels for $170). The Choice plan has the closest comparable channel lineup to Hulu + Live TV’s offering, while the Entertainment plan is missing a few too many entertainment channels to justify its price.

Overall Channels

DIRECTV STREAM’s channel counts are misleading because of their reliance on duplicating satellite DTV, which includes over 80 Music Choice channels playing tunes on a loop. Spotify and other streaming music services give you a better listening experience for a lot less money; you don’t need to get it from your TV. Also, if you’re feeling spendy, DIRECTV STREAM’s Premier plan comes with HBO, Cinemax, Paramount+ with Showtime, and Starz included.

Hulu + Live TV’s singular 105-channel lineup comes with all the networks you’d expect from a cable service, with the exceptions of AMC, BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv. If you can’t live without TV shows and movies from those channels, AMC+ is a cool-if-overlooked on-demand service that doesn’t break the bank for as low as $7 per month.

Popular Channels

Local Channels

Both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM carry local affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, and The CW in most parts of the country, so it is a push when it comes to locals.

Sports Channels

Both live TV streamers offer a wide variety of sports channels on their base packages (which we will get into next), but they also have additional options for the most die-hard of fans amongst us. Hulu + Live TV offers its Sports Add-On for $10 extra per month while DIRECTV STREAM’s Sports Pack runs $15 extra monthly.

Pro Sports Channels

Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM are pretty evenly matched when it comes to popular sports channels — at least in DTV STREAM’s pricier Ultimate and Premier plans. ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, [Fox Sports 2], and CBS Sports Network are all in there, and both services offer even more channels with their respective sports add-on packages.

College Sports Channels

On the collegiate front, Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM both carry a solid lineup of college sports channels, including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network.

Pro and College Sports Channels

Regional Sports Channels

With its Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans, DIRECTV STREAM’s regional sports network (RSN) lineup is loaded with over 30 channels, including FanDuel Sports Networks, ROOT Sports Northwest, Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, and NBC Sports California.

Hulu + Live TV carries a similar lineup of RSNs, minus FanDuel Sports Networks, ROOT Sports, and Spectrum Sports Nets. Overall, DIRECTV STREAM is the better live TV streaming service for sports fans — as long as you go with one of the more expensive plans.

Included Features

On-Demand Library

It’s not really a fair fight here, since Hulu + Live TV comes with volumes of on-demand Hulu and Disney+ titles as well as archive and live sports from ESPN+. You can also watch the latest episodes of TV shows from ABC, Fox, and FX the next day on Hulu, just as the relentless network commercials have hammered into our psyches.

DIRECTV STREAM offers on-demand content from the channels included with your plan, and you can also rent or buy older movies and TV shows as you would with any video-on-demand service.

Add-On Channel Packages

DIRECTV STREAM offers several add-on packages, like Max,, Peacock, A&E Crime Central, and Lifetime Movie Club. As covered previously, DTV STREAM also features the Sports Pack bundle, which comes with NFL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and more. The Sports Pack can be added to any plan (even the sports-sparse Entertainment plan).

Over on Hulu + Live TV, you can add Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ with Showtime, and Starz as premium channels, as well as a 16-channel add-on Entertainment package that includes Boomerang, MTV Classic, and Destination America, and there’s also a nine-channel Español package.

DVR

Both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM feature unlimited cloud DVR storage that will keep recordings for up to nine months before ejecting them into the void. No need to rush to get to all the “Expedition Bigfoot” episodes you’ve accrued, as long as you can avoid spoilers (like this one: they still haven’t found Bigfoot).

Simultaneous Streams and 4K

Hulu + Live TV only allows two simultaneous streams, whether within your home network or out of it. If that’s not enough, an Unlimited Screens option is available for an extra $10 per month. DIRECTV STREAM, on the other hand, gives you unlimited in-home simultaneous streams and three outside of it.

DIRECTV STREAM includes three 4K channels dedicated to movies, TV shows, and select sports events. Hulu + Live TV has no 4K capability (yet).

Device Compatibility

Which is Right for You?

When comparing the channel-equal (read: more expensive) DIRECTV STREAM plans to Hulu + Live TV, the bang-for-your-buck prize handily goes to Hulu + Live TV. You get an excellent lineup of entertainment, sports, kids, and local channels, as well as on-demand Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, all in one package. It’s an overused phrase, but Hulu + Live TV really does have “something for everybody.”

But, hardcore sports fans might want to consider shelling out the extra cash for DIRECTV STREAM. Like the DIRECTV satellite service that’s a sports bar staple, DIRECTV STREAM gives you access to more ball (and puck) action than Hulu + Live TV.