If you’re looking for a new live TV streaming service, is YouTube TV or Hulu Live TV 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
Hulu clocks in at $69.99 / month and YouTube TV is $64.99 / month. But remember that Hulu Live TV automatically gives you Disney+ and ESPN+. That’s a great value for $5/month.
Winner on Overall Channels: Draw
Hulu includes 32 of the top 35 cable channels, which matches YouTube TV’s 32.
Overall, YouTube TV has 109 channels while Hulu offers 97.
YouTube TV offers these channels that Hulu doesn’t: AMC, Hallmark Channel, and WE tv.
But Hulu will be your choice if you like to watch A&E, History, and Lifetime
| YouTube | Hulu | |
|---|---|---|
| “YouTube TV” | “Hulu Live TV” | |
| Sign Up | Sign Up | |
| $64.99 | $69.99 | |
| 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, and The CW
Winner on Sports Channels: YouTube TV
Pro Sports Networks
YouTube TV offers access to MLB Network, NBA TV, and NFL Network. For $11/month, you can also add Sports Plus for beIN Sports, Billiard TV, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, MAVTV, NFL RedZone, Outside Television, PlayersTV, PokerGO, SportsGrid, Stadium, TVG, and VSiN. NFL RedZone is an absolute game-changer for any football fan.
Hulu Live TV includes NFL Network. NFL RedZone is included in brand-new $9.99 Sports Add-On, which also includes MAVTV, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, TVG, and TVG2.
Regional Sports Networks
Both services offer the same regional sports networks: NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Northwest, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NBC Sports Washington, and SportsNet NY
College Sports Networks
When it comes to college sports, neither service offers an advantage over the other. Both provide ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network.
Winner on Included Features: Hulu Live TV
On Demand Library
Hulu Live users get access to Hulu’s vast library of on demand content, although you will see ads unless you’re willing to upgrade for another $6/month. That’s honestly a great deal for the amount of movies and shows you’ll get. Normally, ad-free access to Hulu’s library would cost $12.99 / month. You’ll be able to see “The Handmaid's Tale,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” “Palm Springs,” “PEN15,” “Shrill,” and a great rotating library of blockbuster movies.
YouTube TV offers no similar feature.
The Disney Bundle
Hulu Live TV now includes an automatic subscription to Disney+ and ESPN+. That means you’ll get on demand access to every Star Wars movie and almost every Marvel movie. Throw in Pixar and Disney’s animated classics and that’s a library that’s hard to beat. There are also wonderful original series like “The Mandalorian,” “WandaVision,” and “Loki.”
ESPN+ gives you MLB, NHL and MLS games, along with Bundesliga, LaLiga, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredevise, and more.
College sports fans will be able to watch thousands of games and events including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track & field, gymnastics, swimming & diving, lacrosse, wrestling, volleyball, golf, and more.
DVR
Both services offer an unlimited DVR that can hold recordings up to 9 months.
Verdict
Thanks to Hulu’s recent upgrades of the included Disney bundle and an unlimited DVR, Hulu seems like the clear choice. Its on-demand offerings are far better than YouTube TV, and the inclusion of ESPN+ means you’ll have access to NHL events not available to YouTube TV subscribers. Throw in the Disney+ standouts of Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and the Disney animated library, and the value is outstanding.
Perhaps the only remaining reason to choose YouTube TV is if you’d like to save a little money, if you prefer the user interface, or you need a specific channel that Hulu doesn’t carry.