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YouTube vs YouTube TV: What’s the difference?

YouTube vs YouTube TV: What’s the difference?

Despite having very similar names, YouTube and YouTube TV are quite different services. So what’s available on which platform?

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
David Satin
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Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
The YouTube logo on a phone with the YouTube TV logo on a TV screen, and the differences between the two platforms.

One of the most confusing things about being a new cord-cutter is the number of services that use the same brands in their name as another subscription service or piece of hardware. YouTube is one such platform, attaching its name to various services, including YouTube Music and YouTube TV.

YouTube and YouTube TV are both video platforms, which makes it even harder to discern the differences between the two platforms by simply glancing at the names. So, what is the difference between YouTube and YouTube TV, anyway? We’ll explain what you need to know here.

What are the differences between YouTube and YouTube TV?

What is YouTube?

YouTube is an ad-supported, creator-driven video platform that allows viewers to watch millions of videos on essentially any subject under the sun. From music videos to help and how-to guides to variety shows featuring famous influencers, YouTube really does epitomize the idea of “something for everyone,” and because it’s supported by ads, its main tier is completely free.

While it was launched in a time when most online videos were watched on desktop or laptop computers, YouTube can now be enjoyed on a host of devices. The YouTube app can be found on mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs, connected streaming players, and other devices, and anyone with an internet connection and a supported device can watch YouTube’s free tier in the global territories where the service is available.

What is YouTube Premium?

Customers who prefer to watch creator-made videos on YouTube without ads can upgrade to an ad-free experience during playback with YouTube Premium. It costs $16 per month and cuts out the ads inserted by YouTube into videos uploaded to the platform.

Think of YouTube Premium as an ad-free tier of a streaming service, just like Netflix Premium or Peacock Premium Plus. It’s the same video platform you were watching before; you’re just paying $16 per month to cut out the commercials during playback. Any live content watched on YouTube Premium may still come with ads included.

What is YouTube TV?

YouTube TV is what’s called a virtual multi-channel video programming distributor (vMVPD), also known as a live TV streaming service. Although it carries the YouTube name, it serves a very different function; it allows subscribers to watch a package of cable channels using their internet connection instead of a traditional cable connection.

YouTube TV offers a core package with 90+ channels, as well as a variety of genre-based channel plans. Prices for these packages range from $55 to $83 per month, a far cry from the price of a YouTube Premium subscription. However, YouTube TV provides access to channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and other broadcast channels, as well as the most popular cable news, sports, and entertainment channels in the United States.

YouTube TV also offers what it calls the Primetime Channels store, a digital store that allows viewers to purchase additional streaming and TV subscriptions and watch all the content through the YouTube TV app to allow for less switching between apps.

Do you need YouTube to watch YouTube TV, or vice versa?

No, YouTube is not required to watch YouTube TV, nor do you have to have YouTube TV to watch YouTube. The streamers are independent of each other in this regard, and viewers can choose to watch one platform with no obligation to watch the other.

So, what is the difference between YouTube and YouTube TV?

The too-long-didn’t-read answer is that YouTube is a social video platform built around creator content, while YouTube TV is a platform for watching live cable and broadcast channels using a home internet connection. While they both have YouTube in the title, they do very different things.

Feature YouTube YouTube TV
Price $0 to $16 per month $55 to $83 per month
Content type Creator and influencer videos Live streams of broadcast and cable channels
Available on multiple platforms? Yes Yes
Free Trial
tv.youtube.com

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.

…

Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. YouTube TV also offers a smaller sports plan, allowing subscribers access to 30+ sports-oriented channels, including local networks in select markets.

YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the trial length may vary by promotion.

With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.

Free Trial
$82.99+ / month
tv.youtube.com

New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
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