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Streaming / Streaming Services

Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV: Which is Best for Cord-Cutters?

As more consumers cut the cord, the battle for the best live TV streaming service intensifies. Two leading contenders, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, offer compelling features and extensive channel lineups. This article, compiled by Yanuki...

Sling TV vs. DirecTV vs. YouTube TV and More: Your Top 100 Channels Comparison
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Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV: Which is Best for Cord-Cutters? Image via CNET

Key Insights

  • **Price:** Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are priced at $82.99 per month. Hulu also offers an ad-free version bundled with Live TV for $95.99 per month.
  • **Channel Lineup:** While both services offer around 100 channels, YouTube TV has a slight edge in the number of channels offered. However, channel availability can vary by location.
  • **On-Demand Content:** Hulu + Live TV stands out with its expansive library of on-demand shows and movies, including original content, giving it an advantage over YouTube TV.
  • **Features and DVR:** YouTube TV offers more 4K content and supports three simultaneous streams, while Hulu + Live TV provides unlimited DVR storage. Hulu also offers an Unlimited Screens add-on for streaming on multiple devices.

In-Depth Analysis

### Price and Platforms Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV cost $82.99 monthly. Hulu provides an ad-free option with its Live TV plan for $95.99 per month. Both services are available on major platforms, including web browsers, mobile devices (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku), select smart TVs, and gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox X/S). YouTube TV mostly matches Hulu's platform support, lacking only a Switch app.

### Channel Lineup The channel lineup can vary by location, affecting the availability of broadcast affiliates and regional sports networks (RSNs). In a New York City test, both offered around 100 channels, but YouTube TV had a slight advantage. Both cover major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and Telemundo.

**News:** Hulu + Live TV includes ABC News Live, CBS News, Cheddar, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, FOX Business, FOX News, HLN, and MSNBC. YouTube TV matches this lineup, excluding CBSN and CNN International, but adds BBC America, BBC World News, Local Now, and TYT.

**Entertainment and Lifestyle:** Hulu + Live TV offers A&E, BET, Bravo, CMT, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, FX, FXM, FXX, HGTV, History, ID, Lifetime, MTV, NASA, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Oxygen, Pop, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, USA, and Vice. YouTube TV lacks A&E, History, Lifetime, NASA, and Vice but includes AMC, IFC, Sundance TV, Tastemade, and WE TV.

**Family and Kids:** Both offer Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, Nickelodeon, PBS Kids, Smithsonian Channel, and Universal Kids.

**Sports:** Both include CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN U, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, and NFL Network. YouTube TV uniquely offers NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on for $349.

### Premium Channels and Packages Hulu + Live TV provides Cinemax, Max, Showtime, and Starz as separate premium channel add-ons. It also offers the Entertainment package ($7.99/month) with channels like American Heroes Channel and Cooking Channel, and the Español package ($4.99/month) with CNN en Español and ESPN Deportes.

YouTube TV offers Acorn TV, AMC+, Cinemax, Curiosity Stream, Max, NBA League Pass, Showtime, Shudder, Starz, and Sundance Now. Its Sports Plus package includes FOX Soccer Plus, GOLTV, MAVTV Motorsports Network, NFL RedZone, and Stadium.

### On-Demand Content Hulu + Live TV includes access to Hulu's expansive on-demand library featuring animated shows, comedies, dramas, and FX shows. Hulu also produces original shows like Castle Rock and The Handmaid’s Tale.

YouTube TV relies on channel aggregation without original content, although regular YouTube offers user-created channels and YouTube Premium original shows. However, it lacks the prestige exclusives found on Hulu.

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FAQ

- **Q: Which streaming service is more affordable?

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- **Q: Which service has a better channel lineup?

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- **Q: Does YouTube TV offer NFL Sunday Ticket?

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- **Q: Which service is better for on-demand content?

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Takeaways

  • Consider YouTube TV if you prioritize a slightly larger channel selection and NFL Sunday Ticket.
  • Opt for Hulu + Live TV if you value on-demand content, especially Hulu Originals, and a wide range of entertainment channels.
  • Evaluate the availability of local channels and regional sports networks in your area before making a decision.
  • Assess your need for simultaneous streams and DVR storage to choose the service that best fits your household's viewing habits.

Discussion

Do you think one of these services will pull ahead in the future? Which one do you prefer? Let us know!

Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!

Sources

Disclaimer

This article was compiled by Yanuki using publicly available data and trending information. The content may summarize or reference third-party sources that have not been independently verified. While we aim to provide timely and accurate insights, the information presented may be incomplete or outdated.

All content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Yanuki makes no representations or warranties regarding the reliability or completeness of the information.

This article may include links to external sources for further context. These links are provided for convenience only and do not imply endorsement.

Always do your own research (DYOR) before making any decisions based on the information presented.