YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: A comparison guide

The base price for Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 per month ($75.99 for the ad-free version) while YouTube TV costs $64.99 per month, though new subscribers of the latter get a total of $30 off during their first three months, bringing the cost down to $54.99 per month. YouTube also has a Spanish-language plan for $34.99 per month.

While Hulu's live TV package is slightly more expensive, it includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+, meaning subscribers are essentially getting three streaming services and more than 75 channels for less than $70 a month, making it one of the best bundle deals in the industry. Hulu's add-on options also cost less than YouTube's — an average of $9 extra per month vs. $18 per month — but both platforms give you a little bit of everything in their basic plans so that the add-ons act as a bonus rather than a necessity for most users.

The best part is that neither service requires a long-term contract, allowing you to cancel your subscription at any time without penalty — a huge perk to choosing streaming over a cable provider.

For the full list of prices, skip down to TV bundles and add-ons.

Does Hulu + Live TV have a free trial?

Hulu offers a 30-day free trial for its standard and ad-free on-demand streaming plans, but that does not extend to its live TV services. In this category, YouTube TV has a leg up on Hulu because prospective subscribers like myself can test out YouTube's live TV channels for free over a period of five days (note: The time frame may differ during promotional periods). Though I do wish that the YouTube TV trial was longer, I appreciated that I didn't have to commit to a full month in order to see if the service was right for me.

What channels are included?

Hulu's live TV package comes with more than 75 channels, though the exact number varies based on your zip code (see the full lineup for your area here). There's a little something for everyone: national and local news and sports, entertainment, lifestyle, family-friendly programming, and more. Subscribers also gain access to the hundreds of shows and movies in Hulu's streaming library, including original content like Only Murders in the Building and The Handmaid's Tale. Personally, I loved checking out Hulu's extensive slate of documentaries.

The streamer's dashboard lets you easily toggle between different types of programming as well as your 'favorites' tab, where recorded content lives. Hulu's live TV interface reminds me of traditional cable 'guides,' with a scrolling layout that showcases what's on each network right now.

YouTube TV offers slightly more channels in its base plan than Hulu — 85+ vs. 75+ — but the offerings fall into the same categories. Each network provides a mix of live and on-demand content, and during my free YouTube TV trial, the service promoted air times of movies it thought I would like based on my interests.

The navigation on YouTube TV is pretty straightforward, allowing users to search for specific titles and switch from the platform's home screen to live channels to their personal library.

What sports channels are available?

I've discovered that what generally keeps people tied to their cable providers is local news and sports channels. No one wants to lose coverage of their favorite teams. Luckily, both Hulu and YouTube have plenty of options for sports fans.

With Hulu + Live TV, select NFL, NHL, and NCAA games are available through channels like CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC. Plus, I was able to create a custom dashboard in the app that tracks all of my top teams. The Live TV bundle also includes ESPN+, which streams soccer, baseball, tennis, golf, and college basketball events. If that's not enough content for you, the service offers a sports add-on for $9.99 per month with six more channels, including NFL RedZone and MavTV.

YouTube TV features most of the same coverage, and though ESPN+ is not an option here, subscribers have access to at least four of the network's channels. Like Hulu, YouTube has its own add-on called Sports Plus for $10.99 per month. But this package is bigger than its competitor's, boasting more than a dozen extra channels (NFL RedZone and beIN Sports included).

However, when it comes to local sports coverage, I don't recommend Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV since access to regional sports networks (RSNs) isn't guaranteed for every user. Instead, head over to DirecTV Stream, where three of the four plans include a greater amount of RSNs for no additional fee.

TV bundles and add-ons: YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

Both streamers offer various add-on packages that allow you to customize your viewing experience with content that interests you the most. Here's a quick breakdown of the different plan and bundle options for each service.

Overall, Hulu + Live TV's add-ons are cheaper, but that's because they come with less channels in each bundle. If you want access to HBO Max, Starz, and Showtime, it's less expensive to go with YouTube TV's Entertainment Plus add-on ($29.99 per month vs. $34.97 per month), but if you only need two out of the three, it might make more sense to bundle through Hulu.

Ultimately, you should pick the streamer that better caters to your unique viewing needs. Use the table above to figure out the cost per month based on the additional channels you plan to tack on to your bill.

Pros and cons: YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

How does FuboTV compare to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV?

FuboTV is another strong competitor in live TV streaming. For the same starting price as Hulu ($69.99 per month), it offers more live channels (130 to begin with) but less on-demand content. After testing the platforms, I feel that FuboTV is best for families because it allows unlimited simultaneous streams on up to 10 different devices at no extra cost. Plus, in addition to the popular kid-friendly channels you get in the base plan (Disney and Nickelodeon included), there's a Fubo Extra add-on for $7.99 per month that comes with even more family-focused programming.

In fact, FuboTV offers more add-on options than Hulu and YouTube combined, though Hulu has the edge in terms of bundling thanks to its partnerships with Disney+ and ESPN+. Also, Fubo doesn't have unlimited DVR storage like Hulu and YouTube, so that's something to keep in mind if you tend to record a lot of content. However, Fubo takes the crown for sports thanks to its comprehensive coverage. There are five add-ons dedicated to sports, allowing you to customize your viewing experience to include your favorites.

Final verdict: YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

After testing both services, I found Hulu + Live TV to be the better streamer for me. A big selling point is the combined access to Disney+ and ESPN+ as well as to Hulu's original and on-demand content, which I like to binge-watch on a regular basis.

However, if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to cable, YouTube TV is a fantastic option for streaming live shows, sporting events, and more.