YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: Which is the better deal?

YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are both video streaming services that offer live entertainment, news, and sports channels. Hulu + Live TV recently became the leading provider in the live TV streaming market with 3.2 million subscribers, while YouTube TV is growing quickly and now has more than 2 million.

Both services enable users to record content for later viewing. YouTube TV comes with unlimited Cloud DVR access for up to 9 months and permits simultaneous streaming on multiple devices. The service also lets viewers create multiple personalized profiles per account. Hulu + Live TV subscribers, on the other hand, benefit from unlimited DVR storage for up to 9 months, access to Disney+ and Hulu’s library of on-demand content and original programming and live sports on ESPN+. 

Plans and pricing for YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month.

YouTube TV subscription costs $72.99 per month.

 YouTube TVHulu + Live TV
Monthly price$72.99$76.99
Free trial lengthVariesNone
Number of channels100+90+
Original content available? NoYes
Live sports streaming available? YesYes

Comparing YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

User experience

YouTube TV provides a simple user interface that is broken into three core tabs, Library, Home, and Live. Subscribers’ recorded content lives in the Library, Home provides a featured content overview, and Live is a TV guide of currently playing and upcoming shows. There is also a search bar at the top of every page, which makes it simple to find movies and shows. Users can skip ads on recorded programs, but not during live streams.

Hulu + Live TV also offers a simple user interface, with live shows arranged in a classic grid view. My Stuff contains recorded content with episodes displayed in visually appealing windows that make it easy to find things to watch. It is also possible to fast-forward or rewind through recorded movies and shows, but not live TV streams. 

hulu live home page

Major Channel Differences

The two services offer many of the same networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, Disney Channel, and Animal Planet, but have a few big names that can help you make your decision. Some of the most notable differences include A&E, Fox Sports, History, MLB Network, and NBA TV. 

 YouTube TVHulu Live TV
A&ENoYes
AMCYesNo
BBC AmericaYesNo
BBC World NewsYesNo
BoomerangNoYes
Comet TVYesNo
FOX SportsNoYes
HistoryNoYes
LifetimeNoYes
MLB NetworkYesNo
NBA TVYesNo
OWNYesNo
PBSYesNo
Sundance TVYesNo
TastemadeYesNo
VicelandNoYes
WE tvYesNo

Originals and On Demand Content

With YouTube TV, you have access to some on-demand content that is provided through certain networks as well as YouTube Originals that are commercial free. However, it doesn’t stack up well compared to Hulu with Live TV that gives you access to all of Hulu’s on-demand library that includes hundreds of shows and movies, along with all of Hulu’s Original’s.

But don’t steer away from YouTube TV yet. With YouTube TV coming in at $65 per month and Hulu’s basic plan at $6 per month, you could have your favorite live TV channels and Hulu’s on-demand library for $61 per month.

Personalization

YouTube TV subscribers can create six user profiles per account, with each receiving personalized show recommendations and a customizable live guide. Each profile gets its own recording space. Hulu + Live TV provides individual, personalized accounts for up to six users also. Viewers can create profiles that restrict viewing to specific shows. They can also block content, restrict searches, and limit viewing options.

hulu live my stuff

Add Ons

YouTube TV subscribers can increase their viewing options with a range of add-ons. These include Acorn ($6/mo.), AMC Premiere ($5/mo.), CuriosityStream ($3/mo.) and Sundance Now ($7/mo.) It also offers Showtime ($7/mo.) and Starz ($9/mo.) at a lower price point than Hulu + Live TV. Sports fans can add FOX Soccer Plus ($15/mo.) and NBA League Pass ($40/mo.) to their accounts. 

Hulu + Live TV features several add-on services that enable users to enhance and personalize their service — these include add-ons like Cinemax ($9.99/mo.), HBO ($14.99/mo.), Showtime ($10.99/mo.), and STARZ ($8.99/mo.) There is also the Entertainment Add-on, which provides extra news and lifestyle content such as CNBC World, Cooking Chanel, and Lifetime Movies for $7.99/mo., and the Espanol Add-on, which gives subscribers access to a range of Spanish live streams and on-demand options for $4.99/mo. Users can also restrict the shows and movies available by creating a Kids Profile, which limits viewing options exclusively to shows in Hulu’s Kids Hub section. 

youtube tv add ons

Cloud DVR

Hulu with Live TV comes with unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage to record and watch content.

A YouTube TV subscription comes with a Cloud DVR with unlimited storage. You can record shows simultaneously and watch from any of your devices.

YouTube TV enables users to watch on three simultaneous streams, compared to the two available through Hulu + Live TV. However, Hulu subscribers can upgrade to any number of home devices and 3 simultaneous mobile streams via the Unlimited Screens add-on for an extra $9.99/mo.

Simultaneous Viewing

Hulu with Live TV allows two simultaneous streams. There’s also an option to upgrade to unlimited home devices and 3 mobile simultaneous streams for $9.99/month.

YouTube TV allows you to stream simultaneously on up to 3 devices. You’ll also have the option to set up 6 profiles for each account, so everyone in the family can personalize their profile with their favorite content.

Device compatibility

YouTube TV is available on the following devices:

  •         Amazon Fire TV
  •         Amazon Fire TV cube
  •         Amazon Fire TV stick
  •         Android L or later
  •         Android TV
  •         Apple iOS 9.1 or later
  •         Apple TV
  •         Google Chromecast
  •         HiSense TVs
  •         LG Smart TVs
  •         Roku
  •         Sharp Smart TVs
  •         Samsung Smart TV’s (2016+)
  •         Vizio SmartCast TVs (select models)
  •         Web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox
  •         Xbox One

Hulu + Live TV is compatible with these devices: 

  •         Amazon Echo devices
  •         Amazon Fire tablets
  •         Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
  •         Android 5.0 or later
  •         Android TV (select models)
  •         Apple iOS 12 or later
  •         Apple TV 4th generation or later
  •         Echo Show
  •         Google Chrome OS
  •         Google Chromecast
  •         Hisense TVs
  •         LG TV (select models)
  •         macOS X 10.9 or above
  •         Microsoft Windows 10
  •         Nintendo Switch
  •         Nvidia Shield
  •         PlayStation 4
  •         Roku and Roku sticks (select models)
  •         Samsung Smart TVs
  •         Sony Bravia Android TVs
  •         Vizio SmartCast TVs
  •         Web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari 
  •         Xbox 360 and Xbox One
  •         Xiaomi Mi Box

YouTube TV channels vs. Hulu + Live TV channels

ChannelHulu with Live TVYouTube TV
A&EX 
ABCXX
ABC NewsX 
ABC News Live X
ACC Network X
Acorn X
Adult SwimX 
AMCXX
AMC Premiere X
Android X
Animal PlanetXX
Apple TV X
AwesomenessTVX 
BBC AmericaXX
BBC World News X
BETXX
BloombergX 
Brain Games X
BravoXX
BTN X
Cartoon NetworkXX
CBSXX
CBS Sports Network X
Cheddar BusinessXX
Cheddar News X
Chopped X
Chromecast X
CINEMAXXX
CMTXX
CNBC X
CNBC World X
CNN X
Comedy CentralXX
Comet TV X
ComplexX 
Cooking ChannelX 
Court TV X
Cozi X
CuriosityStream X
DiscoveryX 
Discovery Channel X
Discovery en EspañolX 
Disney X
Disney ChannelXX
Disney JuniorXX
Disney XDXX
E! X
E! EntertainmentX 
EPIX X
Epix OriginalsX 
ESPN X
ESPN Sportscenter X
ESPN2 X
ESPNews X
ESPNU X
Fire TV X
Food NetworkXX
FOXX 
FOX 46 X
FOX Business X
FOX Network X
Fox NewsXX
FOX News Channel X
FOX Soccer Plus X
FOX Sports X
FOX Sports Carolinas X
FOX Sports Southeast X
FreeformXX
FS1 X
FS2 X
FuseX 
FXXX
FXM X
FXXXX
Golf Channel X
Grays Anatomy X
HBO X
HBO MaxXX
HereTVX 
HGTVXX
HistoryX 
HLN X
Hulu Original SeriesX 
ID X
IFC X
Investigation DiscoveryX 
iOS X
LG X
LifetimeX 
Local Now X
Masked Singer X
MHz NetworksX 
MLB Game of the Week X
MLB Network X
MotorTrend X
MSNBC X
MTVXX
Nat Geo X
Nat Geo WildXX
National GeographicXX
NBA League Pass X
NBA TV X
NBCXX
NBC Sports X
NBCSN X
Newsy X
NickelodeonXX
Olympic Channel X
Outlander X
OWN X
Oxygen X
Party of Five X
PBS CLT X
PC Mag Editor’s Choice X
PlayStation X
pocket.watchX 
Pop X
Roku X
Samsung X
SCETV X
ScienceX 
SEC Network X
Sharp X
SHOWTIMEXX
Shudder X
Slow Burn X
Smithsonian Channel X
Start TV X
StarzXX
Sundance Now X
SundanceTV X
SYFYXX
Tastemade X
TBSXX
TelemundoX 
Telemundo 44 X
Tennis Channel X
The Voice X
TLCXX
TNTXX
Travel ChannelXX
truTV X
Turner Classic Movies X
TV LandXX
TV64 X
TYT Network X
UMC X
UNC-TV X
Universal KidsXX
Universo X
USAXX
VH1XX
Vizio X
Walking Dead X
WBTV X
WCCB X
WCNC NBC X
WE tv X
WGN AmericaX 
WSOC 9 X
xbox X
Young Sheldon X
YouTube Originals X
YouTube TV X

The final cut

YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV both offer solid live streaming options that enable cord cutters to save a bundle on entertainment. 

In addition to live TV, both services have a variety of features and experience-enhancing options. Hulu + Live TV subscribers gain access to the content available through Hulu’s on-demand streaming platform, which includes Hulu’s popular original programming. YouTube TV offers unlimited recording space for 9 months and 3 simultaneous streams, compared to Hulu + Live TV’s unlimited hours of Cloud DVR space and 2 simultaneous streams. Both services let subscribers create six profiles per account and restrict the viewing options available to individual users. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV have seven-day free trials.

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