Hulu + Live TV is a full cable replacement with local channels and Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select included. Sling TV is the budget option: smaller plans you can combine, with local channels only in some markets.
Hulu + Live TV vs Sling TV at a glance
| Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $98.99 Live TV Only | $19.99 Sling Essentials |
| Estimated monthly | $98.99 no required extra fees listed | $19.99 no required extra fees listed |
| Type | Streaming | Streaming |
| Plans | Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads), and ESPN Select: $99.99 · 100+ channels Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads), and ESPN Select: $109.99 · 100+ channels Live TV Only: $98.99 · 100+ channels | Sling Essentials: $19.99 · 10+ channels Sling Select: $19.99 · 10+ channels Sling Essentials & Select: $34.99 · 20+ channels Sling Orange: $45.99 · 30+ channels Sling Blue: $45.99 · 40+ channels Sling Orange & Blue: $60.99 · 50+ channels |
| Extra fees | Broadcast TV fee: $0 Regional sports fee: $0 Set-top box or related rental fees: $0 Miscellaneous administrative/convenience fees: $0 | None listed |
| Contract | No contract. Cancel anytime; plan switches from Live TV to Hulu take effect next billing cycle. | No contract; month-to-month, no cancellation fee (third-party reporting). Prepaid plans lock in for the prepaid term. |
| Screens at once | 2 screens at the same time. The optional Unlimited Screens add-on allows unlimited screens at home plus 3 on the go. Third-party sources put the add-on at $9.99/mo; hulu.com did not show a price. | Sling Orange: 1 stream; Sling Blue: 3 streams; Sling Orange & Blue: 4 streams (1 Orange + 3 Blue). Essentials/Select stream limits not confirmed. |
| DVR | Unlimited DVR included at no extra cost. Recordings are kept up to 9 months, you can fast-forward through them, and you can record multiple shows at once. Unlimited DVR does not cover on-demand shows. | Cloud DVR with 50 hours included; Unlimited DVR upgrade $5/mo (third-party reporting; sling.com lists Unlimited DVR as an option). |
| Local channels | Yes. Local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are included (plus The CW and PBS in some markets). Which stations you get depends on your ZIP code. | Partial: local ABC, NBC and FOX only in select markets, on Sling Blue / Sling Select (and combos with them). Sling Orange and Essentials have no locals. CBS is not offered. |
| Only on this one* | CBS, PBS | AMC |
| Full lineup | Hulu + Live TV guide | Sling TV guide |
* Among popular channels our guides list as missing on the other service. Data from our lineup guides. Confirm prices with the provider before you sign up. Compare with your channels
Which should you pick?
Pick Hulu + Live TV if
- You want local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in most areas.
- You would use Disney+, Hulu's library and ESPN Select.
- You want unlimited cloud DVR included.
Pick Sling TV if
- Price matters most and you only need a core set of channels.
- You can get your local channels another way, such as an antenna.
- You want to start small and add extras later.
Bottom line
Hulu + Live TV costs more but replaces cable and several streaming apps in one bill. Sling is the better pick when you want live channels for the lowest price. Compare them with your own channels.