Both are full live TV streaming services with local channels, unlimited cloud DVR and no contract. The big difference is how you pay: YouTube TV now sells cheaper genre plans next to its main plan, while Hulu + Live TV bundles Disney+ and ESPN Select into one price.
YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV at a glance
| YouTube TV | Hulu + Live TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $54.99 Entertainment | $98.99 Live TV Only |
| Estimated monthly | $54.99 no required extra fees listed | $98.99 no required extra fees listed |
| Type | Streaming | Streaming |
| Plans | YouTube TV (main/Base plan): $82.99 · 100+ channels Sports + News: $71.99 · 50+ channels Sports: $64.99 · 30+ channels Entertainment: $54.99 · 55+ channels News + Entertainment: $62.99 · 70+ channels News + Entertainment + Family: $69.99 · 85+ channels Sports + Entertainment: $71.99 · 80+ channels Sports + News + Entertainment: $77.99 Sports + News + Family: $77.99 Sports + Entertainment + Family: $77.99 News + Family: — Spanish Plan: $34.99 · 30+ channels | 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 |
| Extra fees | None listed | Broadcast TV fee: $0 Regional sports fee: $0 Set-top box or related rental fees: $0 Miscellaneous administrative/convenience fees: $0 |
| Contract | No contract; cancel anytime with no cancellation fees (no refunds for partial billing periods). Membership can be paused up to 6 months. | No contract. Cancel anytime; plan switches from Live TV to Hulu take effect next billing cycle. |
| Screens at once | 3 simultaneous streams per membership (up to 6 household accounts); 4K Plus add-on ($9.99/mo) unlocks unlimited streams at home. | 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. |
| DVR | Unlimited cloud DVR storage included on all plans; each of 6 accounts has its own library; recordings kept for 9 months. Offline downloads of recordings require 4K Plus add-on. | 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. |
| Local channels | Yes - local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX (plus PBS and The CW in many markets) are included in all plans; official site claims local network coverage in over 98% of US TV households; lineup varies by ZIP code. | 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. |
| Only on this one* | NBA TV, AMC | — |
| Full lineup | YouTube TV guide | Hulu + Live 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 YouTube TV if
- You want a cheaper genre plan (Sports, Entertainment or News) instead of paying for everything.
- Three people need to watch at the same time without paying for extra screens.
- You watch AMC, which Hulu + Live TV does not carry.
Pick Hulu + Live TV if
- You would use Disney+, Hulu's on-demand library and ESPN Select anyway, because they are included.
- You prefer one bill for live TV and your streaming apps.
- Two screens at once is enough, or you are happy to add the Unlimited Screens option.
Bottom line
For most households that just want live TV, YouTube TV is the more flexible choice. If you already pay for Disney+ or Hulu, Hulu + Live TV can work out cheaper overall. Compare them with your own channels.