YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV

These days, it’s easier than ever to cut the cable cord and find an online streaming service to meet your live television needs. YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV are two of the most popular live TV streaming services on the market. Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of each one and which is right for you.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live overview

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Pricing 

When it comes to pricing, YouTube TV is more expensive than Hulu. Both services also have optional add-ons that allow you to improve your TV package. In addition, neither service has any setup fees or hidden fees, so you know the price you’re quoted is what you’ll actually pay.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live + TV: Free trial

YouTube TV and Hulu Live each offer a free trial, meaning you can give them both a shot before having to pay. This could be a good opportunity to test out both services and decide which is a better fit. Hulu Live offers a seven-day free trial. YouTube TV’s trial is slightly more generous, at 14 days.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: Channel lineup

Both YouTube TV and Hulu Live have an impressive channel lineup, so you’ll never run out of things to watch. YouTube TV comes with more than 100+ channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, HGTV and more. You can watch your favorite local and sports channels, as well as traditional cable channels.

Hulu Live also has many channels to choose from. You’ll have access to local channels like ABC and CBS, sports channels like ESPN and ESPN 2, and traditional cable channels like HGTV, CNN, History Channel and more.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: User profiles 

Are you planning to share your streaming plan with friends or family members? Both YouTube TV and Hulu Live allow you to set up multiple user profiles, so you can each create your own lineup of favorite shows and channels. With both YouTube TV and Hulu Live, you can share your subscription with up to six household members, each of whom can have an individual user profile.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: Multiple streams 

In addition to having multiple user profiles set up on your television plan, you can also have multiple household members watching at once. In the case of YouTube TV, you can have up to three simultaneous streams on your account, meaning you and two family members can be watching at the same time. In the case of Hulu Live, you can have up to two simultaneous streams. However, you can also upgrade your account to allow for unlimited streams.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV: Cloud DVR

With your YouTube TV and Hulu Live plans, you’ll be able to record live shows with cloud DVR storage. YouTube TV comes with unlimited cloud DVR storage, including rewind, fast forward, and pause capability. Hulu Live has similar capabilities but with a maximum of 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. If 50 hours isn’t enough, there’s an upgrade that allows you to add enhanced cloud DVR storage for up to 200 hours.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live + TV: Supported devices 

Both YouTube TV and Hulu Live offer an impressive list of supported devices where you can watch their services. They can be watched on your computer, smartphone and tablet. You can also watch them on a variety of other supported devices.

YouTube TV supported devices

YouTube TV allows you to stream on 11 different types of devices:

Hulu TV supported devices 

Hulu Live allows you to stream on types of devices:

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

YouTube TV and Hulu Live offer similar services, but each comes with its own unique list of pros and cons. Consider these before you choose which is right for you.

Overall winner: YouTube TV

When comparing these two live TV options, YouTube TV has a slight edge over Hulu Live. Though the two are evenly matched in many ways, YouTube TV offers a larger channel lineup, more simultaneous streams and unlimited cloud DVR hours.

It’s important to note that YouTube TV is the winner for anyone looking for a live television option. But we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that a Hulu Live membership also comes with access to the entire Hulu on-demand library, which includes many Hulu originals. If on-demand options are a priority for you, then you might prefer Hulu Live.

Need high-speed internet for your streaming? 

To get the most of any streaming service, it’s important to have a reliable high-speed internet connection. If your internet plan is holding you back, it might be time to shop around for a new one. Visit our search tool to find the best internet service provider for you.