Hulu + Live TV vs. Sling TV

Sling vs. Hulu + Live TV overview

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Hulu + Live TV vs Sling TV

After the success of Netflix, several streaming services popped onto the cord-cutting scene, including Hulu, Sling TV, fuboTV, Amazon Prime and YouTube TV. The services vary in pricing and live TV options. We take a look at Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Sling TV vs Hulu TV pricing comparison

These two streaming services differ in terms of price, how viewers access content and the amount of programming they offer to viewers. They are good cable alternatives for cord-cutters, too.

Hulu has streaming and live TV packages, while Sling TV provides two bundles of various channels. We compared the live TV packages only for a simpler comparison.

Does Sling TV or Hulu TV offer better channel lineups?

Both Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV provide a range of packages that offer vastly different content options. The standard Hulu services enable viewers to stream thousands of shows and movies, as well as episodes from major networks one or two days after they broadcast. Plus with a package that includes live TV, users also get 85+ channels. Sling TV, on the other hand, provides two separate packages that offer more than 30 to 50 live channels. 

Hulu and Sling TV feature varying levels of content for sports viewers. Hulu has a Disney+ package that includes access to ESPN+, while Sling TV’s Orange option provides three ESPN channels and its Blue package includes NFL Network. Hardcore sports fanatics might be happier with Hulu + Live TV, which provides access to ESPN and Fox Sports. 

Hulu + Live TV includes coverage of most major networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, along with 24-hour news services like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Sling Blue provides coverage of Fox and NBC, but Sling Orange doesn’t have any local networks.

Hulu’s standard services have subscribers covered with thousands of hours of TV shows and movies. Sling’s Blue package is more entertainment-focused with channels such as AMC, Comedy Central and FX. Orange includes ESPN and Disney Channel. Hulu also offers a bundle that includes access to the huge amount of content available on the Disney+ service and the sports streaming app ESPN+. 

Hulu and Sling TV both enable viewers to buy further content on top of their selected packages. Hulu subscribers can add channels like Cinemax, HBO, SHOWTIME and STARZ, while Sling TV provides add-ons like kids’ channels, comedy, news and sports, which includes NBC Golf, NFL RedZone and the Olympic Channel.One area that differentiates the two providers is Hulu’s own programming, which includes shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Great and Queenmaker, whereas Sling TV doesn’t create any original content.

Winner: Hulu

User experience: Sling TV vs. Hulu Live TV

Hulu provides individual accounts for up to six users, each of which gets a personalized service tailored to their viewing preferences and interests. Sling TV offers just two profiles per subscription.

In terms of recording content, Hulu has 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, while Sling only includes 10 hours. Sling TV subscribers can also pay an extra $5/mo. for 50 hours. However, Sling TV enables viewers to fast-forward through ads on recorded content, a feature that’s only available to Hulu + Live TV viewers through an add-on. 

Both streaming services are compatible with popular devices, including Android and iOS phones and tablets, Amazon, Chromecast and Roku sticks, set-top boxes like Android TV and Apple TV, as well as desktops, laptops and gaming consoles.

Winner: Hulu

Should you choose Hulu or Sling TV?

Hulu and Sling TV offer different flavors of what people expect from live TV streaming services. The decision about which one to purchase may boil down to personal preference over available channels, as well as how much content you can store to binge-watch later on a DVR.

Hulu’s Live TV packages provide the best of both worlds with affordable access to a vast library of TV shows and movies and live TV, while Sling TV consists of more expensive packages that give cord cutters access to live TV channels.

Both also feature premium services that enable subscribers to maximize the on-demand or live streaming they consume.

For the money, Hulu + Live TV is the most all-encompassing service available from the two as it includes not only a huge back catalog of on-demand TV but a solid range of live TV streaming options.

Need a faster internet plan for your streaming?

Hulu recommends 3 Mbps for its streaming library, 8 Mbps for live streams and 16 Mbps for 4K content. Sling TV recommends at least 3 Mbps for portable devices like phones, 5 Mbps for single stream users and 25 Mbps for a household of multiple users.

For either service, if you are streaming or watching live content simultaneously on multiple devices, you’ll need that much speed available for each device. For example, if you have three devices streaming in 4K for Hulu, it will take about 48 Mbps to keep them running at the same time without lag.

If you need more speed with your internet plan, check your address with Allconnect to show your options.