We recommend products and services based on unbiased research from our editorial team. We make money via affiliate links, which means if you click a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Any commissions we receive do not affect our recommendations; if you want to know more about how that works, read more.
Youtube TV vs. Hulu
YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are two of the most popular cable-replacement services, with broad local coverage (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and in many markets The CW) and large national cable lineups. Channel availability varies by location, so confirm your local roster on each provider’s site before you subscribe.
Since 2020, YouTube TV has expanded and stabilized its lineup: it added the ViacomCBS portfolio (e.g., MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central), resolved carriage disputes with NBCUniversal and Disney in 2021, regained MLB Network in 2024, and began carrying The CW stations via a Nexstar deal. Today it advertises 100+ channels with unlimited DVR for $72.99/month.
Hulu’s live streaming service, Hulu + Live TV, pairs a broad live lineup with Disney+ and ESPN+ included on most plans and now includes Unlimited Cloud DVR. Key changes since 2020: it dropped the Fox/Bally regional sports networks (RSNs) and added NFL Network and NFL RedZone (via the Sports add-on) in 2021 (announcement). Current pricing is $76.99/month (With Ads) or $89.99/month (Hulu No Ads + Live TV).
YouTube TV is best for viewers who want strong sports features and broad coverage at a slightly lower base price—multiview on supported devices, an optional 4K Plus add‑on, and access to NFL Sunday Ticket—while Hulu is ideal for bundling live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ and keeping Hulu’s on‑demand library under one subscription (details).
YouTube TV vs. Hulu Overview
YouTube TV offers 100+ live channels (market‑dependent), broad local affiliate coverage, and an unlimited cloud DVR that keeps recordings for up to 9 months; multiview makes it easy to watch multiple games at once on supported devices (plan; DVR; multiview).
Hulu Live TV is $76.99–$89.99/month depending on ad tier, includes Disney+ and ESPN+, and includes Unlimited Cloud DVR; it also integrates cleanly with existing Hulu subscriptions (pricing; Cloud DVR).
Quantity of channels
YouTube TV offers a robust channel lineup featuring local networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, plus—in many markets—The CW via a Nexstar deal. Sports depth is strong, and MLB Network returned in 2024. A major entertainment expansion in 2020 added the ViacomCBS portfolio (e.g., MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central) to the base lineup (details). You can also add premium networks and language packs through YouTube TV’s add‑ons.
Hulu + Live TV has a broadly comparable national lineup and comes with the entire library of the service’s original and on-demand content. Like YouTube TV, it does not carry Bally Sports regional networks (dropped in 2020), but it added NFL Network and NFL RedZone (via the Sports add‑on) in 2021 (announcement). Lineups vary by DMA, so verify your locals and must‑have cable channels before subscribing.
Streaming and DVR
YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR with recordings kept for up to 9 months, and you can record as many programs at once as you like. On some shows, rights may force an on‑demand playback with ads that can’t be skipped (learn more).
Hulu’s DVR is now Unlimited at no extra charge, with recordings available for up to 9 months. You can fast‑forward through ads in DVR recordings, but not in on‑demand content (details).
User experience
If you’re used to other streaming platforms, you will feel right at home with both YouTube TV and Hulu; both have well‑supported apps across major smart TVs and streaming players (YouTube TV devices; Hulu devices).
The YouTube TV interface is simple. You have Library, Home, and Live TV tabs, which will let you sort through live shows, record content, or watch something that you have already recorded on DVR. You can use the built-in search function from any tab, so you can quickly find what you are looking for. Multiview on supported devices helps you watch multiple games at once, and the optional 4K Plus add‑on enables 4K playback (when available), unlimited home streams, and mobile DVR downloads.
The DVR functionality lets you record unlimited TV, and recordings are stored for nine months. You can use the remote to fast-forward through recorded TV, though some on‑demand substitutions may include unskippable ads; mobile downloads are available with the 4K Plus add‑on (DVR; 4K Plus).
Hulu’s Live TV interface opts for a grid-based view. You can browse existing shows that are available on the standard version of Hulu, view the selection of live TV channels, or look through movies and shows you have already recorded. The large window view makes it easy to find what you want to watch, without having to sort through pages of content. For larger households, the Unlimited Screens add‑on can expand concurrent viewing, and eligible subscribers can access Hulu content inside Disney+ in the U.S., streamlining browsing (learn more).
Value for price
While the base prices of YouTube TV and Hulu are similar in the mid‑$70s, the better value depends on what you prioritize: YouTube TV’s sports‑centric features and 4K/streams bundle, or Hulu’s inclusion of Disney+ and ESPN+ (YouTube TV; Hulu + Live TV).
YouTube TV has straightforward pricing. You pay $72.99 per month for its live streaming lineup (100+ channels), unlimited DVR storage, and up to three simultaneous streams. Optional upgrades include 4K Plus ($9.99/month after trial) for 4K playback, unlimited home streams, and mobile DVR downloads, Sports Plus ($10.99/month), and Spanish options such as the Spanish Plan or Spanish Plus add‑on.
The price of Hulu is $76.99 per month (With Ads) or $89.99 per month (Hulu No Ads + Live TV), and both include Disney+ and ESPN+ as well as Unlimited Cloud DVR. Add-ons can increase the total: Entertainment ($7.99/month), Sports ($9.99/month, includes NFL RedZone), Español ($4.99/month), and Unlimited Screens ($9.99/month).
Most devices will support both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. However, older devices may have trouble running the services. The lists of supported devices change often, so check them before you sign up (YouTube TV devices; Hulu devices).
The Bottom Line
Both services are very similar in pricing, channels available, and overall functionality. Whether you choose Hulu or YouTube TV, you’ll be able to stream most of your favorite channels with unlimited cloud DVR and broad device support.
That said, YouTube TV has a robust lineup of 100+ channels (market‑dependent), broad local coverage including The CW in many markets, and sports-friendly features like multiview and the 4K Plus add‑on. It also restored MLB Network in 2024 and includes an unlimited DVR with 9‑month retention.
Hulu + Live TV operates best as an all‑in‑one option for households that want live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN+ under one subscription. While the base price is slightly higher than YouTube TV, the included SVODs, Unlimited DVR, and football extras like NFL Network/RedZone can tip the value for many viewers—just note that, like YouTube TV, it doesn’t carry Bally Sports RSNs (pricing and bundle; Cloud DVR; NFL additions; RSNs).
Recently Added
