Cable is more expensive than ever. Recent studies have shown that the cost of a standard cable bill is more than $100 per month. But while canceling cable can save you a ton of money, it may leave you unable to watch some of your favorite live TV shows. This is especially hard to deal with if you love sports, cable news channels, and other cable networks.
That’s where internet TV services like DirecTV Stream and Hulu with Live TV come in. In this article, we’ll look at these two services and discuss their benefits and drawbacks, as well as the facts you need to know about each service.
An overview of Hulu With Live TV & DirecTV Stream
Hulu with Live TV and DirecTV Stream are both known as “skinny bundles”. Skinny bundles package together a selected number of cable channels, and these channels are delivered to the customer directly over the internet.
No cable connection, satellite dish, or antenna is required. As long as you have a working internet connection, you can watch internet TV.
Internet TV differs from cable in a few important ways. First, there are no long-term contracts. All major internet TV providers allow you to purchase service month-to-month, without any kind of cancellation fees or other service fees.
Internet TV also has very transparent pricing. You won’t get hit with fees for cable box rental or any other added costs. This also means that these services are sometimes quite cheap. DirecTV Stream, for example, starts out at only about $75/month, which is much less than the average cable bill.
Now that you understand the basics of internet TV, let’s discuss two of the most popular internet TV services: DirecTV Stream and Hulu with Live TV.
DirecTV Stream
Source: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream offers a lot of good channels and reasonable features, but some recent pricing changes have made DirecTV Stream the priciest internet TV service out there.
DirecTV Stream Entertainment
Try 5 days free
- 75+ channels
- Stream on unlimited devices at home
- Unlimited DVR space
$84.99/month
DirecTV Stream Optimo Mas
- 100+ live TV channels
- Spanish and English programming
- Three months of Max free
- Unlimited DVR space
$86.99/month
DirecTV Stream Choice
Try 5 days free
- 105+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$114.99/month
DirecTV Stream Ultimate
Try 5 days free
- 140+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$129.99/month
DirecTV Stream Premier
- Unlimited DVR space
- 150+ channels
- Includes Max Cinemax SHOWTIME and STARZ
- Includes regional sports networks
$169.99/month
There are four primary subscription tiers at DirecTV Stream. The cheapest starts at around $75/month, while the most expensive will cost you upwards of $150/month.
That’s not exactly a bargain, despite some nice extras like free Showtime, MGM+ and Cinemax with all DirecTV Stream packages. Let’s dive into some more details.
Best features
If you want a lot of channels and price is no object, DirecTV Stream is definitely a good choice. Its highest-tier plan gives you more than 150 channels, which is more than any other internet TV streaming service on the market.
DirecTV Stream also has support for a lot of TV Everywhere logins, which means you can log into apps and websites for channels like CNN and ESPN and watch both live and on-demand TV. Other services support this too, of course, but DirecTV Stream has the most overall support from its carried channels.
DirecTV Stream also has a pretty good DVR, with plenty of storage, and lets you stream on up to 20 devices in your home network at once, which is more than most of the competition.
Downsides
The biggest downside of DirecTV Stream is its price. You’ll pay a lot for this service, no matter which plan you choose. The cheapest plan available is higher than any other internet TV service’s introductory channel plan.
With its higher-end packages, you may find that you would pay more to get TV through DirecTV Stream than you would with a traditional pay TV provider like Comcast, Spectrum or Dish Network.
If you are looking for a bargain on Internet TV, DirecTV Stream isn't it. It has some other benefits and advantages, but price isn't one of them. It's simply the highest-priced product on the market.
Hulu With Live TV
Source: Hulu With Live TV
Hulu with Live TV is a relatively new internet TV service, having launched in late 2017. However, it has quickly become quite popular for its reliable service, great apps, and streamlined user interface – as well as its good features.
Hulu (with ads)
Get 3 HULU, DISNEY Plus, ESPN
- Stream on two screens
- Big movies
- Hit TV shows
- On demand content
$9.99/month
Hulu (no ads)
Get 3 HULU, DISNEY Plus, ESPN
- Stream on two screens
- Big movies
- Hit TV shows
- On demand content
- No ads
$18.99/month
Hulu Live TV only
- 90+ live channels
- Stream on two screens
$81.99/month
Hulu Live TV (with ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$82.99/month
Hulu Live TV (some ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$87.99/month
Hulu Live TV (no ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$95.99/month
Hulu with Live TV, unlike DirecTV Stream, only comes with one package of cable channels. This package comes with 90+ channels, depending on your geographic location and partnered local TV networks.
Best features
Hulu with Live TV has a good number of solid features that make it a top pick for cord-cutters. First, it has a really good lineup of channels for the price. There are few coverage gaps.
Sports fans can get ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, as well as Fox Sports 1 and 2, NBC Golf, and local ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC affiliates (depending on the location). News junkies get CNN and MSNBC, as well as Fox News and Fox Business. For entertainment lovers, there is TBS, FX, TNT, FreeForm, Oxygen, Cartoon Network, and more.
You also get a free DVR with Hulu with Live TV that gives you 50 hours of storage. You can stream on up to 2 devices at once by default, but you can upgrade to unlimited streams for a fee.
The most unique feature of Hulu with Live TV is that your subscription comes with a totally free Hulu on-demand subscription. You can access all of Hulu’s video content, including original shows, movies, and syndicated programs.
Downsides
Hulu with Live TV is missing a few channels like AMC and Lifetime Movie Network. It also is a bit expensive, especially with optional upgrades like a bigger DVR and more simultaneous streams.
In addition, your options for adding on premium networks are somewhat limited compared to DirecTV Stream, and its DVR and simultaneous streaming policy are not that good without being upgraded with the Enhanced DVR or Unlimited Streams add-ons.
Fact 1: Hulu With Live TV and DirecTV Stream both have lots of VOD (video-on-demand) content
Source: Hulu
Hulu with Live TV does have more on-demand content than DirecTV Stream. You can get access to more than 3,000 shows and hundreds of top films, across just about every imaginable genre. This includes critically-acclaimed Hulu Originals like The Handmaid's Tale. You get full access to all of this content with your Hulu With Live TV subscription, at no extra charge.
DirecTV Stream also has plenty of on-demand content, but you're usually limited to select past seasons, some recently-aired shows, and a handful of movies from each network that is carried as part of your subscription. This lineup of content rotates frequently, too, so you may miss out if you don't watch a particular show or movie right away.
Fact 2: DirecTV Stream has better family-friendly options and features
If you are planning on sharing your internet TV subscription with your family members or housemates, DirecTV Stream is probably a better choice for you.
Unlike Hulu with Live TV, all DirecTV Stream plans include up to 20 devices streaming simultaneously on your home network, and allows up to three simultaneous streams outside your home network.
Hulu with Live TV includes two simultaneous streams, and you can upgrade the number of simultaneous streams available to you, for a fee. For $9.99/month, you can get the “Unlimited Screens” package, which lets you stream on 3 devices outside your home network, and on unlimited devices inside your home WiFi network.
With Hulu with Live TV, you can also boost your DVR storage to 200 hours with a $9.99/month “Enhanced DVR” package. If desired, you can combine both of these packages for a $14.99/month flat fee. DirecTV Stream offers the option to upgrade from the included 20 hours of DVR recording to unlimited for a fee of $10/month.
DirecTV Stream makes it much easier to share your account, and lets everyone watch their favorite shows at once.
Fact 3: DirecTV Stream comes with Max, Showtime, Cinemax and MGM+ for free
Hulu With Live TV offers plenty of premium channels including Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Max, just to name a few. But they'll all cost you an additional fee.
DirecTV Stream, on the other hand, sweetens the deal for fans of premium TV. All DirecTV Stream subscriptions come with Max, Showtime, MGM+, Cinemax, and DirecTV Sports Package included free for the first three months.
Fact 4: DirecTV Stream and Hulu With Live TV both let you log in to cable websites
Both DirecTV Stream and Hulu with Live TV let you log into cable websites. For example, you can go to the FX website and watch live TV by entering your DirecTV Stream or Hulu with Live TV login credentials.
You can see which websites are supported by Hulu and which websites are supported by DirecTV Stream here.
Fact 5: DirecTV Stream and Hulu With Live TV have excellent device support
Source: Hulu With Live TV
Both Hulu with Live TV and DirecTV Stream have great device support. They both support the following:
- Streaming on web browsers
- iOS and Android
- Chromecast
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
However, Hulu with Live TV supports a few more additional devices that are not supported by DirecTV Stream, such as the Xbox One and Xbox 360, as well as some select Samsung Smart TVs.
In addition, DirecTV Stream dropped Roku support in early 2020, but it seems to be back up and running. You can confirm all the compatible devices with DirecTV Stream here.
Fact 6: You can only try DirecTV Stream for free
Even though Hulu With Live TV used to offer a free trial, it has since discontinued it. DirecTV Stream, however, still offers a 5-day free trial. And if you are interested, you can get it by clicking here.
Just remember that you do need to cancel your subscription manually before the 5-day trial period is up, otherwise you'll be automatically charged for a full month of service.
DirecTV Stream vs. Hulu With Live TV: Which is better?
The answer to this question depends on the features you need, the channels you want to watch, and a few other factors. It all comes down to your personal preferences. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re not sure which service is right for you:
Do you need a large channel selection?
If you need a really large selection of channels, DirecTV Stream is likely a better choice for you. You can get up to 150+ channels with the service, ensuring that you never miss out on your favorite shows. But if you don’t need as many channels, Hulu with Live TV may be better for you. It's definitely cheaper, and it has pretty much all the essential channels that cord-cutters need.
Do you need a spacious DVR?
If you need a good DVR, DirecTV Stream is a good choice. You will get 500 hours of storage, compared to Hulu With Live TV's 50 hours of storage. Even with the $9.99/month Enhanced DVR upgrade that gives you 200 hours of DVR storage, the DirecTV Stream’s DVR is better.
Are you sharing your account with multiple people?
If you have a medium-sized family, either Hulu With Live TV or DirecTV Stream will be a decent choice, as you get 2 simultaneous streams with Hulu With Live TV, and up to 20 with DirecTV Stream.
However, if you have a very large household and/or watch a lot of TV, you may want to choose DirecTV Stream. It's far superior if your family tends to watch TV on a lot of devices at once.
Eric Liston • Author
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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