The current streaming era has taken control and is in full effect. The days of cable television and its lackluster personalization are long gone — yes, cutting the cord has become an agent in rising consumer power. What was once the dream of satellite and cable providers worldwide, streaming has conquered seamlessly. 

No-commitment and no contracts have become a flexible umbrella policy with streaming services, such as Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV, which have become leaders in providing streaming entertainment. 

For many, choosing between Youtube TV and Hulu may appear as a close call. However, there are some clear distinctions between both streaming services. This comprehensive list can help you on your way to enjoying your favorite movies and shows!

Youtube TV vs. Hulu with Live TV Overview

Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV both offer hundreds of quality streaming channels for a base price of $64.99 per month. Similarly, both offer a 7-day trial period to give you a feel for each streaming service. 

Live TV is still a priority for many streamers, and luckily, Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV both offer over 75+ local channels. Youtube TV does offer a slight advantage by providing around ten additional channels for an average of 85 local channels, including PBS. With both, you never miss out on another local game or breaking news segment with networks such as ESPN, CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX, NBC, and more. Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV also offer add-on packages with popular networks such as HBO Max, Starz, Showtime, Disney+, and BET+.

Offering unlimited Cloud DVR hours is no small feat. Binge-watchers, step aside: Youtube TV has shone through by letting you hold as many recordings as you’d like for as long as nine months. Hulu also allows you to record your favorite shows and movies, but to a lesser extent — only 50 hours of recordings and at $9.99 per month. 

Additionally, Youtube TV takes another slight advantage by including three simultaneous streams with their base package compared to Hulu’s two streams. This way, multiple devices or friends and family can share and stay connected. 

Hulu with Live TV Plans and Pricing

Hulu with Live TV has a base plan starting at $64.99 per month. With this plan, you can stream on up to 2 screens at a time. You can also watch Live TV online and on your Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV & Fire Stick, Chromecast, XBOX, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch devices. 

The next plan is a no-ads version of Hulu with Live TV for $70.99 per month — this means that for just $6 more, you can watch with no annoying ads interrupting your streaming.

As an additional bundle, Hulu with Live TV offers an add-on of Disney+ and ESPN+ for $72.99 per month. This saves an average of $5 per month compared to if you added both Disney + (5.99 per month) and ESPN+ (4.99 per month) separately. 

Finally, what if you just prefer getting back to basics? Hulu with Live TV also has a “Live TV only” plan available for $63.99 per month. That being said, you’re better off sticking with the base plan for $1 more. 

Youtube TV Plans and Pricing

Youtube TV’s base plan also starts at $64.99 per month. However, Youtube TV has a promotion slashing the price down to $54.99 for the first three months for new customers. This offer won’t last much longer, though: it’s valid until September 8th, 2021. 

Apart from its base price, Youtube hasn’t set up any tiers besides its basic plan. More options are available compared to Hulu’s base plan, such as unlimited Cloud DVR and an extra simultaneous stream screen. 

Of course, sports and other additional packages can be added on but bundled separately according to preferred channels.  

Also, as with Hulu, you can watch Youtube TV on your Apple, Android, and Google Smart devices and video game consoles. 

Youtube TV vs. Hulu with Live TV: Top Channels Compared

Both Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV both offer FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Discovery Channel in their base plan. To get a complete list of the channels provided in your area, click here. 

Local Channels

Depending on your area, Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV have an extensive list of local channels included in their basic package. This is one of the strongest similarities when comparing Hulu with Live TV vs. Youtube TV. 

Local news and sports from FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC are included with Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV — but as stated above, each region differs in terms of availability. In terms of news coverage, Youtube TV is the only one to offer PBS.

Sports Channels

Luckily, sports fans get the ESPN network along with ESPN 1, ESPN 2, and ESPN News with both Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV. NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL all shine through with Youtube TV. That’s right, regional sports channels such as TBS, FS1, FS2, ESPN, NBCSN, TBS, and TNT are already included in the base price. What’s more, most college sports channels that stream major conferences like Big Ten Network, ACC Network, and CBS Sports Network are also available sans add-on! 

Youtube Live also offers MLB Channel and NBA TV with its plan, unlike Hulu with Live TV. To a lesser extent, Hulu with Live TV does offer a $9.99 per month sports package which includes Sunday football channels such as NFL RedZone and even channels for outdoors enthusiasts, like the Outdoor and Sportsman Channel. 

Whereas the Golf Channel does stream on both streaming services, the Tennis channel does not. In the mood for some games from across the pond? Football channels from La Liga, The Premier League, and Bundesliga are all available as add-ons for both Hulu with Live TV and Youtube TV.

Entertainment Channels

Both streaming services offer E! Channel, Bravo, BET, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel. The holidays might not be the same whether you choose Youtube TV vs. Hulu with Live TV because Hallmark Channel isn’t included with either. Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network streams on Hulu with Live TV but not Youtube TV. 

If you’re a foodie, there is a sweet spot for you — Food Network streams on both Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV. Additionally, Tastemade is available with YouTube TV and the Cooking Channel is a paid add-on on Hulu plus Live TV. And listen up history and mystery buffs alike: Youtube TV doesn’t offer History Channel or A&E. Alternatively, it does provide the IFC Channel. Hulu with Live TV does offer both, but not AMC. That means you’ll have to head over to Youtube TV to watch your favorite The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul recaps. 

Hulu with Live TV vs. Youtube TV: Features

Cloud DVR

Here’s a riddle: what happens to the list of all the great shows that you have piling up? You know the ones — the recommendations you keep getting from friends and coworkers that you desperately want to keep up with? 

The solution is simple: Cloud DVR. 

Streaming services have been upgraded with infinite storage capabilities. This is where Youtube TV really gets an atta-boy. Already included in their base price, Youtube TV offers unlimited cloud storage for up to 9 months. As for Hulu with Live TV, this is an additional paid add-on. With “Enhanced Cloud DVR” you can add 200 more hours and fast-forward (for $9.99 per month), but only 50 hours are offered in its base plan — and that’s without the option to skip through ads.

Simultaneous Streams

Youtube TV gives you up to three simultaneous streams compared to Hulu with Live TV’s two streams. Alternatively, with Hulu, you can pay an extra $9.99 per month to get three simultaneous screens and unlimited screens within one household. 

If you’re looking for a high-resolution experience, Youtube TV has a $9.99 per month 4K or K Ultra High Definition (UHD) add-on for pristine clarity and viewing quality. This also allows users to watch offline and have unlimited streams. It’s important to note though, that after a year, this gets bumped up to an additional $20 per month.

Add-On Options

On-demand shows are available on both streaming platforms. Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV also offer add-on packages with popular networks such as HBO Max, Starz, Showtime, Disney+ and BET+ averaging at about $8-10 per add-on. Recently, Youtube TV has started running a $29.99 bundle on HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz. — which saves you about $5 per month on average if bundled individually. 

Hulu with Live TV doesn’t have a similar bundle, but it does provide some savings. As previously mentioned in the overview, Hulu with Live TV offers an add-on of Disney+ and ESPN+ for $72.99 per month, saving about $5 per month when bundled. Additionally, Hulu bundles a worthwhile 16 extra entertainment channels for $7.99 per month. This provides an assortment of entertainment channels such as American Heroes Channel, BET Her, CNBC World, Cooking Channel, Crime + Investigation, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, DIY Network, Military History Channel, MTV2 and Classic, Science Channel, and Teen Nick. 

Unfortunately, both Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV don’t have Univision available. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t included in local channel listings though, as it can vary by zip code. There are also español add-ons for about $5 per month, which include Telemundo and FOX and CNN en español and NBC Universo. 

Youtube TV vs. Hulu with Live TV: Which service is better?

In the ever-evolving landscape of streaming services and their bundled counterparts, there isn’t a lot of differentiation between services. That being said, when compared side-by-side, there are some significant deal-breakers — it mainly leads to a path of viewer preferences and tastes. 

Different streaming services offer attractive packages depending on the streamer. If you’re a sports fan, Youtube TV has the winning pass. It already includes conference and national association channels in its base price, while popular sports league channels like NBA TV or MLB Network aren’t even found on Hulu with Live TV.   Youtube TV, on the otherhand, takes the entertainment side and runs into Hulu Live TV’s endzone. Youtube once again delivers what the people truly want in terms of on-demand and entertainment options. 

Hulu with Live TV does offer an interest-piquing $72.99 per month bundle of Disney+ and ESPN+, but an extra five  bucks in your wallet isn’t enough to genuinely make it a game-changing deal. Hulu with Live TV lacks what Youtube TV has done with its already included three simultaneous streams, unlimited Cloud DVR, and popular entertainment and movie add-on packages such as HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz. 

However, Hulu with Live TV does have its quirks. If you’re into particular hobbies and various niches, such as cooking, outdoor recreation, craftsmanship, and history, Hulu with Live TV carries a wide selection of curated add-on shows channels. For example, their library contains Outdoor Sports, DIY, Vice, and Science Channels. However, it harms the credentials to really solidify its niche audience — sure, it has Lifetime Movie Network but not Sundance, AMC, and IFC — whereas Youtube TV does.