As the price of cable continues to go up, more people are deciding to cut the cord altogether. If you’ve cut the cord on cable, but you don’t want to miss out on your favorite live TV shows, you’re in the right place.
Canceling cable saves you a lot of money, but can make it difficult to watch live TV, especially sports, news, and local coverage. That’s where internet TV services like Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV come in.
In this article, we’ll take a look at Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV – two of the most popular internet TV services, and discuss the basics about each one, as well as the major differences between each service.
An overview of Sling TV & Hulu + Live TV
Both Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV are internet TV services that deliver channels like Fox News, ESPN, NBC and more over the internet, without a cable or satellite TV subscription.
Because these channels are delivered over the internet, and do not require costly cable setup, most internet TV services are quite inexpensive, compared to a cable subscription. In addition, these TV bundles do not require any kind of long-term contract, and they don’t have any cancellation fees. But you may be wondering which internet TV service is best for you.
Let’s discuss the basics of both Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV, before we dig into the differences between these services.
Sling TV
Sling TV is the oldest internet TV skinny bundle service. It was launched in 2015, when cord-cutting was beginning to catch on. It boasts a high number of subscribers and an inexpensive base subscription, but can be somewhat confusing.
Sling Orange
$20 off your first month
- 30+ channels
- ESPN
- Stream on one device
$45.99/month
Sling Blue
$20 off your first month
- 40+ channels
- Local channels in select cities
- News and entertainment
- Stream on three screens
$45.99/month
Sling Orange & Blue
$20 off your first month
- General cable replacement
- 45+ channels
- Stream on three screens
$60.99/month
As you can see, Sling TV is quite inexpensive. You can choose between the Orange bundle or the Blue package, or you can combine both these packages with Sling Orange + Blue.
Best features
The best feature of Sling TV is the channel offerings you got for such a low cost. With Sling Orange, for example, you can get 30+ channels, including ESPN, BBC America, TNT, CNN, and a number of other popular networks. Sling Blue offers 40+ channels, including Fox Sports and local channels in some areas, for the same price.
In addition, you can easily customize your Sling TV package with a number of different add-ons. If you love comedy, you can add more comedy channels with the "Comedy Extra" package, and if you’re a sports fan, you can get nearly a dozen extra sports channels with the “Sports Extra” package.
Downsides
Sling TV does have a few downsides. First, there are some channels that are exclusive to Sling Orange or Sling Blue. You can’t get ESPN at all with Sling Blue, for example.
It can also be somewhat confusing to understand what channels you get when customizing your subscription, because the extra channels vary based on your subscription package. For example, subscribing to the “Comedy Extra” package with Sling Orange will give you a different set of channels than if you subscribe with Sling Blue.
You also can only stream Sling Orange channels on 1 device at a time. Sling Blue channels can be streamed on 3 devices, however, and you get 4 simultaneous streams if you get the Sling Orange + Blue package.
Hulu + Live TV
Source: Hulu
Hulu + Live TV launched in late 2017, and has become very popular with cord-cutters who are looking for an all-in-one VOD and live TV streaming service.
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 + Live TV comes with only a single package of cable channels. You can get access to over 85 channels, depending on your geographic location and which local network TV providers are partnered with Hulu.
Best features
Hulu + Live TV has a number of great features. First and foremost, the lineup of cable and network channels offered is incredible for the price. You get news coverage from channels like CNN and MSNBC, sports from ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, as well as Fox Sports and NBCSN, and entertainment channels like FX, TNT, and TBS. The only major cable channel missing is AMC.
You also get a free DVR with Hulu + Live TV, offering you 50 hours of storage. You can stream on up to 2 devices at once, by default.
One of the best features is that every Hulu + Live TV subscription comes with a free on-demand Hulu subscription. You get complete access to all of Hulu’s VOD archives, including original shows like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Downsides
Hulu + Live TV is a bit expensive, compared to Sling Blue and Sling Orange. The price may be steep if you only need a few cable channels.
In addition, only being able to stream on 2 devices at once can cause some problems if you’re sharing your account. With Sling Orange + Blue, you can stream on 4 devices (1 device for Orange channels, 3 devices for Blue channels).
Fact 1: Sling TV is a better bargain choice
If saving money is your primary goal when searching for an internet TV service, Sling TV is a better choice.
For example, if you are a cord-cutter who wants to watch sports, you could subscribe to Sling TV Orange + the Sports Extra package. This would get you ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, NBA TV, beIN Sports, and more, which covers most of your sports needs at a lower cost than Hulu + Live TV.
If you only watch TV on a few channels, Sling TV offers a better monthly price point than Hulu + Live TV.
Fact 2: Both Hulu and Sling TV offer the same in terms of DVR
One of the biggest downsides of Sling TV was always its very limited DVR. However, as of a few years ago, any Sling TV package you choose comes with 50 hours of DVR storage, putting it on par with Hulu + Live TV if the basic DVR option suits you.
You can also upgrade your DVR with both, if you want. For an added cost, you can expand your storage to 200 hours, which should be plenty for any cord-cutter. However, Sling’s add-on price is lower, making Sling TV the more affordable option.
If you need a lot of DVR space and you’re choosing between Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV, Sling TV will be a better option for you.
Fact 3: Hulu + Live TV offers several upgrade packages
Source: Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV lets you upgrade your subscription in two major ways.
First, if you need to get more DVR space, you can upgrade with an “Enhanced DVR” package. This bumps your storage limit up to 200 hours, which should be more than enough even for the largest families.
You can also upgrade the number of devices on which you can stream simultaneously. By default, you can only stream on 2 devices at once – which is worse than Sling Blue.
But if you pay for the “Unlimited Screens” package, you can stream on unlimited devices on your home network, and on up to 3 devices outside of your home network.
You can combine these two upgrades for less than what they would be individually, which is a pretty significant cost savings. If you are sharing your subscription between multiple people, upgrading your subscription may be worth it.
Fact 4: Both Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV can be used to log into cable websites
Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV both allow you to use your login credentials to access streaming content on websites and apps such as ESPN. You can see Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV’s supported websites and apps here.
Fact 5: Hulu + Live TV gives you more channels for your money
It may seem that combining Sling Blue + Orange will give you the most channels. But this is actually not the case.
There is quite a bit of channel “overlap” between Sling Blue and Orange. For example, both the Sling Orange and Blue packages include HGTV, Comedy Central, and CNN. You'll only get about 50 total channels with Sling Orange + Blue. You can, however, add more channels with "Extra" Sling bundles, but that comes at an additional fee.
If you want the most channels for your money, Hulu + Live TV is definitely the way to go, as you'll get 85+ channels.
Fact 6: Hulu + Live TV has more on-demand content than Sling TV
Source: Hulu With Live TV
Sling TV does have a selection of on-demand content. However, this is usually limited to shows and events that have aired in the past few weeks.
Hulu + Live TV, on the other hand, includes a Hulu subscription. That means that you can have full access to all Hulu streaming content, including recently-aired episodes of network shows, as well as original content like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Fact 7: Device support is nearly identical between Hulu and Sling
Source: Sling
Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV can be watched on most major streaming devices, including
- Chromecast
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Web browsers
- Android & iOS
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Xbox One
One of the only differences is that Hulu offers Xbox 360 support, and Sling TV can be viewed on select LG Smart TVs. Otherwise, streaming device compatibility between these two services is almost identical.
Fact 8: Hulu + Live TV has fewer customization options
Sling TV is much more customizable than Hulu + Live TV, with a large number of "Extra" packages that offer international channels, sports, lifestyle channels and more. There are an enormous number of extra channels to choose from.
In contrast, Hulu + Live TV only allows you to pick from a number of premium networks like Max and Showtime, and the "Entertainment" add-on, which includes:
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Magnolia Network
- Military History Channel
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- Nick Toons
- Science
- Teen Nick
You can also subscribe to the "Español" add-on, which will give you a few Spanish-language channels like Discovery Familia and ESPN Deportes. However, that's about it. You'll get more customization options with Sling, overall.
Fact 9: Both services offer a free trial
You can try both Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV with a free 3-day trial and free 7-day trial respectively, and see which one you prefer. Click here to try Sling TV for free, or click here to give Hulu + Live TV a shot.
Remember that, if you're not ready to commit to either service, you can cancel your subscription before your week-long trial has ended. As long as you do this, you won't have to pay a dime.
Sling TV Vs. Hulu + Live TV: Which is better?
Not sure whether Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV is a better choice for you? Obviously, the answer of which is better depends on what exactly you’re looking for from an internet TV service.
Are you on a budget?
If you don’t want to spend the money for Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue or Sling Orange is a great choice. You don’t get nearly as many features or channels as you do with Hulu, but for the price, you do get some great live TV coverage.
However, if you do have a bit more money to spend, Hulu + Live TV is certainly worth it – especially when compared to the $100/month cost of a traditional cable bill.
Do you need a large DVR, or to watch on multiple screens?
If you need a DVR with more than 50 hours of space, you’re going to have to pay extra with Hulu + Live TV. And, you won’t be able to watch on more than 2 screens unless you upgrade with the "Unlimited Screens" add-on.
If you have a large family, or plan on sharing your account with quite a few members of your household, Sling TV may be a better choice for you.
Do you watch a lot of different channels?
If you need a big selection of channels, Hulu + Live TV is a better choice than Sling Blue + Orange. You get more channels for your money, as well as a free DVR and a free subscription to the Hulu VOD streaming service.
Do you need to watch international channels and programming?
If you are interested in foreign-language programming in languages like French, Spanish, and Portuguese, Sling TV is a better choice for you. You can get quite a bit of international programming with the “Espanol” and “International” Sling TV add-ons.
Do you want to watch on-demand video?
If you want to watch on-demand video, Hulu + Live TV is a much better option for you. Sling TV has a good amount of on-demand programs, but still falls very short of the massive Hulu streaming library.
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.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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