With more and more people cutting the cord, services are becoming more popular than ever — especially ones that offer . From Hulu to Sling TV to YouTube TV, there’s more than one way to watch televised events or catch up on your favorite network shows.
Each of these services come with their own price tag and list of special features. Differentiating between them can feel overwhelming, but we’ve done our best to simplify the process for you.
Editor’s note: Each streaming service has conditional rules dictating the major networks it carries. Some markets have access to live network channels, including local programming, while others will be on-demand only. In some select locations, one or more of the networks — or even an entire live TV streaming service — may not be available. Check each service’s website for availability in your area.
Hulu + Live TV
Price: $65 per month for more than 75 channels and ‘s ad-supported, on-demand movie and TV library; add-on channels and features range from $9 to $15 each. If you want no ads, you can upgrade to Hulu Premium + Live TV for $71. also offers only for $64 per month, providing access to ad-free on-demand .
Free trial: Seven-day free trial
Included major networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW
Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, select Roku and Roku TV models, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, Echo Show, Xbox consoles, web browsers.
Number of simultaneous streams: Two at home; Unlimited Screens add-on ($15) allows for unlimited at home and three on mobile.
Who it’s for: Hulu users looking to upgrade to live streaming TV, and just about everyone else.
Where you can watch: U.S. only
As one of the original streaming titans with a specialty in content made for TV, Hulu was always destined to be a force in the live TV streaming game. It was only a matter of time, and sure enough, Hulu has overtaken Dish’s Sling TV in overall subscriber count with 3.2 million paying bingers as of the first quarter of its fiscal 2020. (By contrast, Sling’s last reported subscriber count sat at just under 2.6 million after suffering losses in Q4 2019, while YouTube TV has recently surpassed 2 million.)
Hulu’s Basic $55 per month plan (called simply Hulu + Live TV) gives subscribers around 60 live channels. You will get ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, either live or on demand depending on your location, plus dozens of other popular channels, which Hulu lists in full on its website. The service also added ABC News Live, CBSN, and Cheddar to bolster its news lineup. Premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax can be added for an additional fee, and prices are significantly lower than competing services.
Hulu + Live TV also provides 12 different sports channels, including ESPN, CSN, and Fox Sports 1.
Hulu + Live TV also presents some stiff competition when it comes to sports, providing a variety of channels, including ESPN and Fox Sports 1. Hulu + Live TV lets users follow their favorite sports teams from the NFL, NCAA, NBA, MLS, MLB, and NHL, and record their games, provided they’re available. In some instances, Hulu strikes deals to pick up specialty sports channels, such as the Chicago Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network set to launch later this year. You can also use your Hulu + Live TV login information to sign in to the ESPN App to access live ESPN coverage via ESPN Plus.
Sweetening matters further, Hulu + Live TV subscribers have full access to Hulu’s full on-demand streaming library and Hulu original content, essentially coupling a basic Hulu subscription (normally $6 per month) with live TV. Note that this is the ad-supported version of Hulu, so you’ll need to add another $6 if you want no interruptions. This gives the service a serious edge for current Hulu subscribers. Hulu’s on-demand library of TV shows is already very good, with some of the best original TV series around. It also includes 50 hours of DVR storage for recording live TV.
Hulu’s guide and curation also are worth mentioning. Hulu allows users to organize the programming into a favorites tab and control content suggestions by removing items from their watch history or by selecting the Stop Suggesting This option on recommended content they’re not interested in. Learn more about Hulu + Live TV in our comprehensive guide.
Sling TV
Price: Sling Orange: $35 per month for 30-plus channels; Sling Blue: $35 per month for 45-plus channels; Blue + Orange: $50 per month for 50-plus channels; additional channel add-on packs and features range from $5 to $25.
Free trial: Seven-day free trial
Included major networks: NBC and Fox
Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, Android, Apple TV, Airplay, AirTV, AirTV 2, Chromecast, iOS, Mac, Nvidia Shield, Select LG Smart TVs, LeEco devices, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players, Chrome web browser, Windows, Xbox One consoles, Xfinity X1, Xiaomi Mi Box, ZTE devices, Oculus devices.
Number of simultaneous streams: Sling Orange: One; Sling Blue: Three
Who it’s for: Customers who want a customizable, à la carte experience.
Where you can watch: U.S. only
Sling TV currently offers the most flexibility of all the live TV streaming services out there, at least when it comes to your content and pricing options. Sling TV uses an a la carte model, with base channel packages and a bevy of add-ons. The base packages, while largely similar, do have some major differences — namely that ABC and Disney-owned channels (including ESPN, and therefore support for ESPN Plus) are only present in Orange, while Blue carries NBC, Fox, and other sports channels like NFL Network and NFL Redzone, and soon, the Big Ten Network.
If you want all of those channels, you’ll need to spring for the $45 package, which includes everything in Blue and Orange, or you can augment either package with add-on channels. Add-on packages also vary in pricing and included channels, depending on which package you’re subscribed to, but you can expect to pay between $5 and $25 per month for each. In addition, a dispute over licensing with AT&T has resulted in a blackout of HBO and Univision channels on Sling TV and its parent company, Dish Network.
The packages can be a little confusing. For instance, even though Sling advertises the Blue + Orange package as a $15 discount at $45, that’s some seriously questionable logic given how many channels the two plans have in common. You are definitely not getting twice the number of channels. Still, it’s fairly easy to parse when you see all the packages laid out in front of you. You will find full listings on Sling TV’s website.
In terms of bonus features, Sling TV is pretty standard, but it does have some unique standouts. The first is Game Finder, a search feature on the Sling TV website that finds live any upcoming sports content available for your channel package and region. There’s also a bandwidth limiter, which will help keep you from going over your data limits — streaming video content can eat up data quickly, after all, so this is a welcome feature.
Sling Orange subscribers will have access to a single stream, while Blue allows for up to three streams simultaneously. As for other features, video on demand, pause/rewind/fast-forwarding, and “catch-up watching” are content-specific. Sling recently added 50 hours of cloud DVR to the service’s built-in cost, so you pay nothing for the privilege to catch up on any missed broadcasts. For more room, users will have to add another $5/month for 200 hours of cloud DVR. Despite the extra cost, the good news is that cloud DVR is available on just about every Sling-supported device except for the Xfinity X1, and your recordings stick around as long as you maintain your account. You can get the gist of everything Sling has to offer by reading our Sling TV guide.
YouTube TV
Price $65 per month for 85-plus channels; add-on packages range from $3 to $40.
Free trial: Seven-day free trial
Included major networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW
Supported devices: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, iOS, Nvidia Shield, Roku, Chrome web browser, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles, Vizio SmartCast TVs, and select Samsung, LG, Hisense, and Sharp smart TVs
Number of simultaneous streams: Six
Who it’s for: Those who are deeply devoted to Google and want a simple package.
Where you can watch: U.S. only
YouTube TV’s sole package costs $65 per month for new subscribers ready to ditch cable TV. In the past, availability was limited, but as of March 2019, it is now available nationwide. Still, you may want to check its website to confirm which local channels are available in your area.
YouTube TV costs $65 per month for 85-plus channels, including all major networks (ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, and CW).
If you are eligible, YouTube TV includes major networks for you to get your fix of TV shows — ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, and CW — and a bevy of other popular channels at a reasonable price, and its local affiliate programming has also expanded and is now available to 100% of customers. It also has a large number of sports channels for the price.
Add-on networks include Showtime, Fox Soccer Plus, Shudder, Sundance Now, and Starz. In May 2020, YouTube TV also made HBO Max available on the service for an additional $15 per month.
YouTube TV users enjoy some of the most flexible cloud DVR support, allowing users to store unlimited hours of programming for up to nine months after recording, with standard pause/rewind and catch-up features available. If you have a Google Home device and a Chromecast, YouTube TV can be controlled with voice commands via Google Assistant. Similarly, Google Assistant can even inform you of what content is currently saved to your DVR. If you’re an Android diehard who uses Google’s ecosystem to its fullest, then YouTube TV may be the perfect addition.
One area of uncertainty is Google’s ability to negotiate long-term deals with the networks. We’ve already seen a bit of shakiness early on with negotiations for Sinclair Broadcast Group’s massive collection of regional channels hitting a standstill. The previous deal — which nets YouTube a massive collection of Fox Sports regional channels and the YES network — has been extended temporarily as the two sides hammer out a new contract, though there are no guarantees we’ll see a mutual agreement to sign those papers. Read our YouTube TV guide for more info.
AT&T TV
Price: Entertainment: $70 per month for 65-plus channels; Choice: $85 per month for 90-plus channels, including HBO Max and regional sports channels; Ultimate: $95 per month for 130-plus channels including regional sports networks; add-on channels and features available from $5 per month; additional cloud DVR space for $10 per month.
Free trial: Seven-day free trial
Included major networks: ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS
Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Mac, Roku, Chrome web browsers, Safari, Xbox One console.
Number of simultaneous streams: Two; three for $5 more per month
Who it’s for: Those who don’t mind trading features for lots of channels.
Where you can watch: U.S. only
Formerly known as DirecTV Now and then AT&T TV Now, the newly-amalgamated AT&T TV is another service with high channel counts and multiple packa