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Are you considering subscribing to Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV? Read our in-depth comparison to see which service is the best choice for you.
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Fubo and YouTube TV tie for the No. 1 spot in our rating of the Best Live TV Streaming Services of 2024. Both make it easy to cut the cord without giving up your favorite channels and live broadcasts. Both are easy to set up as apps on your TV or other devices and allow you to watch at home or on the move and offer cloud DVR space for when you miss live shows and events. Fubo is known for its beginnings in delivering soccer, but YouTube holds its own for live sports for many households. Finally, both have well-rounded channel lineups at competitive prices.
YouTube TV’s base plan costs $72.99 monthly for around 100 live channels. It offers network TV affiliates (including PBS) and popular cable channels for news, sports, and entertainment. Add-ons include 4k video at $9.99 per month, Sports Plus at $10.99, and Spanish TV at $14.99. DVR space is unlimited.
Fubo Pro is priced at $74.99 and includes 168 channels in all categories. The Elite Plan has 243 channels for $84.99, and the Ultimate Plan has 287 channels for $99.99. Each plan allows 1,000 hours of DVR recordings. A Latino plan with 59 channels is also available.
Both Fubo and YouTube TV can be used on a wide range of devices and browsers.
Fubo is compatible with popular TV brands including LG, Vizio, and Amazon Fire TV; Google and Android TVs from Sony, TCL, and Sharp; and devices from Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also watch on PCs using Safari, Edge, Chrome, or Firefox browsers, Xbox consoles, and phones and tablets using Android and iOS.
YouTube TV can be delivered on a similar range of devices as well as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox browsers. Smart TVs from most major brands including Samsung are compatible, as are streaming devices from Roku, Apple, Amazon, Xfinity Flex, and Tivo Stream, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Chromecast devices and iOS and Android mobile devices are also an option.
You probably won’t miss cable if you cut the cord for either Fubo or YouTube TV, and you will get more features such as the ability to watch shows on the move, cloud DVR storage, and multiple streams and profiles for different household members.
YouTube TV offers unlimited DVR storage, while Fubo includes a hefty 1,000 hours for all plans. You get three simultaneous streams with YouTube TV. Fubo allows three streams outside the home at the same time, but only one TV at a time is allowed. Within the home, you can have up to 10 devices connected.
Fubo enables six user profiles, each with their own favorites, followed shows, and recordings, each with 250 hours of DVR space. However, there are no parental controls. YouTube TV also allows for six profiles, with parental controls and unlimited DVR space.
Fubo and YouTube TV both have robust channel lineups that cover the most popular TV channels, but there are some differences. For example, both include local channels for ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, but only YouTube carries PBS.
YouTube’s base plan offers around 100 TV channels, including popular ones on cable like AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central, National Geographic, and the BBC, along with news channels like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox. Sports channels include several from ESPN, FS1 and FS2, NBA TV, the Big 10 and Golf Channels, and the Turner channels TBS and TNT that cover college basketball.
Fubo has several plans with different channel selections. Its entry-level plan offers 168 channels, including most of those on YouTube TV, plus the NFL Network, the soccer-heavy beIN sports channels, and Fubo’s own sports channel. Some specialized sports channels like NHL Network and MLB Network are available on higher tiers.
Pros:
Extensive sports programming
1,000 hours of cloud DVR
Can be viewed on up to 10 screens at once
Cons:
No Turner-owned channels CNN and TNT
Costs more than competitors
Not compatible with Playstation gaming consoles
Pros:
Large channel selection
Plenty of sports, especially soccer
Several plans to choose from
Cons:
No prenatal controls
PBS is missing
Some sports channels require upgrades
Fubo has evolved from just a soccer network to a full-fledged live TV streaming service with a strong selection of channels to complement its sports lineup. It now has one of the largest slates available, including popular entertainment and news channels along with broadcast affiliates, with the exception of PBS. March Madness fans may be disappointed that TBS and TNT are missing.
Fubo now has something for everyone in the household, but it stands out for its wide array of soccer channels from around the world. The lack of parental controls should be considered in comparison with
Plenty of live sports
Includes unlimited DVR cloud storage
Includes local network affiliates
Less on-demand content
Pricey
Pros:
Well-rounded channel selection with the base plan
Unlimited DVR storage
Parental controls available for user profiles
Cons:
Some global sports channels missing
Extra cost for 4K video
May collect data for Google ads
YouTube TV is tied with Fubo for the No. 1 spot in live TV streaming services, and a robust channel selection with its base plan makes it a compelling option for cord-cutters. It has good coverage of major U.S. sports, but if you're a diehard fan of a specific sport, you should check the list. Global soccer coverage won’t be as complete as Fubo, and some services like NHL Network aren't available. It does have some things not on Fubo, such as PBS and the Turner channels TBS and TNT for NCAA basketball.
24 On-Demand Streaming Services, 12 Live TV Streaming Services Researched
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