Whether you’re new to the world of cord cutting or shopping around for a new live TV streaming service, you may be wondering what each service has to offer, what sets them apart, and which is the right choice for you. In this guide, we’re comparing the top live TV streaming services – DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV, to help you make your decision.
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This post is as up to date as we can make it as of updated as of January 21st 2023.
Pricing
When we survey Cord Cutters News readers, cost is the top factor when making the switch to cord cutting and choosing a streaming service. Here’s how the monthly subscription costs for the top live TV streaming services compare.
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| Starting Monthly Price | $74.99 | $74.99 | $69.99 | $40 | $64.99 |
Device Compatibility
Let’s look at which services work with the devices you own.
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Playstation | ✓ | ✓ |
DVR
- Hulu + Live TV now offers unlimited DVR to all subscribers.
- YouTube TV has unlimited DVR storage and will keep shows for nine months.
- DIRECTV STREAM now offers unlimited DVR to all subscribers.
- Sling TV offers 50 hours of DVR storage for all subscribers. You can upgrade to DVR Plus to get 200 hours of storage for $5/mo.
- fuboTV accounts come with 1000 hours of Cloud DVR space at no extra charge.
Streaming Local Channels
Most live TV streaming services are a good option for watching your local channels. Sling TV only offers a limited number of locals in select markets and suggests that subscribers use an antenna to access their locals. In fact, Sling TV will give you a free HD antenna, if you prepay for two months of service.
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| FOX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| PBS | ✓* | ||||
| CW | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Streaming Top Cable Channels
When choosing a live TV streaming service, it’s important to make sure you’ll have access to your favorite channels. Below, we’re looking at the 35 most-viewed cable channels. To see the full list of channels you’ll get with each streaming service, go to the service’s homepage and enter your zip code to see everything available in your area.
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| A&E | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| AMC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| BET | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CNN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disney | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| Food Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| Hallmark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| HGTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| History | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Investigation Discovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lifetime | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Paramount | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| SyFy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TLC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel Channel | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tru TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| USA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Weather Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| WE tv | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
Streaming Sports
Streaming subscribers can watch many nationally televised games with a live TV streaming service. Because of carriage disputes, most streaming services do not carry regional sports networks (RSNs). You can find Bally Sports Networks (formerly Fox Sports Networks) on DIRECTV STREAM, while Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and fuboTV all carry NBC Sports Networks. Again, we recommend entering your zip code on the homepage of each service to see exactly which channels you’ll get in your area.
| DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FS1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FS2 | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| USA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Number of Simultaneous Streams
- Hulu + Live TV allows you to watch on up to 2 screens at a time. If you want to watch simultaneously on more than 2 devices, you can add the Unlimited Screens option for $9.99/mo.
- YouTube TV allows for 3 streams at once both inside and outside of your home.
- DIRECTV STREAM allows you to watch on up to 20 screens at once, if connected to your home network, and 3 screens at once outside of the home.
- Sling TV will allow you to stream on 1 device at a time for Sling Orange, 3 devices at once for Sling Blue, or 4 devices at once with a Sling Orange + Sling Blue subscription.
- fuboTV allows 3 streams at once out-of-the-box, while you can also get up to 10 streams inside of your home and 2 streams outside (12 in total) with the Unlimited Screens Add-On for $9.99/mo.
Which Streaming Service Should You Choose?
Hopefully, looking at the channels and features for each live TV streaming service can help you make your decision. Before subscribing, be sure to take advantage of free trials to see how you like the interface of each; how it looks on your TV, computer, and mobile devices; and which offers the user experience that works best for you.