Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV are video streaming services that provide subscribers with access to live channels and on-demand content. Hulu and YouTube TV are premium streaming services, while Sling TV offers a budget cord-cutting alternative. All three have content add-ons subscribers can purchase to extend their viewing options.
Hulu + Live TV is the most popular provider in the growing live video streaming market, with 3.2 million subscribers. It provides access to more than 70 live TV channels and a wide range of on-demand movies and shows. Sling TV isn’t far behind with 2.8 million subscribers. It offers 3 distinct packages that enable viewers to live stream up to 53 channels. YouTube TV currently has more than two million subscribers in the US and delivers a cable-like experience with around 80 live channels — the exact number varies by location.
Plans and pricing for Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV
| Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| Starting monthly price | $54.99/mo. | $30/mo. | $64.99/mo. |
| Free trial length | 7 days | None | 7 days |
| Number of channels | 72 | 32 to 53 | 80 |
| Original content | Yes | No | No |
| Live sports streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming quality | 4K Ultra HD | HD | 4K HDR |
Comparing the Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV experience
Cord cutters can expect a varied user experience from each of these three services. Here’s how they stack up on account personalization.
Accounts
Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV both provide individual accounts for up to six users, each of which receives a personalized service that’s tailored to their preferences and interests. Sling TV offers one account per user and doesn’t enable users to create multiple profiles.
Add-on features
Hulu + Live TV users can add channels such as Cinemax ($9.99/mo.), HBO ($14.99/mo.), Showtime ($10.99/mo.) or Starz ($8.99/mo.) to their package. The Entertainment ($7.99/mo.) and Espanol ($4.99/mo.) Add-ons are just a few of the other available choices.
Sling TV subscribers can bolster their viewing options with several content add-ons, such as Showtime ($10/mo.) and Starz ($9/mo). Lifestyle Extra, Hollywood Extra, and News Extra all cost $5/mo. There’s also Sports Extra, which provides access to MLB Network and NHL Network. The package costs $10/mo. for Sling Blue subscribers and $15/mo. for those with Sling Orange & Blue.
YouTube TV subscribers can also add additional content to the standard package with channels such as Showtime ($7/mo.) and Starz ($9/mo.) Sports fans have access to several sports-centered offerings, like FOX Soccer Plus ($15/mo.) and NBA League Pass ($40/mo.), and more. Other choices include Acorn ($6/mo.), AMC Premiere ($5/mo.), CuriosityStream ($3/mo.), and Sundance Now ($7/mo.)
Setting controls
All three streaming services let users manage content through settings controls. Hulu + Live TV users can create a Kids Profile, to limit viewing exclusively to shows in the service’s Kids Hub section. Sling TV provides parental control settings that enable users to lock specific content based on ratings and prevent in-app purchases like movie rentals or pay-per-view offerings.
YouTube TV subscribers can create profiles that are restricted to specific types of programming, such as shows in the Kids Hub. They also have the ability to block content and restrict searches. All three also permit users to control closed captioning features, such as subtitle text color and size, background and window color, and opacity.
Device compatibility
Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV can be watched across devices that are compatible with the services’ apps. Here’s an overview of how to watch.
| Streaming Player | Hulu+ Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV |
| Roku | X | X | X |
| Fire TV | X | X | X |
| Apple TV | X | X | X |
| Chromecast | X | X | X |
| iOS | X | X | X |
| Android Phones/Tablet | X | X | X |
| Android TV | X | X | X |
| Xbox One | X | X | X |
| PlayStation 4 | X |
Features
YouTube TV has the best Cloud DVR storage option in the live streaming market, enabling users to store unlimited movies and TV shows for up to nine months. Hulu + Live TV subscribers can record up to 50 hours of content, which can be quadrupled to 200 hours for an extra $9.99/mo. with Enhanced Cloud DVR. They can also automatically record content by adding their favorite shows or sports teams to My Stuff.
Sling TV offers 10 hours of Cloud DVR storage, which can be upgraded to 50 hours for an additional $5/mo. All three streaming services let users record multiple shows at the same time and fast-forward through stored content. Sling TV’s Blue & Orange package permits users to watch four streams simultaneously. Sling Orange only allows one simultaneous stream, and Sling Blue maxes out at three.
YouTube TV provides three simultaneous streams, compared to the two available through Hulu + Live TV. However, Hulu subscribers can upgrade to unlimited home devices and 3 mobile streams with the Unlimited Screens Add-on for $9.99/mo.
Hulu + Live TV vs. Sling TV vs. YouTube TV channels
| Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
| A&E | Yes | Yes | No |
| ABC | Yes | No | Yes |
| ACC Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AMC | No | Yes | Yes |
| American Heroes Channel | Yes | Yes | No |
| Animal Planet | Yes | No | Yes |
| AXS TV | No | Yes | No |
| Baby TV | No | Yes | No |
| BBC America | No | Yes | Yes |
| BBC World News | No | Yes | Yes |
| BeIN Sports | No | Yes | No |
| BET | No | Yes | Yes |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | No | Yes |
| Blaze TV | No | Yes | No |
| Bloomberg Television | No | Yes | No |
| Boomerang | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bravo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Campus Insider | No | Yes | No |
| Cartoon Network/Adult Swim | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS | Yes | No | Yes |
| CBS Sports Net | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cheddar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cheddar Big News | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cinemax | Yes | Yes | No |
| CMT | No | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC World | Yes | No | Yes |
| CNN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNN International | Yes | No | No |
| Comedy Central | No | Yes | Yes |
| Comet | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cooking Channel | No | Yes | No |
| Cowboy Channel | No | Yes | No |
| Cozi TV | No | No | Yes |
| CW | Yes | No | Yes |
| Destination America | Yes | Yes | No |
| Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery | Yes | No | No |
| Discovery Life | Yes | No | No |
| Disney Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Junior | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney XD | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DIY Network | No | Yes | No |
| Duck TV | No | Yes | No |
| E! | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EPIX | No | Yes | Yes |
| EPIX Drive-In | No | Yes | Yes |
| EPIX Hits | No | Yes | Yes |
| EPIX2 | No | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN Bases Loaded | No | Yes | No |
| ESPN Deportes | No | Yes | No |
| ESPN Goal Line | No | Yes | No |
| ESPN News | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN U | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Euronews | No | Yes | No |
| Fla Ma | No | Yes | No |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FOX | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FOX Business | Yes | No | Yes |
| FOX News Channel | Yes | No | Yes |
| FOX Regional Sports Network | Yes | No | Yes |
| France 24 | No | Yes | No |
| Free Speech | No | Yes | No |
| FreeForm | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fuse | No | Yes | No |
| Fusion | No | Yes | No |
| FX | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FXM | Yes | No | Yes |
| FXX | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FYI | Yes | Yes | No |
| Galavision | No | Yes | No |
| Golf Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GSN | No | Yes | No |
| Hallmark Drama & Movies | No | Yes | No |
| HBO | Yes | No | No |
| HDNet Movies | No | Yes | No |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | No |
| HLN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lifetime Movies | Yes | Yes | No |
| Local Now | No | Yes | Yes |
| Logo | No | Yes | No |
| MLB Network | No | Yes | Yes |
| Motortrend | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MSNBC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MTV | No | Yes | Yes |
| MTV 2 | No | Yes | No |
| Nat Geo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nat Geo Wild | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBA TV | No | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC Sports Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC Sportsnet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NDTV | No | Yes | No |
| NESN | No | No | Yes |
| News18 | No | Yes | No |
| Newsmax | No | Yes | No |
| Newsy | No | Yes | Yes |
| NFL Network | No | Yes | No |
| NHL Network | No | Yes | No |
| Nick Jr. | No | Yes | No |
| Nicktoons | No | Yes | No |
| Olympic Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Channel | No | Yes | No |
| Outside TV | No | Yes | No |
| Oxygen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pac-12 | No | Yes | No |
| Paramount | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pop | Yes | No | Yes |
| Revolt | No | Yes | No |
| RFDTV | No | Yes | No |
| Ride TV | No | Yes | No |
| RT Network | No | Yes | No |
| Science Channel | Yes | Yes | No |
| SEC Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Showtime | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smithsonian | Yes | No | Yes |
| SNY | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sportsman | No | Yes | No |
| Sprout | Yes | No | Yes |
| Start TV | No | No | Yes |
| Stadium | No | Yes | No |
| Sundance TV | No | Yes | Yes |
| SyFy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tastemade | No | No | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TeenNick | No | Yes | No |
| Tennis Channel | No | No | Yes |
| TLC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tru TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turner Classic Movies | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TV Land | No | Yes | Yes |
| Unimas | No | Yes | No |
| Universo | No | No | Yes |
| UP Family | No | Yes | No |
| USA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VH1 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vibrant | No | Yes | No |
| Viceland | Yes | Yes | No |
| WE tv | No | Yes | Yes |
| WeatherNation | No | Yes | No |
| YES | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The final cut
The busy live streaming market offers plenty of opportunities for people to cut the cord on cable — and save money in the process. Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all offer viable options with live channels and content add-ons that boost their viewing experiences.
Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are premium streaming choices that offer a good range of live streaming channels, while Hulu also provides access to its huge library of on-demand content. Sling TV is more of a budget option — it’s available for less than half the monthly price of Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV. It features fewer live channels, but, like the other two streaming competitors, it has a wide range of content add-ons.
Cable cord-cutters can test the Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV services with seven-day free trials, while Sling TV offers new subscribers a $10 discount on the first month of service.