What The Tech: Comparing Youtube TV and Hulu Live TV
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
They are the two most popular live TV streaming services.
Both services carry more than one hundred channels, including most of your favorites such as
ESPN, Fox News, CNN, and TBS. YouTube TV does not include the History Channel, A&E, or
Lifetime. Those are available on Hulu Live.
Hulu also includes The Weather Channel and MLB Network, which you will not find on YouTube
TV.
Both offer unlimited DVR storage and let you stream on three devices at once.
For sports fans, YouTube TV has a clear advantage. Its multiview feature lets you watch up to
four live channels at once on one screen, which is perfect for weekends when multiple games
are on. Switching between channels on Hulu takes a few extra clicks.
Watching recorded shows is also smoother on YouTube TV. You can skip commercials just like
a traditional DVR. On Hulu, you will have to sit through every commercial break, even on
recordings, and that can get frustrating. YouTube TV’s interface is also cleaner and easier to
use.
YouTube TV costs about eighty three dollars a month for the base plan. Hulu Live TV is about
ninety dollars.
But here is why Hulu Live can still be a better deal. The plan includes Hulu’s on-demand library,
Disney+, and ESPN+. If you already pay for those separately, you will save about twenty dollars
a month with the bundle.
In the end, the best choice comes down to what you watch most. If you want a simple and
cable-like experience, YouTube TV is the winner. If you like the convenience of Disney Plus and
Hulu content in one package, Hulu Live might be the smarter pick.
