Thursday, November 7, 2024

Hulu vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling TV vs. DirecTV Stream channels

On the lookout for an different to cable? Dwell TV streaming would possibly simply be the reply you have been looking for. With aggressive pricing and quite a lot of channels, together with sports activities networks and primetime TV exhibits, these streaming providers are undoubtedly value contemplating. And should you’re somebody who values contract-free choices, you may discover these apps notably interesting. Not solely do they provide a wider vary of channels in comparison with antennas, however in addition they present the comfort of watching in your desktop or cell system. 

Proper now, there are six foremost streaming providers to select from: YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Dwell TVSling TVDirecTV StreamFubo and Philo. Nevertheless, what actually counts is the number of channels they provide, proper? That is why we have fastidiously reviewed these providers and put collectively an inventory of those that provide the most bang to your buck.

Learn extra: Finest Sports activities Streaming Service for 2024

The Huge Chart: Prime 100 channels in contrast, up to date March 2024

The principle distinction between the providers is their channel choice. All of them supply completely different lineups of channels for varied costs. 

Under you may discover a chart that exhibits the highest 100 channels throughout all six providers, however word that not every service has a worthy 100. There are literally seven listed as a result of Sling TV has two completely different “base” tiers, Orange and Blue. And should you’re questioning, I selected which “prime” channels made the lower. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Common HD. 

Loads of reside TV streaming selections can be found to anybody who needs to chop the cable twine. Sling TV’s primary packages are $40 in most cities. However prices proceed to go up. Fubo’s value enhance is now official, and DirecTV Stream is $80 per 30 days for its base plan. YouTube TV prices $73 per 30 days, whereas Hulu’s reside TV service now prices $77 a month with advertisements and $90 with out advertisements. These adjustments are mirrored within the chart beneath the place relevant. 

Some extra stuff to know in regards to the chart: 

  • Sure = The channel is accessible on the most affordable pricing tier. That value is listed subsequent to the service’s identify.
  • No = The channel is not obtainable in any respect on that service. 
  • $ = The channel is accessible for an additional price, both a la carte or as a part of a dearer package deal or add-on.
  • Regional sports activities networks — native channels dedicated to displaying regular-season video games of specific professional baseball, basketball and hockey groups — should not listed. DirecTV Stream’s $120 tier has essentially the most RSNs by far, however just a few can be found on different providers. See our NBA and NHL streaming guides for particulars.
  • Native ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks should not obtainable in each metropolis. Since availability of those channels varies, you may wish to examine the service’s web site to confirm that it carries your native community.
  • Native PBS stations are solely at present obtainable on YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, and a few have been added to Hulu. Once more, you may wish to examine native availability.
  • Sling Blue subscribers in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Metropolis, Philadelphia and San Francisco should now pay $45 per 30 days, however have entry to native ABC, Fox and NBC channels. Prospects in Fresno, Houston and Raleigh now have each ABC and Fox on their Blue or Orange-and-Blue subscriptions at no additional cost. This isn’t mirrored within the chart. Test Sling’s web site to see which native channels can be found in your space.
  • Fubo subscribers might discover that the ACC Community and SEC Community are included with their package deal at no additional value. Test availability to your state.
  • The chart columns are organized so as of value, so if you cannot see all the pieces you need, strive scrolling proper.
  • Overwhelmed? A neater-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is right here.

Philo vs. Sling TV vs. Fubo vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Stream vs. Hulu: Prime 100 channels in contrast

Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) Fubo ($80)
Complete channels: 42 24 35 78 74 57 56
ABC No No No Sure Sure Sure Sure
CBS No No No Sure Sure Sure Sure
Fox No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
NBC No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
PBS No No No Sure Sure Sure No
CW No No No Sure Sure Sure (restricted) Sure
MyNetworkTV No No No Sure Sure Sure No
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) Fubo ($80)
A&E Sure Sure Sure No Sure $ No
ACC Community No $ No Sure Sure $ Sure
Accuweather Sure No No No No Sure Sure
AMC Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure No
Animal Planet Sure No No Sure Sure Sure Sure
BBC America Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure No
BBC World Information Sure $ $ Sure No $ No
BET Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Huge Ten Community No No $ Sure Sure $ Sure
Bloomberg TV No Sure Sure No Sure Sure Sure
Boomerang No $ $ No $ Sure No
Bravo No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) Fubo ($80)
Cartoon Community No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure No
CBS Sports activities Community No No No Sure Sure $ Sure
Cheddar Sure No No Sure Sure $ Sure
Cinemax No No No $ $ $ No
CMT Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
CNBC No No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
CNN No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure No
Comedy Central Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Cooking Channel Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Vacation spot America Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Discovery Channel Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Disney Channel No Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure
Disney Junior No $ No Sure Sure Sure Sure
Disney XD No $ No Sure Sure Sure Sure
E! No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
ESPN No Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure
ESPN 2 No Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure
ESPNEWS No $ No Sure Sure $ $
ESPNU No $ No Sure Sure $ $
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) Fubo ($80)
Meals Community Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Fox Enterprise No No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
Fox Information No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
FS1 No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
FS2 No No $ Sure Sure $ Sure
Freeform No Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure
FX No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
FX Motion pictures No No $ Sure Sure $ $
FXX No No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
FYI Sure $ $ No Sure $ No
Golf Channel No No $ Sure Sure $ Sure
Hallmark Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
HBO/Max No No No $ $ $ No
HGTV Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Historical past Sure Sure Sure No Sure $ No
HLN No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure No
IFC Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure No
Investigation Discovery Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Lifetime Sure Sure Sure No Sure $ No
Lifetime Film Community Sure $ $ No Sure $ No
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) FuboTV ($80)
Magnolia Community Sure $ $ Sure Sure $ Sure
MGM+ $ $ $ $ No $ No
MLB Community No $ $ No No $ $
Motor Pattern Sure Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure
MSNBC No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
MTV Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
MTV2 Sure $ $ Sure $ Sure $
Nationwide Geographic No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Nat Geo Wild No No $ Sure Sure $ $
NBA TV No $ $ Sure No $ $
NFL Community No No Sure Sure Sure $ Sure
NFL Crimson Zone No No $ $ $ No $
NHL Community No $ $ No No $ $
Nickelodeon Sure No No Sure Sure Sure Sure
Nick Jr. Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure $ Sure
Nicktoons Sure $ $ Sure $ $ $
OWN Sure No No Sure Sure $ Sure
Oxygen No No $ Sure Sure $ Sure
Paramount Community Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
Science Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) FuboTV ($80)
SEC Community No $ No Sure Sure $ $
Showtime No $ $ $ $ $ $
Smithsonian Sure No No Sure Sure $ Sure
Starz $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Sundance TV Sure $ $ Sure No Sure No
Syfy No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Tastemade Sure $ $ Sure No $ Sure
TBS No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure No
TCM No $ $ Sure Sure Sure No
TeenNick Sure $ $ Sure $ Sure $
Telemundo No No No Sure Sure $ Sure
Tennis Channel No $ $ No No $ $
TLC Sure No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
TNT No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure No
Journey Channel Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure $ Sure
TruTV No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure No
TV Land Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
USA Community No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
VH1 Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
Vice Sure Sure Sure No Sure $ No
WE television Sure $ $ Sure No Sure No
Channel Philo ($25) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Hulu with Dwell TV ($77) DirecTV Stream ($80) FuboTV ($80)

James Martin/CNET

sequence of value hikes has introduced a lot of further channels to Hulu, together with PBS and entry to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, at a $77 price ticket. Its channel choice is not as sturdy as YouTube TV and Fubo, but it is Hulu’s important catalog of on-demand content material which units it aside. Unique titles resembling The Handmaid’s Story, The Orville and Solely Murders within the Constructing give it a content material benefit no different service can match. 

Dwell TV subscribers additionally obtain limitless DVR that features fast-forwarding and on-demand playback — at no further value. It is a transfer that has aligned Hulu with its rivals when it comes to options, however the channel lineup should be a deciding issue. For instance, the platform just lately misplaced Sinclair-owned ABC affiliate channels. It is $4 greater than YouTube TV which has extra channels, however the entry to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus might make it a extra interesting selection for you. Learn our Hulu Plus Dwell TV evaluation.

Sarah Tew/CNET

With a superb channel choice, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $73 per 30 days YouTube TV is without doubt one of the greatest cable TV replacements. It provides a $20 4K improve, however the draw back is there is not a lot to look at at current except you watch choose channels. When you do not thoughts paying a bit greater than the Sling TVs of the world, or wish to watch reside NBA video games, YouTube TV provides a excessive customary of reside TV streaming. Learn our YouTube TV evaluation.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If you wish to save somewhat cash and do not thoughts lacking out on native channels, Sling TV is the most effective of the finances providers. Its Orange and Blue packages begin at $40 per 30 days, and you may mix them for a month-to-month price of $55 ($60 in some areas). The Orange possibility nets you one stream, whereas Blue offers you three. It is not as complete or as simple to navigate as YouTube, however with a bit of labor, together with including an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it is an unbeatable worth. We’ll additionally add that the service provides native channels resembling ABC and CBS in some areas the place the month-to-month price is $45. Learn our Sling TV evaluation.

Sarah Tew/CNET

DirecTV Stream is tied with Fubo because the most costly, and its stiffest competitors continues to be Hulu Plus Dwell TV and YouTube TV. The service does have its pluses, although — for instance, it contains the flipper-friendly capacity to swipe left and proper to alter channels. Moreover, it contains some channels another providers cannot, together with practically 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $80 Leisure package deal might fit your wants with its 75-plus channels. However for cord-cutters who wish to comply with their native NBA or MLB workforce, DirecTV Stream’s $109 Selection package deal is our reside TV streaming decide as a result of it has entry to extra regional sports activities networks than the competitors. Nonetheless, you may wish to make sure that your channel is included right here, and never obtainable on considered one of our most popular picks, earlier than you pony up. Learn our DirecTV Stream evaluation.

Ty Pendlebury/CNET

There’s rather a lot to love about Fubo — it provides a wide array of channels and its sports activities focus makes it particularly enticing to soccer followers or NBA, NHL and MLB followers who reside in an space served by considered one of Fubo’s RSNs. It is also an amazing selection for NFL followers because it’s considered one of three providers, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that provides NFL Community and elective RedZone. As of February 2024, Fubo is charging extra for its service and entry to Bally Sports activities RSNs. The most important gap in Fubo’s lineup is the dearth of Turner networks, together with CNN, TNT and TBS — particularly because the latter two carry quite a lot of sports activities content material, specifically NBA, NHL and MLB. These lacking channels, and the $80 price ticket, makes it much less enticing than YouTube TV for many viewers. Learn our Fubo evaluation.

Sarah Tew/CNET

At $25 Philo continues to be an affordable reside TV streaming service with quite a lot of channels, however it lacks sports activities channels, native stations and big-name information networks — though Cheddar and BBC information can be found. Philo provides bread-and-butter cable staples like AMC, Comedy Channel, Nickelodeon and Magnolia Community, and makes a speciality of life-style and actuality programming. It is also one of many least expensive reside providers that streams Paramount, house of Yellowstone, and it features a cloud DVR and elective add-ons from Epix and Starz. We expect most individuals are higher off paying one other $15 for Sling TV’s superior service, but when Philo has each channel you need, it is a first rate deal. Learn our Philo evaluation.



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