Netflix excels as an on-demand streaming service with 250+ million subscribers and a 6,500+ content library focused on original series and films, while YouTube TV is a live TV replacement service with 8 million subscribers offering 150+ channels including sports, news, and local broadcasts with cloud DVR.
Netflix vs YouTube TV 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Netflix if you want flexibility with 6,500+ on-demand movies and series, prefer original content like Stranger Things and The Crown, and watch at your own pace with plans starting at $6.99/month. Choose YouTube TV if you want live sports, news, and entertainment channels with cloud DVR capabilities, don't mind the $72.99/month premium, and prefer traditional TV viewing with simultaneous multi-room streaming.
Subscription video-on-demand streaming service with 250+ million users and 6,500+ titles
Live TV streaming service with 150+ channels, cloud DVR, and 8 million subscribers
Netflix vs YouTube TV 2026 — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Netflix vs YouTube TV 2026 with 330 attributes.
Original Content Releases in January 2026
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard/Ad-Free US Plan)
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)
Netflix vs YouTube TV 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Netflix vs YouTube TV 2026.
Netflix offers limited live sports coverage, primarily select WWE wrestling events, some NFL games (Netflix Cup), and occasional sports documentaries. For comprehensive live sports including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, YouTube TV is the better choice with all major sports networks included.
YouTube TV is better for large families with its 6 simultaneous streams and shared household access. Netflix works well for smaller households but limits simultaneous streams to 1-4 depending on tier. YouTube TV's unlimited cloud DVR also lets everyone record different content.
Can I get both services cheaply together?
Yes. Netflix's Basic tier with ads costs $6.99/month, and YouTube TV costs $72.99/month for a combined $79.98 monthly (vs. YouTube TV alone). This gives you on-demand variety plus live TV and sports, though it's more expensive than either service individually.
Is YouTube TV available outside the USA?
No, YouTube TV is currently only available in the United States. Netflix is available in 190 countries, making it the better option for international viewers seeking legal streaming outside the US.
Both offer 4K/HDR streaming, but Netflix requires Premium tier ($22.99/month) for 4K, while YouTube TV includes 4K streaming standard. Netflix typically offers more 4K content choices (3,000+ titles), whereas YouTube TV's 4K content is limited to select sports and premium channels.