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Hulu Live vs YouTube TV 2026: Price, Channels, 4K

YouTube TV offers more total channels (150+) and superior streaming quality (4K support), while Hulu Live integrates on-demand content and costs $20 less monthly ($76.99 vs $99.99). YouTube TV is better for channel breadth; Hulu Live wins for entertainment value bundling.

HL

Hulu Live TV

Live TV streaming service bundled with on-demand Hulu content

Budget-conscious viewers who want live TV plus extensive on-demand content libraries, primarily for entertainment and some sports

Score63%
VS
YT

YouTube TV

Premium live TV streaming service with 150+ channels and 4K capability

Sports enthusiasts, channel quantity prioritizers, and viewers with multiple household members who want maximum simultaneous streaming

Score63%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

YouTube TV offers more total channels (150+) and superior streaming quality (4K support), while Hulu Live integrates on-demand content and costs $20 less monthly ($76.99 vs $99.99). YouTube TV is better for channel breadth; Hulu Live wins for entertainment value bundling.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Hulu Live if you prioritize on-demand TV shows and movies alongside live channels, want a lower monthly cost, and don't need 4K streaming. Choose YouTube TV if you want maximum channel selection (150+ vs 90+), unlimited DVR storage, 4K capability, and prioritize live sports coverage over entertainment bundles.

Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

H
Hulu Live TV
6.9/10
YouTube TV
8.1/10
Y
H

Choose Hulu Live TV if

Budget-conscious viewers who want live TV plus extensive on-demand content libraries, primarily for entertainment and some sports

Y

Choose YouTube TV if

Best pick

Sports enthusiasts, channel quantity prioritizers, and viewers with multiple household members who want maximum simultaneous streaming

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Monthly Subscription Cost:Hulu Live TV wins($76.99/month vs $99.99/month)
  • Live TV Channels Available:YouTube TV wins(150+ channels vs 90+ channels)
  • 4K Streaming Support:YouTube TV wins(Yes (with 4K Plus add-on: $9.99/month) vs No)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

91 numeric metrics compared

MetricHulu Live TVYouTube TVRatio
Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD)$82.99/month$82.99/month
Live TV Channels(channels)90+100+ channels
On-Demand Content Titles(titles)10,000+ Hulu libraryChannel VOD only (~2,000)
Simultaneous Cloud DVR Recordings(recordings)50 simultaneous6 simultaneous
Ad-Free Plan Cost(USD)$95.99/month$95.99/month
Monthly Subscription Price(USD)$84.99/month$72.99/month
Live TV Channels Available(channels)90+
Minimum Internet Speed Required(Mbps)8 Mbps minimum3 Mbps (HD)
Base Monthly Price(USD)$54.99$72.99
Live Channels(channels)90+100+
Simultaneous Streams(streams)2-36
Free Trial Length(days)37
Base Monthly Price(USD)$76.99$82.99
On-Demand Titles(titles)10,000+
Monthly Subscription Cost(USD)$76.99$72.99
Cloud DVR Storage Capacity(hours)500 hoursUnlimited
DVR Content Retention Period(days)30 days270 days (9 months)
Simultaneous Streams Allowed(screens)2 devices6
Annual Cost (12-month)(USD)$923.88$875.88
Base DVR Storage Capacity(hours)50 hoursUnlimited
On-Demand Library Size(titles)10,000+YouTube only
DVR Recording Retention Period(months)9 months9 months
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)(USD)$14.99/month extraNot available
On-Demand Content Library(titles)250,000+ titles~3,000
Simultaneous Streams(streams)23
Family Accounts/Profiles(accounts)66
Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD)$923.88/year$1,199.88/year
Live TV Channels Included(channels)90+150+
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens)2 screens3 screens
Channel Customization Options(package types)1 fixed package
Cost Difference for Annual Service(USD per year)$923.88/year
Base Monthly Cost(USD)$76.99$99.99
Included On-Demand Library(titles)10,000+ (Hulu)0 (separate subscription required)
Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD)$60 (intro) / $83 (standard)$60 (intro) / $83 (standard)
Live TV Channels(channels)100+100+
Nightly TV Viewership Average (2026)(millions)11.111.1
Family Sharing Accounts(profiles)6 accounts standard6 accounts standard
Simultaneous Streams (single account)(streams)Up to 3Up to 3
Household Accounts(accounts)Up to 6Up to 6
Free Trial Length(days)0 days0 days
Cost Per Channel(USD per channel)$0.86$0.86
Starting Monthly Price(USD)$72.99/month$72.99/month
Local Channel Coverage(percent of US)95%+ of US markets95%+ of US markets
Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month)+$32.99+$32.99
Total Live Channels(channels)150+150+
Sports Networks Included(count)20+ networks20+ networks
Price Per Channel(USD per channel)$0.49/channel$0.49/channel
Monthly Base Subscription Cost(USD)$82.99$82.99
Simultaneous Stream Capability(screens)6 simultaneous streams6 simultaneous streams
Sports Content Percentage(percent)~50%~50%
Entertainment/News Content Percentage(percent)~50%~50%
AI-Powered Sports Features Launch(year)2026 (multiview, interactive features)2026 (multiview, interactive features)
Live TV Channel Count(channels)150+ channels150+ channels
Monthly Cost (Base Plan 2026)(USD)$99.99$99.99
DVR Retention Period(days)270 days (9 months)270 days (9 months)
Concurrent Streams Allowed(streams)3 streams3 streams
Number of User Profiles(profiles)6 profiles6 profiles
On-Demand Content Library Size(titles)Minimal (YouTube originals only)Minimal (YouTube originals only)
Monthly Base Price(USD)$72.99$72.99
Live Channels Included(channels)70+70+
Annual Price (Base Plan)(USD)$875.88$875.88
Monthly Cost (Base Plan)(USD)$72.99$72.99
Simultaneous Streams (Base Plan)(streams)3 streams3 streams
DVR Storage Overage Cost(USD/month)None (unlimited included)None (unlimited included)
Annual Cost (if prepaid)(USD)$839.88$839.88
Total Channels(channels)70+70+
Original Content Library(titles)Limited (under 50)Limited (under 50)
Total Channels Available(channels)100+ total channels100+ total channels
Live Sports Events Monthly(events)500+500+
Original Content Hours Monthly(hours)Minimal original content focusMinimal original content focus
Annual Cost (12 months)(USD)$875.88$875.88
Live Sporting Events Per Year(events)3,000+ (sports only)3,000+ (sports only)
Simultaneous Streams Per Household(streams)6 (1 in 4K)6 (1 in 4K)
Original Sports Content Library(titles)00
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)$72.99$72.99
Content Library Size(titles)100+ channels (30,000+ archived hours)100+ channels (30,000+ archived hours)
Original Content Awards (2024)(Emmy nominations)55
Annual Cost Difference(USD)$995.88/year$995.88/year
Live Channels(channels)100+ channels100+ channels
Bundle Customization Options(bundles)1 fixed lineup1 fixed lineup
Sports-Dedicated Channels(channels)25+25+
Free Trial Duration(days)NoneNone
4K Channel Availability(channels)10+ channels10+ channels
Monthly Price (Base Plan with Ads)(USD)$72.99$72.99
Premium Plan Price (Ad-Free)(USD)$82.99$82.99
Sports Channel Count(channels)15+ channels15+ channels
News Channel Count(channels)10+ channels10+ channels
User Profiles Per Household(profiles)5 profiles5 profiles
Live Channels Available(channels)100+100+
Family Profiles(profiles)66
Sports Content Types(types)All major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, CFB, etc.)All major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, CFB, etc.)

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

HL
2Hulu Live TV
YouTube TV leads1 tie
YT
4YouTube TV
  • Monthly Subscription Cost

    Hulu Live TV

    $76.99/month(winner)

    YouTube TV

    $99.99/month

  • Live TV Channels Available

    Hulu Live TV

    90+ channels

    YouTube TV

    150+ channels(winner)

  • 4K Streaming Support

    Hulu Live TV

    No

    YouTube TV

    Yes (with 4K Plus add-on: $9.99/month)(winner)

  • Included On-Demand Streaming Service

    Hulu Live TV

    Yes (Hulu with ads or ad-free)(winner)

    YouTube TV

    No (separate subscription needed)

  • Cloud DVR Storage

    Hulu Live TV

    500 hours

    YouTube TV

    Unlimited(winner)

  • Simultaneous Streams Allowed

    Hulu Live TV

    2 screens

    YouTube TV

    3 screens(winner)

  • Free Trial Period

    Hulu Live TV

    No free trial

    YouTube TV

    No free trial (discontinued 2023)

Full Comparison

HHulu Live TV
YYouTube TV
Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD)
$82.99/month
$82.99/month
Ad-Free Plan Cost(USD)
$95.99/month
$95.99/month
Monthly Subscription Price(USD)
$84.99/month
$72.99/month
Base Monthly Price(USD)
$54.99
$72.99
Base Monthly Price(USD)
$76.99
$82.99
Show 24 more attributes
Free Trial Period(days)
No free trial offered
No free trial (5-day trial historically)
Monthly Subscription Cost(USD)
$76.99
$72.99
Annual Cost (12-month)(USD)
$923.88
$875.88
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)(USD)
$14.99/month extra
Not available
Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD)
$923.88/year
$1,199.88/year
Cost Difference for Annual Service(USD per year)
$923.88/year
Base Monthly Cost(USD)
$76.99
$99.99
Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD)
$60 (intro) / $83 (standard)
Starting Monthly Price(USD)
$72.99/month
Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month)
+$32.99
Monthly Base Subscription Cost(USD)
$82.99
Monthly Cost (Base Plan 2026)(USD)
$99.99
Annual Price (Base Plan)(USD)
$875.88
Monthly Cost (Base Plan)(USD)
$72.99
DVR Storage Overage Cost(USD/month)
None (unlimited included)
Bundle Discount Available(boolean)
No official bundles
Annual Cost (if prepaid)(USD)
$839.88
Annual Cost (12 months)(USD)
$875.88
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)
$72.99
Ad-Free Plan Availability
Yes ($79.99/month)
Annual Cost Difference(USD)
$995.88/year
Free Trial Duration(days)
None
Monthly Price (Base Plan with Ads)(USD)
$72.99
Premium Plan Price (Ad-Free)(USD)
$82.99
Live TV Channels(channels)
90+
100+ channels
On-Demand Content Titles(titles)
10,000+ Hulu library
Channel VOD only (~2,000)
Live TV Channels Available(channels)
90+
Live Channels(channels)
90+
100+
On-Demand Titles(titles)
10,000+
Show 29 more attributes
On-Demand Library Size(titles)
10,000+
YouTube only
On-Demand Content Library(titles)
250,000+ titles
~3,000
Live TV Channels Included(channels)
90+
150+
Included On-Demand Library(titles)
10,000+ (Hulu)
0 (separate subscription required)
Content Library Size(titles)
100+ live channels
Live TV Channels(channels)
100+
Original Content Focus (2026)
Moderate (licensed dominant)
Local Channel Coverage(percent of US)
95%+ of US markets
Total Live Channels(channels)
150+
Sports Networks Included(count)
20+ networks
News Networks Included(major networks)
CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, ABC News
Sports Content Percentage(percent)
~50%
Entertainment/News Content Percentage(percent)
~50%
Live TV Channel Count(channels)
150+ channels
On-Demand Content Library Size(titles)
Minimal (YouTube originals only)
Live Channels Included(channels)
70+
Regional Sports Networks
Standard coverage only
Total Channels(channels)
70+
Original Content Library(titles)
Limited (under 50)
Total Channels Available(channels)
100+ total channels
Content Library Size(titles)
100+ channels (30,000+ archived hours)
Original Content Awards (2024)(Emmy nominations)
5
Live Channels(channels)
100+ channels
Sports-Dedicated Channels(channels)
25+
Sports Channel Count(channels)
15+ channels
News Channel Count(channels)
10+ channels
Included On-Demand Streaming
No (separate subscriptions needed)
Live Channels Available(channels)
100+
Sports Content Types(types)
All major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, CFB, etc.)
Cloud DVR Storage(hours)
50 hours
Unlimited
Simultaneous Cloud DVR Recordings(recordings)
50 simultaneous
6 simultaneous
Multiview Sports Feature
No
Yes - Advanced customizable layouts (2026)
Cloud DVR Storage(hours)
50
Unlimited
Simultaneous Streams(streams)
2-3
6
Show 25 more attributes
Cloud DVR Storage Capacity(hours)
500 hours
Unlimited
DVR Content Retention Period(days)
30 days
270 days (9 months)
Simultaneous Streams Allowed(screens)
2 devices
6
Base DVR Storage Capacity(hours)
50 hours
Unlimited
DVR Recording Retention Period(months)
9 months
9 months
Simultaneous Streams(streams)
2
3
Family Accounts/Profiles(accounts)
6
6
Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens)
2 screens
3 screens
Unlimited DVR
All plans included
Family Sharing Accounts(profiles)
6 accounts standard
Simultaneous Streams (single account)(streams)
Up to 3
Household Accounts(accounts)
Up to 6
DVR Storage (Standard)(hours)
Unlimited
Customizable Channel Selection(yes/no)
Genre-based plans (2026)
No-Contract Cancellation(yes/no)
Yes, anytime
DVR Recording Storage(hours)
Unlimited
Simultaneous Stream Capability(screens)
6 simultaneous streams
Concurrent Streams Allowed(streams)
3 streams
Number of User Profiles(profiles)
6 profiles
Simultaneous Streams (Base Plan)(streams)
3 streams
Offline Download Capability
No
Bundle Customization Options(bundles)
1 fixed lineup
4K Channel Availability(channels)
10+ channels
User Profiles Per Household(profiles)
5 profiles
Family Profiles(profiles)
6
Live Stream Video Quality(resolution/fps)
1080p/60fps
Minimum Internet Speed Required(Mbps)
8 Mbps minimum
3 Mbps (HD)
4K Content Availability(percent of library)
Yes
Sports & Local News Coverage(availability)
Full coverage (ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, locals)
Free Trial Length(days)
3
7
Free Trial Length(days)
0 days
Included Premium Services
Hulu (ad-supported), Disney+, ESPN+ bundles
YouTube Premium, YouTube Music
4K Streaming Support
Limited
Yes (with add-on $9.99/mo)
4K Content Support(boolean)
Yes (select content)
No
4K Streaming Available
No
Yes ($9.99/month add-on)
4K Content Available
Available with Premium tier ($13.99/month add-on)
4K Streaming Support
Yes (included)
Mobile App Quality
Good with Hulu integration
Excellent with quick guide navigation
Bundled Premium Services(services)
Disney+, ESPN+ included
None included
Cost Per Channel(USD per channel)
$0.86
Price Per Channel(USD per channel)
$0.49/channel
DVR Storage Capacity(hours)
50 standard (200 with upgrade)
Unlimited
DVR Retention Period(days)
270 days (9 months)
Channel Customization Options(package types)
1 fixed package
Streaming Device Compatibility
All major platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire, web, mobile)
All major platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire, web, mobile)
Nightly TV Viewership Average (2026)(millions)
11.1
Ad-Free Viewing
Standard feature (no ads)
AI-Powered Sports Features Launch(year)
2026 (multiview, interactive features)
Monthly Base Price(USD)
$72.99
Contract Required
No
Live Events Per Year(events)
Varies (included in channels)
Live Sporting Events Per Year(events)
3,000+ (sports only)
NFL Regular Season Games (Annual)(games)
Included via ESPN networks
Live Sports Events Monthly(events)
500+
NFL Game Broadcasts Available(percent)
All major broadcasts (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC)
Local Broadcast Network Access(markets covered)
90% of U.S. markets
Original Content Hours Monthly(hours)
Minimal original content focus
Simultaneous Streams Per Household(streams)
6 (1 in 4K)
Original Sports Content Library(titles)
0

Pros & Cons

10 pros·6 cons across both

HL
YT
HL

Hulu Live TV

+5-3

Pros

  • Integrated Hulu on-demand library included (10,000+ titles)
  • Lowest base price at $76.99/month
  • Cloud DVR storage: 500 hours
  • Good sports coverage including NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB
  • Works on all major platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, web)

Cons

  • Limited to 90+ live channels versus competitors
  • No 4K streaming option even with upgrades
  • Only 2 simultaneous streams (competitors offer 3+)
YT

YouTube TV

+5-3

Pros

  • Largest channel lineup at 150+ live channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR storage with no expiration
  • 4K streaming support (with $9.99/month add-on)
  • 3 simultaneous streams included
  • Superior platform integration with YouTube ecosystem and Chromecast

Cons

  • Most expensive option at $99.99/month base price
  • Requires separate subscriptions for on-demand content (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
  • 4K streams limited to 4K-exclusive content only

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Yes. Hulu Live TV automatically includes Hulu with ads (standard on-demand library). You can upgrade to ad-free Hulu for an additional $9.99/month. This is a major differentiator from YouTube TV, which requires separate subscriptions for on-demand services.

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