Sling TV vs Hulu + Live TV
Sling TV
Affordable, flexible live TV streaming with customizable channel packages starting at $15.99/month.
Budget-conscious viewers who want to cherry-pick channels and don't watch much on-demand content
Hulu + Live TV
Full-featured live TV service with 90+ channels plus entire Hulu on-demand library at $76.99/month
Cord-cutters who want comprehensive live sports, news, entertainment, and extensive on-demand content without gaps
Short Answer
Sling TV costs $39.99/month with 30+ channels and greater customization, while Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99/month with 90+ channels but includes on-demand Hulu content and Disney Bundle options. Sling TV is the budget choice; Hulu + Live TV offers more comprehensive entertainment.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Sling TV if you're a price-conscious cord-cutter who wants to customize your channel lineup and don't need extensive on-demand content. Choose Hulu + Live TV if you want a comprehensive entertainment package with 90+ live channels, a massive on-demand library, and Disney+ integration—and can justify the higher monthly cost.
Was this verdict helpful?
Choose Sling TV if
Budget-conscious viewers who want to cherry-pick channels and don't watch much on-demand content
Choose Hulu + Live TV if
Cord-cutters who want comprehensive live sports, news, entertainment, and extensive on-demand content without gaps
Track this comparison
Get notified when prices change, new specs ship, or our verdict updates.
Triggers: price change new spec verdict update
No spam. Stop anytime.
Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Sling TV | Hulu + Live TV | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Starting Price(USD) | $40 | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $20.00 | — | — |
| Simultaneous Streams (single account)(streams) | Up to 3 | — | — |
| Household Accounts(accounts) | Up to 3 | — | — |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 3 days | — | — |
| Cost Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.57 | — | — |
| Total Channels(channels) | 30-50 channels | — | — |
| Local Channel Coverage(percent of US) | Limited regional availability | — | — |
| DVR Storage (Standard)(hours) | 50 hours | — | — |
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 1-3 streams | 2 | — |
| Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month) | $0 (baseline) | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $39.99 | $76.99 | -48% |
| Live TV Channels(count) | 30-50 | 90+ | -56% |
| On-Demand Titles(titles) | Minimal (DVR-dependent) | 10,000+ | -95% |
| Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 1-3 | 2-4 | -33% |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 7 | 3 | +133% |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $15.99 | — | — |
| Total Available Channels(channels) | 40-50 | — | — |
| Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)(streams) | 3 | — | — |
| Cloud DVR Storage (Included)(hours) | 50 (upgradeable to 200) | — | — |
| Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD) | $191.88 | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD) | $82.99/month | $82.99/month | — |
| On-Demand Content Titles(titles) | 10,000+ Hulu library | 10,000+ Hulu library | — |
| Simultaneous Cloud DVR Recordings(recordings) | 50 simultaneous | 50 simultaneous | — |
| Ad-Free Plan Cost(USD) | $95.99/month | $95.99/month | — |
| Monthly Subscription Price(USD) | $76.99 | $76.99 | — |
| Live TV Channels Available(channels) | 90+ | 90+ | — |
| On-Demand Library Size(titles) | 50,000+ | 50,000+ | — |
| Minimum Internet Speed Required(Mbps) | 8 Mbps minimum | 8 Mbps minimum | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $54.99 | $54.99 | — |
| Live Channels(channels) | 90+ | 90+ | — |
| Simultaneous Streams(streams) | 2-3 | 2-3 | — |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 3 | 3 | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Sling TV
$39.99🏆
Hulu + Live TV
$76.99
Sling TV
30-50 channels
Hulu + Live TV
90+ channels🏆
Sling TV
Limited (cloud DVR only)
Hulu + Live TV
Full Hulu library (10,000+ titles)🏆
Sling TV
200 hours
Hulu + Live TV
1,000 hours🏆
Sling TV
1-3 devices (plan dependent)
Hulu + Live TV
2 devices standard🏆
Sling TV
High (build your own)🏆
Hulu + Live TV
Low (fixed bundles)
Sling TV
No
Hulu + Live TV
Yes (saves $14.99/month)🏆
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Sling TV |  Hulu + Live TV |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Starting Price(USD) | $40 | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $20.00 | — |
| Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month) | $0 (baseline) | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $39.99 | $76.99 |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 7 | 3 |
Show 6 more attributesStarting Monthly Price(USD) $15.99 — Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD) $191.88 — Base Monthly Price (2026)(USD) $82.99/month — Ad-Free Plan Cost(USD) $95.99/month — Monthly Subscription Price(USD) $76.99 — Base Monthly Price(USD) $54.99 — | ||
| DVR Storage Capacity(hours) | Unlimited recordings | — |
| Cloud DVR Storage(hours) | 200 | 1,000 |
| Simultaneous Streams (single account)(streams) | Up to 3 | — |
| Household Accounts(accounts) | Up to 3 | — |
| DVR Storage (Standard)(hours) | 50 hours | — |
Show 8 more attributesCustomizable Channel Selection(yes/no) Full à la carte customization — No-Contract Cancellation(yes/no) Yes, anytime — Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)(streams) 3 — Cloud DVR Storage (Included)(hours) 50 (upgradeable to 200) — Simultaneous Cloud DVR Recordings(recordings) 50 simultaneous — Multiview Sports Feature No — Cloud DVR Storage(hours) 50 — Simultaneous Streams(streams) 2-3 — | ||
| Free Trial Length(days) | 3 days | — |
| Cost Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.57 | — |
| 4K Streaming Available | No (1080p max) | — |
| 4K Streaming Support | Limited | — |
| Total Channels(channels) | 30-50 channels | — |
| Local Channel Coverage(percent of US) | Limited regional availability | — |
| Live TV Channels(count) | 30-50 | 90+ |
| On-Demand Titles(titles) | Minimal (DVR-dependent) | 10,000+ |
| Total Available Channels(channels) | 40-50 | — |
Show 4 more attributesOn-Demand Content Titles(titles) 10,000+ Hulu library — Live TV Channels Available(channels) 90+ — On-Demand Library Size(titles) 50,000+ — Live Channels(channels) 90+ — | ||
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 1-3 streams | 2 |
| Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 1-3 | 2-4 |
| Supported Devices(platforms) | 50+ | — |
| ESPN Included | ESPN only | — |
| NFL RedZone Access | Not included | — |
| Live Stream Video Quality(resolution/fps) | 1080p/60fps | — |
| Minimum Internet Speed Required(Mbps) | 8 Mbps minimum | — |
| Sports & Local News Coverage(availability) | Full coverage (ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, locals) | — |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 3 | — |
| Included Premium Services | Hulu (ad-supported), Disney+, ESPN+ bundles | — |
| Mobile App Quality | Good with Hulu integration | — |
Sling TVHulu + Live TVShow 6 more attributes
Show 8 more attributes
Show 4 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Sling TV
Pros
- Lowest price at $39.99/month with no contracts
- Highly customizable—choose Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or both (30-50 channels base)
- 7-day free cloud DVR with 200 hours storage
- Works on 50+ device types including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and smart TVs
- No ads on recorded content when using DVR
Cons
- Only 1-3 simultaneous streams depending on package, vs 2-4 on competitors
- Limited on-demand library—mostly relies on live TV and DVR recordings
- Missing major sports packages (ESPN+ not bundled like competitors offer)
Hulu + Live TV
Pros
- Largest channel lineup with 90+ live channels including ABC, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and regional sports
- Full Hulu on-demand access with 10,000+ movies and TV shows included
- 1,000 hours cloud DVR storage (5x more than Sling TV)
- Disney Bundle integration saves $14.99/month when bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+
- 2-4 simultaneous streams depending on tier and ad preferences
Cons
- High price at $76.99/month; rises to $91.99/month with fewer ads
- No channel customization—fixed packages with limited à la carte options
- Hulu ad-supported tier includes 4-minute ad breaks per hour unless upgraded to $91.99/month
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Disney Bundle (Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+) costs $14.99/month less than purchasing them separately, reducing your effective Hulu + Live TV cost from $76.99 to about $61.99/month. Sling TV does not offer bundle discounts.
Resources & Learn More
Dive deeper with these curated resources
Where to Buy
As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Wikipedia
Related Comparisons
Sling vs YouTube TV
software
YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV
products
Philo vs Hulu + Live TV
software
Philo vs Sling TV
software
YouTube TV vs Hulu Live TV
entertainment
Sling TV vs Fubo
software
WordPress vs Wix
software
Slack vs Microsoft Teams
software
Canva vs Photoshop
software
Figma vs Sketch
software
iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26
technology
PS5 vs Xbox Series X
technology
Related Articles
Best Streaming Services in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget & Interest
Navigating the crowded streaming landscape in 2026 can be overwhelming. We've tested and ranked the best streaming services that offer the most value, from Netflix's massive library to budget-friendly options like Tubi, helping you cut cable and find your perfect entertainment solution.
Best Live TV Streaming Services & Plans for Spring 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide
Tired of overpaying for cable? Discover the best live TV streaming services and plans for Spring 2026, including YouTube TV's new genre-based packages starting at $55/month. Our comprehensive guide breaks down pricing, channels, and features to help you cut the cord.
Philo in 2026: Streaming TV Service Review, Pricing & Reddit Community Insights
Explore Philo's evolution heading into 2026, including pricing tiers, channel lineup, and how it compares to competitors like Sling TV. Discover what the r/PhiloTV Reddit community thinks about the service's current offerings and future prospects.
Best US Fighter Jets 2026: Top American Combat Aircraft Ranked
Discover the most advanced US fighter jets dominating the skies in 2026. From the legendary F-22 Raptor to the versatile F-35 Lightning II, we rank America's best combat aircraft based on performance, stealth, and air superiority capabilities.
Philo in 2026: Pricing, Lineup & How It Compares to Sling TV
As we head into 2026, Philo continues to position itself as an affordable streaming alternative for cable TV lovers. Discover what Philo offers, how its pricing stacks up against competitors like Sling TV, and what the Reddit community thinks about its future.