For $76.99 per month, you get Hulu's traditional catalog of shows and movies, plus access to more than 85 live channels, from A&E to ESPN to TNT.
Hulu began as an on-demand streaming service, then expanded into offering live TV as well - for those who pay a large extra fee. The lack of forced bundling may be a pro or con based on your vantage point, but anyone who doesn't need Disney Plus and ESPN Plus probably appreciates it. Plus, subscribers get a discount on NFL Sunday Ticket. But YouTube TV added new channels to make up for that, including the Magnolia Network. It's these killer sports features that make it the cable TV alternative of choice for our senior writer Malcolm McMillan.Īs of April 2023, YouTube TV raised its monthly price to $72.99 per month, which puts it closer to all of the other major services not named Sling). Power users should be excited to hear that YouTube TV's multiview isn't just for March Madness, as YouTube's expanded the feature to the news and weather, as it continues to prepare for usage during the upcoming NFL season. YouTube TV also has key plays which is a great feature for watching key highlights in minutes, in sports matches once they are recorded on the DVR. Sling and other services are a little further behind the live feeds (less than a minute, but it still counts for sports and live events). One of our favorite aspects of YouTube TV is that it's got the shortest lag behind cable TV. And just like Hulu, it has all of the major broadcast networks, so you can get your local news and sports, as well as network sitcoms and dramas. YouTube TV's biggest stand-out feature was unlimited storage DVR, but Hulu's caught up to that. Simple, easy to use and rocking a very strong selection of channels, YouTube TV remains a top cable TV alternative. No big bonuses like Disney Plus or international sports channels Even Sling's Orange+Blue package is still more affordable than most of its competitors' base packages. For more details, including lineups and pricing and more, check out our What Is Sling TV? and Sling TV promo codes pages. We just wish its cloud DVR would go unlimited like YouTube and Hulu.
You can see even more differences in our Sling Orange vs Blue guide.įrom sports to comedy to kids' programming to foreign language channels, Sling TV has a little something for everyone. That means Sling Orange & Blue will cost up to $60. Those in Fresno, Houston and Raleigh will get ABC on Sling TV for free, while those in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose region will be spending $5 more. Orange has ESPN (though it lost it once for two days) and Blue has local FOX, ABC and NBC affiliates (depending on your local market).A weird new twist, though, has been added for Sling Blue and Sling Orange & Blue. The service offers two basic packages of channels (Orange and Blue), then lets viewers pick and choose smaller extras, which usually cost $5 per month.
This cable TV alternative also makes our best streaming services list, in part because it's by far the cheapest service ($40 per month) with either ESPN or local FOX, ABC and NBC affiliates - and it's often available at a promotional rate.