December 11, 2024
Hulu vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling TV vs. DirecTV Stream channels

As fall sports activities warmth up, you could be questioning how one can catch the NBA or NFL with no cable subscription. Even when sports activities aren’t your factor, a dwell TV streaming service may very well be simply what it’s essential to reduce the twine. With no contracts, a ton of channels and the flexibleness to observe on varied gadgets, these companies stack up fairly nicely in opposition to common cable. You possibly can stream sports activities, premium channels or community TV, and these platforms not solely provide you with extra channel choices than antennas but in addition allow you to watch in your laptop or cellphone.

Pricing and regional sports activities networks might make it arduous to decide on, however there are six main companies to choose from (we’re not together with smaller ones): YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Reside TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo and Philo. 

What actually counts is the number of channels these platforms supply, proper? We have taken a take a look at their essential channel lineups that can assist you determine which one might suit your wants.

Learn extra: Greatest Sports activities Streaming Service for 2024

The Massive Chart: High 100 channels in contrast (up to date Nov. 2024)

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

Beneath you may discover a chart that reveals the highest 100 channels throughout all six companies, however be aware that not each 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 in case you’re questioning, I selected which “high” channels made the reduce. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Common HD.

DirecTV Stream and Hulu Plus Reside TV’s plans value extra after October value will increase, affecting the worth of those companies based mostly on their channel lineups. We’ll additionally be aware Fubo’s big loss of Warner Bros. Discovery channels resembling Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, HGTV, Meals Community, OWN, TLC, Magnolia Community and Cartoon Community might make it much less interesting.

However if you wish to do away with cable, there are quite a few dwell TV streaming decisions out there. Sling TV’s fundamental packages are $40 in most cities. However prices proceed to go up. Hulu with Reside simply shot as much as $83 per thirty days for its base package deal, Fubo’s value for its fundamental plan is $80, which is similar value as DirecTV Stream’s base plan. YouTube TV prices $73 per thirty days, making it some of the cheap choices with a fuller channel lineup. These adjustments are mirrored within the chart under the place relevant. 

Some extra stuff to know concerning the chart: 

  • Sure = The channel is out there on the most affordable pricing tier. That value is listed subsequent to the service’s title.
  • No = The channel is not out there in any respect on that service. 
  • $ = The channel is out there for an additional price, both a la carte or as a part of a costlier package deal or add-on.
  • Regional sports activities networks — native channels dedicated to displaying regular-season video games of explicit professional baseball, basketball and hockey groups — will not be listed. DirecTV Stream’s $130 tier has essentially the most RSNs by far, however a number of can be found on different companies. See our NBA and NHL streaming guides for particulars.
  • Native ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks will not be out there in each metropolis. Since availability of those channels varies, you may wish to test the service’s web site to confirm that it carries your native community.
  • Native PBS stations are solely at the moment out there on YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu Reside. Once more, you may wish to test native availability.
  • Sling Blue subscribers in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Metropolis, Philadelphia and San Francisco should now pay $45 per thirty 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 further cost. This isn’t mirrored within the chart. Test Sling’s 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 further value. Test availability in your state.
  • The chart columns are organized so as of value, so if you cannot see every thing you need, attempt scrolling proper.
  • Overwhelmed? An easier-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.

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

Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
Complete channels: 42 24 35 78 46 75 55
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 No Sure Sure
CW No No No Sure Sure Sure Sure (restricted)
MyNetworkTV No No No Sure No Sure Sure
Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
A&E Sure Sure Sure No No Sure $
ACC Community No $ No Sure Sure Sure $
Accuweather Sure No No No Sure No Sure
AMC Sure Sure Sure Sure No No Sure
Animal Planet Sure No No Sure No Sure Sure
BBC America Sure Sure Sure Sure No No Sure
BBC World Information Sure $ $ Sure No No $
BET Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Massive Ten Community No No $ Sure Sure Sure $
Bloomberg TV No Sure Sure No Sure Sure Sure
Boomerang No $ $ No No $ Sure
Bravo No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
Cartoon Community No Sure Sure Sure No Sure Sure
CBS Sports activities Community No No No Sure Sure Sure $
Cheddar Sure No No Sure 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 No Sure Sure
Comedy Central Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Cooking Channel Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Vacation spot America Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Discovery Channel Sure No Sure Sure No 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 ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
Meals Community Sure Sure Sure Sure No 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 Films No No $ Sure $ Sure $
FXX No No $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
FYI Sure $ $ No No Sure $
Golf Channel No No $ Sure Sure Sure $
Hallmark Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
HBO/Max No No No $ No $ $
HGTV Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure Sure
Historical past Sure Sure Sure No No Sure $
HLN No $ Sure Sure No Sure Sure
IFC Sure Sure Sure Sure No No Sure
Investigation Discovery Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure Sure
Lifetime Sure Sure Sure No No Sure $
Lifetime Film Community Sure $ $ No No Sure $
Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
Magnolia Community Sure $ $ Sure No Sure $
MGM+ $ $ $ $ No No $
MLB Community No $ $ No $ Sure $
Motor Pattern Sure Sure No Sure No 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 No
Nat Geo Wild No No $ Sure $ Sure $
NBA TV No $ $ Sure $ No $
NFL Community No No Sure Sure Sure Sure $
NFL Pink 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 No Sure $
Oxygen No No $ Sure Sure Sure $
Paramount Community Sure $ $ Sure Sure Sure Sure
Science Sure $ $ No $ $ $
Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)
SEC Community No $ No Sure $ Sure $
Showtime No $ $ $ $ $ $
Smithsonian Sure No No Sure Sure Sure $
Starz $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Sundance TV Sure $ $ Sure No No Sure
Syfy No No Sure Sure Sure Sure Sure
Tastemade Sure $ $ Sure Sure No $
TBS No Sure Sure Sure No Sure Sure
TCM No $ $ Sure No Sure $
TeenNick Sure $ $ Sure $ $ Sure
Telemundo No No No Sure Sure Sure $
Tennis Channel No $ $ No $ No $
TLC Sure No Sure Sure No Sure Sure
TNT No Sure Sure Sure No Sure Sure
Journey Channel Sure Sure Sure Sure No Sure $
TruTV No $ Sure Sure No Sure $
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 No Sure $
WE television Sure $ $ Sure No No Sure
Channel Philo ($28) Sling Orange ($40) Sling Blue ($40) YouTube TV ($73) Fubo ($80) Hulu with Reside TV ($83) DirecTV Stream ($87)

Sarah Tew/CNET

Hulu Plus Reside TV, which incorporates entry to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, now prices $83 a month for its base package deal. Its channel choice is not as sturdy as YouTube TV, but Hulu’s important catalog of on-demand content material units it aside. Unique titles resembling Shōgun, The Bear and Solely Murders within the Constructing give it a content material benefit no different service can match. 

Reside 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 by way of options, however the channel lineup should be a deciding issue. It is $10 greater than YouTube TV, which has extra channels, however the entry to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus might make it a extra interesting alternative for you. Learn our Hulu Plus Reside TV overview.

Sarah Tew/CNET

With a wonderful channel choice, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $73 per thirty 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 observe at current except you watch choose channels. For those who do not thoughts paying a bit greater than the Sling TVs of the world, or wish to watch dwell NBA video games, YouTube TV provides a excessive normal of dwell TV streaming. Learn our YouTube TV overview.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If you wish to save a bit of cash and do not thoughts lacking out on native channels, Sling TV is the perfect of the finances companies. Its Orange and Blue packages begin at $40 per thirty days, and you’ll mix them for a month-to-month price of $55 ($60 in some areas). The Orange possibility nets you one stream, whereas Blue provides 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 overview.

Sarah Tew/CNET

DirecTV Stream’s base package deal prices greater than all the opposite platforms on this listing, and its stiffest competitors continues to be Hulu Plus Reside TV and YouTube TV. With its channel choice, it is ideally suited for sports activities followers who wish to watch native or nationwide video games. 

The service does have its pluses, although — for instance, it contains the flipper-friendly capability to swipe left and proper to alter channels. Moreover, it contains some channels another companies cannot, together with practically 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $87 Leisure package deal might fit your wants with its 75-plus channels. However for cord-cutters who wish to observe their native NBA or MLB crew, DirecTV Stream’s $130 Selection package deal is a extra sturdy dwell TV streaming choose as a result of it has entry to extra regional sports activities networks than the competitors. Nonetheless, you may wish to ensure that your channel is included right here, and never out there on considered one of our most popular picks, earlier than you pony up. Learn our DirecTV Stream overview.

Ty Pendlebury/CNET

There’s lots to love about Fubo — it provides a big selection of channels and its sports activities focus makes it particularly enticing to soccer followers or NBA, NHL and MLB followers who dwell in an space served by considered one of Fubo’s RSNs. It is also an ideal alternative for NFL followers, because it’s considered one of three companies, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that provide NFL Community and non-compulsory 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 Warner Bros. Discovery networks, together with HGTV, Meals Community, Cartoon Community, CNN, TNT and TBS — particularly for the reason that latter two carry loads of sports activities content material, particularly NBA, NHL and MLB. These lacking channels, and the $80 price ticket, make it much less enticing than YouTube TV for many viewers. Learn our Fubo overview.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Philo raised its value from $25 to $28 for brand new subscribers and added an AMC Plus bundle, and it is nonetheless an inexpensive dwell TV streaming service with a wide range of channels. Nevertheless 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 Comedy Channel, Nickelodeon and Magnolia Community, and focuses on way of life and actuality programming. It is also one of many most cost-effective dwell companies that streams Paramount, dwelling of Yellowstone, and it features a cloud DVR and non-compulsory add-ons from Epix and Starz. We predict most individuals are higher off paying one other $12 for Sling TV’s superior service, but when Philo has each channel you need, it is a first rate deal. Learn our Philo overview.