YouTube TV vs. Hulu Plus Live TV: the battle of the cable alternatives

Traditional cable is hanging by a thread, so to speak, and if you're planning to join the millions of users who have ditched their old channels in favor of a live TV streaming service, you have many options to choose from in 2026.

YouTube TV and Hulu + Live are two of the most popular streaming services around, but how are they different? What channels does each app offer, and how can you get the best bang for the buck? No matter what you're hoping to watch, I've broken down everything you need to know about YouTube TV and Hulu + Live in this guide.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: At a glance

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Channels

Winner: YouTube TV

If you're coming from traditional cable, you'll be pleased to learn that both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live give you access to nearly all of the same channels. Both services come with local standards like NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX, plus the base plans will give you live content from Comedy Central, CNN, HGTV, and dozens of others.

There are some glaring omissions on these channel lists, however. Hulu + Live doesn't have AMC or BBC America, for example, while YouTube TV is missing A&E and the History Channel. Some of the missing channels may come as a surprise, so it's worth checking each app's respective channel lists to make sure the one you choose has your favorites. Considering the full lists, I'd argue that YouTube TV has the more comprehensive list of "top channels", so they get the win here.

• See the full list of channels on YouTube TV
• See the full list of channels on Hulu + Live TV

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Features

Winner: Hulu + Live

This is where things get more complicated. YouTube TV is an absolute triumph for sports fans, as the app offers exclusive access to NFL Sunday Ticket. For $20 per month, this add-on gives you access to all out-of-market regular season Sunday NFL games that aren't usually broadcast in your area. You can also pay for add-ons like Fox Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone and Tennis Channel. YouTube TV also offers a separate Sports Plan ($64.99/mo) that has fewer channels than Basic but more options for sports fans.

The problem is that all of those popular YouTube TV features will increase the price of your monthly subscription. Hulu + Live, on the other hand, includes Hulu (with ads), Disney Plus (with ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads) streaming at no additional cost. That means that you're getting thousands of hours of additional on-demand and original content automatically upon sign-up. On-demand content from YouTube is limited to select titles from your usual cable networks (similar to the offerings included with traditional cable).

Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV give you unlimited Cloud DVR storage with the base plans, plus you have the ability to fast-forward through ads on all recorded content.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Verdict

Both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live offer the best that live TV streaming has to offer in 2026, so there's really no objective "best choice" here. The right pick for you is going to depend on your needs as a user.

If you're ditching cable for the first time, YouTube TV offers a seamless transition and a super-intuitive interface for beginners and streaming veterans alike. Add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone also make YouTube's app the preferable choice for sports fans.

Hulu + Live, on the other hand, has a clunkier interface that newcomers may struggle with, and you'll want to check the streaming service's channel list to make sure it has everything you want. If you're already experienced with streaming services, however, the included subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus offer a lot of bang for the buck.

When it comes down to it, all you need to do is think about the stuff you watch and choose the service that offers it. Both streaming services are great and cost about the same, so you really can't go wrong either way.

Are these options too pricey for you? Sling TV is a great alternative, and we've broken down all of the pros and cons in our Sling TV vs. YouTube TV guide.