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Best live TV streaming service: YouTube TV vs. SlingTV vs. Hulu vs. FuboTV and all the rest

Cord-cutters looking for live sports, news, and other broadcast TV network programming without a high-priced cable TV bill need a live TV streaming service. Our in-depth guide identifies the best ones.

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Table of Contents
  • Best TV streaming service
  • Best TV streaming service for sports fans: AT&T TV
  • Best family-oriented streaming service
  • Other options to consider
  • Our TV streaming bundle reviews

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As cord-cutting becomes more popular, TV networks have responded by bringing their popular cable channels to the internet. That means you no longer need expensive satellite or cable TV service to watch local news, sports, and your favorite shows.

But with all this competition comes more confusion. Between Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and others, cord-cutters have a lot to think about. Each service has its own quirks and caveats, and their channel lineups (and increasingly, their prices) are constantly in flux.

We created this guide to make your decision easier. It compares the features of all the current live TV streaming bundles, lists which devices each one supports, provides a full side-by-side channel list, and provides our bottom-line recommendations. It also shares the latest live TV streaming news, and links to our in-depth reviews, where you can learn more about how each bundle works.

Updated May 19, 2021to add our Paramount+ review. There's more to this streaming service than Star Trek and The Stand—including a smattering of movies from Paramount Pictures. But not a lot more.

[ Further reading: The best media streaming devices ]

Best TV streaming service

YouTube TV may not meet every cord-cutter's needs, but even at $65 per month, we think it's the best path to local stations, live news, national sports, and a broad selection of entertainment channels. It also includes cloud DVR service that can record an unlimited number of programs for up to nine months. If you're looking to replace cable TV with something cheaper, this is still your safest bet.

Runner-up

What sets Hulu's $65-per-month live TV bundle apart from others is its inclusion of Hulu's on-demand service (normally $6 per month), which includes a large catalog of network shows, plus originals such as The Handmaid's Tale and Castle Rock. Hulu's interface can be busy, but it ties everything together in a way that encourages discovery, and the service is extendable with more DVR storage and additional simultaneous streams—if you're willing to pay.

Best TV streaming service for sports fans: AT&T TV

At $85 per month for its "Choice" package, AT&T TV is not a particularly great deal for cord cutters, but as of this writing, it's the only way to get regional Fox Sports (soon to become Bally Sports) channels or the YES Network without cable or satellite TV service. It also includes NBA TV and MLB Network for good measure.

Sports fans served by regional NBC Sports networks are in luck here, as they can instead opt for cheaper services including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo TV (all starting at $65 per month). Otherwise, AT&T TV wins simply by covering local sports in most markets.

Best family-oriented streaming service

Fans of the Star Wars saga might be interested in checking out Disney's new service just to watchThe Mandalorian, but there's plenty of other great content to be had here, drawing from Disney's own deep and broad library of movies and TV shows. We've reviewed the first five of the shows originally developed for Disney+ and came away impressed.

Other options to consider

Sling TV is an intriguing option if you're using an antenna to get local channels, because it doesn't include much local coverage on its own. As such, its starting price of $35 per month is a lot lower than other bundles, and you can add channel packs that otherwise might be cost-prohibitive. On the downside, integrating local over-the-air channels with the Sling app requires extra hardware. Also, some channels—such as regional Fox Sports networks—aren't available with Sling TV at all.

Apple TV+ Apple is one of the most cash-rich companies on the planet, and it has sunk a ton of money into developing its first streaming TV service, which launched in November 2019. The service is one of the least expensive at just $4.99 per month, but there's not a lot of content in these early days, and there isn't much that impressed our critic.

FuboTV is a $65-per-month that once marketed itself as sports-centric. In recent years, however, its channel mix has become more like that of its competitors, most notably with the addition of ESPN, Disney, and ABC channels. Still, its lack of WarnerMedia-owned channels such as TNT and TBS leaves some sporting events out of reach.

Philo is the biggest bundle you can get with no sports channels. As such, it only costs $20 per month, with channels from AMC, Viacom, Discovery, and A&E. Philo is a fine supplement if you can get prime-time shows and sports from an antenna.

Frndly TV offers about a dozen channels for $6 per month, most notably the Hallmark Channels and The Weather Channel. If those channels are missing from whatever larger package you've chosen, this might be a great supplement.

Live TV streaming features and channel guide

Ready to dig deeper? Below you'll find even more information to help make your decision.

Let's start with local channels. In certain markets—especially those outside of cities—live feeds may not be available due to ongoing rights negotiations with local broadcast affiliates. In lieu of those local feeds, most streaming bundles offer prime-time on-demand programming from whatever major broadcast networks they carry. (The sole exception is YouTube TV, which has opted to stay out of markets where it can't offer live local coverage.)

To see which local stations are available in your area, visit the websites for Sling TV,AT&T TV Now, Hulu with Live TV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV.

Jared Newman / TechHiv

Here's a rundown of which bundles work on each major streaming platform (click to enlarge to a readable size):

streamingappscompared Jared Newman / IDG

As for features, the following chart shows how each live TV streaming service compares on DVR, simultaneous streams, ad-skipping, out-of-home access, and more:

streamingfeaturescompared Jared Newman / IDG

And here's a chart showing all the channels you can get through TV streaming bundles, along with the minimum price you'll need to pay to get each one. If you see a "+" sign, that means the price is in addition to the cost of a base package. It's a large chart that you can click to zoom into so that it's more readable.

streamingchannelscompared Jared Newman / IDG

Our TV streaming bundle reviews

For deeper dives into each streaming bundle, check out the reviews below.

Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this roundup is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted.

Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

  • YouTube TV doesn't have every channel for everyone, but it's still the best streaming bundle for most people.

    Pros

    • Solid mix of channels for the money
    • Includes DVR with no storage limits
    • Easy-to-understand app design

    Cons

    • Still not available in some markets, or on Amazon Fire TV devices
    • Ad-riddled on-demand videos can override DVR
    • Some channels don't support 60-frames-per-second video yet

  • Despite some initial bugs, Disney+ looks like a serious contender with its clean, easy interface and an impressive amount of content aimed at families, kids, and anyone with a penchant for nostalgia.

    Pros

    • Affordably priced at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year
    • Impressive amount of strong content, both original and classic
    • Easy-to-grasp user interface

    Cons

    • A few bugs at launch
    • No ability to manually adjust streaming settings
    • Missing some notable Disney content

  • Hulu's live TV service still has a few drawbacks, but the value is hard to beat.

    Pros

    • On-demand library is bigger than other bundles
    • Lots of popular channels for one competitive price
    • It's easy to discover interesting things to watch

    Cons

    • Basic DVR service doesn't allow ad skipping
    • User interface can be tricky to navigate
    • Can't watch on TV devices outside the house.

  • By cutting out broadcast and sports networks, Philo provides lots of channels for not a lot of money.

    Pros

    • Less than half the price of most live TV services
    • Apps are straightforward and easy to use
    • Three simultaneous streams with no weird viewing restrictions
    • No arcane restrictions on ad skipping or where you can watch from

    Cons

    • No way to simultaneously watch and browse live channels
    • 60-frames-per-second support remains absent
    • No personalized recommendations on what to watch

  • Steady improvements have turned Sling TV into a great budget streaming bundle—with a few lingering frustrations.

    Pros

    • Lower entry price than any other streaming bundle
    • Simple menu system with easy access to favorites
    • DVR supports ad-skipping, partial recordings, and time-shifting

    Cons

    • Price can quickly escalate to get certain channels
    • Most channels top out at 30 frames per second
    • Only supports one user profile

  • None of the first Apple TV+ offerings is a slam-dunk, but there's enough here—and enough coming—to float the service for a while. The low barrier to entry for consumers will help.

    Pros

    • Your first year is free with purchase of certain Apple products
    • Up to six family members can watch on the same membership
    • Mostly very high production values

    Cons

    • Very limited amount of entertainment available at launch
    • Little of what is available now can be considered must-see entertainment
    • The app is not broadly available on older smart TVs

  • FuboTV's lineup is unlike other streaming bundles—for better and for worse.

    Pros

    • Unique lineup of sports channels that are much pricier in other bundles
    • Well-designed TV apps make sporting events easy to find
    • Live streams have much lower latency than other bundles

    Cons

    • Missing a major sports source in ESPN
    • Included DVR storage is skimpier than other bundles
    • Inconsistent 60 fps support on sports channels

  • You'll find some good entertainment on Paramount+, including several original TV shows, but there's not a lot of must-see TV

    Pros

    • Offers content for a wide range of viewers
    • Optional subtitles
    • Discounts for paid-annually plans

    Cons

    • We experienced fatal crashes with the ads-included plan
    • A lot of mediocre content at the time of our review
    • Major gaps in feature film library

  • Pros

    • Good price for a mix of local and cable channels
    • Includes the live PBS and public access channels that over-the-top TV services lack
    • Supports universal search on Roku and Apple TV, along with Apple's TV app

    Cons

    • No DVR without expensive rental hardware
    • Missing some popular cable channels, and it doesn't allow more than 10 of them
    • Apps suffer from middling video quality, out-of-home restrictions, and locked content

  • T-Mobile's live TV streaming service lacks the polish of its peers, but its pricing stands out—for now.

    Pros

    • Less bloated than some other live TV bundles (for now)
    • TVision Hub device offers familiar features for cable customers
    • DVR makes ad-skipping easy

    Cons

    • Options for managing the DVR are too limited
    • TVision Hub falls short as a streaming device
    • No Roku support

  • AT&T TV provides a streaming experience similar to cable—warts and all.

    Pros

    • Familiar remote for cable converts
    • Great grid guide and fuss-free cloud DVR
    • Smooth video and surround sound support

    Cons

    • Requires a two-year contract with severe price hikes halfway through
    • Streaming box doesn't support Amazon Prime or Hulu
    • More latency and less reliability than cable

  • Vidgo's mix of sports channels might scratch a few itches, but not without major drawbacks.

    Pros

    • Cheaper than other bundles for certain sports needs
    • Useful filters in the live TV guide
    • Broad TV Everywhere app support

    Cons

    • No DVR service
    • Crude interface with no easy way to browse on-demand video
    • Spotty 60-frames-per-second support

Jared Newman covers personal technology from his remote Cincinnati outpost. He also publishes two newsletters, Advisorator for tech advice and Cord Cutter Weekly for help with ditching cable or satellite TV.