YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV: Which Should You Buy in 2026?

YouTube TV costs $82.99 a month for 100+ channels, 6 accounts and 3 streams; Hulu + Live TV is $99.99 but bundles Disney+ and ESPN. Here is which one is worth it, priced from the official plan pages in October 2026.

Is YouTube TV worth it vs Hulu + Live TV?

For a straight cable replacement, YouTube TV is worth it over Hulu + Live TV: $82.99 a month buys 100+ channels, unlimited DVR, 6 household accounts and 3 streams at once (checked October 2026). Hulu + Live TV is the better buy only when your household would pay for Disney+ and ESPN anyway, because its $99.99 plan folds both of them in. Everyone else should take YouTube TV's lower bill and its stronger live-TV features.

This comparison is assembled from YouTube TV's, Hulu's, Disney+'s and ESPN's own plan pages, all read in October 2026, rather than first-hand use.

What each plan costs on the official pages

Both services publish their regular prices on their welcome pages, and both are running introductory rates for new customers. The regular prices are what you will pay after the first month or two, so those are the numbers to compare.

Plan (price from the service's own page, checked October 2026)	Regular monthly price	What the page says is included
YouTube TV main plan	$82.99	100+ channels including local channels, unlimited DVR, up to 6 household accounts, 3 streams
YouTube TV Sports Plan	$64.99	30+ channels of live games, sports analysis and news coverage
YouTube TV Sports + News Plan	$71.99 after the intro period	Games and headlines without the Family or Entertainment channels; includes local channels
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ and ESPN Select	$99.99	100+ live channels, Hulu's streaming library, Disney+ (With Ads), ESPN Select, unlimited DVR, 2 screens
Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium and ESPN Select	$109.99	The same live TV with the ad-free Hulu library and ad-free Disney+

YouTube TV's page states that new users pay $59.99/mo for 2 months of the main plan, then $82.99/mo. Hulu's page offers its ad-supported Live TV plan at $49.99/mo for 1 month, then $99.99/mo "or then-current regular monthly price". Several comparison pages still quote a lower regular price for Hulu + Live TV; that figure no longer matches Hulu's own page, which is why the prices above come straight from the services.

The Disney+ and ESPN question decides it

The reason the two bills differ is that Hulu + Live TV is a bundle while YouTube TV is a channel package. Per Hulu's page, the Live TV plans include "access to Disney+ content and additional ESPN content in their separate apps", and Hulu adds that subscribers "gain access to ESPN Unlimited, which includes all ESPN Networks and services, including ESPN+, through the ESPN app".

Those pieces have their own prices on Disney's side. Disney+'s plans page lists Disney+ (With Ads) at $12.49/month, and ESPN's plans page lists ESPN Unlimited starting at $31.99/mo, covering all ESPN networks, ESPN+ and NFL Network. If you would buy both of those on top of a live TV service, add them to YouTube TV's $82.99 and compare your own total with Hulu's $99.99; for most households that would pay for both, Hulu's bundle comes out ahead. If you would not pay for Disney+ or ESPN separately, you are paying for them inside Hulu's price whether you watch them or not, and YouTube TV's cheaper plan wins.

A detail worth knowing: ESPN's own FAQ says "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only." Hulu's bundle names ESPN Select in the plan title, but the same Hulu page also lists ESPN Unlimited access through the ESPN app for Live TV plans, so check the plan card on Hulu's site at signup to confirm which ESPN tier your plan carries. Our Netflix vs Hulu vs Disney+ comparison covers the on-demand side of that bundle.

Streams, accounts and DVR

This is where YouTube TV pulls ahead for a busy house. Its page advertises "6 household accounts and 3 streams" on the main plan, and its 4K Plus add-on at $9.99/mo unlocks unlimited simultaneous streams at home, offline viewing of recordings and 4K on select content. It also lists multiview to watch up to four streams at once, which matters on a Sunday afternoon.

Hulu + Live TV's page says you can "Watch on 2 different screens at the same time." Its Unlimited Screens add-on lets you "watch on unlimited screens at home" plus 3 screens on the go, with premium network restrictions; the add-on's price is not printed on the fetchable plan page, so check it at signup.

On recordings, both say unlimited. YouTube TV's page: "Record it all with unlimited DVR space". Hulu's page: with Unlimited DVR you can fast-forward through recordings, record multiple shows at once and store Live TV recordings for up to nine months. Neither charges a DVR fee; YouTube TV's page explicitly says goodbye to box rental fees, DVR fees, broadcast fees and cancellation fees.

Channels and sports

Both services claim 100+ channels and both carry local networks. YouTube TV's page says it streams "live and local sports, news, shows from 100+ channels including CBS, FOX, NBC, HGTV, TNT, and more", and notes NFL Sunday Ticket is available at an additional cost for out-of-market games. Hulu's page promises NFL games on ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC and NFL Network, plus college football on ESPN, ABC, BTN, FOX, FS1, CBS, ACC Network and SEC Network.

Hulu's Sports Add-on costs $9.99/month and brings NFL RedZone plus outdoor and motorsport channels. YouTube TV sells sports through its separate Sports Plan ($64.99) and Sports + News Plan, and through add-ons; its page does not print a RedZone price, so compare that line item on the site if RedZone is non-negotiable. If sports are the whole reason you are shopping, our cheapest sports bundle guide prices every route from a standalone ESPN plan up to these full services.

Add-ons, trials and cancelling

Hulu lists three themed add-ons on its plan page: Entertainment at $7.99/month, Español at $4.99/month and Sports at $9.99/month, alongside premium networks such as HBO Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ with Showtime and Starz. YouTube TV's page groups its extras as premium add-ons and features, with 4K Plus at $9.99/mo the one most people ask about.

On trials, read the fine print. Hulu's FAQ says it offers a three day free trial of Hulu + Live TV, but the discounted introductory offer on the same page states "No free trial available." YouTube TV's welcome page shows a "Try 21 days for $0" banner beside its Sports + News promotion (checked October 2026); eligibility criteria apply, so confirm the trial attaches to the plan you actually choose. Both say you can cancel anytime; Hulu's page adds "No hidden fees, equipment rentals, or installation appointments." If you have ever been trapped in a subscription, our guide to cancelling streaming services walks through each company's exit path.

What to watch it on

Neither service needs special hardware. YouTube TV's page lists supported devices including select Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku players and TVs, Apple TV, Vizio, Samsung and LG smart TVs and Xbox One, and Hulu's apps cover the same living-room platforms. If the TV in question is not already smart, a Roku Streaming Stick Plus runs both apps from a stick that plugs straight into the TV (Check price on Amazon), and a Fire TV Stick 4K Max does the same with Alexa built in (Check price on Amazon). Our cut-the-cord guide covers the antenna-plus-streaming setup that makes either service a full cable replacement, and you can see our full shortlist of devices and services.

Verdict

Pick YouTube TV if you want a cable replacement and nothing else: it is $82.99 against Hulu's $99.99, it gives a family 6 accounts and 3 streams instead of 2 screens, and it adds multiview and a cheaper Sports Plan. Pick Hulu + Live TV if Disney+ and ESPN are already line items in your budget, because its plan includes both, or if the Hulu on-demand library is something your household watches nightly. Either way, the first month's price on both welcome pages is a promotion, so judge them on the regular prices quoted above.

FAQ

Is Hulu + Live TV cheaper than YouTube TV?

Not at regular price. Hulu's page lists its ad-supported Live TV plan at $99.99/mo after the introductory month, while YouTube TV's main plan is $82.99/mo. Hulu's price includes Disney+ and ESPN access, which is the only way it comes out cheaper for a given household.

Does YouTube TV include Disney+ or ESPN+?

No. YouTube TV is a live channel package. Disney+ (With Ads) is $12.49/month on its own per Disney+'s plans page, and ESPN Unlimited starts at $31.99/mo per ESPN's plans page; both would be separate subscriptions alongside YouTube TV.

Can I watch YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV in 4K?

YouTube TV sells 4K on select content through its 4K Plus add-on at $9.99/mo, which also unlocks unlimited streams at home and offline recordings. Hulu's Live TV plan page does not advertise 4K live channels.

How many people can watch at once?

YouTube TV's main plan allows 3 streams across up to 6 household accounts. Hulu + Live TV allows 2 screens at the same time unless you add Unlimited Screens, which adds unlimited at-home screens and 3 on the go.

Is there a free trial for either service?

Hulu's FAQ lists a three day free trial of Hulu + Live TV, but its current discounted offer says no free trial is available with that deal. YouTube TV advertises a 21-day trial for $0 on its welcome page alongside its Sports + News promotion; both trials carry eligibility rules, so read the terms when you sign up. For no-cost alternatives while you decide, see our free streaming services roundup.