Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling vs. Vue vs. DirecTV Now: Face-Off!
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Once limited to a couple of services, your options for streaming live TV have grown significantly over the last year, with the introduction of Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. Both include many, if not all, of the major broadcast networks, and come from extremely well known brands. If you're interested in cutting the cord with a cable replacement service, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV look pretty compelling.
 But how does these new offerings compare to Sling TV, PlayStation Vueand DirecTV Now? We compared all of the services to help you decide how to spend your money, and found which service is best for NFL fans on a budget, and the perfect pick for those who can't do without CBS. Oh, and T-Mobile's jumping into this fray in 2018.
Latest News and Updates (July 2018)PS Vue is the latest service to raise its prices, with a July 3 blog post that announced a hike of $5 per month to each of its plans.In a blog post on July 2, Sling announced it's discontinuing the Broadcast Extra package, which included ABC.On July 2, DirecTV Now announced that its price will raise by $5 per month to $40 per month, starting August 1.On June 28, Sling increased its Orange, entry-level pricing to $25 per month (from $20 per month).
| Hulu with Live TV
| YouTube TV
| DirecTV NOW
| PlayStation Vue
| Sling TV
| Starting Price (per month)
| $40
| $40
| $40
| $45
| $25
| Channels (in entry-level package)
| More than 50
| More than 50 plus YouTube Red Originals
| More than 60
| More than 45
| 29
| DVR
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| $5 extra
| On-Demand
| Yes
| Yes | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Device Support
| Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Computers, iOS, LG Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Xbox One, Xbox 360,
| Android, Apple TV, Chromecast & Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, Roku and Xbox One and smart TVs from LG and Samsung. Apps for Sony Smart TVs coming soon. | Amazon Fire, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, Roku
| Amazon Fire, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, PS3, PS4, Roku
| Amazon Fire, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, Roku, select LG and Samsung Smart TVs
| Simultaneous Streams
| 2
| 3 | 2
| 5 (1 PS4, 1 PS3, 3 total iOS, Android and web)
| 1 (with Orange), 3 (with Blue)
4 (in the $40 per month Orange/Blue)
|
Pricing and AvailabilityHulu with Live TV costs $40 for more than 50 channels, which is the largest starting price and one of the stronger selections. The largest starting package is offered by DirecTV Now, which offers more than 60 channels for $40 per month.
At $40 per month for more than 50 channels, YouTube TV is not expensive, but not the most affordable option. That title goes to Sling TV, which starts at $25 per month for 29 channels. Per a price hike announced on July 3, PS Vue's pricing will change starting July 24, rising by $5 per month to $45 per month, for its more-than-45 channels. PS Vue discontinued its more affordable Slim packages in July 2017.
YouTube TV offers six login accounts, but only three concurrent streams so while you can share it with your whole family, you might need to ask who's using it. Hulu with Live TV is slightly below that, starting with six profiles and two concurrent streams.
PS Vue offers five concurrent streams, the most, though it limits them by kind of device. Only one PS4 and one PS3 can stream at the same time, with three additional devices (iOS, Android, and web) at the same time. Not only does it support those devices, but PS Vue also streams on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV. Previously, the capability to stream to 5 devices was limited to those who signed up via a gaming console, streaming device or smart TV, but on Feb. 27, PS Vue extended this 5-device cap to those who sign up via a mobile device.
Sling TV's entry level Orange package ($25 per month) offers one stream at a time, while its $25 Sling Blue includes three streams at once and its $40 Orange + Blue service allows four streams at once. DirecTV NOW offers up to 2 simultaneous streams.
Sling TV starts at a more affordable price.
Even months after its launch Hulu with Live TV is still listed as in its beta release, which can be accessed across the country. YouTube TV is currently expanding its availability, but is still only found in select U.S. markets (including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco) and Google says it will "expand to cover more cities across the country." Conversely, Sling TV, DirecTV Now and PS Vue are each available in all 50 of the United States right now.
YouTube TV started off on a scant few devices, but that's changing. On Feb. 1, it rolled out apps for the Apple TV, Roku TVs and most of Roku's other devices, such as the Ultra box, Streaking Stick and Express. This fills in another gap left by its initial launch, which was limited to TVs via Google Chromecast (either attached or built-in), Android devices and TVs running Android TV, iOS devices, Xbox One, Apple TVs via AirPlay and smart TVs from LG and Samsung. Support for Sony Smart TVs is expected in the first quarter of 2018, and there is no sign of the app coming to Amazon Fire devices.
DirecTV Now is available on Chromecast, 4th Gen Apple TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku, Android and iOS. PS Vue and Sling TV run on all of those devices as well as select LG Smart TVs, while PS Vue supports PS4, PS3 consoles and Sling TV is available on compatible Samsung Smart TVs (including 2016 and 2017 models) and the Xbox One. A "next-gen" version of DirecTV Now will launch this spring, according to a statement made by AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson. This update will bring the version that some users are beta testing to all, rolling its a cloud-based DVR and an upgraded interface.
Hulu with Live TV is available on Amazon Fire TVs and Fire TV sticks, Android devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS devices, LG Smart TVs, Macs, PCs, Rokus, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One. Hulu is also the only of these competitors to be available on the portable Nintendo Switch console. |
