GoKawiilYouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV are popular among cord-cutters looking for a cable-like viewing experience. Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET
Are you aiming to replace cable TV? Two popular streaming platforms happen to be among of our favorite picks for cord-cutters and cord-cutter wannabes: Google's YouTube TV and Disney-owned Hulu Plus Live TV. Both streamers offer a swath of live channels, such as CNN, ESPN and TNT, along with local stations ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, among others -- all without a cable box.
Yet, pricing for each service has steadily increased over the past few years. Currently, the least-expensive plan for YTTV is $83 a month, while Hulu Plus Live TV will put you back $90 a month. While the trend of streaming being less expensive than cable TV remains true, the costs for both are higher than they were just a couple of years ago. Price hikes aside, you still get plenty of value with both Hulu and YTTV. Both offer features like an advanced DVR with a program guide and extensive on-demand content. Not to mention, both platforms are easy to watch on the go, whether on your phone or tablet. They can also be streamed on TVs through a media streamer (such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV), a game console or your smart TV itself.
Hulu has an outstanding selection of live channels and a vast catalog of on-demand shows and movies, and it comes bundled with Disney Plus and ESPN. Of all the live TV streaming services, YouTube TV still offers the most channels among the top 100.
Need more information about YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV? Let's dive in.
James Martin/CNET Hulu Plus Live TV Best live TV streaming bundle Hulu's greatest asset is the integration of a full lineup of live TV channels with a massive catalog of on-demand content, all for one price. Its channel count is solid, including some must-have programming. The $90-per-month price includes the ad-supported versions of Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, and there are even higher-priced options for people who don't want to watch ads. Hulu Plus Live TV is where the smart money is if you want other services bundled with it. $90 at Hulu
Sarah Tew/CNET YouTube TV Best channel lineup With an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and excellent cloud DVR, YouTube TV is a stellar cable TV replacement. If you don't mind paying a bit more than the Sling TVs of the world, YouTube TV offers a great live TV streaming experience. $83 at YouTube TV
YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV compared
YouTube TV Hulu Plus Live TV Base price $83 per month $90 per month Free trial Yes Yes Number of popular channels (out of 100) 78 75 Local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC channels Yes Yes Local PBS channels Yes Yes Simultaneous streams per account 3 ($10 for unlimited and 4K) 2 ($10 option for unlimited) Family member/user profiles Yes Yes Cloud DVR storage Unlimited Unlimited Fast-forward through or skip commercials with cloud DVR Yes Yes
Watch this: Live TV streaming services for cord cutters: How to choose the best one for you 02:44
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