Sling TV vs. Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTVNow – Which one makes a better live streaming service?
Entertainment options on TV are becoming pretty diverse, and there is quite an assortment of services to choose from. So, of these four, where would you be most at home?
When you take a look at the number of channels available currently, there would be no way to have all of them at once. You would spend ages going through them, and you would hardly have the time to catch an episode of something you like. This is largely why most live stream services have a list of picked channels and bundles that you can choose. Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV are some of the most common live streaming services, and they all come with different perks.
Table of Contents
When to use Sling TV
This live streaming channel is known to be pretty affordable, but it also comes with one of the shortest lists of channels. It is ideal for people who like a little bit of everything where categories are concerned. You will find that it is best for catching live TV, and may not be ideal for the average binge watcher.
When to use Hulu + Live TV
With this live stream service, you will have access to a good number of premium channels and programs, and it is best for people who like a little bit of entertainment as well as sports. It is also great for binge watchers, and you can be certain to catch your favorite shows at your own time.
Feature |
Sling TV |
Hulu + Live TV |
YouTube TV |
DirecTV Now |
On Demand TV |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Number of Channels |
>50 |
>70 |
>85 |
139 (+ add-on) |
App |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Available |
Monthly Subscription |
$30 to $40 |
$64.99 to $70.00 |
$64.99 |
$40 to $75 |
Action |
Sling TV vs. Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now – What criteria did we use to evaluate them?
Since all four live stream channels offer similar services, we sought to find the one that provides the best premium content at the most competitive price as well as the one that comes with the largest number of TV channels. We also evaluated them on their capacity to record shows to watch later, as well as streaming quality offered by each.
Sling TV vs. Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now – A Detailed Review
Sling TV Review
This live stream channel is actually considered the pioneer of all live stream channels sine it was the very first to hit the airwaves. Sine its inception, many others have come up, and a good deal of them have bettered the game.
With Sling TV, you will gain access to two main bundles which are Orange Sling and Blue Sling. They come with different packages, with Orange Sling delivering 30 channels at a cost of $30 per month and Blue Sling delivering 30 channels at $45 per month. With each, you can be able to include add-ons, but at an extra fee of $5 every month. You can, however, get a combined package of both at $45 per month.
In case you would like to record shows to watch later, you will have access to 10 hours of loud DVR and you can expand this storage to 50 hours for an extra $5 per month.
Feature |
|
Bundle Cost |
$30 – Upgradable to $45 |
Cloud DVR |
10 hours – Upgradable To 50 hours |
4K/ HDR Content |
Not available |
Trials |
7 days free trial |
Pros
- It is pretty affordable
- Allows for add-ons
- Easy to use
Cons
- Has short Cloud DVR storage
Hulu + Live TV Review
If you are looking to consume a lot of premium TV, Hulu + Live TV is one of your best bets. It comes with an incredibly detailed channel list that includes a large percentage of new programs and channels. In addition, it comes with an impressive library for on-demand TV.
With a channel list of over 70 channels, you will be required to pay a subscription fee of $64.99 per month. On the downside, this package comes with a whole lot of advertisements, and to get rid of them, you will have to pay an extra $5 so that your monthly subscription is at $70 per month.
For Cloud DVR, you will have access to 50 hours, but you can upgrade this to 200 hours for better recording. In addition, you can live stream on three screens at a go, but for an additional $10, you can gain access to an unlimited number of devices.
Feature |
|
Bundle Cost |
$64.99 – Upgradable to $70 |
Cloud DVR |
50 hours – Upgradable To 200 hours |
4K/ HDR Content |
Not available |
Trials |
7 days free trial |
Pros
- Comes with a good number of premium channels
- Comes with decent Cloud DVR storage
- Has 7 days free trial period
Cons
- Comes with lots of ads
YouTube TV Review
This is easily one of the most popular live stream channels, especially since it comes with a decent number of premium channels and programs. With a channel list of 85+ channels, users get a good number of options from which to choose.
With this many channels, you will be required to pay a monthly subscription of $64.99, but you will also have the option to customize your channel list to include a couple add-ons for an extra fee.
When it comes to cloud DVR, you are allowed to record an unlimited number of shows and programs, and they will be kept in storage for up to 9 months. You do not have to pay for this service since it comes as part of the deal.
Feature |
|
Bundle Cost |
$64.99 |
Cloud DVR |
Unlimited – Keeps recorded content for 9 months |
Streams per account |
Maximum of 3 |
Trials |
7 days free trial |
Pros
- Contains a good deal of premium channels
- Comes with unlimited Cloud DVR
- Allows for customization
Cons
- It is deemed a little expensive
DirecTV Now Review
This live stream service is excellent for persons who have a preference for catching live TV on all categories which include entertainment, sports, news and lifestyle. It comes with five main bundles as documented below.
- Live a Little – 65+ Channels – $40.00 per month
- Just Right – 85+ Channels – $55.00 per month
- Go Big – 105+ Channels – $65.00 per month
- Gotta Have It – 125+ Channels – $75.00 per month
- Todo y Mas – 90+ Channels – $45.00 per month
Aside from the listednumber of channels, this service allows for a couple add-ons which makes it a bit easy to customize. When it comes to Cloud DVR, you will only have access to 20 hours which is a bit low, especially when compared to the likes of YouTube TV.
Feature |
|
Bundle Cost |
$40.00 to $75.00 per month |
Cloud DVR |
20 hours only |
Streams per account |
Maximum of 3 |
Pros
- Comes with 5 bundles to choose from
- Allows for add-ons
- Has a balance of TV categories
Cons
- Has a small Cloud DVR capacity
Sling TV vs. Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now – How do they compare?
Number of available channels
With Sling TV, users gain access to an approximate 50 channels and a couple of add-ons at a monthly fee of $30 to $45. On Hulu + Live TV, you will have access to 75 channels at a monthly fee of $64.99 and $70.00 if you want ad-free viewing.
YouTube TV comes with 85+ channels excluding add-ons, and you will be required to pay a monthly fee of $64.99. With over 125 channels on its best bundle, DirecTV now users only pay $65, and this feature makes it better than Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
Cloud DVR
Sling TV delivers a total of 10 hours Cloud DVR, but this can be upgraded to 50 hours at an extra $5 while Hulu + Live TV comes with a total of 50 hours upgradable to 200 hours.
DirecTV Now allows users access to 200 hours of Cloud DVR, but this is not upgradable. YouTube TV proves better than Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Now as it comes with unlimited Cloud DVR.
Number of Live Streams
Sling TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Now only allow for three streams at the same time, and while this may also be the case for Hulu + Live TV, you can pay an extra $9.99 per month to gain access to an unlimited number of screens.
Conclusionx
When all factors are considered, YouTube TV makes the best live stream service, beating Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Now. This is because it has a large number ofpremium shows ata considerable price, and it also comes with unlimited Cloud DVR that allows you to record as many shows asyou like to watch later.
FAQs
-
Do I need a decoder for Sling TV?
No, you do not.
-
Does YouTube TV come with a catch-up feature?
Yes, it does.
