On Thursday, March 19, 2020 40 million Californians were ordered to stay safer at home, due to the increasing dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. As lights were turned off in office buildings throughout the state, T.V.s were turned on and laptops were plugged in.
Streaming services have become, well, everything: entertainment, coworkers, background noise, comfort. But after roughly a million days inside, some streaming services are running dry. We compared the top four – Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling, fuboTV – to see how they’ve stacked up as the essential service they’ve come to be.
And well, because ’tis the season, we’re going to do it fantasy bracket style:
Hulu + Live TV vs. fuboTV
As internet TV services, both Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV give viewers the option of streaming live sports and tv online. You are able to get content directly through your internet without a cable box, with basic packages starting below $60 for each streaming platform. With month-to-month subscriptions, there’s no hassle of being locked into a long-term contract.
While fuboTV is a great start for those looking to ditch cable, it’s not the pandemic ride-or-die we need for constant streaming. With far less channels than Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV doesn’t have much to offer those who want to watch something other than 24/7 sports.
When it comes to the best streaming service, Hulu + Live TV wins over fuboTV, no contest.
Sling vs. YouTube TV
It’s hard to compare these two, because while they are both streaming services, they are vastly different in terms of their value. For those who want the best bargain, the clear winner is Sling TV – the best budget streaming service on the market today. But, value comes with a cost. Sling’s library is limited, and users have complained it’s hard to navigate as well.
On the other hand, YouTube TV’s live TV streaming capabilities are seemingly limitless. It comes with a cost, but it’s still vastly cheaper than cable.
The winner this round? YouTube TV.
Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV
As the top streaming services on the market today, both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV have a lot to offer: an excellent selection of sports, television, and live television, DVR capabilities, multi-device streaming, and ease-of-use.
Like most, our household went through some pretty significant budget cuts to survive the year. As such, we could only choose one of these two streaming giants. Our choice? Hulu + Live TV.
Why was Hulu + Live TV the winner? Price, library, and most of all, original content – a feature that YouTube TV does not offer.
When it comes to pricing, the best Hulu + Live TV options are still cheaper than YouTube TV. Hulu + Live TV offers a plan that bundles the ad-free version of Hulu + Live TV with the Live TV plan, for $60.99 per month. YouTube TV is now $64.99 per month. Not only do you get more with your Hulu + Live TV subscription, but you pay less.
Both streaming services are available on nearly all the same devices, save for one: the Nintendo Switch. YouTube TV does not have an app for streaming through the device, but Hulu + Live TV does! If you’ve been playing as much Animal Crossing as I have, this is a solid plus.
The deciding factor for our household was Hulu + Live TV’s original content. These are shows and movies that you can’t find anywhere else, that are steadily being added to what seems like a never-ending library. With the year dragging on, our need for entertainment is not ending anytime soon, so it is absolutely essential that we have a dependable streaming service that delivers fresh, new content regularly. Hulu + Live TV absolutely delivers.
After comparing the top four streaming services – Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling, fuboTV – our Fantasy Draft winner has emerged: Hulu + Live TV is the best streaming service.
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