Hey there! Looking to cut the cord on cable and wondering whether to go with FuboTV or YouTube TV? I‘ve done the research so you don‘t have to – let me walk you through a detailed comparison to help you pick the right live TV streaming service.
First off, FuboTV and YouTube TV offer a similar experience. They both provide access to live TV channels, sports, news and entertainment without the need for a cable subscription. You can stream from anywhere and get features like cloud DVR. However, there are some key differences in pricing, channel lineup, features and more.
Overview of FuboTV vs YouTube TV
Before diving into the details, let‘s quickly summarize how FuboTV and YouTube TV stack up:
| FuboTV | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $69.99/month | $64.99/month |
| Channels | 124+ channels | 100+ channels |
| Sports Channels | Excellent – NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL + more | Decent – ESPN, regional sports only |
| Other Channels | Solid selection – news, entertainment, locals | Great selection – top cable networks |
| DVR Storage | 250 hours (Starter) | Unlimited |
| Max Streams | 3 simultaneous | Unlimited at home |
| Streaming Quality | Up to 4K | Up to 1080p |
As you can see, FuboTV offers more sports while YouTube TV has more entertainment. But there‘s a lot more to the story. Keep reading as I break things down in detail.
Price – What You Get for Your Money
One of the most important factors is what these services cost. Let‘s look at pricing:
FuboTV packages:
-
Fubo Starter – $69.99/month
- 124+ channels
- 250 hours cloud DVR included
-
Fubo Elite – $84.99/month
- 207 channels
- 1,000 hours cloud DVR
-
Fubo Ultimate – $99.99/month
- 214 channels
- 1,000 hours cloud DVR
- Add-ons like Sports Plus with NFL RedZone ($10.99/month) or Adventure Plus ($4.99/month)
YouTube TV pricing:
-
YouTube TV – $64.99/month
- Base package
- 100+ channels
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Add-ons like 4K Plus ($19.99/month) or Sports Plus ($10.99/month)
At first glance, YouTube TV‘s starting price of $64.99 seems more affordable than FuboTV‘s base of $69.99. However, you get significantly more channels with FuboTV – over 124 compared to just 100+ on YouTube TV.
While YouTube TV is cheaper upfront, once you start adding on sports, entertainment and other packages, the monthly cost can exceed FuboTV. Especially if you‘re a sports fan, FuboTV provides far more value out of the gate.
The bottom line – FuboTV gives you more content for the money, while YouTube TV prioritizes top networks over quantity.
Channel Lineups – What You Get to Watch
Now let‘s look at which channels are included with each service. Channel availability is a major factor in deciding which streaming TV provider is best for your needs.
FuboTV Channels
FuboTV offers over 124 channels on their Starter plan, including:
- Local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates in most markets
- Comprehensive sports coverage – NFL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, beIN Sports, CBS Sports Network
- Soccer – FS1, FS2, NBCSN, ESPN, beIN Sports
- News – Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, BBC World News
- Entertainment – HGTV, Food Network, TLC, AMC, FX, Hallmark Channel, Paramount Network, A&E
- And more niche sports, entertainment and news channels
Some key exceptions: no TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network or other Turner owned channels
YouTube TV Channels
YouTube TV has 100+ channels, including:
- Local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates in most markets
- ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, CBS Sports Network, NBC Sports Network
- Turner channels – TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, CNN
- AMC, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery, FX
- News networks like Fox News, MSNBC, Bloomberg
- And more entertainment/lifestyle options
Some key exceptions: No NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV or niche sports
As you can see, FuboTV excels for sports content while YouTube TV offers popular entertainment/news channels. FuboTV is the superior choice for sports fans – it‘s lacking in family entertainment channels but makes up for it with tons of national and regional sports coverage.
I‘ll go into more detail later about who each service is ideal for. But in terms of channel selection, FuboTV edges out YouTube TV with quantity and sports variety.
Streaming Quality
Let‘s quickly compare the streaming quality offered by FuboTV and YouTube TV:
- FuboTV – Streams programs in resolutions up to 4K on supported devices. This is higher quality than traditional cable and great for sports fans.
- YouTube TV – Max streaming resolution of 1080p HD. While still high quality, it doesn‘t offer 4K streaming like FuboTV.
If getting the best picture quality is important, FuboTV delivers with 4K streaming. For most though, YouTube TV‘s 1080p feeds will look fantastic on any HD television or device.
DVR and On Demand Libraries
Both FuboTV and YouTube TV allow you to record live TV and access on demand content. Here‘s how their DVR and on demand libraries compare:
FuboTV DVR
- 250 hours of storage with Starter plan, 1,000 hours with Elite/Ultimate
- Record shows to watch later – skip commercials!
- Access recordings for 365 days before they are deleted
YouTube TV DVR
- Unlimited storage – never run out of space
- Recordings saved for 9 months before deletion
- Rewind or pause live television
On Demand Content
- YouTube TV has a much larger on demand library with over 80,000 titles
- FuboTV‘s on demand catalog is more limited
YouTube TV is the clear winner when it comes to DVR flexibility and on demand content. But FuboTV offers more storage space and keeps recordings for an entire year. For many, YouTube TV‘s unlimited storage and huge on demand selection outweighs FuboTV‘s 1 year limit.
Supported Devices
You can stream FuboTV and YouTube TV on a variety of supported devices:
FuboTV Supported Devices
- Amazon Fire TV, Fire tablets
- Android phones/tablets
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- iOS devices
- Roku
- Web browsers
- And more
YouTube TV Supported Devices
- Android/iOS devices
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Fire TV
- Roku
- Web browsers
- Gaming consoles like Xbox, PS4
- And more
The device support is very similar between the two services. Both have apps for most streaming boxes, smart TVs, phones and tablets. No matter what device(s) you prefer to stream from, FuboTV and YouTube TV have you covered.
Additional Features
Some other features to highlight:
FuboTV
- FuboTV Lookback – Replay shows that have already aired up to 72 hours later
- Start programs from the beginning if you tune in late
- Profiles for each viewer so your homepage/DVR is personalized
- Option to stream 4 different channels simultaneously
- Integrated sports wagering via FanDuel Sportsbook
YouTube TV
- Unlimited streams at home + 3 outside
- Smart search quickly finds shows and movies
- Single home screen view for whole household
- Add shows & movies to your Library tab for quick access
- Works seamlessly with YouTube app
These extra features make for a better overall viewing experience. FuboTV excels at customization while YouTube TV makes streaming more intuitive.
Pros and Cons of Each Service
Let‘s recap some of the key pros and cons of each service:
FuboTV Pros
- The sports streaming service – tons of sports channels & coverage
- Larger channel lineup than YouTube TV
- Streams some content in 4K resolution
- Keep recordings for 365 days with 1,000 hours storage
- Useful features like Lookback, FanDuel integration
FuboTV Cons
- Missing some top entertainment channels like TNT
- Max of 3 simultaneous streams
- More expensive packages and add-ons
- Smaller on demand library compared to YouTube TV
YouTube TV Pros
- Top entertainment and news channels like ESPN, TNT, CNN
- Unlimited DVR storage and streams
- Bigger on demand library with 80,000+ titles
- Slightly cheaper base package at $64.99
YouTube TV Cons
- Limited sports content – no NFL Network, MLB Network, etc
- Recordings deleted after 9 months
- Lacks more niche sports, news and entertainment
Who is FuboTV Best For?
FuboTV shines when it comes to sports coverage. Some types of viewers who would really appreciate FuboTV:
- Sports Fans – Access tons of national, regional, college and international sports. It‘s a sports lover‘s dream!
- Soccer/Football Fans – With complete coverage of leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, FuboTV is made for soccer fans.
- Cord-cutting Sports Fans – Get the live sports you love without expensive cable packages. FuboTV has you covered.
- College Sports Fans – Never miss a game from conferences like the ACC, Big 12, Pac 12 and more.
While FuboTV falls short on entertainment, it more than makes up for it with sports. The ideal FuboTV subscriber has live sports at the top of their priority list.
Who is YouTube TV Best For?
YouTube TV excels as a cable TV replacement thanks to top channels and features. Great option for:
- Cord-Cutting Households – Access all the top cable news, shows and movies you‘re used to without cable.
- Larger Families – Unlimited streams and storage means everyone can watch what they want.
- YouTube Fans – Fully integrates with the main YouTube app for a seamless experience.
- Casual Sports Fans – Get major national sports from ESPN without paying for niche sports add-ons.
YouTube TV is ideal for households who want to ditch cable but still enjoy top cable programming. While it lacks the extensive sports coverage of FuboTV, it‘s a more well-rounded option for general entertainment viewers.
The Bottom Line
Let me sum up the key differences between FuboTV and YouTube TV:
- FuboTV – Better for sports fans who want tons of live sports channels across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer and more. Larger channel lineup but missing some big entertainment networks. More expensive packages.
- YouTube TV – Better for casual viewers who want to replace cable with top entertainment and news channels. Has major national sports but fewer niche sports options. Unlimited DVR and streams. Slightly cheaper starting price.
Hope this detailed side-by-side comparison helps explain what sets FuboTV and YouTube TV apart! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy streaming!
