Hulu with Live TV is one of the best options for streaming live TV and on-demand content. However, you may have noticed an increase in their monthly pricing from $64.99 to $69.99 on December 21, 2021.
Fortunately, if you’re looking for alternatives to Hulu Live, there are several streaming services with live TV that will save you money each month. This post shares a few of the top platforms to consider.
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Top Alternatives to Hulu Live
If you want to cancel Hulu Live but are afraid you will miss content, don’t worry. You can find cheap TV service from numerous platforms.
Here are the best Hulu Live alternatives to get your favorite shows for less.
1. Sling TV
Sling TV is the best low-cost alternative to Hulu with Live TV. The key selling point of the streaming platform is its cost. You pay $35 per month for the base service.
Sling TV offers two base packages – Orange and Blue. Sling Orange offers over 30 channels, while Blue has over 45 channels for the same price.
*Related: Are you unhappy with the recent Hulu Live price increase? Try our free cord-cutting quiz to see which service is best for you.
The channel offerings are the main difference between the packages. Orange includes ESPN and Blue has Fox Sports channels. Aside from that, Sling TV carries most of the popular lifestyle and entertainment channels.
If you are looking for a similar experience to Hulu, you may want the Sling Orange + Blue package for $50 per month. That scores you 50+ channels of content.
Sling also offers nearly a dozen add-ons to customize your channels further. These start at $6 per month.
One drawback to Sling TV is the lack of local channels in many markets. Streaming services like Hulu Live must pay extra for these, which gets passed onto consumers. Fortunately, an affordable antenna solves that problem.
Read our review of the cable channels on Sling TV to learn more and try it with a free three-day trial.
2. Philo
Philo TV is the cheapest Hulu alternative. Many people consider it to be the best streaming service to replace cable.
The cable alternative is a mere $25 per month. For that price, you receive over 60 channels of lifestyle and entertainment content.
The incredible value aside, Philo is not for everyone. The service does not carry sports or local channels.
It’s also light on news channels, with BBC America and BBC World News being its main news offerings.
However, if you only want lifestyle and entertainment, Philo is your best bet if you want to switch from Hulu to a cheaper platform.
Read our review of the Philo channels list to learn more and try it with a free seven-day trial.
3. Vidgo
Vidgo is a newer Hulu competitor that offers affordable service, with a twist.
The platform builds in a social component to watching TV. You can have chat rooms with friends and post live reaction videos to shows you’re watching.
Vidgo currently offers two packages, one with 95 channels for $55 per month and another with 112 channels for $79.95 per month. It’s great for sports fans since you get the full-suite of ESPN channels, ACCN, BTN, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, PAC-12 Network, and SEC ESPN with either plan.
The service also carries dozens of popular lifestyle and entertainment networks. If you’re looking for local channels, the service offers ABC and Fox in most markets.
This platform doesn’t currently have a DVR, which is common among most internet TV services. It claims it will have one in the near future.
Read our review of Vidgo to learn more.
4. fuboTV
FuboTV is the best Hulu Live TV alternative to consider if live sports are important to you. The streaming provider offers a small savings over the Hulu Live price, with service starting at $69.99 per month.
However, fuboTV offers significantly more for the price. You receive over 100 channels in the Pro plan, which is the base package. Additionally, 1,000 hours in DVR recording is standard.
If you like live sports, fuboTV offers over 30 channels. They include much of what you’ll find on Vidgo, plus CBS Sports, NBC Sports, NBA TV, and more.
You can further customize sports content with one of their add-ons. Most offer specialized niche sports action like soccer or cycling.
It also carries dozens of popular lifestyle and entertainment networks.
FuboTV offers all local channels, except for ABC, which is available in only select markets.
Read our review of the fuboTV channels to learn more and try it free with a seven-day trial.
5. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is the most similar service to Hulu with Live TV. Pricing is a little lower at $64.99 per month.
With YouTube TV’s last price increase, to $65 per month, they also added roughly ten channels. Hulu Live added Disney+ and ESPN+ with it’s most recent increase, but it’s a little higher at $69.99 per month.
Hulu Live channels are comparable to what you’ll find on YouTube TV, with similar sports, lifestyle, and entertainment networks. YouTube TV also carries all local channels.
DVR space is where YouTube TV stands apart as an alternative to Hulu Live. The service offers unlimited DVR storage for nine months. On the other hand, Hulu Live only offers 50 hours with the option to upgrade to 200 hours for an additional $9.99 per month.
YouTube TV also allows for six separate user profiles, so there is ample opportunity to share an account.
Read our review of YouTube TV to learn more and try it free with a seven-day trial.
If you want to see how the two popular services compare, read our Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV to see which fits your needs.
Best Devices to Live Stream TV
If you’ve only ever been with Hulu Live, you may wonder what you need to start watching shows on other cable alternatives.
Like Hulu, these services work on all major devices, including
- Amazon Fire devices
- Roku devices
- Apple TV
- Macbooks, iPads, iPhones
- Any computer with an internet browser
- Google Chromecast
- Xbox One
- Samsung and LG Smart TVs
The bottom line is that it’s easy to stream any of the above platforms.
Is Hulu Live TV Worth It?
With the new price, you may wonder if Hulu is worth the cost. While it is terrific for live local TV streaming and has many popular channels, it’s too expensive.
You can find many of the same channel options for less with Sling or Philo for a fraction of the price. If you don’t mind the price, fuboTV or YouTube TV are better choices because of their channel offerings and features.
What is a Good Alternative to Hulu?
The streaming space has exploded in recent years and now offers plenty of choices. If sports aren’t important to you, Philo is the best option and is one-third of the cost.
Sling TV is another good platform that has some live sports for about half the price.
If local channels and plenty of sports are important, fuboTV is your best choice.
What Does the $6.99 Hulu Plan Include?
Don’t forget that the $6.99 per month plan is one of the Hulu subscription options. You won’t get live TV with legacy Hulu, but you still receive the following:
- Access to all Hulu originals
- On-demand content from many networks, including locals
- Access to over 1,500 movies
If you don’t mind waiting 24 hours after a show airs to watch it, you can view over 1,750 shows on Hulu. This is an excellent alternative to live streaming services since it lets you save significant cash.
Summary
The new Hulu Live price should not come as a shock. Many services are continuing to increase prices. It won’t be surprising to see them hit $80 or $90 per month soon.
However, with a little work, you can still watch your favorite shows for less. Take the time to figure out what’s important to you. Chances are high that there’s a platform available for you.
What service do you use to stream content? How much do you pay per month for cable?
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