YouTube TV is undoubtedly one of the best live TV streaming services in the space. Its channel lineup and offerings make it a top consideration if you want to replace cable.
Unfortunately, at a cost of $64.99 per month, it’s one of the most expensive platforms on the market.
Thankfully, there are several YouTube TV alternatives that provide comparable service. This post shares a few of the top choices for your cable replacement needs.
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Top Alternatives to YouTube TV
If you’re considering canceling YouTube TV but are concerned you will miss many of its features, don’t fear. Other live streaming services can meet your needs.
Here are five of the best alternatives to YouTube TV that let you watch your favorite shows for less.
1. Sling TV
Sling TV offers close to an a la carte pricing model that you will not find with other live TV options.
Thanks to this model, Sling can offer a significantly lower price, with its base packages costing $35 per month. Sling TV has two base packages – Orange and Blue.
Orange has roughly 30 channels, and Blue has nearly 50 channels. The main difference is the channels offered. Orange carries ESPN, while Blue carries Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
You can combine Sling Orange and Blue for $50 a month to get the combined channel offerings. Additionally, Sling TV offers about ten add-on packages to further personalize your viewing experience.
These start at $6 a month.
One way Sling keeps its prices low is that it only offers local networks, Fox and NBC, in select markets. An inexpensive antenna from Amazon solves this issue.
Read our detailed walkthrough of Sling TV to learn more about this affordable alternative to YouTube TV. Don’t forget to take advantage of the free three-day trial to test the service.
2. Philo
At only $25 a month, Philo is the cheapest option among YouTube TV competitors. This over-the-top live TV streaming service offers over 60 channels of popular lifestyle and entertainment networks.
Philo can offer this low-cost package for two main reasons:
- It does not offer local networks
- It does not provide sports
Since local networks and sports are more expensive for live TV providers to offer, they have to pass the cost onto customers. Philo is more affordable because it doesn’t incur this expense.
The service isn’t for everyone. However, if your viewing habits don’t include sports and you have an antenna, you can save significant money each month.
If you want to switch from YouTube TV, Philo is a terrific consideration.
Read our full guide on Philo to learn more and try it with a free seven-day trial.
3. fuboTV
FuboTV is one of the best replacements for YouTube TV. It is slightly more expensive, at $69.99 a month, but it offers more channels and lots of live sports.
The Pro Plan is the base package and offers 105 channels here in Omaha compared to 90 for YouTube TV. You can upgrade to the Elite Plan for $79.99 per month to receive 160 channels in Omaha.
FuboTV began as a sports-centric service but is now one of the top full-fledged cable alternatives.
It carries nearly three dozen sports networks in the base channel package, plus dozens of popular lifestyle, entertainment, and news networks.
*Related: Read our analysis of YouTube TV vs. fuboTV to learn how the two services compare.
Unlike other streaming providers, you can also get local channels in most markets.
FuboTV offers many of the same features that YouTube TV offers. Unfortunately, it falls behind in DVR space with 1,000 hours standard vs. the unlimited DVR capacity with YouTube TV.
However, fuboTV makes up for that with some programming streamed in 4K. No other alternatives to cable offer this feature.
Read our full review of fuboTV to learn more and try it with a free seven-day trial.
4. Hulu Live
Hulu Live is the most competitive to YouTube live. It has nearly 80 networks and costs $69.99 a month. It’s a true replacement for cable.
The channel lineup is similar between both streaming services, but Hulu Live shines with on-demand and original content.
Not only does Hulu offer dozens of channels, but you also receive locals in most markets.
Until recently Hulu with Live TV trailed in one key area. The base DVR was only 50 hours and you had to pay $9.99 a month to upgrade to 200 hours.
Hulu Live now offers an unlimited cloud DVR, with the ability to fast-forward through commercials. This matches what you will find with YouTube TV.
*Related: Trying to decide between the two services and not sure which is best? Read our Hulu TV vs. YouTube TV review to see how they compare.
Hulu Live is one of the best YouTube TV alternatives for people wanting to ditch cable or satellite TV.
Read our detailed walkthrough of Hulu Live to learn more and try it with a free seven-day trial.
5. Vidgo
Vidgo is a new player in the internet TV service space. It launched by promoting social sharing of watching programs together.
You can use the service to live chat during a show, create live reaction videos, have watch parties, and more. If you like watching a show or movie with friends but want to stay home, Vidgo is a fantastic way to do it.
*Related: Not certain of what streaming platform to choose? Read our guide on the best streaming TV services to compare them side-by-side.
The service’s base plan costs $55 a month which is comparable to YouTube TV since it offers 95 channels. Or, you can try the other plan for $79.95 per month and get around 112 channels.
No matter which plan you choose you can try it free for the first seven days.
Channels in both plans include the complete package of ESPN networks, FS1 and FS2, and the NFL Network. Vidgo also includes many popular entertainment and lifestyle networks.
It even offers ABC and Fox in most markets.
*Related: Read our analysis on how to watch ABC without cable here to learn the best services to get your favorite network shows.
The one drawback to Vidgo is they do not currently offer a cloud-based DVR, though they are working on it.
Read our full review of Vidgo to learn more.
Common Questions About the Live Streaming Service
Do you want to cut the cord on cable or satellite but don’t know if YouTube TV is the solution or if an alternative would be better? Here are a few common questions people have before taking the plunge.
Is there a cheaper version of YouTube TV?
No, there is no cheaper version of the streaming provider. YouTube TV offers just one package to subscribers.
The base package compares well versus other providers, but there is no other package.
What are the downsides of YouTube TV?
Cost is the biggest detractor, at $64.99 a month. YouTube TV is at the top of the streaming service market, and it’s reasonable to expect it to reach $75 or $80 in the near future.
Other downsides include limited sports content vs. fuboTV and no offline viewing unless you pay for the 4K Plus add-on. The service also lacks the ability to upgrade packages or add more accounts.
While you can add unlimited streams with YouTube TV, it comes at a cost. The 4K Plus add-on is $19.99 per month, or $9.99 per month for the first year for current subscribers.
Why is YouTube TV so expensive?
Sports and local networks are expensive to offer. Cable replacements have to pass that onto customers.
The service offers locals in most markets and has plenty of sports content, which increases the cost.
Is YouTube TV Worth it?
The answer to this question depends on your unique situation. If you’re spending $250+ a month on cable, there is value to be found in YouTube TV.
However, with many other alternatives on the market, you can likely find a more affordable option if you want to cut the cord.
What streaming service is better than YouTube TV?
Sling TV is best for people wanting a lower price without sacrificing channel options. FuboTV is best for people who want a near replacement, but more live sports and networks.
Determine your needs first, then choose the streaming service that best fits those needs.
Is YouTube TV or Hulu Live better?
After the YouTube TV price increase, it became natural to compare the service to Hulu Live. The better service is a matter of preference as they offer similar perks for the same price.
However, if you want more channels and an unlimited DVR, YouTube TV is the better choice.
Bottom Line
The cable-cutting space is becoming more competitive. Fortunately, this competition gives you plenty of opportunities to save money.
When looking at YouTube TV alternatives, consider what’s important to you. It’s possible to watch your favorite shows for less, but you may need to do some work to identify the best option for your needs.
How much do you pay for cable each month? How often do you change streaming providers?
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