If you want to cut the cord and spend less on TV each month, fuboTV and YouTube TV are popular options, especially for those looking to watch live sports without cable.
After testing both live TV streaming services, we found that each one offers an extensive channel lineup, solid cloud DVR recording, and flexibility for sports fans and cord-cutters.
But which one is the superior service? Read on to find out which platform comes out on top in our fuboTV vs. YouTube TV showdown.
Table of Contents
YouTube TV vs. fuboTV: How Do They Compare?
While much is the same about these alternatives to cable TV, there are also some significant differences.
Both video streaming services let you create six user profiles and watch local channels without cable. YouTube TV lets you stream on three screens at once, while fubo offers ten simultaneous screens.
Keep in mind that available channels, 4K content, and DVR recording capacity vary.
| Service | Price | Channels | DVR | Screens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fuboTV | $69.99 | 108 | 1,000 hrs. | 10 |
| YouTube TV | $64.99 | 85+ | Unlimited | 3 |
Choosing the best cable replacement comes down to knowing which streaming service has the features and list of channels you want.
Price
Price is often the most important factor when choosing a streaming service.
When comparing plans and pricing between fuboTV vs. YouTube TV, the services are pretty even. However, fuboTV has multiple plans, whereas YouTube TV only has one.
YouTube TV offers 85+ channels, an unlimited cloud DVR, and three simultaneous screens for $64.99 a month.
FuboTV’s Pro plan offers 105+ channels, a 1,000-hour cloud DVR service, and the ability to stream on ten screens at once for $69.99 a month.
The Elite plan costs $79.99 a month and includes 157 channels, a 1,000-hour cloud DVR, and three screens on the go with ten screens at home.
Comparing the monthly price of fuboTV’s Starter plan to YouTube TV yields a draw.
Price winner: Tie
Free Trial
A free trial may be the best way to find your ideal streaming service faster.
In this case, both live TV services offer free trials. This means that you can test each option risk-free.
Both services let you try out the respective platform with a seven-day free trial.
Read our review of YouTube TV here to learn more.
Free trial winner: Tie
Channel Lineup
The ability to watch your favorite shows is critical when you cut the cord.
The YouTube TV vs. fuboTV channel lineup is a crucial consideration when deciding between the services. While both offer all your local networks, there are important differences.
Overall, fuboTV offers 111 channels in its base package. YouTube TV offers roughly 90 channels, including 32 of the top 35 cable networks.
Notable channels missing from YouTube TV include History and Lifetime.
While fuboTV offers 27 of the top cable channels, it’s missing the Turner networks (Cartoon Network, CNN, TBS, TNT, and truTV).
This is a detractor for basketball fans since some NBA and college basketball games air on those networks.
| Channel | YouTube TV | fuboTV |
|---|---|---|
| ACCN | 🟢 | ❌ |
| BeIn Sports | ❌ | 🟢 |
| Big Ten Network | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| CBS Sports Network | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPNU | 🟢 | ESPN, ESPN2 only |
| FS1 | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| FS2 | ❌ | 🟢 |
| Galavision | 🟢 | ❌ |
| Golf Channel | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| Local MLS Channel | 🟢 | ❌ |
| MLB Network | 🟢 | ❌ |
| NBA TV | 🟢 | ❌ |
| NHL Network | ❌ | |
| NFL Network | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| Olympic Channel | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| PAC 12 Network | ❌ | |
| SEC Network | 🟢 | ❌ |
| Stadium, 1, 2 & 3 | ❌ | |
| Tennis Channel | ❌ | |
| UniMas | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| Univision | 🟢 | ❌ |
However, YouTube TV includes MLB Network, NBA TV, and NFL Network as well as the Turner channels.
Plus, it offers a better selection of sports stations in its base package, including all of the ESPN networks.
FuboTV includes only NFL Network in its Starter package, making YouTube TV a better choice for pro sports fans.
See what networks are included in fuboTV’s higher tiers in our fuboTV channels list guide.
Overall, for the number of top channels and sports stations included in its base plan, YouTube TV edges out fuboTV.
Channel lineup winner: YouTube TV
RSNs
Another point of comparison for sports fans is access to Regional Sports Networks (RSNs).
Both live TV streaming services offer NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, California, Chicago, Northwest, Philadelphia & Philadelphia+, Washington, and SportsNet NY.
While only DirecTV Stream’s Choice package for $89.99 offers access to all your local RSNs, fuboTV offers more than YouTube TV.
It also provides access to AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Marquee Sports Network, MSG and MSG+, NESN, and Root Sports Northwest.
Read our DIRECTV STREAM review here to learn more about the service.
If RSNs are a deal-breaker for you, you’ll want to go with fuboTV.
RSN winner: fuboTV
Do YouTube TV and fuboTV Carry Local Networks?
Fear of losing local channels might be what keeps many people stuck in a cable package.
However, many live TV streaming services offer access to your local channels, proving that cable and satellite tv providers are not the only way to get them.
Both YouTube TV and fuboTV carry ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision.
However, only YouTube TV has your local PBS station, making it the stronger choice.
Locals winner: YouTube TV
*Feeling overwhelmed about which streaming service is best for you? Take our free quiz and find out in 30 seconds!
Premium Channels and Add-ons
YouTube TV is unique in its simplicity. It has just one package for one price and only one features upgrade.
The YouTube TV 4K Plus add-on costs $9.99 a month for the first year and $19.99 a month after that.
Along with 4K content, you’ll get unlimited screens at home and the ability to watch DVR recordings offline.
FuboTV offers several feature upgrades.
| Feature | Price |
|---|---|
| DVR 250 hr. | $9.99/mo |
| DVR 1000 hr. | $16.99/mo |
| Family Share | $5.99/mo |
| Unlimited Screens | $9.99/mo |
Both services offer a number of channel packages that you can add on.
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Entertainment Plus (SHOWTIME, HBO Max, Starz) | $29.99/mo |
| Sports Plus | $10.99/mo |
With more sports and language channel packages to choose from, fuboTV offers more customization than YouTube TV.
Want to know more about fuboTV? Read our review here.
Premiums & add-ons winner: fuboTV
Who Has the Better Cloud DVR – fuboTV or YouTube TV?
A cloud DVR is important because it allows you to record shows and games when you can’t be home to watch them.
With unlimited recording capacity, YouTube TV has the best cloud DVR in the streaming space. Recordings can be kept for nine months.
FuboTV includes only 1,000 hours in its base package. However, you can keep recordings in your fuboTV DVR for an unlimited time.
Cloud DVR winner: YouTube TV
What Are the Supported Devices?
The list of compatible devices that support these popular streaming services is extensive.
Both YouTube TV and fuboTV are available everywhere. Stream either cable replacement on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Tivo Stream, Onn devices, and more.
You can also stream on smart TVs, laptop and desktop computers, iOS and Android devices, tablets and smartphones, gaming consoles, and TV Everywhere.
Supported devices winner: Tie
Which Service Has More On-Demand Content?
While both services offer the ability to stream live and on-demand content, fuboTV has the edge.
FuboTV offers thousands of on-demand titles. It also offers a Lookback feature that lets you watch shows that aired within the previous three days but aren’t yet available on demand.
With YouTube TV, most movies and shows are available to watch anytime you want. Its on-demand catalog exceeds 2,000 titles.
The Lookback feature and included picture-in-picture option maximize the amount of content you can stream conveniently on fuboTV and give it an edge over YouTube TV.
On-demand winner: fuboTV
How Many Simultaneous Streams Do the Services Offer?
YouTube TV includes simultaneous streaming on three screens in their base packages. FuboTV allows you to stream on ten at once.
YouTube TV allows you to upgrade to unlimited simultaneous streams for an additional $20 a month in its YouTube 4K Plus add-on package.
Fubo used to only offer three simultaneous streams, so moving to ten is a significant upgrade.
Streams winner: fuboTV
Which Service Offers 4K Capability?
FuboTV is the best option in the space for streaming 4K content. It’s the only streaming service that includes 4K content in its base price.
It currently offers more than 130 4K sports events and other content.
YouTube TV offers a minimal number of titles from just seven networks, including Discovery, ESPN, Fox Sports, FX, Nat Geo, NBC Sports, and Tastemade.
Additionally, you have to pay extra to get it.
4K winner: fuboTV
What are fuboTV and YouTube TV’s Internet Speed Requirements?
Fast internet is critical for an enjoyable streaming experience. Without it, you’ll suffer through annoying pixelation and buffering.
Both streaming services have the following internet speed requirements:
- Stream one video in SD: 3 Mbps
- Stream one video in HD: 7 Mbps
- Stream HD video + other devices: 13 Mbps
- Stream 4K content: 25 Mbps
Those speeds are per stream and should be multiplied by the number of simultaneous screens running at once.
You can learn more about the minimum speed requirements of other services here to see how fuboTV and YouTube TV compare.
Is fubo Better Than YouTube TV?
If you’re an avid sports fan, fuboTV might be better than YouTube TV.
While both services offer a great selection of professional league and sports networks, fuboTV offers more customization.
However, since fubo lacks Turner networks, basketball fans may prefer YouTube TV.
Yet, when it comes to cloud DVR recording, YouTube TV beats fuboTV.
If streaming 4K content is important to you, fuboTV has far more titles than YouTube TV.
But, if having in-app parental controls ranks high on your priority list, you’ll prefer YouTube TV since fuboTV doesn’t have them.
While both services are excellent, which one is best for you comes down to which one has more of the channels and features you want.
Overall, for its channel selection, price, features, and simplicity, we think YouTube TV is the better streaming service.
Overall winner: YouTube TV
Other Cable Alternatives
YouTube TV and fuboTV are not the only great live TV streaming services out there. Other top streaming options to consider are listed below.
| Service | Cost | Channels | Streams | DVR | Rating | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu Live | $69.99+ | 80+ | 2 | Unlimited | 4.1/5 | Try |
| fuboTV | $69.99 | 105+ | 10 | 1,000 hrs. | 4.2/5 | Try |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $69.99+ | 65+ | 20 | Unlimited | 3.7/5 | Try |
| Philo | $25 | 60+ | 3 | Unlimited | 4.3/5 | Try |
| Sling TV | $35+ | 30-50 | 1-4 | 50 hrs. | 4.1/5 | Try |
| Vidgo | $55+ | 95+ | 3 | N/A | 4/5 | Try |
| YouTube TV | $64.99 | 85+ | 3 | Unlimited | 4.2/5 | Try |
Try any of these services free before committing. Then, choose the service that gives you the most number of your ‘must have’ channels and features for the best price.
Bottom Line
YouTube TV is the top choice, both for the channels it includes as well as features like fast-forwarding through commercials, recording unlimited content, and simplicity.
Its robust sports network offering, along with its selection of top entertainment, news, and lifestyle cable networks, make it a good fit for anyone.
How much do you spend on TV each month?
Great comparison.
One question: Does Fubo TV allow me to stream at my second home,
different zip code?
Youtube TV does!
Yep, you can do that. Your channels may vary somewhat, according to their site, but you can stream in two locations without issue.