Best Live-TV Streamers Compared

Angelo Ilumba Senior Writer

Updated 06 February 2019

In this Guide

Interface
Channel Selection
Extras
Value
Internet for Cord-Cutters

Article Summary

The cost of cable TV combined with the seemingly endless sources of content on the internet has more and more people considering joining the many cord-cutters who have already parted ways with big cable.

Live-TV Streamers like Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV are making it easier than ever for cord-cutters to ditch cable while still enjoying the programming they have grown to love.

With the high cost of cable TV and the realization that even with over 800 channels available, you have only ever watched about 50 of them, it might be time for you to join the many cord-cutters out there and separate from your cable provider.

Luckily for you, there are now several live-TV streaming services that can help you fill in the gap that cord-cutting can create in your TV viewing life, while not filling the gap created in your wallet. We have taken a deep look at three of bigger live-TV streamers to help you determine which one is the best for you: YouTube TV, Sling TV and Hulu with Live TV.

Live TV Streamers Compared

Provider	Interface	Channel Selection	Extras	Value
YouTube TV	4	4	3	3.5	Learn More
Sling TV	5	3	4	4	Learn More
Hulu w/ Live TV	2.5	4	3	3.5	Learn More

Interface

With major TV-streaming services offering similar products, one aspect of each that might make it stand out is the interface they put in your face.

Sling TV is a pioneer amongst live-TV streaming services and has had years to perfect its platform. Easy to handle and intuitive, Sling's interface stands out as the best of the best and this sentiment extends across all devices compatible with Sling.

YouTube TV also has a strong and intuitive interface, but some aspects around setting up DVR recordings can be confusing.

Hulu with Live TV suffers from an inferior interface. Sometimes it seems like you have to click and click and click and click before you finally get to the program or channel that you want to watch.

Channel Selection

None of the live-TV streamers are going to have the hundreds and hundreds of channels you may be accustomed to having with an average cable subscription. However, you should and can expect to see many of the more popular channels on your live-TV streaming subscription.

YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV have a very similar selection of channels available in their plans. One glaring hole in YouTube TV's lineup of channels is Discovery which is available on Hulu with Live TV.

Unfortunately, Sling TV does not have a working contract with ABC or CBS. Affiliates of both major networks are not available through Sling TV.

Extras

Sling TV likes to brag about how their TV subscription is highly customizable. However, customization doesn't mean you get to pick exactly what channels are included in your package. Instead, customization accomplished by adding certain add-on features to your subscription for a low price. From DVR to International TV, there are plenty of ways to boost your Sling TV package.

Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV have some similar add-on features, but the real impressive extras come with the on-demand features that are included. Hulu's entire library of on-demand programming, including all of their original content, comes with Hulu with Live TV, while YouTube Red programming is included with YouTube TV.

Value

When comparing apples to apples there really isn't very much difference in value and pricing of each streaming service (give or take a few dollars). Where Sling TV slightly stands out, however, is when you compare apples to oranges, because Sling TV offers an Orange (and Blue) package which is much cheaper than anything Hulu with Live TV or YouTube TV has to offer. These cheaper packages have very limited channels available in each, but if you are pleased with the selection, you could end up saving a lot of money by purchasing either Sling Orange or Blue.

Internet for Cord-Cutters

Live-TV streaming services could help you replace your expensive cable-TV plan. However, you're not going to get much use out of your streaming subscription without a solid internet plan. If you're a heavy watcher, you should consider an internet plan that comes with fast speeds.

Here are just some internet plans that could fit your cable-cutting TV-streaming needs:

#1	WOW!	WOW! Internet 300 Cable 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#2	Breezeline	Breezeline Internet 100 Cable 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. View Plan	$20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount.	View Plan
#3	Kinetic	Kinetic 100 Mbps Fiber 100/100 Mbps Unlimited Data $24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. View Plan	$24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Cable 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan
#5	Mercury Broadband	Mercury Broadband Mercury Foundation Fixed Wireless 30/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Contract (24 mths) $25/mo with AutoPay + $45 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$25/mo with AutoPay + $45 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#6	Frontier	Frontier Fiber 500 Internet Fiber 500/500 Mbps Unlimited Data $29.99/mo with AutoPay with AutoPay View Plan	$29.99/mo with AutoPay with AutoPay	View Plan
#7	Brightspeed	Brightspeed 200 Mbps Fiber 200/200 Mbps Unlimited Data $29.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. View Plan	$29.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change.	View Plan
#8	Astound	Astound 300 Mbps Internet Fiber 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get one line of Unlimited Mobile FREE for 12 months $30/mo Observed speeds may vary \| One-time fees extra \| Restrictions apply \| Not available in all areas \| New residential customers only + $14.99 Upfront Observed speeds may vary \| One-time fees extra \| Restrictions apply \| Not available in all areas \| New residential customers only View Plan	$30/mo Observed speeds may vary \| One-time fees extra \| Restrictions apply \| Not available in all areas \| New residential customers only + $14.99 Upfront Observed speeds may vary \| One-time fees extra \| Restrictions apply \| Not available in all areas \| New residential customers only	View Plan
#9	Fidium	Fidium 300M Fiber 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $30/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations. View Plan	$30/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations.	View Plan
#10	Armstrong	Armstrong Zoom Express Cable 25/4 Mbps Unlimited Data $34.95/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations View Plan	$34.95/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations	View Plan

Angelo Ilumba

Senior Writer

Angelo is a highly experienced writer for WhistleOut, specializing in unraveling the complexities of the mobile and tech world so that readers can easily understand what is relevant to them. Angelo has been featured on several publications such as MoneyTalksNews, Yahoo Finance, NPR and more.

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