Hubbl vs Foxtel: Channels or streaming?

Hubbl and Foxtel may be from the same parent company, but the two are entirely different. Sure they both have physical hardware and can hold your streaming platforms, but that is pretty much where the similarities end. Choosing between Hubbl or Foxtel will entirely depend on what you actually want to get out of your viewing experience; do you want content to watch, or do you want all your streaming services accessible from one interface?

Let's noodle out the basics of each service. Foxtel is a pay TV service with primarily live channels, and some on-demand streaming content. While there are a few iterations of Foxtel like Foxtel Now, and Foxtel classic with an IQ Box, the underlying principles are the same. Hubbl on the other hand is a streaming device which allows you to access your subscription services from one interface, rather than navigating multiple apps and user experiences. Ultimately Foxtel provides entertainment while Hubbl facilitates it.

There are grey areas here too. A Foxtel IQ Box is also a streaming device, and Hubbl does let you package some streamers together for a discount, but for the most part the platforms serve different purposes.

Comparing pricing between these two is apples and oranges - how much you pay on Hubbl will entirely depend on which streaming services you have, and how much you pay for Foxtel is also dependent on the package you choose. If you were to take every streaming option available to you, Hubbl would still be cheaper, and since it offers more flexibility, and you can chop and change your subscriptions so it will likely be better value for most.

Hubbl hardware, or the Hubbl Puck as it is called will cost you $99 outright, and then you’ll pay your normal streaming sub prices on top of that. There are 19 streaming apps available through the Hubbl platform, 11 of which require a paid subscription, only five that are eligible for Stack & Save discounts, and Optus Sport which is shutting soon anyway. Opting for the cheapest tier on each of these services would set you back $133 per month before factoring in the Stack & Save discounts. Subscribing to three Stack & Save eligible apps will get you a $5 credit per month, four will earn $10, and all five will get you $15 back each month. It is all a bit messy, but ultimately you can pick and choose your streaming services depending on your tastes and your budget. Below we’ve broken down the total cost for the full Hubbl experience, but it should also give you an idea of how much you’d be likely to pay each month.

Foxtel’s subscription plans start as low as $78 per month if you commit to a 12-month plan, but these can go up to $150 if you want everything. This $150 price point gets you every Foxtel channel, a standard Netflix subscription, a Max Basic subscription with ads, and an IQ box. Sometimes you can even snag a bargain and get the whole package for under $100 per month. It is not too shabby.

If you don’t want to deal with ads on your streamers, or want to add on any other services you’ll still need to budget the additional cost of those into this. Here is what Foxtel’s channel packages look like.

While Foxtel’s IQ Box is the hub you need to access classic Foxtel, it has now added in streaming box functionality similar to what you see on Hubbl. It supports the same apps as Hubbl does, but the main difference is that you can’t use an IQ Box without an active Foxtel subscription. It is your gateway to the service.

The latest IQ box has 1TB of internal storage, two satellite coaxial ports, an ethernet port, a HDMI port, a spare USB port, and an SPDIF. Comparatively the Hubbl Puck has 16GB of storage, a HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. Both support 4K and Dolby Atmos.

Once again comparing the content between Hubbl and Foxtel is entirely dependent on your subscription choice. Utilising all the Foxtel owned apps on your Hubbl, you’ll get a pretty solid collection of Foxtel’s content, just in a different way. You’ll even get some live channels simulcast directly from the pay TV giant.

Both platforms are also solid options for free-to-air viewing, not only on demand but through a variety of live channels. Foxtel classic will let you watch channels within the 10, 9, 7, ABC, and SBS portfolios live, while on Hubbl you’ll need to watch the live streams through each app. Hubbl also has a channel depository where you can browse these channels, almost like old-school TV.

The choice between Hubbl and Foxtel is reliant on how you generally watch your content. If you’re an on-demand only person then Hubbl will be the way to go, but if you prefer live television Foxtel still has the most channels in the country.

If you’re sitting somewhere in between it may be better to start with Hubbl and tune in to a couple of Foxtel’s streaming services. Binge has a good selection of shows, plus it has over 40 live channels straight from Foxtel. Think of it as micro-dosing - testing the waters. The other thing Hubbl has going for it is the low barrier to entry. Sure you have to pay $99 for the Hubbl Puck, but after that you can choose your own adventure month to month. With Foxtel you’ll either be stuck in a contract for a year, or pay the premium to go contract-free. Pay TV and streaming changes so quickly these days it pays to be flexible.