Hulu has a top-notch mix of live and on-demand services, but add-on prices may have you looking for another streaming service
Hulu + Live TV Review
As one of the most known live TV streaming services, Hulu + Live TV is undeniably a service most people can get behind. Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ which is great for every member of the family.
Hulu Live recently added an unlimited DVR storage space, so you can record everything your heart desires.
Is it worth the price? If you love the idea of live TV, Original TV shows and movies, and tons of on-demand content in one service, then this is the service for you.
Read on to find out if this is the next subscription service for you and your family.
How much does Hulu + Live TV cost?
Hulu Live recently became a tough competitor in the live TV streaming service arena because of its improvements.
For $90 per month (*take a deep breath*), you will get access to 75+ live channels, Hulu's on-demand library without ads, Disney+, ESPN+, and an unlimited DVR storage.
We recommend that $90 plan if you can swing it, so you don't have to worry about watching two minutes of car and exercise equipment ads before your show starts. Just get to the good stuff!
And if you're a student, you won't have to worry about tightening your grocery budget in order to catch the new season of What We Do in the Shadows. Eligible students can get Hulu (ad-supported) for only $2 a month.
Does Hulu + Live TV have a contract?
No contract at all! Cancel whenever you need to save some money or if you switch to another streaming or TV service.
How much does Hulu Live's DVR and unlimited screens cost?
Hulu Live doesn’t have any fees, but some add-on options can factor into the monthly bill.
This live TV streaming service used to have a 50-hour DVR storage and would require you to pay a fee if you wanted more space, but now Hulu Live includes an unlimited DVR storage space!
If you have a family and would like to have an unlimited number of simultaneous streams instead of just two, you'll have to pay $10 extra per month.
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Which channels does Hulu + Live TV have?
The live TV channels you’ll get with your Hulu Live subscription depend on your ZIP code—especially the local channels.
Check out the channel lineup in your area, but either way, you’re guaranteed a good variety of channels that include comedies, thrillers, romcoms, and anime. You will be able to watch Disappeared, and your kids will be able to watch Raven’s Home.
Hulu + Live TV channels include the following:
- Animal Planet
- Cartoon Network
- CNN
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- Food Network
- FOX News
- FX
- HGTV
- Lifetime
- MSNBC
- National Geographic
- TBS
- Telemundo
- TNT
- USA
Scroll down for the section that really matters—the sports section.
Speaking of sports, two channels that YouTube TV has that Hulu + Live TV doesn't are MLB Network and NBA TV. If you're a fan of the Baltimore Orioles or the Brooklyn Nets, check out YouTube TV.
Which premium channels and add-ons does Hulu + Live TV have?
Hulu Live has all of the premium channels you need (besides MGM+) to add to your subscription conveniently. Talk about getting everything all in one place.
And these are the typical prices for premium channels for most streaming, cable, and satellite services.
Hulu Live also lets you try each premium channel out for free for one week. And when you order Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, you'll pay $5 per month for the first six months.
Hulu Live's Sports add-on includes six channels, but you really only get one popular sports channel: the NFL RedZone Channel.
But if you love the outdoors and horse betting, this add-on will be even more worth it for you. The Sports add-on includes the following channels:
- NFL RedZone Channel
- MAVTV
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
- TVG
- TVG2
The Español add-on lets you watch news, sports, and shows in Spanish. The channels you’ll get with this add-on are the following:
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- FOX Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- NBC Universo
And the Entertainment add-on gives you a nice variety of cooking, lifestyle, and reality TV channels. The channels you’ll get with this add-on are the following:
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- DIY Network
- Great American Country
- Military History
- MTV Classic
- MTV 2
- Nicktoons
- Science Channel
- TeenNick
Which sports channels does Hulu + Live TV have?
So you found yourself here in the most important section. And we are here to tell you that Hulu Live has a good sports channel lineup—not great.
Hulu Live gives you 13 sports channels, including a channel you can rarely find anywhere else (ESPN College Extra), but you won't find popular channels, such as MLB Network, Tennis Channel, NBA TV, or PAC-12 Network.
You might not get these channels, but any sports fan can appreciate the live TV channels you’ll get with your Hulu Live subscription. But don’t forget to type in your ZIP code to check the sports channel lineup in your area.
Sports channels included in Hulu + Live TV are the following:
- ACC Network (ACCN)
- Big Ten Network
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN2
- ESPN College Extra
- ESPNews
- FOX Sports (FS1), FS2
- Golf Channel
- MotorTrend
- NFL Network
- SEC Network
What is Hulu Live's interface like?
Hulu Live's homepage will be similar to Hulu's with rows of on-demand content to choose from, and you'll also see easy tabs at the top of your window: Live, TV, Movies, Sports, My Stuff, and Hubs.
Under the Live tab, you'll find a clean guide with arrows to find what's on tonight. Just click on a program and click the record button. We also really like the genre options at the top, such as Sports and Kids.
And lastly, we like the My Stuff tab. This is where you'll find your recordings, but the best part is one for those who love organization or simplicity—your recordings are separated into categories.
Easily find what you want to watch in your recordings as they're separated by TV Shows, Movies, Kids, Sports, and Teams.
Hulu Live's DVR is now one of the best
Hulu Live’s cloud DVR comes used to come with 50 hours of storage, which we used to hate on.
But Hulu Live upped its game and is now competing against YouTube TV. Now both live TV streaming services have an unlimited DVR storage space and saves your recordings for nine months.
Imagine! You can record all of the MLB games of the season, all of the Grey's Anatomy's episodes, and The Price Is Right every single morning.
How do Hulu + Live TV's competitors compare?
Hulu Live has recently made itself a strong competitor in the live TV streaming world.
Hulu Live used to be our No. 3 overall pick for live TV streaming services, but now it can outweigh fuboTV and YouTube TV depending on the users needs.
fuboTV has 50 sports channels and the best dollar-to-channel ratio. YouTube TV is slightly more expensive than Hulu Live but it has 10 more channels. What these two don't have that only Hulu Live carries is two other streaming services (Disney+ and ESPN+).
Which devices are compatible with Hulu + Live TV?
Well, of course, you need to watch your Hulu on-the-go or at home on a smart TV. So which devices and smart TVs can you use to watch the PGA Championship with the guys or a Lifetime movie with the gals?
Here are a few to choose from for streaming the Hulu app:
- iPhones and iPads
- Android smartphones and tablets
- Apple TV (fourth generation and up)
- Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Xbox and Playstation
- Roku and Roku Stick
- Google Chromecast and Google Chromecast Ultra
- Safari and Chrome web browsers
- Samsung and LG Smart TVs
- Nintendo Switch
- Xfinity set-top boxes
- Echo show
Is your internet strong enough for streaming Hulu + Live TV?
We should also mention that Hulu + Live TV suggests you have at least an 8 Mbps internet connection while using the app. (Not sure what internet speed you have? Test it out with our tool.)
If you need more reliable internet, we have a list of the top five internet providers for seamless streaming that we think you'll like.
Recap: Is Hulu + Live TV worth it?
For $75–$90 per month, you get over 85 live TV channels, Hulu's on-demand content, Disney+, ESPN+, and unlimited cloud DVR storage.
You get to enjoy Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, HGTV, Lifetime, and 13 sports channels. When nothing good is on TV, you can stream Moana on Disney+ and the French Open on ESPN+.
But don't forget that you will have to pay $10 extra per month if you want unlimited simultaneous streams so you don't get booted out when both of your kids are streaming the Sunday afternoon NFL game.
Need more robust internet for streaming? Take a peek at our top-ranked providers.
Not interested in streaming live TV? Check out our top-ranked TV providers.