Call NOW!
855-349-9328
Follow Us
|
||
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
|
|
Cord-cutting has become a rather common practice, and if you are considering it, you have far too many video streaming services available today. Every streaming service has varying pricing, channel lineups, features, and availability. This comparison between Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV looks into the key differences between both services, factored into different categories.
In this article, we will be comparing Sling TV plans to Hulu + Live TV plans. We will explore both streaming services' pricing, channel lineup, features, and availability on the various platforms they support.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Hulu + Live TV, just as its name suggests, is a live TV streaming service, included with the on-demand Hulu service. When Hulu is combined with a live TV service, it adds a greater value to its overall service. You can enjoy Hulu’s exceptional content, alongside live TV options. If you thought YouTube TV was a better option, you have yet to explore Hulu + Live TV.
That said, Hulu + Live TV is perceived a costly live TV streaming service, but considering its wide range of TV channel lineup and impressive bundles, it’s well worth its price. Hulu + Live TV offers two options: with or without ads plans − one without ads, and two with ads, which we will be exploring below.
Sling TV was one of the first streaming services that offered cable TV options in a more simplified way. Fast forward to today, you have multiple streaming services, but not all of them offer live TV. Sling is considered to be one of the most common live TV streaming services in American households.
That said, Sling TV has a rather basic channel lineup but is a budget-friendly option for cord-cutters who are looking for cheap options. Sling has two plans: Sling Orange and Sling Blue, with a few differences which we will be exploring below.
Let’s take a look at Hulu + Live TV Pricing.
Hulu + Live TV is $76.99 per month in which you can access Hulu’s on-demand library with its cable TV shows, movies, and Hulu’s very own originals. You also get to access its live TV channels. Here are all of Hulu + Live TV plans:
| Hulu TV Plan | Additional Content | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
|
Hulu (Ads) + Live TV |
Disney+ (Ads), ESPN+ (Ads) |
$76.99/mo. |
|
Hulu (No ads) + Live TV |
Disney+ (No Ads), ESPN+ (Ads) |
$89.99/mo. |
With Hulu + Live TV base plan of $76.99 per month, you get to watch Hulu with ads, Disney+ with ads, and ESPN+ with ads. Whereas, with Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, you get to enjoy Hulu ad-free, Disney+ ad-free, and ESPN+ with ads for $89.99 per month.
For both the Hulu + Live TV plans, you can access Hulu’s entire content catalog, access more than 90 live TV channels, access Disney+ and ESPN+, stream on two devices simultaneously, and add on premium channels.
The only difference is the option to go ad-free. In addition, you can only download content to watch offline in the Hulu (No ads) + Live TV plan.
Sling TV has similar functions as any other streaming service. It offers two plans – Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue. The great thing about Sling TV is that subscribers get half off their first month, making it more than reasonable, even after the first month.
Here are Sling TV’s plans:
| Sling TV Plan | Included Content | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
|
Sling Orange |
ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, Disney |
$40/mo. ($20 for the first month – half off) |
|
Sling Blue |
FOX, NBC, FOX News, etc. |
$40/mo. ($20 for the first month – half off) |
|
Sling Orange + Blue |
ESPN, FOX, NBC, etc. |
$55/mo. ($27.5 for the first month – half off) |
Sling TV’s Orange and Blue standalone plans start at $40, with half off for the first month. Whereas, Sling TV Orange + Blue plans start at $55, with half off for the first month. This plan consists of all the live TV channels that you get in the Sling TV Orange and Sling TV Blue plans.
Although its third plan is more expensive, it is still relatively cheaper than its competitors. Regardless of which Sling TV plan you prefer, you can enjoy live TV channels at amazing prices.
Now that we know Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV’s plans and pricing, let’s take a look at their channel lineup.
Hulu + Live TV subscribers enjoy Hulu’s on-demand content and live TV channels, such as live sports, news, weather forecasts, and award shows. Hulu + Live TV offers all major entertainment channels, family-friendly channels, sports channels, news channels, and educational channels as well.
Here are some of the key channels you can enjoy with Hulu + Live TV:
| Networks | Availability |
|---|---|
| ESPN | ✓ |
| ACCN | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ |
| National Geographic | ✓ |
| Lifetime | ✓ |
| MSNBC | ✓ |
| CNBC | ✓ |
| Fox News | ✓ |
Each network also has its on-demand movies and shows, but you might still experience frequent ads when you watch Network On-Demand videos, even if you are subscribed to Hulu (No ads) + Live TV.
Sling TV Orange and Sling TV Blue, are for different audiences. Sling TV Orange is typically for sports fanatics. On the other hand, Sling TV Blue offers a different range of entertainment channels.
Here are the channels you can enjoy with Sling TV Orange and Sling TV Blue:
| Networks | Sling TV Orange – Availability | Sling TV Blue – Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Channel | ✓ | × |
| ESPN | ✓ | × |
| ESPN 2 | ✓ | × |
| ESPN 3 | ✓ | × |
| Fox | × | ✓ |
| NBC | × | ✓ |
| Bravo | × | ✓ |
| Discovery Channel | × | ✓ |
| Fox Sports 1 | × | ✓ |
| Fox News | × | ✓ |
| MSNBC | × | ✓ |
| AMC | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vice | ✓ | ✓ |
Sling TV, as shared earlier, is a primarily live TV streaming service. If you want a combination of both types of channels offered on Sling TV Orange and Sling TV Blue, you can subscribe to the Sling TV Orange + Blue plan, which has all 25 channels.
Hulu + Live TV offers Premium and Partner add-ons like SHOWTIME, STRAZ, Cinemax, etc. You can also watch NFL on Hulu with its package add-ons such as:
Here are some of the channels you can expect from these add-ons:
| Entertainment Add-ons | Sports Add-ons | Espanol Add-ons |
|---|---|---|
| Boomerang Channel | NFL RedZone | CNN en Español |
| CNBC World | FanDuel TV | Discovery en Español |
| Crime + Investigation | FanDuel Racing | Discovery Familia |
| Discovery Life | Outdoor Channel | ESPN Deportes |
| TeenNick | Sportsman Channel | FOX Deportes |
The Entertainment Add-on costs an extra $7.99 per month, the Sports Add-on costs an extra $9.99 per month, and the Espanol Add-on costs $4.99 per month.
Sling TV offers its subscribers Sling Extras & Add-ons. Sling TV Extras are a collection of a handful of channels that start at only $6 per month. The Extras you choose depend on your Sling TV plan. Whereas, the Premium add-ons are not subjected to your Sling TV plan.
You won’t be able to find Sling TV alternatives that are as budget-friendly as Sling.
Here are Sling TV Extras:
| Sling TV Extras | Channels | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Extra | SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, NBA TV, etc. | $11/mo. |
| Entertainment Extra | Paramount Network, MTV, Laff, truTV, CMT, etc. | $6/mo. |
| Kids Extra | Disney Junior, NickToons, TeenNick, Boomerang, Baby TV, etc. | $6/mo. |
| News Extra | BBC News, NewsMax, News18, Law & Crime, etc. | $6/mo. |
| Lifestyle Extra | Magnolia Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, etc. | $6/mo. |
| Hollywood Extra | REELZ, Start TV, HDNet Movies, Bounce, etc. | $6/mo. |
| Heartland Extra | INSP, Sportsman Channel, Great American Living, The Cowboy Channel, etc. | $6/mo. |
Here are some of the more popular Sling TV Premium Add-ons:
| Premium Add-on Channels | Pricing |
|---|---|
|
SHOWTIME |
$10/mo. |
|
STARZ |
$9/mo. |
|
MGM+ |
$5/mo. |
|
AMC+ |
$8.99/mo. |
|
Discovery+ (Ad Free) |
$4.99/mo. |
|
Shudder |
$6.99/mo. |
Although you can watch Hulu + Live TV through a web browser, you also have the option of downloading the Hulu app on your Android or iOS device. In addition, you can also invest in media streaming devices, such as Chromecast, and cast Hulu on it.
Sling TV, on the other hand, does not have many platforms that support it. You can either watch it on its browser or download the Sling app on your Android or iOS device. In addition, Hulu + Live TV has unlimited cloud storage, unlike Sling TV.
Here are some reviews users have shared about Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV:
|
Hulu + Live TV Reviews |
Sling TV Reviews |
|
“I left YouTube TV for Hulu.” |
“Sling TV local channels are not impressive.” |
|
“Hulu + Live TV is a great cord-cutting alternative.” |
“Sling TV is very cheap.” |
|
“Hulu is too expensive.” |
“Sling TV gets boring.” |
It’s always helpful to consider various user reviews for the live streaming service you plan on subscribing to.
It is important to consider your live TV streaming options before you decide to cut the cord. For most, if not all who compare Hulu + Live TV vs. Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV is a more preferred option. Hulu + Live TV is expensive but has a higher content value than Sling TV.
Sling TV is indefinitely a more budget-friendly option, and offers more premium add-ons. However, if you are looking for more extensive on-demand and live TV streaming, Hulu + Live TV will always be the better option.
Zion enjoys writing on a variety of different topics, especially those that involve gaming, and sports. With over 7 years of experience in digital marketing, he keeps up with the changing market trends. Zion specializes in how-to guides, is a technical geek, and routinely writes on Windstream, Mediacom, Cox, AT&T, and MetroNet. He closely works with the content team to ensure that customers get unbiased and fair reviews of all associated services. In his free time, Zion enjoys spending time with his pets, exploring restaurants, and gaming.