Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV: Which Streaming Service is Best for Sports Fans?

If you want to cut cable without losing access to collegiate and professional sports, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV are both worth exploring. These streaming services are not just competitive with cable - they may even outshine it. For sports fans, features like including regional sports networks (RSNs) in channel lineups and 10 in-home simultaneous streams can make Fubo very appealing. On the other hand, Hulu + Live TV offers a free ESPN Plus membership and a massive video-on-demand library.

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We're deep-diving into the Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV debate to help you understand the similarities and differences between these two livestreaming giants. Both options have free trials and are available on a month-to-month basis, so you can try one on for size and switch if you change your mind.

Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV At-a-Glance

Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV Content

When it comes to the sheer volume of live content in the Hulu vs. Fubo debate, Fubo wins in a landslide. Hulu + Live TV has just a single channel lineup with 95+ channels. Meanwhile, Fubo has three channel plans to select from, and even the base package promises nearly double the channels available from Hulu + Live TV. At the top package of the service, Fubo delivers 250+ channels.

Number of channels aside, there is still a lot of overlap when it comes to sports channels available from Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. First of all, you'll get local channels with both platforms. That means you can catch primetime content plus live sporting events that air on ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Both services also have sports must-haves like ESPN (for potentially watching Jason Kelce take over on Monday Night Football,) Fox Sports 1 (FS1), NFL Network, MLB Network, ACC Network, and SEC Network (in some cases, a paid add-on is required). Fubo has NBA TV, which is unavailable on Hulu + Live TV. Meanwhile, Fubo doesn't have TNT, TBS, or any of the Discovery networks due to failed contract negotiations. Hulu does have these networks.

Speaking of sports extras, you can customize either a Fubo or Hulu + Live TV plan with add-on channel packs. Hulu's sports extra is called the Sports Add-on and features NFL RedZone, FanDuel TV, FanDuel Racing, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and more. Fubo offers the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on, which includes NBA TV, NHL Network, Pac-12 Networks, SEC Network, and more. You can also add premium movie networks and additional entertainment channels with both services. 

As far as RSN content is concerned, Fubo is a clear winner. The streaming service offers nearly every regional sports network for subscribers, including the hard-to-find Bally Sports channels, for subscribers in-market. While some Hulu + Live TV subscribers can get an RSN, such as SNY in New York, most customers won't find their local channel.

Hulu + Live TV does have a bundle upper hand, as it offers an ESPN Plus subscription along with Disney Plus. When you use your Hulu login to open the ESPN Plus app, you'll get highlights, select college games, team analysis, and original documentaries like "30 for 30." Hulu is expected to merge with Disney Plus in 2024. For now, this separate login gives you content from Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, and Disney classics. You even get "Star Wars" movies.

The Hulu on-demand library has thousands of titles. Subscribers get a blend of movies, network shows, and Hulu Originals like "The Bear" and "Under the Bridge." Fubo has an expansive video-on-demand library as well. However, it primarily contains shows that air on its live channels and the provider doesn't produce any original TV shows or movies.

Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV DVR

Like their livestreaming competitors, both Fubo and Hulu + Live TV have unlimited cloud DVR storage. You can record an unlimited number of hours and access your recordings right through your livestreaming app. Fubo used to limit DVR storage to 1,000 hours, so the unlimited feature is a welcome upgrade that brings the platform up to meet its competitors. 

As for storage time limits, there is no Fubo vs. Hulu showdown. While you can record as many shows, movies, and live events as you want, you'll only be able to save specific recordings for up to nine months with both providers. After that, they will be automatically deleted. You can also manually delete programs once you're done watching them. 

If you want to make sure you never miss an episode of your favorite show, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo let you set a series recording. The DVR can either record every episode of a specific show or new episodes only. You can also set your cloud DVR to record every game featuring a specific team with both services. Fubo goes one step further, allowing you to record everything from a particular league automatically, such as the NHL or NFL. 

Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV User Experience

Hulu + Live TV automatically sets up a user profile when you sign up for service, but you can add up to six more. That brings your total to a potential seven unique profiles within your household. Each profile owner has the ability to set recordings and create favorite channels. Plus each profile can track individual progress on series in the Hulu video-on-demand library. If three people are watching this season of "All American" they can freely watch at their own pace without losing their place. 

Fubo lets you create up to six unique profiles. Like Hulu + Live TV, each user can create their own recordings and add favorite channels for easier access. Fubo also allows users to follow a TV series under their profile so they never miss any new content.  

To add a favorite channel on Hulu + Live TV, you just need to search for the channel by name and choose Details. When you click on the three dots next to the channel a menu pops up. Add the channel to My Stuff, where you can access it more quickly. Doing this also adds the channel to the Favorite Channels tab. If you're watching on Hulu.com, you can add favorites from the Hub tab. To add a favorite on Fubo, you just need to highlight the channel in your TV guide and press Enter or OK on your remote. Select Add to Favorites from the pop-up menu to add the network to your Favorite Channels list. 

Hulu + Live TV offers just two simultaneous streams, while Fubo lets you stream from 10 different devices at the same time, as long as they are on the same home network. You can also stream from three mobile devices away from home on any Fubo plan.

You can watch the Hulu + Live TV app away from home on a mobile device that was previously logged into your home network. Keep in mind that you'll need to log into the home network every 30 days, and the two screen streaming maximum still applies. Logging into a new living room device like a Smart TV at a new location requires changing your home network. You can only change this network four times per year, so Hulu + Live TV isn't meant to be fully shared between two homes.

Similarly, Fubo makes you choose a home network and you can only stream from one TV at a time. Fubo doesn't say there are limitations for the number of times you can change your home network each year. Then again, the streamer also doesn't appear to require you to change your home network to use a new TV. The home network function on Fubo seems to primarily function as a way to track where you should be granted unlimited screens and 10 simultaneous streams. 

Fubo vs. Hulu + Live TV for Sports Fans

Deciding between Fubo and Hulu + Live TV may come down to how committed you are to watching local teams. Fubo has a better lineup of regional sports networks by a mile, and it's one of only two major livestreaming platforms that offer Bally Sports (DIRECTV STREAM also has these channels). If you want to catch every locally aired game for your local NBA team, for instance, choosing Fubo makes sense.

If you're less interested in local games and like supplementary analysis and highlights, Hulu + Live TV has a lot to offer. ESPN Plus doesn't stream the ESPN networks, instead offering supplementary content like talk shows, highlights, and original documentaries. You can watch the "30 to 30" documentary series on demand. The app does stream some live games, particularly for college sports, so fans of collegiate teams may find it more useful than Bally Sports.

When it comes to augmenting your channel roster with a paid sports add-on, the platforms are just about neck and neck. Both Fubo and Hulu + Live TV give you NFL Redzone with their add-ons so you can see every NFL touchdown during the regular season. Fubo's add-on does have more networks than Hulu's, so that might sway you if you're committed to maximizing channel count. 

FAQ

Is Fubo or Hulu + Live TV Better?

Fubo has more channels and a lot of regional sports networks, while Hulu offers free Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. It comes down to what matters most to you.

Which Streaming Service Is Best for Live TV?

Options like Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM have the most channels and a lot of regional sports networks. Hulu + Live TV has channels like MLB Network and NFL Network in its base package that you sometimes have to pay extra for elsewhere.

What Channels Does Fubo Lack?

Fubo doesn't carry TNT, TBS, or any of the Discovery networks, including Food Network and TLC.