If you’re looking to replace your satellite or cable TV subscription with a streaming service, Hulu + Live TV is probably on your radar. If not, it should be. And if you’re already subscribing to Hulu, Disney+, or the Disney Bundle that includes both, making the move to Hulu + Live TV makes even more sense.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because everything isn’t for everyone. Our Hulu + Live TV review digs into the prices, features, and channels to help you decide if it’s right for you. Read on to see who Hulu + Live TV is best for in 2024.
What is Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu was the first major streaming service to go up against Netflix when it launched in 2007. But unlike its nemesis, it wasn’t content to stay in the on-demand sphere. So 10 years later it launched a live TV option as a separate service. While it includes the original Hulu on-demand streaming library, it has different features and (obviously) completely different price plans.
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If you’re looking for an on-demand streaming service: Hulu Review: Who’s it Best For in 2024?
How much does Hulu + Live TV cost in 2024?
The service launched with a single plan. That offering has changed a bit since then, and after a period of overly descriptive plan names in 2023, Hulu simplified matters. There are now 2 main Hulu + Live TV price plans to choose from and a third plan that doesn’t get much attention.
Hulu + Live TV: $76.99/month
- Complete on-demand libraries for Hulu and Disney+
- Full access to ESPN+
- Number of TV channels: 85+
- Local TV: Big 4 networks and more
- Ads (on-demand library): Yes
- User profiles: 6
- Cloud DVR: Unlimited
- Simultaneous screens: 2
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD, 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround sound
- Annual Plan: No
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV: $89.99/month
- Complete commercial-free, on-demand libraries for Hulu and Disney+
- Full access to ESPN+
- Number of TV channels: 85+
- Local TV: Big 4 networks and more
- Ads (on-demand library): On ESPN+ only
- User profiles: 6
- Cloud DVR: Unlimited
- Simultaneous screens: 2
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD, 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround sound
- Annual Plan: No
Live TV Only: $75.99/month
- Save a dollar by removing Hulu on-demand, Disney+, and ESPN+
- Number of TV channels: 85+
- Local TV: Big 4 networks and more
- Ads (on-demand library): N/A
- User profiles: 6
- Cloud DVR: Unlimited
- Simultaneous screens: 2
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD, 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround sound
- Annual Plan: No
The Hulu Live TV Only plan saves you a dollar and you lose Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+. It’s a rather pointless plan and weird that it still exists, but it’s there for anyone looking to save (literally) a buck.
Hulu + Live TV vs. the alternatives
Here’s how Hulu + Live TV stacks up against the other live TV streaming services on the market in terms of price and features for the cheapest plan available.
| 2024 | Hulu + Live TV | Fubo | DirecTV STREAM | YouTube TV | Vidgo | Sling TV | Philo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Plans | $75.99–89.99 | $79.99–99.99 | $85.99–190.98 | $72.99 | $69.99–99.99 | $40–55 | $25 |
| Spanish Plan | - | $32.99 | $79.99 | $34.99 | $39.99 | - | - |
| Number of Channels | 90+ | 199+ | 90+ | 100+ | 90+ | 30+ | 70+ |
| Local TV Channels * | ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, Telemundo | ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, Telemundo, Univision, UniMás | ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, CW, Univision | ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, CW, Telemundo, Univision, UniMás | ABC, FOX, Univision, UniMás | ABC, FOX, NBC | None |
| On-demand Library | Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | 10,000+ Titles | 60,000+ Titles | 2,000+ Titles | 14,000+ Titles | 500+ Titles | 70,000 Titles |
| Simultaneous Screens ** | 2 | 10 + 2 | Unlimited + 3 | 3 | 3 | 1–3 | 3 |
| Profiles | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited | 1,000 Hours *** | Unlimited | Unlimited | In beta | 50 Hours | Unlimited |
| Stream Quality (Best) | 1080p HD | 720p HD | 4K **** | 720p HD | 720p HD | 720p HD | 720p HD |
| Free Trial | No | 7 Days | No | 7 to 30 Days | No | No | 7 Days |
| Review | Hulu + Live TV Review | - | DirecTV Stream Review | YouTube TV Review | - | - | - |
| * Some live TV channels may only be available in select markets ** Refers to screens on home network + screens on-the-go *** The Spanish plan only has 250 hours **** 4K content is VERY limited | |||||||
For more details about any of the other services, check our in-depth reviews for each.
What channels does Hulu + Live TV have?
Hulu + Live TV delivers 90+ channels so we’re not going to list them all. We’ve broken them down into a few key categories and listed the most popular and sought-after channels. If you want to see the complete list of possible channels (depending on your location), check out the complete list of Hulu + Live Channels in 2024.
Local channels on Hulu + Live TV
Local channels refer to the local affiliates of national broadcast television networks. The Big 4 (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX) are usually what people are looking for, although PBS, The CW, and Spanish-language networks certainly have legions of fans.
- ABC
- CBS
- FOX
- NBC
- The CW
- MyNetworkTV
- Telemundo
News channels on Hulu + Live TV
All the major American news outlets are covered, regardless of which bias you like to hear. Some of the most popular news channels currently available on Hulu + Live TV are:
- ABC News Live, CBS News, CNBC
- CNN, CNN International
- Fox News Channel, Fox Business
- MSNBC
- News Nation
Sports channels on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers a well-rounded selection of the major national sports networks, a few college RSNs (regional sports networks), and other league and sport-focused channels.
Some of the most popular sports channels currently available on Hulu + Live TV are:
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN College Extra
- FS1, FS2
- ACCN, BTN, SECN
- NFL Network, Golf Channel, Motor Trend
Specialty channels on Hulu + Live TV
Specialty channels focus on a specific genre, audience, or type of programming. These include everything from music and movies to kids and education. We’ve grouped them together below according to their focus.
Here are some of the most popular specialty channels on Hulu + Live TV:
- A&E, Discovery, Food Network, History
- CMT, MTV, VH1
- Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Turn Classic Movies, TVLand
- National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, TLC
- Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Universal Kids
Generalist channels on Hulu + Live TV
Generalist cable channels offer a variety of programming, from sports to TV shows to movies to news. Here are some of the most popular cable channels on Hulu + Live TV:
- FreeForm
- TBS
- TNT
- USA
Hulu + Live TV’s on-demand library
Hulu + Live TV’s on-demand library is arguably the best among live TV streaming services. This is because it includes Hulu and Disney+, as well as ESPN+. For an in-depth look at those services, check out our Hulu Review and our Disney+ Review.
Movies on demand
Some of the top on-demand movies on Hulu + Live TV right now are:
- Bruiser
- Indiana Jones Franchise
- Infinity Pool
- Minding the Gap
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Parasite
- Rye Lane
- Riotsville, U.S.A.
- Toy Story Franchise
TV shows on demand
From TV classics to new hits to originals, Hulu + Live TV has an unbeatable selection of shows in its streaming library. That’s of course thanks to Hulu and Disney+, which produce some of the best original TV shows and limited series around.
Some of the top on-demand TV shows you can watch with Hulu + Live TV right now are:
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Family Guy
- The Good Doctor
- The Mandalorian
- Only Murders in the Building
- Reservation Dogs
- Secret Invasion
- Shōgun
- The Simpsons
Add-on channels and packages
One of the differences between an on-demand and live TV streaming service is that the latter tends to let you add more channels and features to your base plan. These are the add-ons currently available for Hulu + Live TV.
Premium Networks
You can add 4 premium channels or streaming services à la carte to your subscription. They are priced as follows:
- Max: $15.99/month
- Cinemax: $9.99/month
- Paramount+ with Showtime: $11.99/month
- Starz: $9.99/month
Español Add-on: $4.99/month
For an extra 5 bucks a month, you can add a bundle of 8 Spanish-language channels to your subscription.
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- FOX Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- Hogar de HGTV
- National Geographic Mundo
- NBC Universo
- The Weather Channel en Español
Entertainment Add-on: $7.99/month
For an extra 8 bucks a month, you can add 17 lifestyle channels that include cooking, music, news, kids’ content, and more.
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- Boomerang Channel
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Destination America
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Hallmark Family
- Military History Channel
- Nicktoons
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- Science
- TeenNick
Sports Add-On: $9.99/month
While the sports bundle gets you 6 extra sports-oriented channels, the main draw of this add-on for a lot of people is likely going to be NFL RedZone.
- NFL RedZone
- FanDuel TV
- FanDuel Racing
- MAVTV
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
- Tennis Channel
Unlimited Screens: $9.99/month
To solve the problem of only being able to watch 2 screens at once, Hulu + Live TV lets you bump that up for an extra 10 bucks a month. You can watch it on as many supported devices as you want on your home network. However, you’re limited to watching on 3 mobile devices that are not connected to your home network.
Also, if you’ve added any of the 4 premium channels listed above, the premium network restrictions apply to screen limits. So don’t expect to be able to watch Max or Paramount+ on 15 screens at once.
Cloud DVR and offline viewing for Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV Cloud DVR
You can record unlimited programs on Hulu + live TV. That includes movies, shows, news, sports, and more. Your recordings last for up to 9 months, provided your account remains active. If its canceled or put on hold, you lose all your recordings.
You’ve got a few options when it comes to recording. First, you can go to the Details page of the show or event you want to record and hit the Record icon. You can also hit Record directly in the Live Channel Guide, which will record that specific episode or event, and not future episodes. Your third option only applies when you’re watching in a browser or on your mobile device. While browsing content, click the 3 dots icon and choose Record from the dropdown menu.
To watch your recorded shows, simply go to My Stuff > Recordings and choose what you want to watch.
Hulu + Live TV downloads and offline viewing
You cannot download your DVR recordings on Hulu + Live TV, which means you need an internet connection to watch. So if you plan on stocking up on episodes to binge someplace without Wi-Fi, they’ll have to come from the on-demand library.
You can download select videos from the on-demand library to watch on mobile devices. Unwatched videos remain in your personal offline stash for 30 days and expire 48 hours after you start watching them. But you can always just renew the download after it expires.
Hulu + Live TV interface and usability
Navigation
Navigation for Hulu + Live TV is standard and straightforward. You access the live TV screen right from the main navigation menu and it loads into the last channel you were watching, just as if you were turning on cable TV.
To change the channel and get to the familiar channel guide, simply push the down arrow. Pressing right takes you to a submenu that filters channels according to your recently viewed channels, favorite channels, and categories for sports, news, movies, and kids.
To add channels to your favorites, go to Hubs for an alphabetical list of all the networks and channels. Simply click on the 3 dots then Add to My Stuff. Your cloud DVR recordings are also found by going through the My Stuff menu.
Badges in the top-right corner of a show indicate whether it is new or recording, while unavailable shows are greyed out with diagonal lines.
Playback controls
You can pause live TV and rewind all the way back to the start of the current program. You can’t rewind further than that (ie: into previous, already-aired shows).
Language settings
You can adjust the color, font, size, and appearance of your subtitles in the account setting menu on your TV device, or via the subtitles menu on your PC.
Hulu + Live TV account sharing and simultaneous screens
Another key difference between a live TV streaming service and a traditional cable or satellite TV subscription is simultaneous screen limitations. If you’re just cutting the cord, this is a very important point to be aware of: you can’t just plug in as many TVs as you want.
How many people can watch Hulu + Live TV at once?
You can only watch 2 screens at once with any of the Hulu + Live TV plans. However, as noted above, you can add Unlimited Screens for an extra $10/month. That lets you hook up and watch as many screens as you can on your home network. You can also watch on an additional 3 mobile devices on the go. Therefore, any household with 3 or more TVs (or screens) that are usually on at the same time will need to shell out an extra $10 a month.
But can’t you just change your home network? No. As per Hulu’s live TV policy, you need to register your home network within 30 days of signing up. Your home network must be a US residential connection and you must log in using a living room device (ie: a TV or set-top box), so it’s about as portable as cable TV.
This also makes it rather difficult to watch Hulu + Live TV with a VPN. Particularly as you need to sign in to your home network at least once every 30 days and you can only change your home network up to 4 times per year.
How many profiles can you make on Hulu + Live TV?
You can make up to 6 profiles, which should be enough for most families. They’re easy to set up right in the app or on the website and don’t require an email or account.
Hulu + Live TV supported devices
You’ll find apps for most major platforms, but always check the official page of Hulu supported devices for the most up-to-date list and ensure the specific version of your device is compatible.
Hulu + Live TV streaming quality
The stream quality on Hulu + Live TV depends not only on what you’re watching but what you’re watching it on.
The on-demand streaming libraries for Hulu and Disney+ deliver content in up to 4K UHD. You can also watch select content in HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Visit the Hulu website to see if your devices are compatible.
Watching live TV is a different story. There is no 4K or HDR for live TV. You will get it in either 720p/60fps or 1080p/60fps depending on your device. Check the official page on Hulu’s video quality to verify the compatibility of your devices.
Is there a Hulu + Live TV free trial?
Unfortunately, there is currently no free trial for Hulu + Live TV. There is a free trial for Hulu (on demand), but that has nothing to do with the live TV plan. The only way to try Hulu + Live TV is to cough up $75 for a month.
Hulu + Live TV review verdict: Who’s it good for in 2024?
Hulu + Live TV is a great option for those looking for a cable TV replacement. You get local affiliates of the 4 big networks, plus The CW and Telemundo. You also get the major cable channels, like TNT and TBS, news channels, and sports channels. You won’t miss out on much, except for PBS and local channels that aren’t affiliated with a major network.
With over 10 news channels, most news junkies will be more than satisfied with what’s on offer. In addition to all those cable news channels, you also get local news on your local affiliates for the Big 4 broadcast networks.
Sports fans should also take a serious look at Hulu + Live TV. You get 5 ESPN channels, both main Fox Sports channels, 3 college regional sports networks (RSNs), the NFL Network, Golf Channel, and more. And, of course, any sporting events airing on your local network affiliates. You also get ESPN+ on top of all that.
Hulu + Live TV is our top choice among live TV streamers for kids and families. Not only do you get plenty of sports, news, and entertainment for Mom and Dad, there’s a wealth of premium content for kids. From educational programs to just plain fun, it’s all topped off with Disney+.
Deciding on a live-TV streaming service requires a bit more forethought than signing up for an on-demand service. For starters, they’re typically 5 to 10 times the price. But you also have to consider which channels you get, how much DVR space is included, if any, and so on. It’s even harder when there’s no free trial. But there’s a good chance most families won’t be disappointed with Hulu + live TV.
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