Cutting the cord used to feel risky. Like, you’d cancel cable and suddenly lose ESPN or local news. These days, though? Live TV streaming is packed with options. The two names that keep popping up in conversations are YouTube TV vs Fubo.
I’ve bounced between both. Tried them on my home setup, tested them on hotel Wi-Fi, even pulled up a stream in the middle of a family BBQ just to keep up with the NBA Playoffs. They each have strengths, quirks, and a couple of “wait, why doesn’t this just work?” moments.
Let’s break it down, piece by piece, without the usual polished “review site” jargon. Think of this as me talking to a friend who’s stuck deciding which subscription button to click.
Pricing: What Hits Your Wallet First
Price is usually the first question. Streaming bills creep up fast, so the base cost matters.
- YouTube TV → $72.99/month
- Fubo → $74.99/month (Pro plan, the one most people grab)
Not a huge gap. About the price of a coffee or two. But Fubo gets tricky because sports taxes in some states can nudge the bill higher. And if you want extras like the Latino plan or add-on sports tiers, that number climbs quickly.
YouTube TV’s pricing feels simpler. One big package. Then you can tack on add-ons like HBO Max, NFL Sunday Ticket, or 4K streaming for $9.99/month.
Small personal gripe with Fubo, my first bill had this “regional sports fee” I didn’t expect. I live in a market with a Bally Sports channel, so it was an extra $13.99 slapped on. If you hate surprises, that’s worth noting.
Base Pricing Overview
| Service | Base Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo | Straightforward pricing |
| Fubo (Pro) | $74.99/mo | Regional sports fees in some areas |
Channel Lineup: Who’s Got What?
Here’s where people lean hard one way or the other.
- YouTube TV: 100+ channels. You get all the big broadcast names (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), ESPN, FS1, TNT, CNN, Discovery, and more.
- Fubo: 150+ channels on the Pro plan. Heavy on sports, international coverage, plus the usual cable-style lineup.
The Sports Angle
If you’re a sports-first person, Fubo feels like Christmas morning. It covers NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, plus niche stuff like cycling, soccer (UEFA, Serie A, Liga MX), and even cricket. International sports fans especially like it.
But there’s a catch. Fubo doesn’t carry TNT or TBS. That means no NBA on TNT, no March Madness games, no MLB playoffs on TBS. For me, missing NBA on TNT was brutal — those Inside the NBA halftime shows are half the fun.
YouTube TV does have TNT and TBS. That alone sways a lot of basketball and baseball fans.
Non-Sports Channels
For everyday channels, both have plenty. Food Network, HGTV, FX, Bravo, all the stuff you’d expect. If you care about Viacom networks like Comedy Central or MTV, YouTube TV has the stronger lineup there.
Sports Packages and Add-Ons
Both platforms know sports fans are picky. So they stack on extras.
- YouTube TV: Biggest flex is the NFL Sunday Ticket deal. Exclusive to them. If you want every out-of-market NFL game, this is where you land.
- Fubo: Has Sports Plus add-on (about $11/month) with NFL RedZone, PAC-12 Network, Tennis Channel, and more. International soccer fans really like Fubo’s coverage — way deeper than YouTube TV.
Quick story: I tried watching a Liverpool game on YouTube TV. Couldn’t find it. Switched to Fubo, and there it was on some random international feed. For global sports fans, that kind of thing matters.
Cloud DVR: Who Stores Your Games Better?
Both offer unlimited DVR now. But “unlimited” doesn’t always mean the same thing.
- YouTube TV: Truly unlimited. Record as much as you want, and it saves for 9 months. Simple.
- Fubo: Also unlimited (on Pro plan and higher). Saves up to 1000 hours, but older recordings may auto-delete if you hit the cap.
In practice, YouTube TV feels a bit cleaner. I set it to record every Warriors game once, and it just worked. No micromanaging.
Fubo’s DVR works, but I noticed it sometimes didn’t tag games right. Like a replay of a match got mixed in with live recordings. Small annoyance, but worth mentioning.
Streaming Quality: Picture and Performance
Both promise 1080p streams standard. If you want 4K, here’s the breakdown:
- YouTube TV: 4K add-on for $9.99/month. Works on live sports, select on-demand titles, and some news channels.
- Fubo: Includes 4K content in its base plan for many live sports events. No extra fee.
Watching NFL Sunday in 4K on Fubo feels amazing — crisp and smooth. But streaming quality also depends on your Wi-Fi. When I tried on hotel internet, YouTube TV handled buffering way better.
So: Fubo wins on raw picture quality, YouTube TV wins on stability.
Device Compatibility: Where Can You Watch?
Both cover the big platforms:
- Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio)
- Roku
- Fire TV Stick
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- iOS and Android apps
- Web browser
If you own multiple smart devices, either will run fine. The difference is in the apps themselves.
YouTube TV’s app feels faster. Cleaner menus, easier to find live games. Fubo’s app is good, but sometimes laggy on Fire TV in my testing.
User Experience: Day-to-Day Use
This one’s subjective, but here’s how I felt:
- YouTube TV → Feels like a polished Google product. Easy to search, fast to switch channels, and the algorithm actually recommends stuff I’d watch.
- Fubo → More cluttered interface. Lots of sports categories, which can be great if you love browsing matches. But if you just want “NBA right now,” it’s a few more clicks.
Which One’s Better for Sports Fans?
Let’s just spell it out:
- NFL diehards → YouTube TV (Sunday Ticket).
- NBA and MLB fans → YouTube TV (TNT + TBS coverage).
- Soccer and international sports → Fubo wins.
- Casual sports watchers → Either works, but YouTube TV feels simpler.
Which One’s Better for Families?
Families need kids’ channels, news, and DVR that doesn’t run out.
- YouTube TV has Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and PBS.
- Fubo has Disney and Nickelodeon, but not PBS.
Also: YouTube TV allows 6 profiles per account, unlimited DVR per profile. That made family sharing smoother for me.
Availability: Can You Even Get It?
Both are U.S.-only. If you travel abroad, you’ll run into blocks unless you use a VPN. I tested this in Mexico but YouTube TV gave me an error, Fubo just showed a “content not available” message. Same deal either way.
Quick Comparison Table: YouTube TV vs Fubo
| Feature | YouTube TV | Fubo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $72.99/mo | $74.99/mo + fees |
| Channels | 100+ | 150+ |
| TNT/TBS | Yes | No |
| NFL Sunday | Yes (exclusive) | No |
| Soccer | Limited | Strong coverage |
| 4K | Add-on ($9.99/mo) | Included |
| DVR | Unlimited (9 months) | 1000 hrs cap |
FAQs (From People Also Ask)
Q1: Is YouTube TV or Fubo cheaper?
They’re close. YouTube TV is $72.99. Fubo is $74.99 plus possible regional fees.
Q2: Which is better for NFL fans?
YouTube TV, since it has NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone with add-ons.
Q3: Does Fubo have TNT for NBA?
No. That’s one of its biggest gaps.
Q4: Can I watch international soccer on YouTube TV?
Some, yes. But Fubo’s coverage is way stronger for leagues outside the U.S.
Q5: Which service is better for families?
YouTube TV. Cleaner profiles, PBS, and easier DVR sharing.
I’m Samuel Harris, sharing streaming tips, tools, and monetization insights to help creators grow smarter. From gear to guides, I cover what streamers need to succeed.
