Live TV Streaming Channel Showdown: Sling, YouTube TV and More Compared
It’s a new year, and you’re probably looking to trim costs. If you’re thinking about cutting the cord or you prefer a traditional TV plan, you have plenty of options to choose from. However, live TV streaming services allow you to avoid those annoying contracts. They also offer a variety of channels, DVR and the ability to stream sports and other content. Plus, most services let you watch on your laptop or phone.
Monthly pricing and regional sports networks can make it a challenge when choosing a live TV streamer, but here are six main services to consider (we’re not including smaller ones): Fubo, Philo, Sling TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV.
It really boils down to the channels, right? We’ve examined which platforms feature the most top 100 channels in their main lineups to help you determine which one is best for your household.
The Big Chart: Top 100 channels compared (updated Jan. 2026)
The main difference between the services lies in their channel selection. All of them offer different lineups of channels for various prices.
Below, you’ll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all six services. Note that not every service has a worthy 100. There are actually seven listed because Sling TV has two “base” tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you’re wondering, I chose which “top” channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD.
Fubo and NBCUniversal have still not resolved their carriage dispute, resulting in a gap in the channel lineup on Fubo. DirecTV offers signature streaming packages, and its basic plan starts at $90 per month, plus fees (excluding promotional rates). YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo and Hulu Plus Live TV’s plans all cost more, affecting the value of these services based on their channel lineups. With channel losses and price hikes, some of services may seem less appealing.
However, there are numerous live TV streaming choices available. Sling TV’s basic monthly packages are $46 in most cities and Philo offers a small roster but packages HBO Max and AMC Plus access with it. But costs continue to go up and those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.
Some more stuff to know about the chart:
- Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service’s name.
- No = The channel isn’t available at all on that service.
- $ = The channel is available for an extra fee, either a la carte or as part of a more expensive package or add-on.
- Regional sports networks — local channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams — are not listed. DirecTV’s $130 tier has the most RSNs by far, but a few are available on other services. You can also check out its MySports package for $70 and Xfinity’s sports and news offering.
- Local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city. Because the availability of these channels varies, you’ll want to check the service’s website to verify that it carries your local network.
- Local PBS stations are only currently available on DirecTV, Hulu Live and YouTube TV. Again, you’ll want to check local availability.
- Sling Blue subscribers in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City must now pay $51 per month, but have access to local ABC, Fox and NBC channels. Customers in Houston, Fresno, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina, now have ABC and Fox on their Blue or Orange-and-Blue subscriptions at no extra charge. This is not reflected in the chart. Check Sling’s site to see which local channels are available in your area.
- Fubo subscribers may find that the ACC Network and SEC Network are included with their package at no extra cost. Check availability for your state.
- The chart columns are arranged in order of price, so if you can’t see everything you want, try scrolling right.
- Overwhelmed? An easier-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.
Philo vs. Sling TV vs. Fubo vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV vs. Hulu: Top 100 channels compared
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | Fubo ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total channels: | 43 | 24 | 34 | 78 | 39 | 56 | 75 |
| ABC | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox | No | No | Yes (some markets) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | No | No | Yes (some markets) | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| PBS | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CW | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (limited) | Yes |
| MyNetworkTV | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | Fubo ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
| A&E | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $ | Yes |
| ACC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Accuweather | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| AMC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Animal Planet | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| BBC World News | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | $ | No |
| BET | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Big Ten Network | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Bloomberg TV | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boomerang | No | $ | $ | No | No | Yes | $ |
| Bravo | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | Fubo ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
| Cartoon Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CBS Sports Network | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Cheddar | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cinemax | No | No | No | $ | No | $ | $ |
| CMT | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC | No | No | $ | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| CNN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cooking Channel | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Destination America | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Discovery Channel | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Channel | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Junior | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney XD | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E! | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPNEWS | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| ESPNU | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | Fubo ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Business | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox News | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS1 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS2 | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Freeform | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FX | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FX Movies | No | No | $ | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| FXX | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FYI | Yes | $ | $ | No | No | $ | Yes |
| Golf Channel | No | No | $ | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | $ | Yes |
| Hallmark | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HBO/Max | No | No | No | $ | No | $ | $ |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $ | Yes |
| HLN | No | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $ | Yes |
| Lifetime Movie Network | Yes | $ | $ | No | No | $ | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | FuboTV ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
| Magnolia Network | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | $ | Yes |
| MeTV | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| MGM+ | $ | $ | $ | $ | No | $ | No |
| MLB Network | No | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | Yes |
| Motor Trend | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| MS NOW | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| MTV | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MTV2 | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| National Geographic | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nat Geo Wild | No | No | $ | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| NBA TV | No | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ | No |
| NFL Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| NFL Red Zone | No | No | $ | $ | $ | No | $ |
| NHL Network | No | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | No |
| Nickelodeon | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Nicktoons | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ | $ |
| OWN | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | $ | Yes |
| Oxygen | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Paramount Network | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Science | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | FuboTV ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
| SEC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| Showtime | No | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Smithsonian | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Starz | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Sundance TV | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Syfy | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| Tastemade | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | No |
| TBS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TCM | No | $ | $ | Yes | No | $ | Yes |
| TeenNick | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| Telemundo | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | $ | Yes |
| Tennis Channel | No | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | No |
| TLC | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $ | Yes |
| TruTV | No | $ | Yes | Yes | No | $ | Yes |
| TV Land | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USA Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (due to carriage dispute) | Yes | Yes |
| VH1 | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vice | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $ | Yes |
| WE tv | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Channel | Philo ($33) | Sling Orange ($46) | Sling Blue ($46) | YouTube TV ($83) | FuboTV ($85) | DirecTV ($90) | Hulu with Live TV ($90) |
Hulu Plus Live TV, which includes access to Disney Plus, Hulu on-demand and ESPN Plus, is one of the most expensive platforms, now at $90 a month for its base package. Its channel selection isn’t as robust as YouTube TV, but Hulu’s significant catalog of on-demand content sets it apart. ABC shows like High Potential and exclusive titles such as Shōgun, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building give it a content advantage.
Live TV subscribers also receive unlimited DVR that includes fast-forwarding and on-demand playback — at no additional cost. It’s a move that has aligned Hulu with its competitors in terms of features, but the channel lineup may still be a deciding factor. It’s pricier than YouTube TV, which has more channels, but the access to Disney Plus and ESPN may make it a more appealing choice for you. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.
Apart from its current carriage dispute with Disney, YouTube has an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR. Typically, the $83-per-month service is one of the best cable TV replacements. It offers a 4K upgrade add-on for an additional price, but the downside is that there isn’t much to watch at present unless you watch select channels. If you don’t mind paying a bit more than the Sling TVs of the world, or want to watch live NBA games, YouTube TV offers a high standard of live TV streaming. Read our YouTube TV review.
If you want to save a little money and don’t mind missing out on local channels, Sling TV is the best of the budget services. Its Orange and Blue packages start at $46 per month, and you can combine them for a monthly rate of $61 ($66 in some regions). The Orange option nets you one stream, while Blue gives you three. It’s not as comprehensive or as easy to navigate as YouTube, but with a bit of work, including adding an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it’s an unbeatable value. We’ll also add that the service offers local channels such as ABC and CBS in some regions where the monthly rate is $51. Read our Sling TV review.
DirecTV’s base signature streaming package costs more than all the other platforms on this list except Hulu Plus Live TV, and its stiffest competition is still Hulu and YouTube TV. With its channel selection, it’s ideal for sports fans who want to watch local or national games.
The service does have its benefits, though — for example, it includes the flipper-friendly ability to swipe left and right to change channels. Additionally, it includes some channels that some other services can’t, including nearly 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $90 Entertainment package may suit your needs with its 90-plus channels and the inclusion of ESPN Unlimited. But for cord-cutters who want to follow their local NBA or MLB team, DirecTV’s pricier Choice package is a more robust live TV streaming pick because it has access to more regional sports networks than the competition. Nonetheless, you’ll want to make sure your channel is included here and not available on one of our preferred picks before you pony up. Read our DirecTV streaming service review.
There’s a lot to like about Fubo — it offers a wide selection of channels and its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans or NBA, NHL and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of Fubo’s RSNs. It’s also a great choice for NFL fans because it’s one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that offer NFL Network and optional RedZone. The biggest hole in Fubo’s lineup is the lack of Warner Bros. Discovery networks, including Cartoon Network, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, TBS and TNT — especially as the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular MLB, NBA and NHL. Its current dispute with NBCU is causing more channel losses (no ABC, Bravo, etc.). Those missing channels, and the $85 price tag for the base plan, make it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers. Read our Fubo review.
Philo’s Core plan is now $33 and includes the AMC Plus bundle and HBO Max at no extra cost, and it’s still a cheap live TV streaming service with a variety of channels. But it lacks sports channels, local stations and big-name news networks — although BBC News and Cheddar are available. Philo offers bread-and-butter cable staples like Comedy Central, Hallmark Channel and Nickelodeon, and specializes in lifestyle and reality programming. It’s also one of the most affordable live services that streams Paramount, home of Yellowstone, and includes a cloud DVR, as well as optional add-ons from Hallmark Plus and Starz. We think most people are better off paying a few bucks more for Sling TV’s superior service, but if Philo has every channel you want, it’s a decent deal. Read our Philo review.
