Hulu vs. fuboTV

You’ve made the decision to join the tens of millions of cord-cutters. Congratulations! You’ve already taken a huge step, but the next one is just as important: You need to pick a streaming service. The number of options for streaming services is both exciting and terrifying. With so many great choices, how do you find the right one for you? Don’t go running back to your cable company; we're here to help.

Hulu and fuboTV are both compelling options. Fortunately, we have everything you need to make an informed decision. Ready? Let’s get started.

Hulu: Video On-Demand With a Live TV Option

fuboTV: Live TV Streaming Made for Sports Fans

What's the Difference Between Hulu and fuboTV?

Hulu and fuboTV are both streaming services offering live TV and on-demand entertainment. Both offer month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term commitment. There are, however, some key differences between Hulu and fuboTV that you need to know.

First, with any Hulu plan, you get access to the entire Hulu on-demand catalog. This includes hits like “The Handmaid’s Tale” that can’t be found anywhere else. Beyond the original content, Hulu offers a vast library of current and past major network TV shows, including popular titles such as “Family Guy” and “Seinfeld.”

If you opt for Hulu’s live TV service, called Hulu + Live TV, you’ll also get access to live streaming TV channels. Hulu + Live TV includes all the same on-demand content that “regular” Hulu has. It simply adds live TV networks and other perks.

fuboTV is a live TV streaming service like Hulu + Live TV. But fuboTV has a special focus on sports. Its on-demand content is more limited — focused primarily on recently-aired episodes and a few movies and past seasons of TV shows. However, there's no streaming service with better sports coverage, both domestic and international. International sports are where fuboTV really shines. Most other services, Hulu + Live TV included, don’t have many options for international sports fans. And fuboTV now includes ESPN, filling what was once the biggest gap in their sports lineup.

Both services provide you with a cloud DVR. fuboTV starts theirs at 1,000 hours of storage. Hulu + Live TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage. Hulu + Live TV starts you at up to 2 simultaneous screens while fuboTV varies by package. fuboTV allows you to upgrade to unlimited screens, whereas the Hulu + Live TV upgrade provides unlimited screens at home and 3 screens away from home.

Device support is unlikely to be an issue for either service. Both services are available for a wide range of devices including Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Fire TV. Both are also available on iOS and Android as well as in your web browser.

What You Can Watch on Hulu vs. fuboTV

Both Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV offer the four major local networks in most markets. Hulu + Live TV offers more than 85 channels in their basic package. fuboTV starts you off with more than 100 channels in their Pro plan.

If you're looking for Spanish-language programming, both services have that, too, but fuboTV has a slight edge in this category. fubo Latino gives you access to more than 40 Spanish language channels plus Spanish-language live sports, and it can be bought as a standalone package or as an add-on (under the name Latino Plus). Hulu’s Español add-on provides a handful of Spanish-language channels including CNN en Español and ESPN Deportes.

fuboTV has several other add-ons available, giving you the opportunity to access NCAA games, NFL RedZone, Cycling channels, extreme sports, and more international sports. The fubo Extra package also adds more movie, news, music and kids channels. Hulu + Live TV, similarly, lets you include their Entertainment add-on package, featuring such channels as the Cooking Channel and Discovery Family.

When it comes to premium channels as add-ons, Hulu + Live TV is the clear winner: It lets you add Max, Cinemax, Showtime, and STARZ. Of these channels, fuboTV offers everything but Max. You will have to pay extra for these channels with either service.

How Much Will You Spend on Hulu vs. fuboTV?

Hulu + Live TV’s base service is $69.99 per month. If you want to remove ads on the on-demand catalog, this price rises to $82.99 per month. If you don’t want live TV, you can get the ad-supported Hulu on-demand catalog for as little as $7.99 per month. Adding unlimited screens, premium movie channels, a DVR upgrade, or the entertainment and Spanish language add-ons will bump up these rates.

fuboTV’s base rate is $74.99 per month for its Pro plan. As with Hulu, adding more screens, a DVR upgrade, or additional channels will bump up this rate.

As you can see, the base rates are very comparable between these two services, but the final price may be very different if you want Hulu’s premium channels or fuboTV’s many sports add-ons.

Hulu vs. fuboTV: Which Should You Choose?

With all that said, which service should you choose?

We here at Cordcutting.com can't make that call for you, but we can help guide you through the decision.

If you’re looking for an affordable on-demand service, this is an easy call: Hulu’s on-demand option is your best bet.

But what if you want live TV? If your primary desire is better overall sports options or international and Spanish language sports, fuboTV is the clear winner. If you only want Spanish language programming, the fubo Latino package is an excellent option. Be sure to check out all fuboTV’s add-ons while making your decision, but remember that their extra costs add up fast.

If premium movie channels are more your style, Hulu + Live TV will let you scratch that itch. Hulu’s on-demand catalog is also very compelling if you want more than just the latest TV episodes and movies. And don’t forget about their original programming either.