If you’re looking for an alternative to Hulu Live TV, there are plenty of options available, and many cost less each month, making them a good option for those looking to save on the cost of live TV.
Before considering a cheaper alternative, it is worth keeping in mind that consumers won’t be getting a like-for-like replacement. Depending on the streaming services that a home wants access to throughout the year, it may actually be cheaper to stick with Hulu Live TV.
A $76.99 a month Hulu Live TV subscription not only unlocks access to a variety of live TV channels, but it also includes access to basic Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ as well. Considering the cheapest way to get these three services is a standalone bundle priced at a minimum of $14.99 a month, that’s an additional charge homes would have to pay on top of the cost of a different live TV service.
If those additional subscriptions are not important to you, then you may find you get a better price, or a more suitable selection of channels, with a different live TV provider. The four streaming services listed below all offer live TV packages that are cheaper each month than Hulu Live TV.
| Service | Cost p/m |
|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $73 |
| Sling TV | $40 |
| Philo | $28 |
| Frndly TV | $8 |
YouTube TV is $4 cheaper than Hulu live TV
YouTube TV is one of the best live TV streaming services around, and its base subscription costs $4 less than Hulu Live TV. For $72.99 a month, base plan subscribers get access to more than 100 channels, which is also more channels than Hulu Live TV offers.
$83/mo
- 100+ channels
- 3 streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: $50/mo for first 2 months
YouTube TV also provides access to an unlimited cloud DVR. While Hulu Live TV subscribers do get an unlimited DVR, YouTube TV offers a more personalized experience, as each subaccount gets access to its own DVR. This can make YouTube TV a better option for families and homes where a single subscription is shared between multiple people.
One of the downsides with YouTube TV, and the DVR in particular, is that it is not possible to manually delete recordings from the library. How much of an issue this will be, will depend on how often you typically record and delete content.
YouTube TV Review
Sling TV is $37 cheaper than Hulu live TV
Sling TV has made its name as an affordable service, and with plans starting at just $40 per month, it is around $37 cheaper than Hulu Live TV. Sling actually offers two different live TV plans, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, and both are priced at $40 per month each. In some areas, however, Blue subscribers pay an additional $5/month for access to ABC.
$46-61/mo
- 35+ channels
- 1-3 streams
- 50-Hour DVR
Deal: First month starting at $23.
Sling also offers a combined Sling Orange & Blue plan. Priced at $55 per month, the combined plan unlocks the best of both Sling TV packages, and at $22 cheaper than Hulu Live TV.
One of the downsides with Sling TV is that the channel lineup is more limited. Even if opting for the combined Sling Orange & Blue plan, subscribers still get fewer channels than they would with Hulu Live TV. Sling does offer a number of add-ons to further improve the channel selection, but these cost extra each month, further closing any price advantage Sling has over Hulu.
Sling TV Review
Philo is $49 cheaper than Hulu live TV
Philo is currently one of the cheapest live TV services around, making it a good option for homes looking for an affordable live TV plan. Philo costs $28 a month and not only offers access to more than 70 live TV channels (including A&E, Hallmark, and Lifetime), but it also provides access to AMC+ as well. If you’re already paying for AMC+ then that’s an additional saving you’ll get with Philo.
$28/mo
- 70+ channels
- AMC+
- Unlimited DVR
In spite of the cheap price, Philo might not be the best option for all homes. For starters, Philo is missing some channels that many households may find too important to lose. For sports fans, Philo isn’t going to be an option at all, considering it doesn’t provide access to any dedicated sports channels or locals.
Philo TV Review
Frndly TV is $69 cheaper than Hulu live TV
When it comes to the price, it is hard to find a cheaper live TV service than Frndly TV. With plans starting at just $7.99 a month, Frndly TV offers incredibly good value. In total, subscribers get access to more than 50 channels (including A&E, Hallmark, and Lifetime), making it a good option for those looking for an affordable live TV streaming service.
$8-$12/mo
- 50+ channels
- 1-4 streams
- Limited DVR
Deal: Save more with an annual plan.
As to be expected, the channel lineup is one of the areas most impacted by the low price and some homes may find that the channel lineup not varied enough for their needs. The $7.99 a month plan also doesn’t include access to a DVR.
However, with Frndly TV’s Premium plan priced at $11.99 a month, and unlocking access to an unlimited DVR, upgrading to the most expensive package is still considerably cheaper than Hulu Live TV.
Frndly TV Review
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