Hulu + Live TV: The Best Live TV Streaming Service for Families in 2025
Streaming Smarter says: Hulu + Live TV might be the best bang for your buck. Not only will you get a great lineup of live TV channels, you also get 3 free on-demand streaming services. Disney+ is great for kids and teens. ESPN+ packs a serious punch for sports fans (especially hockey lovers). And Hulu on-demand has classic sitcoms, compelling originals, many current broadcast shows, and a dynamite documentary library. It’s nearly unlimited entertainment for one bill.
Value 5/5
Hulu + Live TV may cost about the same as its streaming peers, but the 3 included streamers makes it a great value.
Channels 4/5
You’ll get the majority of important news, sports, and entertainment channels. It’s a strong lineup.
Experience 4/5
Hulu users complain about how clunky the interface is, but things work smoothly on the on-demand services.
$82.99/mo.
Hulu + Live TV Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
What Does Hulu + Live TV Cost?
The Hulu pricing is very straightforward. Their base package costs $82.99. Channel add-ons are available if you’d like to upgrade.
Since Hulu + Live TV includes on-demand services, you have the option to pay more to remove ads from Hulu and Disney+. The ad-free Hulu + Live TV plan is $95.99/month. You would still see ads on live TV and ESPN+, however.
What is the difference between Hulu and Hulu + Live TV?
Most people think of Hulu as an on-demand video streaming service. That costs $9.99/month with ads or $18.99/month ad-free. The standalone Hulu offers original movies and shows, a catalog of classic Hollywood favorites, and current shows airing on cable and network TV.
But Hulu is the only on-demand service that allows you to add a live TV package. That’s where the additional price comes in. Hulu can be bundled with several different services for more savings.
If you’re thinking of using Hulu as your live TV provider, there’s no need to overthink it. Sign up and decide if it’s worth paying to avoid ads on the on-demand services.
| Service | Price | Includes | Ads? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | Live TV, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | Yes |
| Hulu + Live TV (No Ads on Disney+) | $87.99 | Live TV, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | On Hulu and ESPN+ |
| Hulu + Live TV (No Ads) | $95.99 | Live TV, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | Only on ESPN+ |
| Hulu | $9.99 | Hulu | Yes |
| Hulu (No Ads) | $18.99 | Hulu | No |
| Disney Bundle Duo Basic | $10.99 | Hulu, Disney+ | Yes |
| Disney Bundle Duo Premium | $19.99 | Hulu, Disney+ | No |
| Disney Bundle Trio Basic | $16.99 | Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | Yes |
| Disney Bundle Trio Premium | $26.99 | Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ | Only on ESPN+ |
| Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (With Ads) | $16.99 | Disney+, Hulu, Max | Yes |
| Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (No Ads) | $29.99 | Disney+, Hulu, Max | No |
Can You Get a Discount on Hulu + Live TV?
Unfortunately, Hulu + Live TV rarely offers discounts. Streaming Smarter will alert you if there’s ever a price drop.
Can You Watch Hulu + Live TV for Free?
Yes! Get started with a 3-day free trial. You’ll get to see all the Hulu channels and enjoy the Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand services at no cost. Cancel before the trial is over and you won’t be charged.
What Channels Are Available on Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV has a strong channel package. You’ll get access to cable favorites like MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, TNT, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, TBS, USA Network, History Channel, Discovery, CNBC, TLC, Food Network and much more.
What Local Channels Are on Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV includes ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and CW. It’s one of the rare services to include your local PBS station.
What Sports Channels Are on Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu subscribers get the full ESPN lineup, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 1 and 2, Golf Channel, and NFL Network.
Grab the Sports add-on ($9.99) for NFL RedZone, MLB Strike Zone, Tennis Channel, MAVTV, FanDuel Racing and more.
Because Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN+, you can use it to watch UFC PPV (additional charges apply), along with the huge library of ESPN+ exclusives. With ESPN+, you can watch 32,000+ live events every year. I love it for its unbeatable hockey package, archival boxing matches, and great college coverage.
What Events Can You Watch with ESPN+?
- 25,000+ hours of women’s sports
- UFC Fight Nights
- Exclusive UFC Pay-Per-View events
- 50+ exclusive and 1,000 out-of-market NHL Power Play games per season
- College football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, wrestling, gymnastics, and more from 20 conferences across the country
- LaLiga
- Bundesliga
- EFL Championship
- FA Cup
- Copa Del Rey
- Carabao Cup
- 4,300+ live, exclusive hours of golf coverage across 35 tournaments on PGA TOUR LIVE
- Masters and PGA Championship coverage
- Top Rank Boxing
- Grand Slam tennis
- Major League Baseball
- International cricket
Can You Watch Regional Sports Networks with Hulu + Live TV?
Yes! The base package includes access to NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, and SNY.
If you need FanDuel channels, YES, Space City Home Network, or any other RSN, DIRECTV STREAM is a better choice.
Does Hulu + Live TV offer 4K Broadcasts?
No, 4K live content is not available.
Does Hulu + Live TV Require a Contract?
You can subscribe to Hulu + Live TV one month at a time. Cancel anytime at no penalty.
Does Hulu + Live TV Have a DVR?
Yes. The included cloud DVR allows for unlimited recordings. Each recording can be saved up to 9 months.
What Streaming Devices are Compatible with Hulu + Live TV?
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5.0 and later)*
- Android phones and tablets
- Android TV devices
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- Apple TV (4th generation and later)
- Chromecast
- Contour 2 and Stream Player Boxes**
- Echo Show 15
- LG WebOS smart TVs
- Nintendo Switch (R1 and Lite)
- Playstation 4 and 5
- Roku
- Samsung smart TVs
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Web browsers
- Xbox
- Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Boxes
- Xumo TV and XiOne Box
How Many Simultaneous Devices Can Stream Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV allows two simultaneous streams.
If you pay $9.99/month, you can add the Unlimited Screens plan. The devices must be connected to your home network. This add-on allows you to stream up to 3 different mobile devices at once.
What Are All the Channels Available on Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV Add-On Packages
Hulu + Live TV Premium Channel Add-Ons
What Is the Best Hulu + Live TV Alternative?
Hulu + Live TV is such a great value, it’s hard to pass up. But if you need more regional sports channels or a lower price, you have options.
Who Should Subscribe to Hulu + Live TV?
Hulu + Live TV is a great all-around streaming package. The live TV lineup has something for every member of the family. Disney+ is a winning package for kids with Pixar, The Muppets, Star Wars, Marvel, and the Disney animated library. ESPN+ is an underrated sports streamer — the NHL package alone is worth the price. The on-demand part of Hulu includes hits like “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Kardashians,” “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and “Paradise.” You’ll see current TV favorites like “The Bachelor,” “Family Guy,” “High Potential,” “The Rookie,” and “Abbott Elementary.” Hulu also gives you great FX shows like “Shogun,” “Fargo,” and “The Bear.”
If I had to recommend just one live TV streaming provider, Hulu + Live TV is near the top of the list. Even when there’s nothing interesting on the live channels, there’s always something worth watching on the 3 included streamers, and that makes it a powerful package that no other live TV provider can touch.
If you’re a family looking for a ton of entertainment for one bill, I highly recommend Hulu + Live TV.
$82.99/mo.
