Pros
More well-liked channels than any competitor
Superb cloud DVR
Excellent on-screen interface and helpful search bar
Cons
$10 improve does not embrace a lot 4K content material
Editors’ Note: Although competitors amongst cord-free dwell TV streaming platforms has gotten stiffer through the previous yr as a result of pricing, mergers, channel lineups and carriage disputes, YouTube TV stays a front-runner as a premium service. We like its interface, reliability and its channel roster (regardless of therecent feud with Disney) in comparison with its rivals, which is why we’re giving it a CNET Editors’ Choice award in 2025. YouTube TV has solidified its status as one of many bestlive TV streaming providers accessible. The Google-owned platform options an intensive array of channels and is thought for its easy-to-navigate person expertise. These are essential particulars to focus on, contemplating the truth that the streamer has steadily elevated its value through the years. It now prices $83 a month, which is greater than twice its unique value. It might really feel like the general worth of the service is not as clear-cut because it as soon as was, however its value is decrease than its closest rival,Hulu Plus Live TV.YouTube TV’s primary power for cord-cutters is its sheer variety of channels. It now affords 78 of the highest 100 networks, probably the most of any streaming service, a depend that features quite a few cable staples plus all 4 native networks — ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC — and native PBS stations nationwide. Aaron Pruner/CNETBeyond channels, YouTube TV is simple to make use of: It’s slick and speedy on a wide range of TVs and cellular gadgets. Its cloud DVR can also be top-of-the-line, with limitless storage and just about all of the capabilities of a {hardware} DVR. The service additionally affords a 4K streaming improve — for a further $10 month-to-month — which, importantly, contains limitless simultaneous streams and downloadable DVR recordings.The massive snag is the value, and if you happen to’re a cord-cutter, the trimmed-downSling TV Blue at $46 a month is one of the simplest ways to save cash. At the opposite finish of the spectrum, the $90 Hulu Plus Live TV base plan affords an identical mixture of channels, however the addition of the modified Disney Bundle that offers you entry to on-demand Hulu, ESPN Plus and Disney Plus, brings some further worth. If you are wanting to stay with a well-recognized cable TV expertise, the myriad channels and limitless DVR characteristic provided by YouTube TV makes the $83 price ticket properly definitely worth the cash. It’s nonetheless a great deal for what you are getting.Read extra: Best Streaming DevicesWhat do you get? YouTube TV is completely different from YouTube, the free video service with greater than 2.5 billion customers a month. YouTube TV affords an expertise much like cable TV, with dwell channels and on-demand content material accessible on a wide range of gadgets. It works with Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV, together with quite a few sensible TVs, telephones, tablets, sport consoles and internet browsers. Premium providers in contrast YouTube TVHulu with Live TVFuboSling Sling Orange & BlueDirecTV Monthly Price $83$90$85$46$61$90Total Channels 100+95+150+34+46+90+RSNs? LimitedLimitedYesNoNoYesVariety of simultaneous streams 32 (Pay an additional $10/month limitless)10 at house (3 outdoors house)1 for Sling Orange, 3 for Sling Blue4Unlimited at house (3 outdoors house)Cloud DVR UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited50 hours (pay $5/month for limitless)50 hours (pay $5/month for limitless)Unlimited YouTube TV’s channel choice is great, with extra from CNET’slist of 100 prime channels than some other competitor (though Hulu is not too far behind). More channels do not essentially imply extra of what you need. Some providers, corresponding to Fubo, lean closely on sports activities, whereas others are more and more expansive. It’s greatest to test the checklist on the finish of this text, which compares particular person channels throughout providers, to make sure you’re getting the channels you need. While rivals embrace a number of channel improve packages, YouTube TV contains every part for one value, with one exception defined beneath.The service additionally contains 5.1 encompass sound, the place accessible, for all subscribers (most rivals are solely in stereo) and an growth of the DVR search, which might now select particular sports activities, which is most helpful for occasions such because the Olympics. What’s it like to make use of?Compared to some providers with multilevel interfaces, YouTube TV is pretty easy. There are three primary tabs on the prime of the interface: Library, Home and Live (on cellular, these tabs are situated on the backside). Library is the place your DVR content material lives, and Home is the place featured and dwell thumbnails seem. The Live tab is a familiar-looking program grid that shows each at the moment enjoying and upcoming exhibits. You can seek for content material from the highest of any web page, making it comparatively simple to leap straight to the programming you need. Additionally, viewers can customise the dwell information with their favourite channels, or set it to be sorted alphabetically or by the most-watched channels.There’s additionally a button on the prime that provides the flexibility to purchase add-on packages and hire or purchase films throughout the app. A search icon lets you sort in networks or what you wish to watch, and we should always be aware that YouTube TV makes use of your search historical past for its suggestion engine. If you need, you may delete your searches.You may carry out searches with a appropriate voice distant or Google Assistant. This is simpler when you have an Android TV streamer, you would additionally carry out searches in your Google Nest Mini and play it on a Roku, for instance. The DVR works as you’d anticipate — each time-shifting dwell content material and enjoying again recorded exhibits — and the system assigns your recorded content material to manageable classes, corresponding to just lately recorded and most considered. The DVR additionally contains the flexibility to rewind and fast-forward freely via recordings, even ones that are not but accomplished. The Roku interface affords a 15-second skip by default, whereas the Apple TV’s management system by way of the Siri distant is even higher. You can use the touchpad to scroll via movies and it is superb. It’s a lot enjoyable, and auto-generated thumbnails make it comparatively simple to get to the half you need.In the previous, when a present appeared in a community’s on-demand library, it will robotically change the model in your cloud DVR, that means you’d lose the flexibility to fast-forward via commercials although Google says this could not happen. Additionally, YouTube TV’s DVR is not really limitless; the exhibits will expire after 9 months (similar to Hulu), however that is nonetheless for much longer than the 30 days you get with most rivals. Aaron Pruner/CNETYouTube TV rolled out amultiview characteristic in 2023, enabling subscribers to look at as much as 4 separate sports activities streams on one display. The performance has since been expanded to incorporate information and climate channels with the choice to look at both two or 4 streams at a time. It works on sensible TVs in addition to telephones, and all you need to do is scroll to the “Watch in Multiview” part on the house display.On a cell phone, the YouTube TV app operates as easily because the TV model. I used to be capable of filter by channel and style to comb via content material, and the multiview characteristic is obtainable on my telephone as properly. If your telephone is linked to a sensible TV or media participant, you may forged YouTube TV to these gadgets, which might turn out to be useful if you happen to’re watching whereas away from house. It’s additionally simple to obtain TV present episodes and flicks on the cellular app and stream them proper in your telephone. Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETAlthough Google used to combine YouTube into YouTube TV — with trailers and associated content material on a present’s About web page — this seems to not be the case. The firm is regularly tweaking the interface, and we may even see YouTube content material seem once more in some unspecified time in the future. Is it definitely worth the $10 for 4K? Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETIt relies upon. The $10 4K Plus improve might be helpful if you happen to’re trying to stream 4K sporting occasions and on-demand programming, however the quantity of content material accessible in 4K continues to be restricted. There is one new characteristic which will show probably the most helpful, particularly for vacationers, and that is the flexibility to view a limiteless variety of simultaneous streams, and the choice to avoid wasting DVR recordings for offline cellular viewing. If you are a frequent flyer or subway rider, the flexibility to look at prerecorded exhibits with out an energetic connection is a sexy characteristic.As per YouTube TV’s 4K web page, the extra content material contains exhibits from Discovery, ESPN, Fox Sports, FX, NBA TV, Nat Geo, NBC Sports and Tastemade. If you wish to watch sure premium content material (e.g. South Park), you could have to subscribe individually to premium add-ons for Max, Peacock and different providers.The interface features a 4K button to assist discover content material, however at current, this does not represent sufficient to stay round for. In addition to a handful of exhibits, there’s Thursday Night Football, “live” Premier League soccer and faculty soccer on ESPN. The NCAA provides a bunch of 4K content material, however if you’d like soccer, 4K or a mix of the 2, Fubo affords much more sports activities for a $90 price ticket.The 4K content material that’s accessible with the fundamental subscription, such because the cooking present Make This Tonight or the journey competitors present Basic Versus Baller, does look good, with higher distinction and colour than common broadcast TV. In context, the highest tier of Netflix prices considerably extra at $25 per 30 days, nevertheless it affords 1000’s of hours of 4K content material alone, plus offline viewing. Think of YouTube TV as a cable substitute When it initially appeared for $35, YouTube TV was an exceedingly engaging manner to save cash over cable. But because the service has piled on extra channels, it is added additional prices. When you are taking that $83 month-to-month payment and apply it to the $55 you are in all probability already paying forinternet service, it means you are paying over $130 a month. Many cable TV suppliers gives you a TV and web bundle for across the identical cash.Prices differ rather a lot, after all, and with cable, you in all probability need to pay rental gear charges, taxes and different extras. Cable suppliers often reserve the most effective bundle pricing for individuals who signal a contract. The identical goes for “streaming” choices, such asComcast’s StreamSaver, which may be paired with its NOW TV providing. The motive you wish to reduce cable within the first place stays.Read extra right here: Streaming vs. Cable: Which One Saves You More Money?Like Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and others, YouTube TV is contract-free, so you may cancel anytime. Streaming providers additionally produce other benefits over cable. They’re simpler to look at on telephones and tablets, for instance. At $83 per 30 days, you may need to be coming from a comparatively costly cable invoice to comprehend substantial financial savings with YouTube TV. Screenshot by Aaron Pruner/CNETShould you get YouTube TV? If value isn’t any object, YouTube TV goes neck and neck with Hulu Plus Live TV because the premier dwell TV streaming service, with an enormous array of leisure choices and top-of-the-line DVR/search combos in the marketplace. It affords extra channels than anybody else and its 5.1 encompass is nice for sports activities and film followers. If you do not wish to be beholden to a conventional cable firm, it is a terrific different. Though $83 a month is a tricky expenditure for some individuals, and not using a contract to fret about, you are free to leap ship to a greater deal at any time. The further $10 continues to be an excessive amount of for therefore little 4K content material, even when limitless streams and DVR downloads are helpful for prolonged households or vacationers. If you need extra on-demand content material in your buck, then Hulu Plus Live TV’s Disney bundle is pretty unbeatable.Lastly, if you happen to’re a hard-core cord-cutter and decided to save cash, Sling TV Blue affords a compelling different, particularly whenpaired with an antenna or an AirTV 2. Below, you may discover a comparability of the highest 100 channels provided by a number of of YouTube TV’s rivals. For extra data and comparisons with further providers, take a look at thefull article.Live TV channel comparability ChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90) Total channels: 42243478465575ABC NoNoNoYesYesYesYesCBS NoNoNoYesYesYesYesFox NoNoYesYesYesYesYesNBC NoNoYes (some markets)YesYesYesYesPBS NoNoNoYesNoYesYesCW NoNoNoYesYesYes (restricted)YesMyNetworkTV NoNoNoYesNoYesYesChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90)A&E YesYesYesNoNo$YesACC Network No$NoYesYes$YesAccuweather YesNoNoNoYesYesNoAMC YesYesYesYesNoYesNoAnimal Planet YesNoNoYesNoYesYesBBC America YesYesYesYesNoYesNoBBC World News Yes$$YesNo$NoBET YesYesYesYesYesYesYesMassive Ten Network NoNo$YesYes$YesBloomberg TV NoYesYesNoYesYesYesBoomerang No$$NoNoYes$Bravo NoNoYesYesYesYesYesChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90)Cartoon Network NoYesYesYesNoYesYesCBS Sports Network NoNoNoYesYes$YesCheddar YesNoNoYesYesYesYesCinemax NoNoNo$No$$CMT Yes$$YesYesYesYesCNBC NoNo$YesYesYesYesCNN NoYesYesYesNoYesYesComedy Central YesYesYesYesYesYesYesCooking Channel Yes$$No$$$Destination America Yes$$No$$$Discovery Channel YesNoYesYesNoYesYesDisney Channel NoYesNoYesYesYesYesDisney Junior No$NoYesYesYesYesDisney XD No$NoYesYesYesYesE! NoNoYesYesYesYesYesESPN NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPN 2 NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPNEWS No$NoYes$$YesESPNU No$NoYes$$YesChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90)Food Network YesYesYesYesNoYesYesFox Business NoNo$YesYesYesYesFox News NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS1 NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS2 NoNo$YesYes$YesFreeform NoYesNoYesYesYesYesFX NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFX Movies NoNo$Yes$$YesFXX NoNo$YesYesYesYesFYI Yes$$NoNo$YesGolf Channel NoNo$YesYes$YesHallmark Yes$$YesYesYesYesHBO/Max NoNoNo$No$$HGTV YesYesYesYesNoYesYesHistorical past YesYesYesNoNo$YesHLN No$YesYesNoYesYesIFC YesYesYesYesNoYesNoInvestigation Discovery YesYesYesYesNoYesYesLifetime YesYesYesNoNo$YesLifetime Movie Network Yes$$NoNo$YesChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90)Magnolia Network Yes$$YesNo$YesMGM+ $$$$No$NoMLB Network No$$No$$YesMotor Trend YesYesNoYesNoYesYesMSNBC NoNoYesYesYesYesYesMTV Yes$$YesYesYesYesMTV2 Yes$$Yes$Yes$National Geographic NoNoYesYesYesNoYesNat Geo Wild NoNo$Yes$$YesNBA TV No$$Yes$$NoNFL Network NoNoYesYesYes$YesNFL Red Zone NoNo$$$No$NHL Network No$$No$$NoNickelodeon YesNoNoYesYesYesYesNick Jr. YesYesYesYesYes$YesNicktoons Yes$$Yes$$$OWN YesNoNoYesNo$YesOxygen NoNo$YesYes$YesParamount Network Yes$$YesYesYesYesScience Yes$$No$$$ChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90)SEC Network No$NoYes$$YesShowtime No$$$$$$Smithsonian YesNoNoYesYes$YesStarz $$$$$$$Sundance TV Yes$$YesNoYesNoSyfy NoNoYesYesYesYesYesTastemade Yes$$YesYes$NoTBS NoYesYesYesNoYesYesTCM No$$YesNo$YesTeenNick Yes$$Yes$Yes$Telemundo NoNoNoYesYes$YesTennis Channel No$$No$$NoTLC YesNoYesYesNoYesYesTNT NoYesYesYesNoYesYesJourney Channel YesYesYesYesNo$YesTruTV No$YesYesNo$YesTV Land Yes$$YesYesYesYesUSA Network NoNoYesYesYesYesYesVH1 Yes$$YesYesYesYesVice YesYesYesNoNo$YesWE television Yes$$YesNoYesNo ChannelPhilo ($33)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($90)Hulu with Live TV ($90) Yes = The channel is obtainable on the most affordable pricing tier.No = The channel is not accessible in any respect on that service. $ = The channel is obtainable for an additional payment, both a la carte or as a part of a dearer bundle or add-on. Not each channel a service carries is listed, simply the “top 100” as decided by CNET’s editors. Minor channels corresponding to AXS TV, CNBC World, Discovery Life, GSN, POP and Universal Kids did not make the reduce.Regional sports activities networks — channels dedicated to displaying regular-season video games of explicit professional baseball, basketball and hockey groups — aren’t listed.