Choosing the right live TV streaming platform to replace your cable subscription can be tricky nowadays given the many options available with slight variations in channels, pricing, features and more. In this comprehensive guide, we compare two leading services – FuboTV and YouTube TV – to help clarify the best choice for you based on your needs and preferences.
Why Compare FuboTV and YouTube TV?
As part of the ongoing "cord-cutting" revolution, live TV streaming services aim to replicate the cable TV experience via the internet rather than satellite or cable companies. FuboTV and YouTube TV have both rapidly grown into popular options but the question is – which is better suited for your needs?
While the fundamental purpose is the same, there are some distinct differences when you analyze them closely across factors that impact day-to-day viewing – available channels, content libraries beyond live TV, features, video quality, pricing and more. Let‘s dive deeper across all dimensions to understand where each excels or falls short.
A Quick History Lesson
Before evaluating the current FuboTV and YouTube TV offerings, it helps set context to understand where they started from and how they have evolved in subscribers, content and features over the years.
The Road to 1 Million Subscribers for FuboTV
FuboTV commenced operations in January 2015 as a live streaming service for soccer fans to access international soccer matches typically hard to find on cable TV.
By 2017, FuboTV expanded its content portfolio to become more of a cable TV replacement rather than just focused on soccer. It added mainstream entertainment and news channels from partners like AMC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Scripps and more.
Within the next year itself, FuboTV subscriber numbers tripled indicating strong demand for the cable TV reboot.
Flash forward to 2022 – FuboTV ended their fiscal year with over 1.1 million paying subscribers by leveraging competitive pricing, special features like 4K streaming and continuing to enhance sports coverage.
While no longer just catering to soccer loyalists, sports content is still a key draw of FuboTV. Today, it aggregates over 1000 live sporting events each month spanning national and regional coverage of NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Soccer, NASCAR and more. This depth makes FuboTV a leading choice for diehard sports fans planning to cut cable TV spend.
The YouTube Juggernaut Adds Live TV
YouTube TV entered the market in 2017 to tap into YouTube‘s vast user base that already came to the site regularly for accessing free videos and creators. Offering a live TV package felt like a natural extension allowing YouTube to compete directly with paid alternatives.
Since launch, YouTube TV has seen steady expansion reaching over 5 million subscribers at last count putting it well ahead of nearest competitors Hulu Live TV and FuboTV. Driving this growth is competitive pricing, Google‘s brand reputation for quality plus leveraging YouTube TV access as a perk with other Google services.
Initially with limited channel offerings and availability, YouTube TV has inked carriage deals with all major media corporations – NBCUniversal, Viacom, AMC and more to improve content depth beyond just live TV streaming. Add to this, signature features like unlimited DVR storage and viewing flexibility across devices, it is easy to see why YouTube TV has quickly emerged as a frontrunner.
With context setting done, let‘s start comparing FuboTV vs YouTube TV across vital elements guiding a subscription choice.
Channel Lineups & Content Depth
The actual TV channels and content inventory available dictate day-to-day TV viewing enjoyment more than anything else. Before subscribing, you need to review channel availability across:
- Sports networks – niche sports or mainstream ESPN/Fox Sports
- Entertainment networks – news, movies, comedy, lifestyle programming
- Locals – ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox live feeds by region
- Add-ons – build your own premium bundles like HBO Max or Showtime
Let‘s see how FuboTV and YouTube TV compare on the channel plus content depth parameter:
| FuboTV | YouTube TV | |
| Total channels | 230+ across plans | 120+ in base plan |
| Top networks missing | AMC, HGTV, TBS, TNT | History Channel, A&E, NFL Network |
| Regional sports coverage | 26 RSNs – NBCS, NESN, AT&T Sportsnet + niche sports | NBC, Fox RSNs only |
| Premium add-ons | HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, NBA League Pass | HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, MLB.TV |
My Take: FuboTV has significantly higher total channels but a few surprising omissions of top entertainment brands. Sports coverage depth with regional networks and niche sporting content is unmatched. For well rounded access, YouTube TV delivers better here despite fewer channels.
Breadth of content is incomplete without considering on-demand libraries allowing you to watch previously aired programs. For alternatives to live TV viewing:
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FuboTV provides "Lookback" and "Startover" features respectively allowing you rewind live content or restart shows in progress from the beginning. This sets them apart from the competition.
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YouTube TV shines with the entire YouTube video library at your fingertips. While not all ad-free, it tremendously boosts entertainment options.
My Take: The unlimited DVR storage on YouTube TV allows you build up recordings more freely compared to capped storage on FuboTV. But FuboTV‘s Lookback and Startover permks help offset this advantage.
Feature Set Comparison
Beyond just the content libraries available, examining the special features each platform offers can further differentiate the services.
| FuboTV | YouTube TV | |
| DVR Storage | 250 hours | Unlimited |
| Simultaneous Streams | 2 | 3 |
| Offline viewing | No | Yes |
| Video Quality | 4K | 1080p |
| Split screen | 4 multi-view | No |
| Family Sharing | Yes | Yes |
Reviewing their capabilities above, YouTube TV matches or outperforms FuboTV across most categories like simultaneous streams allowed, ad-skipping functionality and offline downloads.
But FuboTV‘s ability to show 4 live channels on one screen plus deliver select sports and entertainment content in glorious 4K quality tips the scale towards a more premium, customizable experience.
My Take: The extra streams and offline viewing on YouTube TV make it more flexible. But FuboTV‘s multi-view and support for 4K quality nudges them ahead for sports enthusiasts and tech savvy users.
Monthly Pricing and Contract Commitment
For any entertainment subscription, the financials play a major role in the "should I subscribe" evaluation. Comparing FuboTV vs YouTube TV pricing and contracts:
| FuboTV | YouTube TV | |
| Entry level price | $69.99 | $64.99 |
| Highest tier price | $99.99 | $84.99 |
| Add-ons | Start from $7 | Start from $20 |
| Contract required? | No | No |
FuboTV pricing starts higher but reaches steeper highs above the $100 mark with certain packages and add-ons. By comparison, YouTube TV pricing is simpler without the need for add-ons to get missing channels or content.
Both platforms offer flexible month-to-month contracts allowing you to cancel anytime. But YouTube TV maintains pricing integrity by restricting simultaneous streams while FuboTV grants add-on purchases.
My Take: YouTube TV has cost advantage but advanced sports fans find better value in top FuboTV plans despite higher absolute payment.
User Experience Design, Interface and Platform Support
Ease of navigating the platforms and accessing content across preferred devices also weighs on subscription satisfaction:
Image: FuboTV interface showing sports match lineup
Image: YouTube TV interface showing DVR recordings, Recommendations and Watchlist
Checking off crucial elements:
✅ FuboTV interface highlights upcoming sports events while integrating listings of shows airing soon. Navigation is intuitive but some first-time cord cutters take time adjusting.
✅ YouTube TV user experience is simpler leveraging YouTube‘s video-first design. Viewing recommendations, searching content and accessing DVR recordings is straightforward.
✅ Platform support is extensive on both including iOS, Android mobiles, web, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and popular gaming consoles.
My Take: User experience and interface design is cleaner on YouTube TV by mirroring YouTube‘s video platform strengths. But FuboTV packs in more tools tailored to sports fans at the cost of minor UX complexity.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
FuboTV
Pros
✅ Extensive and often exclusive live sports coverage spanning NFL, NBA, MLB, Soccer and more
✅ Special sports features like Lookback, Startover and Multi-view
✅ Stream select content in 4K resolution
Cons
❌ Missing some big entertainment networks
❌ Initial interface complexity for first-time cord cutters
❌ Can get pricey with add-ons
YouTube TV
Pros
✅ Wider entertainment content catalog beyond just live TV
✅ Unlimited cloud DVR and generous number of simultaneous streams
✅ Brand familiarity translating to easier onboarding
Cons
❌ Lacks more niche sports networks carried by FuboTV
❌ Video output maxes out at 1080p resolution
❌ Light on forward-looking new features
Bottomline – if your TV watching skews heavily towards live sports across leagues like NFL, NBA, MLB or Soccer, FuboTV is the better fit to replicate cable TV. The mix of mainstream national sports networks + localized regional sports networks + niche sporting content gives sports enthusiasts seeking to cut the cord the best experience.
Supplemented with streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ for on-demand entertainment, FuboTV plus add-ons can hit the sweet spot at reasonable yet premium pricing.
On the flip side, if sports is not make-or-break for you and you primarily seek a cost effective live streaming TV service focused on entertainment, news and locals akin to cable, YouTube TV emerges as the winner.
The simpler pricing, frictionless interface, unlimited DVR and focus on securing the most popular cable TV channels underpins YouTube TV‘s advantage for more casual viewers over a sports heavy platform like Fubo TV. Extras like 24/7 original programming on YouTube further boosts overall value.
So there you have it! Evaluating across factors of channel availability & depth, features, streaming quality, pricing and ease of use – for avid sports viewers who seek niche sporting events, Fubo TV brings more tailored live streaming while YouTube TV lends itself better to general entertainment and mass cable TV programming. Choose what aligns closer to your needs.
