Hulu Live Review (2022): Is It the Best Live Streaming Service?
Let me guess. You’re here because you’re thinking of finally cutting the cord. You need a decent streaming service to make the switch and you’re considering Hulu Live. Maybe you’re here because you want to see how the service compares to other streaming services before you make the switch. If any (or all) of those things are true, this Hulu Live review is for you.
I have been using Hulu since even before they added the Live TV component, and I’ve been using Hulu Live for quite a while now. After years of use, I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about Hulu Live so you can determine if it’s the right service for you!
As a longtime Hulu Live user, I can offer you all the pros and cons of signing up for this service.
Because this is a sports-themed site, I will try to gear the conversation to how Hulu with Live TV works for sports fans. However, if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll still find all the details you need concerning channel availability, added features, and other perks that Hulu Live offers its users.
Here’s what you can expect to find in this Hulu Live review:
- What is Hulu with Live TV?
- What Channels are Available on Hulu Live?
- What Can Hulu Live Offer Sports Fans?
- What Devices are Compatible with Hulu Live?
- What Other Features Does Hulu with Live TV Offer?
- How Does Hulu Live Really Work?
- How Much are the Hulu with Live TV Plans?
- How Does Hulu Live Compare in Cost to Other Streaming Services?
- Hulu with Live TV Pros & Cons
- FAQ
- Is Hulu with Live TV Worth It?
Keep reading for my full Hulu Live review…
What is Hulu with Live TV?
Hulu with Live TV is a streaming service that offers a selection of live channels from hundreds of potential networks. You also get on-demand service like you would if you had cable.
You can watch Hulu Live content on most streaming devices, some smart TVs, or you can use an app on your phone or tablet. Hulu Live is also compatible with Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. Basically, as long as you have access to a device and the Internet, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a way to stay up to date with your favorite sports or shows using Hulu Live.
Hulu Live has a reputation for offering the most bang for your buck.
One thing that sets Hulu Live apart is that before they offered Live TV, they offered on-demand only content, like Netflix. That’s where the name comes from.
With Hulu with Live TV, you also get all the Hulu Originals and on-demand content that you’ll want to binge-watch, and you also get all the benefits of live TV. For this reason, Hulu Live is one of the best choices for sports fans and binge-watchers alike.
Plus, your subscription comes with ESPN+ and Disney+.
Hulu Live offers access to local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. You’ll also have an impressive lineup of major nationwide networks like ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, USA, Disney Channel, Discovery, FX, and many other channels. In fact, Hulu Live offers over 75+ channels of live TV with most plans. You can even add premium programming like HBO and Starz, for an additional fee.
Hulu Live offers a wide variety of live sports channels, which makes it a great option if you have a sports fan in your home!
Beyond sports, Hulu Live offers on-demand content that you missed live, along with Hulu Originals and other on-demand shows. You’ll also have unlimited cloud-DVR storage with your package, so there’s never a shortage of anything to watch.
Whether your interest is solely in sports or you’re looking for something that the whole family can enjoy, Hulu with Live TV is an excellent service that is worth the consideration.
What Channels are Available on Hulu Live?
Hulu Live offers a wide range of popular TV channels in their Live package. This package includes more than 75 channels. You’ll be able to watch live sports, daytime and primetime popular shows, news, movies, and more!
Hulu Live offers one main plan with two options that will determine your ultimate price. You can choose from the main Hulu Live TV plan, which gives you 75+ channels and Hulu on-demand (with ads) for $70 per month or you can have the same plan without ads for your Hulu on-demand content for $76/month.
Another HUGE PLUS for Hulu Live subscribers is that no matter which plan you choose you now also receive Disney+ and ESPN+ included in your Hulu Live plan. That’s THREE streaming services for one price!
See a breakdown of the Hulu Live channels list below.
Hulu Live Base Plan w/Disney+ & ESPN+ ($69.99/month)
Here’s a glimpse at the channels available in the Hulu Live Plan:
- A&E
- ABC
- ABC News Live
- ACC Network
- Adult Swim
- Animal Planet
- BET
- Big Ten Network
- Bloomberg TV
- Boomerang
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- CBS
- CBS News
- CBS Sports Network
- Cheddar News
- CMT
- CNBC
- CNN & CNN International
- Comedy Central
- Cozi TV
- Crime + Investigation
- CW
- Dabl
- Discovery
- Disney Channel, Disney Jr, & Disney XD
- E!
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, & ESPN College Extra
- Food Network
- FOX
- Fox Business
- Fox News
- FS1 & FS2
- Freeform
- FX, FXM, & FXX
- FYI
- Golf
- HGTV
- History
- HLN
- ID
- Lifetime & Lifetime Movies
- Localish
- MSNBC
- Motor Trend
- MTV
- NASA
- National Geographic & Nat Geo Wild
- NBC
- NBCLX
- NBC News Now
- NBC Regional Sports Networks
- News Nation
- NFL Network
- Nickelodeon & Nick Jr
- Olympic Channel
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Paramount Network
- Pop
- QVC
- SEC Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- Syfy
- TBS
- TCM
- Telemundo
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel
- truTV
- TVLand
- Universal Kids
- USA
- VH1
- Vice
That’s everything included in Hulu with Live TV!
Premium Channel Add-Ons
If you want premium movie channels, they are available at an additional cost. Those options include:
- HBO Max ($15/mo.)
- Cinemax ($10/mo.)
- Showtime ($11/mo.)
- Starz ($9/mo.)
Three additional channel-based add-ons are also available. These options add a small selection of additional channels into your Hulu Live plan for an added fee.
The Entertainment Add-on ($8/mo.)
- American Heroes Channel
- BET Her
- CNBC World
- Cooking Channel
- Destination America
- Discovery Life
- Magnolia Network
- Military History Channel
- MTV2 & MTV Classic
- Nick Toons
- Science
- Teen Nick
The Español Add-on ($5/mo.)
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- ESPN Deportes
- History Channel en Español
- Universo
The Sports Add-on ($10/mo.)
- NFL RedZone
- MAVTV
- TVG & TVG2
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
What Channels are Missing from Hulu with Live TV?
Hulu Live might have a great selection of shows, but there are a few key channels missing. Some of the most popular channels include AMC, MLB Network, and the Hallmark family of channels.
What Does Hulu Live Offer for Sports Fans?
Hulu with Live TV is an excellent choice for sports fans. Not only does Hulu Live include access to local sports through local channels like ABC and CBS, but you’ll also have access to BTN, Fox Sports, ESPN, and more. You even have access to everything that ESPN+ has to offer at no additional cost. The only real downside to Hulu Live as a sports streaming service would be if you’re into baseball. While many channels are available, MLB Network is one of the few that are missing.
NFL and NCAA fans will be able to watch their favorite sport on CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network, BTN, ACCN, and SECN. It’s a great option to watch NFL games without cable.
If you’re interested in baseball, you can watch many national games on ESPN and several regional sports networks. The one main channel you’re missing when it comes to baseball is MLB Network, but most other channels airing baseball games are included with Hulu Live.
If basketball is your sport, you can watch national (and local) games on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Some regional sports channels will include basketball games, as well. Some popular options like NBA TV and Bally Sports network are not included.
Hockey fans will be able to enjoy national games on ESPN, ABC, and TNT. If you’re in a market where your local team airs on Bally Sports Network though, you won’t have access to Hulu Live. Unfortunately, NHL Network is not included, either.
Hulu Live also includes other popular networks that offer sports like golf, soccer, tennis, and even Olympic sports.
When it comes to sports, Hulu Live is missing a few key channels, but the channels they do offer allow sports fans a wide array of options. Add in ESPN+ and you shouldn’t have a problem watching most of your favorite major live sporting events with Hulu Live.
What Devices is Hulu Live Available On?
Hulu with Live TV works on most devices, which means that no matter where you are, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to enjoy this service.
Here are the different ways that you can watch Hulu with Live TV:
- TVs – AndroidTV, Amazon Fire TV, and select LG, Samsung, and Vizio TVs
- Streaming Devices – Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast
- PC and Mac Computers via Hulu.com
- Gaming Consoles – Nintendo Switch, PS4 & PS5, Xbox 360, One, & Series X
- Mobile Phones & Tablets – iPhone, iPad, and Android phones/tablets
What Other Features Does Hulu with Live TV Offer?
Hulu Live is a great choice just based on the channel library and the on-demand offerings that include Hulu Originals, but you get plenty of additional features that come with your membership. Let’s look at some of the features you’ll get with a Hulu Live membership:
Unlimited Cloud DVR
Most streaming services offer Cloud DVR access, but Hulu Live goes a step further by allowing unlimited space. You can save and record as much as you want and watch things on your schedule. Hulu Live does include on-demand access to many shows already, but if you’re worried that something isn’t available, you’ll be able to save it to your account to watch it when it’s convenient for you.
The Live Guide
The cool thing about the Live Guide is that it allows you to check programming for the next two weeks! You can filter your results by channels you watch or by genre to make it easier. This is a great way to set your DVR recordings early, so you don’t have to worry about it later!
Watch 2 Screens at a Time
With Hulu Live, you can watch on two devices concurrently. This is fine for a single person or a small family. However, if you need more screens available, Hulu does offer an unlimited screen option so that each household gets what they need. The unlimited screens option is available for an additional $10/mo.
TV Everywhere App Usage
You will be able to watch Hulu Live on many devices, but if you’d prefer the network app for your favorite channel, Hulu Live gives you access to those, too! As a Hulu Live subscriber, you can use your credentials to sign into a wide variety of network apps including:
- ACCN
- Adult Swim
- A&E
- ABC
- Animal Planet
- BET
- BTN
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- CBS
- CBS Sports
- Cheddar
- CMT
- CNBC
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- Discovery
- Disney
- E!
- ESPN
- Freeform
- Food Network
- FOX
- FOX News
- Fox Sports
- FX
- Golf Channel
- HGTV
- History
- Investigation Discovery
- Lifetime
- MotorTrend
- MSNBC
- MTV
- National Geographic
- NBC
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr
- NFL Network
- Olympic Channel
- Oxygen
- Paramount Network
- Pop TV
- Smithsonian Channel
- Syfy
- TBS
- TCM
- Telemundo
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- truTV
- TV Land
- Universal Kids
- USA
- VH1
- Viceland
Additional premium channels like HBO and Showtime can also be accessed through their respective apps if you’ve added to them to your Hulu Live subscription.
How Does Hulu Live Actually Work?
Hulu Live works like most other streaming services. If you’re not too familiar with the process, this section will give you an overview of how Hulu with Live TV works.
Streaming services are easier than ever to use. You don’t need any technical knowledge. As long as you can follow a few simple steps you’ll be ready to watch live TV in no time! It’s as simple as connecting to the app or visiting Hulu.com, browsing content, and finding what you want to watch!
Signing Up for Hulu with Live TV
Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be all set to watch live TV:
- Visit the Hulu with Live TV website
- Choose the plan you want (in this case the Hulu + Live TV for $70/mo.)
- Follow the prompts by registering your email and creating a password
- Finish the sign-up process
- Start watching TV!
That’s all there is to it. You can go from sign-up to watching live TV in just minutes! Your membership will start with a free 7-day trial. If you’re not happy with the service, you can cancel during this period, and you won’t be charged for the service.
Using Hulu with Live TV
Hulu Live is a lot like using cable. There is a live guide that tells you what’s airing now (and in advance, up to 2 weeks) and the setup is like cable, to make users feel more at home. As long as you have a stable Internet connection and a device, you should be able to use Hulu Live without any problems.
You can even set your favorite channels so that when you’re browsing, you’ll see those channels first. Add that to all the on-demand content available, and you’ll find plenty of things to binge-watch on this easy-to-use service.
How Much Does Hulu Live Cost?
Hulu with Live TV offers two pricing plans for the Hulu service that includes live television. Plans start at $70/mo. This gives you access to 75+ live TV channels, Hulu on-demand (including Hulu Originals), Disney+, and ESPN+. This is a phenomenal deal. If you want your on-demand programming free of ads, you can upgrade this plan to the Hulu with Live TV (no ads) plan, which is $76 per month.
Hulu Live does not force you into any contracts. If you want to cancel, you can do so at any time. Your subscription even starts with a free 7-day trial, so if you’re not happy with Hulu Live, you can cancel before the end of your trial, and you won’t be charged a dime!
How Does Hulu Live Pricing Compare to Other Streaming Services?
Hulu with Live TV starts at $70 per month. This makes Hulu Live one of the more expensive starting plans in streaming. However, you get much more with Hulu Live than other plans offer. Hulu Live also comes with both Disney+ and ESPN+. That gives you three streaming services for the price of one! It also means that you have live TV to go with Hulu and Disney+ original and on-demand programming. You’ll also have the live sporting events and on-demand options from ESPN+. It ends up being a hard deal to beat!
In comparison, here are some other popular live streaming services with pricing:
- fuboTV pricing–Plans start at $69.99/month. See our fuboTV review.
- Sling TV pricing–Plans start at $35/mo. You can check out our Sling TV review to learn more.
- YouTube TV pricing–Plans start at $65/month. See our YouTube TV review to learn more.
- DIRECTV STREAM pricing–Plans start at $69.99/month. See our DIRECTV STREAM review to learn more.
- Vidgo pricing—Plans start at $59.99/month. See our Vidgo review to learn more.
Hulu with Live TV Pros & Cons
All streaming services come with positive and negative aspects. Here are the pros and cons of Hulu with Live TV.
Pro: Hulu Live offers a wide variety of channels
Sports fans will have access to many local, regional, and nationwide sports channels. Beyond sports, you’ll have access to something for everyone including movies, music, entertainment, news, kids programming, and more!
Pro: Hulu Live does local programming right
As long as you’re not living in the woods, chances are you’ll have access to all of the major local channels with your Hulu Live account. Hulu Live offers access to ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC in most areas. Many areas will have access to The CW, as well.
Pro: You get 3 services for the price of One!
Hulu with Live TV gives you access to everything that Hulu Live has to offer, plus all the on-demand and original content from the Hulu on-demand service. Going a step further, you’ll also receive everything on Disney+ and ESPN+. That’s three services for one price.
Pro: Unlimited Cloud-DVR
Most of the programming on Hulu Live is available on-demand to watch later. Add in the unlimited cloud-DVR and you’ll never have to worry about missing a thing! Despite the plan you choose, you can fast-forward through any ads you encounter in your cloud-DVR programming.
Con: Some key channels are missing
Hulu Live has so much to offer, but there are a few key channels missing. Channels like AMC and Hallmark are not available. On the sports end, channels like MLB Network and NBA TV are also missing.
Con: You have to pay extra for unlimited screens
If you have a big family and you all want to watch TV at the same time, Hulu Live might present a problem for you. Only two people can watch at a time with the standard package. However, for an additional $10 per month, you can add unlimited screens to your package.
FAQ
What is Hulu with Live TV?
Hulu Live is a streaming service that offers live and on-demand TV programming from both broadcast and cable networks. There are no contracts to sign. You can cancel the service any time! Along with live and on-demand TV, Hulu Live includes unlimited cloud-DVR space, the ability to watch on a variety of devices, and more!
What channels can you watch with Hulu Live?
Hulu Live offers over 70 channels of both local and nationwide content. You’ll be able to watch ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, Fox Sports, BTN, FS1, SECN, Discovery, Disney, TNT, USA, and much more! You also can add on movie channels or packages that focus on sports, Spanish-speaking, or entertainment programming.
How much is Hulu Live each month?
Hulu Live offers two packages that include live TV. The initial package is available for $70 per month. If you want your on-demand content to come without ads, you can choose the upgraded plan for $76/month.
Does Hulu Live come with a free trial?
Yes! Hulu Live comes with a free 7-day trial.
What devices can I use with Hulu Live?
Hulu Live is available on most streaming devices. Some options include smart TVs, computers, mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku.
Are local channels available on Hulu Live?
Yes. Hulu Live offers local channels in most US markets. Depending on your location you could have access to ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC with your plan.
Is Hulu with Live TV Worth It?
Hulu with Live TV is one of the most dynamic streaming services available. They offer a wide variety of channels, access to local channels, and include many popular sports channels including ESPN. On top of all that you have ESPN+, Disney+, and the endless amount of content that comes from Hulu’s on-demand service. You even get all the Hulu Original content. Whether you’re a sports fan or a binge-watcher that can’t get enough TV, Hulu Live has something for everyone.
Best of all, Hulu Live offers you a chance to try the service before you pay. If you’re unhappy you can cancel in the first week and you won’t be charged.
Click here to try Hulu Live free for 7 days!
Have any questions about our Hulu Live review? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
