Skip to main content

Hulu With Live TV is getting more expensive; will YouTube TV follow suit?

Here we go again. Hulu With Live TV — currently the No. 1 livestreaming service in the United States with 4 million subscribers — is increasing prices starting December 21. Starting then, you’ll have to pay $70 a month for the service, which also includes access to the full Hulu on-demand catalog. That’s $5 more a month than the current price.

It’s the latest in a continuing trend for streaming services, which often see price increases every year or so. Hulu With Live TV last increased things in November 2020, bringing it in line with its closest competitor, YouTube TV, which (for now) remains at $65 a month. FuboTV, which has about a quarter of the subscribers, also costs $65 a month.

Recommended Videos

Hulu’s on-demand plan increased prices in October by $1 a month or $10 a year — which came to $7 or $70, respectively.

And Hulu will still have options to get rid of most on-demand advertising. And this price increase comes with a sweetener — you’ll also get Disney+ and ESPN+ for free.

Hulu on Roku.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hulu With Live TV has more than 75 linear and on-demand channels, as well as local affiliates from ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC — though those will vary depending on where you live. Hulu is available on every major streaming platform, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and in a web browser.

Here’s how the full Hulu plans break down after this latest increase:

  • Hulu on-demand: $7 a month or $70 a year with ads; $13 a month without ads
  • Hulu With Live TV: $70 a month with ads on on-demand; $76 a month without ads

There’s also an option for Hulu With Live TV without access to the on-demand content, but that’s only a dollar less than the new Live price that includes on-demand and really isn’t worth considering.

And the usual add-ons remain available, too. There’s expanded DVR or unlimited screens for $10 a month each, or you can bundle them together for $15 a month. There’s also additional entertainment networks for $8 a month, a sports add-on for $10 a month, and a Spanish-language option for $5 a month.

Phil Nickinson
Former Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
Hulu + Live TV vs. YouTube TV: how to pick the best live-streaming service
The Hulu home screen on a TV.

If you’re having trouble choosing the best live TV streaming service for your needs, we don’t blame you — viewers today have more choices than ever. Whether you're looking for a big on-demand content library or a reliable live TV streaming platform, there's no shortage of solid options to explore.

Two of the most popular choices — YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV — stand out for their reasonable pricing, similar features, and strong channel lineups. But when it comes down to it, which one should you pick?

Read more
What is ESPN+? Live sports and more you can’t get anywhere else
ESPN+ app on a movile device.

ESPN is synonymous with sports on TV. It stands to reason, then, that ESPN+ gets you more sports. And it does, in that newfangled way that transcends sports on TV. ESPN+ is the future of ESPN in a live TV streaming world. Probably. Eventually. Sort of.

It's a little complicated. It's perhaps better at the moment to consider ESPN+ the streaming service complementary to ESPN the cable network. You can get some of what's on ESPN on ESPN+. But at the same time, ESPN Plus has a lot that you can't get on the cable network.

Read more
Hulu + Live TV: plans, price, channels, bundles, and more
Hulu with Live TV.

Hulu + Live TV might just be one of the best live TV streaming services out there, thanks to a combination of VOD, live streaming, and Hulu's massive content library. Hulu + Live TV offers much of the features and content you've come to expect from your cable package without tying you down in long-term contracts.

Hulu has been one of the most popular streaming services for years now, thanks to a richly assembled library of licensed content, alongside original programming like The Bear and The Handmaid's Tale. Since Hulu is owned by Disney, you can even bundle Hulu + Live TV with Disney Plus and ESPN+ for even more content.

Read more