If a live TV streaming service could ever convince you to cut the cord, it could possibly be Hulu with Live TV. The service is ideal especially if you're in a household with kids since its content is catered to accommodate people of any age. But is it better than cable? Below, we examine the crucial differences between Hulu with Live TV and one of the most popular cable packages right now, DirecTV Cable.
Advantages of Hulu with Live TV over DirecTV Cable: no contract + comes with ESPN+ and Disney+
The main difference between a live TV service like Hulu with Live TV and DirecTV Cable is a contract. You can cancel your subscription to Hulu with Live TV anytime you want, while DirecTV has a 2-year contract that prohibits you from doing so. If you do cancel DirecTV, you have to pay a $20 early termination fee. Another advantage Hulu with Live TV has is that it's compatible with most media players, so you don't have to purchase a TV box to watch the local channels and live sports events the streamer has to offer. Lastly—and this is truly where its value lies—Hulu with Live TV comes with ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu on-demand at no additional cost.
Advantages of DirecTV Cable over Hulu with live TV: RSNs + better UI + price lock
That said, DirecTV still has a smidge more channels than Hulu with Live TV (you can see the full rundown below). Specifically, it has more Hispanic channels, including CNN en Español and Galavision, and RSNs or regional sports networks for an extra fee. Users have also agreed that Hulu with Live TV tends to get buggy from time to time, while DirecTV buffers less. Overall, DirecTV has a better user interface and picture quality. Another potential advantage is that, because of the 2-year contract you sign with DirecTV Cable, you pay the exact same fee ($85/month plus taxes) for two years, regardless of surcharges. Meanwhile, Hulu with Live TV has had its fair share of price hikes. Remember when it used to cost $40/month back in 2018? No, us neither.
Summary
| Comparaison | Hulu with Live TV | DirecTV Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75.99/month | $85/month |
| Trial | 3 days | No | Our rating | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Number of channels | 102 | |
| Unlimited DVR | Yes | No |
| Parental controls | Yes | No |
| Disney Channel | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN2 | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | No |
| Lifetime | Yes | No |
| NBC | Yes | Yes |
| Paramount Network | Yes | Yes |
| RSNs | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes |
Channels on Hulu with Live TV and not DirecTV Cable
The channels that Hulu with Live TV has and which are not available on DirecTV Cable:
- A&E
- ABC
- ABC Localish
- ABC News Live
- ACC Network
- Adult Swim
- Big Ten Network
- CBS News
- CBS Sports Network
- Cheddar News
- Comedy TV
- Cozi TV
- Dabl
- Discovery Channel
- ESPN College Extra
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- FS2
- FXM
- FYI
- Golf Channel
- Hallmark Mystery
- History
- Justice Central TV
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movies
- Localish
- Military History Chanel
- Motor Trend
- Nat Geo Wild
- NBC local channels
- NBC News Now
- NBCLX
- News Nation
- NFL Network
- Nick Jr.
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Pop
- SEC Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- Spectrum SportsNet
- Start TV
- Travel Channel
- Turner Classic Movies
- TVLand
- Universal Kids
- Vice
- Weather Channel
Channels on DirecTV Cable and not Hulu with Live TV
The channels that DirecTV Cable has which are not available on Hulu with Live TV:
- AccuWeather
- AMC
- Antena 3
- Aquí
- AXS TV
- BabyFirst TV
- BabyTV
- Bandamax
- BBC America
- Blossom
- Boomerang
- BYUtv
- C-SPAN
- C-SPAN 2
- Cleo TV
- CNN en Espanol
- CTN
- Daystar
- Daystar Español
- DIRECTV 4K Live
- DIRECTV 4K Live 2
- DIRECTV News Mix
- EarthX
- Enlace
- ESNE
- EWTN
- Family Movie Channel
- FETV
- Fox Business Network
- Free Speech TV
- Galavision
- GEB America
- GOD TV
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
- HITN
- Hope
- HSN
- HSN2
- IFC
- Impact Television Network
- INSP
- ION Television
- JBS
- Jewish Life Television
- Living Faith Network
- MavTV
- MotorTrend
- MTV2
- MUSIC CHOICE
- NASA TV
- Newsmax
- NewsNation
- NHK
- NRBTV
- ONCE MEXICO
- Ovation
- PBS Kids
- Pursuit Channel
- QVC2
- QVC3
- REELZ
- REVOLT TV
- RFD-TV
- Scientology Network
- Shop LC
- ShopHQ
- So Yummy!
- SonLife Broadcasting
- SundanceTV
- TBN
- TBN Inspire
- TCT
- TeenNick
- Telemundo local channels
- The CW
- The First
- The WORD Network
- TV Land
- TV One
- Univision
- Victory
- WE tv
- World Harvest Television
Price: Hulu with Live TV is cheaper than DirecTV Cable
Hulu with Live TV's costs $76 whereas DirecTV Cable costs $85. Getting DirecTV Cable instead of Hulu with Live TV will set you back $9 more every month.
Why get Hulu with Live TV?
In 2020, Hulu updated their interface to a much neater version, allowing for one of the easiest and most intuitive Live navigation systems around.
Why get DirecTV Cable?
DirecTV's cable packages are some of the most comprehensive you'll find on the market. The cheapest plan, known as the Entertainment package, starts at $85/month and comes with 200 hours of HD DVR (unlimited on cloud). As for channels, some of the more notable ones include CNN, ESPN, The Food Network, TBS, The Disney Channel, and local networks where available. During your first three months, you'll also have access to premium channels like HBO and Showtime. DirecTV's other packages are Choice (which has RSNs), Ultimate (which has even more sports and entertainment), and Premier (which has everything plus premium channels). It may not be explicit about it, but DirecTV does have a 2-year contract, the early termination of which will cost you $20 for each of the remaining months. If this is a deal-breaker, you might want to consider DirecTV Stream, which is the provider's cordless and contractless alternative.
Devices: Hulu with Live TV is more widely available than DirecTV Cable
Hulu with Live TV is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV, Vizio Smart TV or Xbox.
Whereas DirecTV Cable is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Roku TV, Samsung TV or Vizio. That's 8 less devices than Hulu with Live TV.
Trial: Hulu with Live TV offers a trial
Hulu with Live TV has a trial. The trial duration is 3 days.
Find out more on Hulu with Live TV
Trial: DirecTV Cable does not offer a trial
DirecTV Cable does not offer a free trial.
Find out more on DirecTV Cable
Channels on both DirecTV Cable and Hulu with Live TV
The channels that are available on both DirecTV Cable and Hulu with Live TV are:
- Animal Planet
- BET
- Bloomberg Television
- Bravo
- Cartoon Network
- CBS
- CBS local channels
- CMT
- CNBC
- CNN
- CNN International
- Comedy Central
- CW
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- E!
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- Food Network
- FOX
- Fox Business
- Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
- Freeform
- FS1
- FX
- FXX
- Hallmark
- HGTV
- HLN
- ID
- MSNBC
- MTV
- NASA
- National Geographic
- NBC
- Nickelodeon
- Paramount Network
- PBS
- PBS local channels
- QVC
- RSNs
- SYFY
- TBS
- TCM
- Telemundo
- The Grio
- TLC
- TNT
- USA Network
- VH1
If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.