Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM
Is DIRECTV STREAM a viable challenger to Hulu + Live TV? Our experts put them to the live streaming test.
Hulu + Live TV is both a live TV and on-demand TV streaming service, as the name suggests. In addition to over 85 live TV channels, it also gives you access to Hulu’s large library of on-demand TV shows, movies, and original series. Hulu + Live TV was also the first streaming service to employ a “+” in its name, if blame needs to be placed.
DIRECTV STREAM, formerly known as AT&T TV, is the internet-streaming sibling of DIRECTV satellite TV service. It features similar plans and channel counts to the satellite service, as well as more expensive pricing than most other live TV streaming services.
TL;DR: We prefer Hulu + Live over DIRECTV STREAM in this matchup because we think you get more for your money with it. But, if you like fat channel counts (including most sports networks), DIRECTV STREAM might be worth it for you.
Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM pros and cons
Hulu + Live TV
✓ Hulu included
✓ On-demand network shows
✗ Some popular channels missing
DIRECTV STREAM
✓ Large channel counts
✓ No contract
✗ Expensive plans
Deals and promotions
There are several deals to be had with Hulu + Live TV, including the popular Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle—check out our Hulu deals guide for all the details.
New DIRECTV STREAM subscribers can get three months of Max (formerly HBO Max), SHOWTIME, STARZ, CINEMAX, and MGM+ for free on the ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, and ULTIMATE plans.
Compare Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM head to head
| Service | Price | Editorial rating | Channels | Streams | Cloud DVR | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | $69.99–$82.99/mo. | 4.3/5 | 85+ | 2 (Unlimited upgrade $9.99/mo.) | Unlimited (9 mos.) |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV Review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $64.99–$154.99/mo. | 3.5/5 | 75–150+ | 3–unlimited | 20 hrs. |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM Review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
There’s technically only one Hulu + Live TV plan. The price differences depend on whether you don’t mind or don’t want ads in your on-demand content (it costs $13 more a month for the commercial-free experience). Again, we like Hulu + Live TV’s lower pricing.
DIRECTV STREAM’s four plans are similar to DIRECTV’s satellite plans in both price and channel counts. Unlike DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t require an annual contract or a dish on your roof—a nice score for minimalism.
Plans and pricing
Hulu + Live TV plans and pricing
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Starting at $69.99–$82.99/mo., Hulu + Live TV gives you around 85 live TV channels and unlimited cloud DVR storage. For comparison, YouTube TV features over 100 live channels and unlimited cloud DVR storage (for nine months) for $72.99/mo.. But Hulu + Live TV isn’t just a live TV service—factor in its on-demand Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ library, and Hulu + Live TV looks like a better deal than DIRECTV STREAM.
DIRECTV STREAM plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Channels | Streams | Cloud DVR | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM ENTERTAINMENT | $64.99/mo. | 75+ | 3 (unlimited inside home network) | 20 hrs. (Unlimited, $10.00/mo.) | View Plan |
| DIRECTV STREAM CHOICE™ | $84.99/mo. | 105+ | 3 (unlimited inside home network) | 20 hrs. (Unlimited, $10.00/mo.) | View Plan |
| DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE | $109.99/mo. | 140+ | 3 (unlimited inside home network) | 20 hrs. (Unlimited, $10.00/mo.) | View Plan |
| DIRECTV STREAM PREMIER | $154.99/mo. | 150+ | 3 (unlimited inside home network) | 20 hrs. (Unlimited, $10.00/mo.) | View Plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
DIRECTV STREAM is pricey, period. The channel counts are impressive, but you’d have to pay an extra $10 a month to upgrade the cloud DVR to keep up with all those channels (20 included hours, puh-leez). DIRECTV STREAM also offers to rent you its streaming box for another $10 a month, but don’t take the bait—you can use your own streaming device just as easily.
Live channels
Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM live channels
| Channel | Hulu + Live TV | DIRECTV STREAM ENTERTAINMENT | DIRECTV STREAM CHOICE | DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE | DIRECTV STREAM PREMIER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&E | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ACC Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AMC | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Animal Planet | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AXS TV | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| BBC America | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| BBC World News | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| BET | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| BET Her | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Big Ten Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bloomberg TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Boomerang | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bravo | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| C-SPAN | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cartoon Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS Sports Network | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cheddar News | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CINEMAX® | $9.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | ✔ |
| CMT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CNBC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CNN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comedy Central | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cooking Channel | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Destination America | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Discovery Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Discovery Family | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Disney Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Disney Junior | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Disney XD | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| E! | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNews | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNU | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Food Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOX* | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fox Business Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fox News | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FS1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FS2 | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Freeform | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fuse | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FXM | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| FXX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FYI | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Galavisión | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Golf Channel | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hallmark Channel | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | — | ✔ | — | — | ✔ |
| HGTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HISTORY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HLN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| IFC | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lifetime | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lifetime Movie Network | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Magnolia Network | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Max | $15.99/mo. | $15.99/mo. | $15.99/mo. | $15.99/mo. | ✔ |
| MGM+™ | — | $6.00/mo. | $6.00/mo. | $6.00/mo. | $6.00/mo. |
| MLB Network | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MOTOR TREND | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSNBC | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MTV2 | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MTV Classic | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nat Geo WILD | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| National Geographic Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBA TV | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NHL Network | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nick Jr. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nickelodeon | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nicktoons | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| OWN | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Oxygen True Crime | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Paramount Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PBS Kids | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pop | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Science | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEC Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SHOWTIME® | $10.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | ✔ |
| Smithsonian Channel | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sportsman Channel | — | — | — | — | — |
| STARZ® | $9.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | $11.00/mo. | ✔ |
| SundanceTV | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Syfy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TCM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TeenNick | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Telemundo* | ✔ | — | — | — | — |
| Tennis Channel | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TLC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TNT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Travel Channel | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| truTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TV Land | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Universal Kids | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Univision | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| USA Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VH1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VICE | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| WEtv | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Weather Channel | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
*Availability varies by area. Data effective as of post date.
The numbers look close, but Hulu + Live TV’s single 85-channel plan gives you more popular cable networks than DIRECTV STREAM’s cheapest (ENTERTAINMENT) plan. DIRECTV STREAM’s CHOICE plan is more comparable to Hulu + Live TV, but it costs $7 a month more than Hulu + Live TV’s most expensive plan.
Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM sports channels
| Channel | Hulu + Live TV | DIRECTV STREAM ENTERTAINMENT | DIRECTV STREAM CHOICE | DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE | DIRECTV STREAM PREMIER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Big Ten Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS Sports Network | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNews | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNU | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FS1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FS2 | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Golf Channel | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| MLB Network | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBA TV | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NHL Network | — | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEC Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sportsman Channel | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date.
This is where the pigskin really hits the astroturf: Hulu + Live TV covers sports pretty well (especially on the college level). But, if you’re willing to shell out more for either DIRECTV STREAM’s ULTIMATE or PREMIER plans, you can get nearly all the sports networks you’ll ever want—minus a couple of NFL channels that aren’t on Hulu + Live TV, either. DIRECTV STREAM also has a great selection of regional sports networks, depending on your billing location.
If you’re wondering, NFL SUNDAY TICKET is no longer available through DIRECTV. It’s moving to YouTube TV for the 2023 season.
Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM local channels
| Channel* | Hulu + Live TV | DIRECTV STREAM ENTERTAINMENT | DIRECTV STREAM CHOICE | DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE | DIRECTV STREAM PREMIER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| The CW | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PBS | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Telemundo | ✔ | — | — | — | — |
*Availability varies by area. Data effective as of post date.
Both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM carry local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations. Worth noting: DIRECTV STREAM recently added PBS and PBS Kids.
Local channels are easy to get beyond streaming, though—all you need is a digital antenna to pick up area broadcasts over-the-air for free.
Premium channels and add-on packages
| Channel | Hulu + Live TV | DIRECTV STREAM |
|---|---|---|
| Max/HBO | $15.99/mo. | $15.99/mo. |
| CINEMAX | $9.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. |
| SHOWTIME | $10.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. |
| STARZ | $9.99/mo. | $11.00/mo. |
| MGM+ | — | $6.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date.
The big difference here is that Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer MGM+ as a premium add-on channel. DIRECTV STREAM offers all five of the biggest premium add-ons (all of which you could also subscribe to with separate standalone apps, btw). DIRECTV STREAM ekes out a small victory here.
Specs and features
Cloud DVR
| Service | Included storage | Upgrades |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | Unlimited (9 mos.) | — |
| DIRECTV STREAM | 20 hrs. | Unlimited ($10.00/mo.) |
Hulu + Live TV’s unlimited hours of cloud DVR space makes DIRECTV STREAM’s included 20 look, well, sad.
DIRECTV STREAM can be upgraded to unlimited storage for a price, but other live TV streaming services are far more generous with their clouds (fuboTV includes 1,000 hours of storage, for example). We give Hulu + Live TV the W for cloud DVR space here.
Multiple streams
| Service | Simultaneous streams | Upgrades | Offline downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | 2 | Unlimited ($9.99/mo.) | ✔ |
| DIRECTV STREAM | 3–unlimited | — | — |
We’ve never understood Hulu + Live TV’s insistence on two simultaneous streams when the standard is at least three (as with DIRECTV STREAM). DIRECTV STREAM also supports unlimited simultaneous streams when connected at home. If you’re going to put this to the test, we recommend a fast internet service. Easy win for DIRECTV STREAM here.
Compatible devices
| Device | Hulu + Live TV | DIRECTV STREAM |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire Cube, Stick, TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| Android phones, tablets | ✔ | ✔ |
| Android TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple TV (4th gen.) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple TV 4K | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| Echo Show | ✔ | — |
| iPhone, iPad | ✔ | ✔ |
| LG TVs (select models) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nintendo Switch | ✔ | — |
| NVIDIA SHIELD Pro TV | — | — |
| PC, Mac web browsers | ✔ | ✔ |
| PlayStation 3, 4, 5 | ✔ | — |
| Roku Ultra, Express, Premiere, Stick, TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| Samsung TVs (select models) | ✔ | ✔ |
| TiVo Stream | ✔ | — |
| Wii | — | — |
| Xbox One | ✔ | — |
Hulu + Live TV is available for more devices, but DIRECTV STREAM is on most of the popular ones (excluding PlayStation).
Also, is Wii ever going to make a comeback as a TV streaming device? These are the questions that keep us up at night.
Video and audio quality
Both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM steam live TV at 720p and most on-demand content at 1080p (or Blu-ray quality—remember Blu-rays?). Some of Hulu’s on-demand shows and movies are available in 4K UHD (if your device can handle it); DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t do 4K at all. Video edge to Hulu + Live TV.
Sound-wise, both services stream standard 2.0 stereo audio, with some programming available in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound—but you’d need a decent soundbar to notice it. We call this one a draw.
Final take: Is Hulu + Live TV or DIRECTV STREAM worth it?
We think Hulu + Live TV wins the streaming showdown here: it has a majority of the most popular live TV channels, with the added bonus of the giant on-demand Hulu library of TV shows, movies, and originals. As a live/on-demand hybrid TV streaming service, Hulu + Live TV can’t be beat (mostly because it’s the only one).
While we do like DIRECTV STREAM’s abundance of channels, we’re not here for the price tag. Newbie cord-cutters might enjoy the easy transition from satellite to streaming (the interface is nearly indistinguishable from DIRECTV, save for the lack of channel numbers), but DIRECTV STREAM is a bit pricey for our cost-to-value tastes.
Hulu + Live TV vs. DIRECTV STREAM FAQ
Is Hulu + Live TV better than DIRECTV STREAM?
After reviewing both, we think Hulu + Live TV is a better streaming service than DIRECTV STREAM. Hulu + Live TV is less expensive than DIRECTV STREAM’s best plans, it features an excellent lineup of popular channels, and it gives you access to the on-demand Hulu library of TV shows, movies, and originals.
What’s the best streaming service to replace DIRECTV?
In the head-to-head matchup between Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM, we prefer Hulu + Live TV. However, our pick for best overall live TV streaming service is YouTube TV, which features 100+ live channels, an unlimited cloud DVR, and Google-enhanced search capability.
Do Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM carry local channels?
Both Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM carry local channels affiliated with ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, though availability varies by area. Other than YouTube TV, DIRECTV STREAM is the only live TV streaming service that has PBS.
Methodology
Our experts employed hours of hands-on testing and crunched the numbers, rating Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM on bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. Then we matched up the live TV streamers head to head to give a clearer picture of their strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
