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YouTube TV alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll video streaming services

Top picks

  • Hulu logo

    Best overall

    Hulu

    Paid

  • YouTube logo

    Best free option

    YouTube

    Free plan + paid

Common reasons people leave YouTube TV: main plan costs over $80 a month, and only three simultaneous streams without the paid 4K Plus add-on. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces YouTube TV, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Hulu currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Hulu logoHuluPaid—NoWeb, Android, iOS +25 of 581.5
2YouTube logoYouTubeFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 474.4
3Tubi logoTubiFree—NoWeb, Android, iOS5 of 572.5
4Google TV logoGoogle TVFree—NoAndroid, iOS4 of 455.9
  1. Hulu logo

    1. HuluTop pick

    Best for: US viewers who want current-season TV the day after airing, with an option for live channels

    PaidWeb, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS

    81.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube TV

    Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan.

    Pros

    • Next-day episodes of many network and FX shows
    • Cheap ad-supported plan and Disney+ and ESPN bundles
    • Hulu + Live TV can replace a cable package

    Cons

    • US only; not available in other countries
    • Ad-free plan still shows ads on some titles
    • Hulu + Live TV is expensive compared with on-demand plans
    Visit Hulu Compare with YouTube TVDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hulu a good YouTube TV alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Owner
    The Walt Disney Company
    Checked Nov 8, 2026press.hulu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Live TV
    95+ live channels with Hulu + Live TV
    Checked Nov 8, 2026press.hulu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2007 (launched 2008)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026press.hulu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Availability
    United States
    Checked Nov 8, 2026press.hulu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Bundles
    With Disney+ and ESPN
    Checked Nov 8, 2026press.hulu.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. YouTube logo

    2. YouTube

    Best for: Anyone who wants the widest range of free videos, tutorials, live streams and podcasts in one place

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    74.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube TV

    Free on-demand video, with official clips and highlights from many networks.

    Pros

    • Huge free library covering almost every topic and language
    • Shorts, live streams, podcasts and long videos in one app
    • Runs on nearly every phone, TV, console and browser
    • Clear revenue share for creators in the Partner Program

    Cons

    • Free tier carries frequent ads, including mid-roll
    • Background play and downloads need a paid Premium plan
    • Heavy tracking of viewing history to drive recommendations
    Visit YouTube Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is YouTube a good YouTube TV alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Creator revenue share
    55% of ad revenue to creators
    Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Audience
    2B viewers
    Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    Shorts, long videos, live and podcasts
    Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monetization
    YouTube Partner Program
    Checked Nov 8, 2026youtube.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Tubi logo

    3. Tubi

    Best for: Anyone who wants a large catalogue of films and TV for free and is fine with ads

    FreeWeb, Android, iOS

    72.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube TV

    Free ad-supported live news channels and on-demand films for cord-cutters on a budget.

    Pros

    • Completely free; no account needed to start watching
    • Large catalogue of films, older series and niche genres
    • Runs on almost every TV and streaming device

    Cons

    • Ad breaks in every title and no paid ad-free option
    • Few recent blockbuster films or big new series
    • Not available in many countries
    Visit Tubi Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tubi a good YouTube TV alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free with ads
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.tubitv.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Fox Corporation
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.tubitv.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2014
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.tubitv.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Availability
    US, Canada, Mexico, LATAM, UK, Australia
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.tubitv.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly users
    110 million+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.tubitv.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Google TV logo

    4. Google TV

    Best for: Households with several streaming subscriptions who want one home screen and a single watch list

    FreeAndroid, iOS

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube TV

    Free Google TV channels and app hub to combine cheaper services instead.

    Pros

    • Brings titles from many streaming apps into one set of recommendations
    • No extra charge beyond the TV or streaming device
    • Profiles, kids space and a cross-app watch list
    • Phone app doubles as a remote with keyboard input

    Cons

    • Only runs on Google TV devices and supported smart TVs
    • Home screen promotes sponsored content and Google's own services
    • Some apps and features vary by country
    Visit Google TV Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google TV a good YouTube TV alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    No extra cost on supported TVs and devices
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tv.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Underlying OS
    Android TV OS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tv.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile app
    Free on Android and iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tv.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Kids profiles
    Yes, with watch limits and bedtimes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tv.google(opens source in a new tab)

The best YouTube TV alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Hulu logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for most people

Hulu

Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan.

Tubi logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for a free option

Tubi

Free ad-supported live news channels and on-demand films for cord-cutters on a budget.

YouTube logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

YouTube

Free on-demand video, with official clips and highlights from many networks.

Hulu logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for Mac

Hulu

Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan.

Hulu logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for Windows

Hulu

Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan.

Google TV logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for iPhone and Android

Google TV

Free Google TV channels and app hub to combine cheaper services instead.

Hulu logo

Best YouTube TV alternative for working in the browser

Hulu

Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan.

YouTube TV alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to YouTube TV?

Hulu ranks first right now. Hulu + Live TV bundles live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN in one plan. YouTube and Tubi follow it in our ranking.

YouTube TV vs Hulu: what's the difference?

Both YouTube TV and Hulu are paid products. Only Hulu runs on Windows and macOS.

Is YouTube TV free?

YouTube TV is a paid product. Main plan: $82.99/month, 100+ channels; 4K Plus add-on: $9.99/month. Checked on YouTube TV's own site, November 2026.

Is there a free alternative to YouTube TV?

Yes. YouTube (free plan + paid), Tubi (free) and Google TV (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to YouTube TV?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from YouTube TV?

The complaints we hear most: main plan costs over $80 a month; only three simultaneous streams without the paid 4K Plus add-on; US only, and some channels vary by ZIP code.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces YouTube TV, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.