4 Ways YouTube TV Offers Better Value Than Cable

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Before the digital age, if you didn’t have cable, you had “rabbit ears” usually covered with tinfoil on top of your TV to improve reception. Channels were limited and you couldn’t record anything to watch later. Today, more than half of the households across the United States have cut the cable cord. But these days, there’s no tin foil required. There are countless streaming options to choose from, and they’re typically less expensive than traditional cable. One streaming option to consider is YouTube TV. 

What Is YouTube TV?

YouTube TV is YouTube’s subscription entertainment service. The service features over 100 channels and your local television networks. You can also add premium features like Spanish channels and NFL Sunday Ticket for an additional cost. 

YouTube TV costs $72.99 per month without add-ons. That’s significantly higher than Netflix, with basic plans starting at $6.99 per month, and Hulu, with plans starting at $7.99 per month.

4 Ways YouTube TV Offers Better Value Than Cable

Is YouTube TV really better than cable? Here are four ways YouTube TV beats cable in value:

1. Leading DVR service
2. Multiple users
3. Channel lineup
4. Price

1. Leading DVR Service

Most subscriptions that offer DVR services have limits on their DVR space. For example, the cable provider Xfinity limits you to 150 hours of DVR space, and you can only record five shows at a time.

That’s not the case with YouTube. 

With YouTube, you have access to what might be the best DVR offer available from any cable or streaming service. That’s because there are absolutely no limits to storage. You can store as much content as you’d like, and you can even record an unlimited number of streams at the same time. So, if six shows you love are playing at the same time, you don’t have to rush home to watch one while the others record to your DVR.  

2. Multiple Users

If you want to watch programming on multiple TVs in your house with cable, you’ll likely need to rent multiple set-top boxes. For example, with Xfinity, you’ll have to pay between $7.50 and $8.50 per month for each set-top box. That means your monthly bill will quickly increase depending on how many TVs you have.

Other streaming services have limits, too. With Netflix Standard, you can only stream on two devices at a time before you need to upgrade.  

With YouTube TV, you can set up six household accounts and simultaneously stream on three different devices before there’s any need for an upgrade. 

3. Channel Lineup

The channel lineup on YouTube is impressive. As mentioned above, you’ll have over 100 channels to choose from. These include local channels and local news stations. Premium networks like Comedy Central, the Food Network and Nickelodeon are also available. 

4. Price

Cable television plans typically cost between $55 and $250 per month, with the average plan coming in at around $83 per month. So, if you stick with the basic YouTube TV subscription at $72.99 per month, you’ll save about $10 per month. You’ll also get the first three months for just $54.99 with the current promotion. However, if you choose certain add-ons, your price may vary. For example:

• NFL Sunday Ticket: If you want NFL Sunday Ticket, you’ll pay an additional $349 per year. 
• Spanish Channels: If you’re interested in only watching Spanish channels, your monthly service will cost $34.99 per month.      

Final Take

Although YouTube TV is more expensive than some other streaming services, it offers one of the most comprehensive streaming opportunities online today. Moreover, it’s still less expensive than classic cable television. Consider signing up if you’re looking for the best in entertainment for a lower cost.

Information is accurate as of Oct. 3, 2023. 

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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