YouTube TV vs. Fubo: Is Fubo Really Cheaper?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, YouTube TV just raised their prices so I am thinking of switching our family to Fubo which seems a little cheaper. Any thoughts on that? — Bobbi, Mobile, Alabama.

Bobbi, you’re right. YouTube TV, the multi-channel live streaming service, just raised its base price from $72.99 a month to $82.99 a month, effective immediately for new customers and on January 12, 2025 for existing subscribers. The news has prompted some YouTube TV subscribers to consider switching to another live streaming service including Fubo which has a base price of $79.99 a month. That’s only $3 less than YouTube TV, but still less.

But is it really less?

It depends upon which Fubo base plan you get.

The streamer has a base plan for $79.99 a month called Essential and a different base plan for the same price called Pro. The difference is that Essential does not have regional sports networks, or the RSN fee, which can be as high as $15.99 a month in some markets. So at $79.99 a month, and no RSN fee, Essential is $3 a month cheaper than YouTube TV.

However, Pro does have the RSNs and the RSN fee. So if you get Pro, you could wind up paying $95.98 a month (base price plus RSN fee) compared to YouTube TV’s $82.99 a month.

The math gets a bit more complicated if you want 4K programming with your service. Fubo includes 4K as part of the base plan while YouTube TV requires you to subscribe to a $9.99 a month add-on package. With 4K, that brings the YouTube TV price to $92.98, which is about $3 less than Fubo’s Pro plan with RSNs.

Bottom line: Fubo can be cheaper than YouTube TV but it depends upon which plan you get and whether you get 4K.

Bobbi, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

Have a question about a favorite show or new TV technologies? Send it to The  TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered  television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.