YouTube TV review 2026: price, channels, DVR and who it suits
The most complete live TV service for most households, with the best DVR in the category. It is also one of the most expensive, and the price has more than doubled since launch.
YouTube TV is the live TV service we recommend to most people replacing cable. It carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in nearly every market, the main cable and sports channels, and an unlimited cloud DVR that keeps recordings for nine months. In J.D. Power's 2026 TV provider study it was the only live TV streaming service to score above the segment average.
At $82.99 a month for the Base Plan it costs as much as a basic cable package, and three streams at once can be tight for a big household. If you mostly watch one kind of channel, a genre plan from $54.99 or a cheaper service saves more.
- Locals in almost every market
- Unlimited DVR, kept 9 months
- No regional sports fee
- Cheaper genre plans since Feb 2026
- $82.99/mo, up from $35 at launch
- Three streams unless you pay for 4K Plus
- Few regional sports networks
- Carriage fights can pull channels
This review is based on YouTube TV's published plans, prices and terms, its price history, the J.D. Power 2026 TV provider study, and reporting from the outlets listed under Sources. Prices are before taxes.
Price and plans
The Base Plan is $82.99 a month for 100+ channels. Since February 2026 YouTube TV also sells smaller genre plans: Entertainment at $54.99, Sports at $64.99, and combinations such as Sports + News + Entertainment at $77.99. New members usually get a discount for the first few months. Our YouTube TV price guide lists every plan, add-on and yearly cost.
| Plan | Per month | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Base Plan | $82.99 | A bit of everything, including ESPN |
| Sports | $64.99 | Games on locals and national sports channels |
| Entertainment | $54.99 | Shows and local news, no sports channels |
| 4K Plus add-on | +$9.99 | 4K events, offline downloads, unlimited home streams |
List prices from YouTube TV, checked Oct 30, 2026. Taxes vary by state.
Channels
Every plan includes your local broadcast stations where YouTube TV carries them, which covers almost every US TV market. The Base Plan adds ESPN and the other Disney networks, FS1, NFL Network, TNT, TBS, CNN, Fox News, HGTV, Food Network, Bravo, FX and more. The Disney channels returned in November 2025 after a two-week blackout, under a multi-year deal that also gives subscribers ESPN's streaming Unlimited plan at no extra cost.
The main gap is regional sports. Most regional sports networks are not on YouTube TV, so if you follow a local NBA, NHL or MLB team, check which live TV services carry your team before you sign up.
DVR, streams and features
- Unlimited cloud DVR. Recordings are kept for nine months, the most generous storage among the big live TV services.
- Six accounts, three streams. Each household member gets their own recordings. Three can watch at once; 4K Plus removes the limit on your home network.
- Multiview. Up to four games on one screen during sports.
- No contract or box. Month to month, with a pause option that keeps your recordings.
Devices and internet speed
YouTube TV runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, game consoles, most smart TVs, phones and browsers; our best streaming device guide covers the options. YouTube recommends about 7 Mbps for one HD stream and 25 Mbps for 4K. With three streams plus other devices, a plan of 100 Mbps or more avoids buffering, as covered in the best internet for streaming.
Customer satisfaction
YouTube TV scored 643 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study, above the 627 live TV streaming average. Sling TV (626) and Hulu + Live TV (622) came in below it. The gap has narrowed from 2025, when YouTube TV scored 649 against a 630 average.
Price history
| Date | Base Plan | Change |
|---|---|---|
| April 2017 | $35 | Launch |
| March 2018 | $40 | +$5 |
| April 2019 | $49.99 | +$10 |
| July 2020 | $64.99 | +$15 |
| March 2023 | $72.99 | +$8 |
| December 2024 | $82.99 | +$10 |
New members paid the new price on the date shown; existing members moved over a few weeks later. See YouTube TV price increases and alternatives.
YouTube TV vs. alternatives
| Service | From | Locals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99 ($54.99 genre plans) | Yes | Unlimited DVR, no regional sports fee |
| Hulu + Live TV | $99.99 | Yes | Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited |
| DIRECTV | $89.99 | Yes | Regional sports on Choice ($94.99) and up |
| Sling TV | $45.99 | Few markets | Cheapest with ESPN or TNT |
| Philo | $25 | No | No sports or news; entertainment only |
List prices reported Oct 2026; Fubo varies by plan and adds a regional sports fee of $3.99 to $16.99.
Who should get YouTube TV
- Get it if you want locals, national sports and cable channels in one app, record a lot, or want NFL Sunday Ticket at the lower member price.
- Get a genre plan if you only watch sports or only entertainment; Sports at $64.99 saves $18 a month.
- Skip it if your local team is on a regional sports network, or you mostly watch on-demand shows. An antenna gets locals free where signals reach.
Common questions
Is YouTube TV worth it in 2026?
For most households that want local channels, sports and cable networks with an unlimited DVR, yes. If you only watch one kind of channel, a genre plan or a cheaper service costs less.
How much is YouTube TV a month?
The Base Plan is $82.99 a month before taxes. Genre plans run from $54.99 to $77.99.
Does YouTube TV have local channels?
Yes. It carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations in almost every US TV market, plus PBS and others in many.
How many people can watch YouTube TV at once?
Three streams at a time on every plan, shared by up to six accounts. The 4K Plus add-on allows unlimited streams at home.
Does YouTube TV have ESPN?
Yes, on the Base Plan and the Sports plans. Subscribers also get the ESPN Unlimited streaming app at no extra cost.
- YouTube TV plan and membership pages, tv.youtube.com, checked Oct 30, 2026
- Variety, "YouTube TV Reveals Pricing, Channels for Lower-Cost Packages," Feb 9, 2026
- TechCrunch, YouTube TV price increase to $72.99, Mar 16, 2023; Streaming Price Tracker, "YouTube TV Price History," Oct 2026
- J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study, as reported by Gadget Hacks, Sep 2026
- CBS News / AP, "Disney and YouTube TV reach new deal, ending dayslong blackout," Nov 14, 2025; TechCrunch, Nov 15, 2025
- BestGuide, "Best Live TV Streaming Services of 2026," Oct 2026; Plume, "IPTV Subscription Price Index," Oct 2026 (competitor prices, Fubo fees)
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research
Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.