FuboTV Review: Is it Worth $80+ A Month?

Is the thought of losing live sports keeping you from cutting the cord on cable or satellite?

Many people like the idea of saving money but think that using live TV streaming services means sacrificing the sports they love to watch. Or, they think they’ll miss their favorite shows.

Fortunately, that is not the case. In this fuboTV review, we’ll share results from our testing of the service and why it’s a suitable replacement if you want to get rid of your cable bill.

What is fuboTV?

FuboTV is a TV streaming app that specializes in sports content. The platform launched in 2015 and focuses largely on niche sports content like soccer.

In recent years, it has grown substantially and turned into a true cable replacement. If you’ve heard of platforms like YouTube TV or Hulu Live, fubo is a lot like these services.

It has dozens of popular lifestyle, entertainment, and news networks. Plus, it has an ample number of sports channels.

If you’re trying to determine how to cut the cord on cable, fuboTV is a suitable option to consider.

How Much is fuboTV Per Month?

The live TV streaming service is one of the more expensive options for cord-cutters. Plans start at $79.99 per month.

However, the plans have many useful features and come with over 180 channels.

It’s also considered one of the top choices to watch sports without cable.

Here are the prices of the available fuboTV channel packages.

For this review, we will not be covering the Latino Quarterly offering since it doesn’t provide as much as the other plan choices.

With the exception of Latino Quarterly, all of the plans offer a seven-day free trial so that you can test the service.

It’s important to note that fuboTV added the 19 Bally Sports regional sports networks (RSNs) in February 2023. While not advertised in the price, this will add an extra $11.99 – $14.99 a month to your bill, IF you’re in a Bally RSN area.

If you have one RSN in your market, it will be the lower price, two will take it to the higher level. Regardless if you want the channels or not, you will incur this extra charge.

How Much is fuboTV with Taxes?

Most streaming services charge taxes on their plans each month. Here is how much the Pro plan costs with taxes.

Here is how much you should expect to pay for the Elite plan, with taxes.

Taxes will vary based on your location.

What Channels Does fuboTV Have?

FuboTV is a terrific choice to watch live games and other sports-related shows. All of the channel packages include dozens of sought-after sports, entertainment, and lifestyle content.

Here is the base list of channels for the Pro plan:

The Elite plan offers roughly 50 extra networks. Here are the additional live TV channels found in the Elite plan:

FuboTV’s channel packages compete well against other top subscription streaming services. It has 43 of the top 50 Nielsen-ranked channels in its base package.

As a bonus, you will notice a few things that differentiate them from the pack.

Those are:

• Local channels are included, eliminating the need for an over-the-air antenna
• There are a lot of options for sports
• The streaming service doesn’t currently offer the Turner networks

Not having Turner networks will be a big issue for some, especially come time for March Madness. Read our analysis of the best live TV streaming services to stream March Madness so you can use to watch the men’s tournament.

Read our guide on the fuboTV channels to learn more about what networks you can expect.

Which Sports Channels Does fuboTV Have?

If the ability to watch as many sports as possible is essential to you, fuboTV likely won’t disappoint. In fact, fuboTV has the most sports networks in the space.

Here are the sports channels you get access to with the Pro plan:

These are the sports networks you get access to with the Elite plan (which also offers what’s in the Pro plan):

The service does carry some regional sports networks and offers the most behind DIRECTV STREAM. They also carry the aforementioned Bally Sports RSNs.

If you like niche sports, the streaming service has you covered. It has numerous add-on packages you can purchase. Most of them are sports-centric.

Regardless of which plan you choose, fuboTV is an excellent choice to stream NFL games without cable, plus many other popular sports.

Add-Ons

Do you like to customize your viewing options? If so, these are the packages you can purchase with a fuboTV subscription:

Sports Plus with NFL RedZone ($10.99 per month): NFL Red Zone, NBA TV, NHL Network, MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, Stadium, Tennis Channel, Zona Futbol, ESPN U, Pac12 Network, SEC Network, ESPNEWS, VSin, Game, ACCN, Fight Network, TVG2, Stadium 1-3, Pac12-Arizona, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Mountain, Oregon, and Washington.

NBA League Pass ($28.99 per month): NBA League Pass.

fubo Extra ($7.99 per month): Cooking Channel, DIY Network, Game Show Network, BBC World News, NBA TV, NHL Network, MLB Network, Sony Network, People TV, Stadium, Zona Futbol, INSP, Revolt, CNBC World, Stadium 1-3, Tennis Channel, fuse, Teennick, Nicktoons, Nickmusic, MTV2, Logo, BET Jams, MTV U, MTV Lite, MTV Classic, BET Soul, BET Her, Destination America, Discovery Life, SCI, American Heroes Channel, Discovery Family, ACCN, Nat Geo Wild, Great American Country, Law&Crime Trial Network, Pac12 Network, ESPN U, DUST, ESPNEWS, Curiosity Stream, FXM, and SEC Network.

International Sports Plus ($6.99 per month): Fox Deportes, Zona Futbol, ESPN Deportes, GolTV English, GolTV Spanish, TyC Sports, Fox Soccer Plus, Tico Sports, NXT LVL Sports, and Real Madrid TV.

Adventure Plus ($4.99 per month): Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, OutsideTV, Motorsports Network, and InsightTV.

News Plus ($2.99 per month): AfricaNews, BBC World News, Bloomberg+, Cheddar, CNBC World, Euronews, i24 News, Law&Crime, and NewsNet.

Sports Lite ($9.99 per month): NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network, ACCN, ESPN U, and ESPNews.

Latino Plus ($19.99 per month): Fox Deportes, Zona Futbol, ESPN Deportes, GolTV Spanish, TyC Sports, Cine Sony, El Gourmet, Nat Geo Mundo, Mas Chic, Nuestra Tele Internacional, Foxlife, Telefe, Discovery Familia, Discovery En Espanol, Tr3s, and BabyTV.

RAI Italia ($8.99 per month): Rai Italia.

TV5Monde ($9.99 per month): TV5Monde.

Portuguese Plus ($14.99 per month): GolTV Spanish, BTV, RTP Acores, RTP3, and RTP Internacional.

Entretenimiento Plus ($4.99 per month): Antena3, Bandamax, de pelicula, de pelicula clasico, FOROtv, NTN24, RITMOSON, Telehit, and tlnovelas.

Like the base plans, these plans don’t have contracts. Better yet, you can cancel when you wish.

It’s important to note that, depending on what you add to your plan, it’s easy to spend $100 or more per month.

As a result, you shouldn’t use a set it and forget it mentality when you subscribe. Make sure to get rid of an add-on when you no longer need it.

Premium Channels

If you like premium original content, fuboTV has several options to meet those needs.

Here are the available premium channels:

Showtime + STARZ + EPIX ($19.99 per month): This includes all three premium channels ad-free, live, and on-demand.

Showtime ($10.99 per month): This includes all Showtime originals, movies, boxing, and all on-demand content from each of its channels.

EPIX ($5.99 per month): This includes access to all on-demand shows, movies, and live channels. Some content is available in 4K.

STARZ ($8.99 per month): This provides access to all STARZ live channels and on-demand content.

AMC Premiere ($4.99 per month): This offers access to new, ad-free episodes. You also get to watch full seasons of shows and numerous movies.

Unfortunately, you won’t find HBO or Max. You will need to subscribe to the latter separately to watch HBO content.

Read our Max streaming service review to learn more about that platform.

Does fuboTV Have On-Demand Content?

Like other live TV streaming services, fuboTV has an on-demand library of content. You can watch from hundreds of currently airing shows in its on-demand library.

Additionally, the service offers a Lookback feature. If you forget to record a show, you can go back and watch previously aired content.

Look and Feel

The platform is easy-to-use and well-designed. It has a simple black, gray, and white color scheme, making it easy on the eyes.

The menu is separated into several tabs. Your experience will differ depending on the device you use to view content.

On a web-based device, the tabs are Home, Sports, Shows, Movies, Guide, and Recordings.

If you’re on a mobile device, they combine Shows and Movies into Entertainment. Also, the Recordings tab will show as My Fubo.

Each main tab includes sub-tabs. Home, for example, has Live TV, 4K on Demand, Live Sports, Popular Shows, and Popular Movies.

With the Sports option, you can select games airing on the same day or future events.

The guide isn’t alphabetized, but you can create your own selection of favorite channels to help streamline searching.

Lack of alphabetization aside, the fuboTV guide is simple to use. The guide includes a drop-down menu that allows you to select a specific style of content.

You can also change the date within the guide so that you don’t have to mindlessly scroll to the day you want.

Features

The cable replacement space is a competitive market. Streaming platforms differentiate themselves by regularly improving their offerings to add features that users demand.

Here are a few of the features that set fuboTV apart from the competition.

Video Quality

The streaming platform supports up to 1080p content, but that does depend on the channel and program you’re watching.

It also offers some events in 4K. The site lists the current options as over 130.

To view content in 4K, you must use 4K supported devices, like the Apple TV 4K, Fire Stick 4K, or Roku Premiere.

It’s important to note that you can’t record 4K content. However, there isn’t a live TV streaming service available that currently offers 4K ability.

*Related: Read our YouTube TV vs. fuboTV to learn how the two streaming services compare.

The closest is YouTube TV, and you must purchase an add-on to receive it. It costs $9.99 per month for the first 12 months, then $19.99 a month after the first year.

Additionally, the sound is standard 2.0 stereo audio as it doesn’t yet support Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround Sound.

Cloud DVR

DVR capabilities are important for most cord-cutters. The fuboTV cloud DVR shouldn’t disappoint. Its standard storage capacity is 1,000 hours in the Pro plan.

The service used to charge an additional $9.99 per month if you wanted anything more than 30 hours. That is no longer the case.

The Elite plan also includes 1,000 hours in storage capacity.

You can fast-forward through commercials with either one. Plus, you can keep recordings indefinitely.

What Devices are Compatible with fuboTV?

Like most other platforms, you can use a variety of streaming devices to watch TV shows and movies.

Here are the streaming media players that work with FuboTV:

• Amazon Fire TV or Stick (all models)
• Android devices (5.0 and later)
• AppleTV 4^th and 5^th generation (4K)
• iPhones and iPads (iOS 10 and later)
• Chromecast devices
• Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Safari)
• Roku Streaming Stick(model 3600X and later)
• Samsung Smart TVs
• Vizio Smartcast TVs
• Xbox consoles

You can also use the TV Anywhere app to watch the service.

Additionally, some smart TVs may come with the app loaded. If that’s the case, you don’t need to purchase any compatible devices. Just log in and start watching content.

Simultaneous Screens

If you have a large family, you need the ability to watch on multiple screens at once. Both base plans offer ten simultaneous streams.

This makes it a good Hulu alternative because that service only offers two streams before requiring an upgrade.

Similar to YouTube TV, you can have up to six different profiles under one subscription. Despite the multiple profiles, fuboTV doesn’t currently offer parental controls.

You will want to look at YouTube TV and Sling if that feature is essential to you.

*Related: Can’t decide between Hulu Live and Sling TV? Read our Hulu Live vs. Sling guide to see a side-by-side analysis.*

Lookback and Startover

Did you forget to record a show or sporting event? The Lookback and Startover features allow users to go back up to 72 hours in the past to watch any sporting event or show they may have missed.

To get there, click on the calendar icon in the guide and choose the original airtime. If you want to view the event, simply click the Watch Now button.

You can’t record this content, but you can rewind or fast-forward to watch exactly what you want.

Internet Speed Requirements

Nothing is more frustrating than buffering and pixelation when watching a game or TV show. Live TV services require a high-speed internet connection to avoid this.

Here are the streaming requirements to get good video quality with fuboTV:

If you’re not sure what internet speed connection you have, you can test it at SpeedTest.net.

You can also read our speed requirements for streaming providers to see how they compare.

Pros and Cons

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a streaming platform. Here are some things to think about when looking at the fuboTV streaming service.

Pros:

• Lots of available channels (more than any other service)
• Dozens of sports channels available in the base package
• Good mix of live news, entertainment, and lifestyle channels
• Can have up to six profiles per account
• Generous DVR storage
• Intuitive interface
• Some 4K content
• Reliable streaming

Cons:

• No Turner channels
• On the expensive end of the tier
• Additional fee for RSNs
• No parental controls

There is a lot to like about the service. While it is on the pricey side, it costs the same amount as YouTube TV. It is also in the same price range as Hulu Live.

Read our comparison of fuboTV vs. Hulu Live to learn about how they differ.

Is fuboTV Any Good?

If you’re tired of paying an expensive cable bill, fuboTV is a solid choice. The average monthly bill for cable or satellite is over $200.

Even if you sign up for the Elite plan, you’re saving 60 percent each month if you’re paying the average bill.

FuboTV has many available channels, is great for sports fans, and includes many features to enhance your viewing experience.

Top Alternatives

FuboTV is a true cable replacement, especially for sports fans. It offers many fantastic features. However, if you find it doesn’t meet your needs, there are other choices.

Here is how it compares against the other players:

Keep in mind that you can use free trials to find a video streaming service that works for you. Read our guide on the top FuboTV alternatives to learn more about each platform.

Sling TV

Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services on the market. It has two base plans, including Orange and Blue, which both cost $40 a month.

You can combine the two for $55 per month.

Unfortunately, the Sling channel packages are not as robust. Orange offers 32, and Blue provides 42. However, it has a good mix of popular sports and entertainment content.

It’s as close to an a la carte experience as you can find. Nevertheless, you may find it lacking in comparison to other services.

It also only carries ABC, FOX, and NBC in select markets, so it’s not a good choice to watch local channels without cable or satellite.

Read our review of Sling TV to learn more.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM is the no-contract arm of DIRECTV. It has four plans. They start at $74.99 per month and top out at $154.99 a month.

You receive nearly 70 channels in the base plan. It also carries the most RSNs in the space. You’ll need the Choice plan to get those, which costs $89.99 a month.

Read our review of DIRECTV STREAM to learn more.

However, if you want Bally RSNs and don’t need a live service, the Bally standalone app could be a good choice. Read our Bally Sports+ review to learn more.

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu Live is one of the largest live TV services on the market. It rivals DIRECTV STREAM for cost, with its plans starting at $76.99 per month.

This cost also includes the Disney+ plus ESPN+ bundle. However, the service is fee happy, charging additional fees to access additional screens and more.

Fortunately, the service has nearly 90 channels, including many popular sports and lifestyle networks.

Read our review of Hulu with Live TV to learn more.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is likely the closest to fuboTV. It costs $72.99 a month and includes roughly 100 popular channels.

A key differentiator for YouTube TV is its unlimited DVR. Plus, you can keep recordings for nine months.

Read our review of YouTube TV to learn more.

Bottom Line

When it comes to sports, fuboTV won’t disappoint. Even if you’re not a sports fan, the service’s base package offers the most channels in the space, making it a good fit for most cord-cutters.

It is on the pricier side. But, compared to similar platforms, the streaming platform holds its own.

If DVR capability, 4K content, and multiple streams are important to you, try the free seven-day trial now.

What do you look for in a cable replacement service?