Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

fuboTV vs Plex

fuboTV logo

fuboTV

Entertainment

Sports-first live TV streaming bundle with regional sports networks and a cloud DVR

From
$73.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

Plex

Entertainment

Cloud ERP for smart manufacturing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Plex has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: fuboTV regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry price.; Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
  • They diverge on capability: fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Plex covers Financial management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which fuboTV and Plex actually diverge.

Attributes where fuboTV and Plex differ
AttributefuboTVPlex
Starting price$73.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsRoku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks
  • Cloud DVR
  • Local broadcast affiliates
  • Multiple simultaneous streams
  • Sports-only skinny package
  • 4K and multiview

Only in Plex

  • Financial management
  • Manufacturing execution
  • Supply chain
  • Quality management
  • Analytics
  • IoT platforms
  • REST APIs
  • Webhooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

fuboTV

  • A household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contractnot Plex
  • A soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fuboTV built its identity onnot Plex
  • A family replacing cable that specifically needs local ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates plus general entertainment channelsnot Plex
  • A cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundlenot Plex

Plex

  • Industry 4.0not fuboTV
  • Real-time monitoringnot fuboTV
  • IoT integrationnot fuboTV
  • Smart manufacturingnot fuboTV

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry price.
  • It is the most expensive of the mainstream live TV bundles at the entry tier, and Philo costs a fraction of the price for anyone who does not need sports.
  • Cloud DVR storage has limits on the base plan, and keeping recordings longer or expanding storage costs extra.
  • Channel lineups and RSN availability vary significantly by zip code, so the exact price and channel list a household gets is not fully knowable until they check their specific address.
  • Price increases have been frequent historically, so the entry price at signup is not a reliable guide to what a subscriber pays a year or two later.

Plex

  • Plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
  • Remote streaming quality degrades significantly if Plex cannot establish direct connection and falls back to relay mode
  • Upcoming sunsetting of plugins, Cloud Sync, and Watch Later features

Pricing, plan by plan

fuboTV

$73.99/month
  • Pro$73.99/month
    • 150+ channels
    • Local ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC in most markets
    • Cloud DVR included
  • Elite$83.99/month
    • More channels than Pro
    • Additional sports and entertainment networks
  • Deluxe$103.99/month
    • Widest channel count
    • Premium networks included

Plex

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Plex review.

Which should you pick?

Choose fuboTV if

  • You need regional sports networks.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs.
  • You also want cloud dvr.
fuboTV review

Choose Plex if

  • You need financial management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want manufacturing execution.
Plex review

Questions people ask

Is fuboTV or Plex better?
Neither clearly leads. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month and Plex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, fuboTV or Plex?
Plex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $73.99/month for fuboTV and Free for Plex.
Does fuboTV or Plex run on more platforms?
fuboTV runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Plex for free?
Yes. Plex has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month.
What is fuboTV best used for?
fuboTV is most often used for a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract, a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on, a family replacing cable that specifically needs local abc, fox, cbs and nbc affiliates plus general entertainment channels, a cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundle. Of those, a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract and a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on are not what Plex is typically brought in for.
What can fuboTV do that Plex cannot?
fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Cloud DVR, Local broadcast affiliates, Multiple simultaneous streams. Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

fuboTV: Does fuboTV include local channels?

Yes, ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates are included in most supported markets, though coverage varies by zip code.

Plex: Is Plex Media Server free?

Yes. Plex Media Server and the ad-supported streaming catalog are free. Plex Pass is an optional subscription at 6.99 USD per month or 69.99 USD per year that adds features like hardware transcoding and offline sync.

Source
fuboTV: Are regional sports networks included in the base price?

No, RSNs are a separate add-on priced by market, typically a few dollars to around $17 more per month.

Plex: Can I access Plex content offline?

Yes, but downloads have limitations. Downloaded content may have an expiration period and is specific to the device where downloaded. Downloads are not available on shared libraries in some cases.

Source
fuboTV: Is there a cheaper sports-only option?

Yes, fuboTV sells a lower-cost sports-focused skinny package alongside its full entertainment bundle.

Plex: What devices does Plex support?

Plex apps are available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Server software runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker.

Source
Plex: What is included in the free Plex catalog?

Plex's free ad-supported streaming catalog includes 14,000+ movies and shows from Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros, and Crackle Originals.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on fuboTV

More on Plex

Keep looking

Other head to heads