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Entertainment · head to head

Pluto TV vs YouTube TV

Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube TV logo

YouTube TV

Entertainment

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
$59.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pluto TV has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024); YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where Pluto TV and YouTube TV differ
AttributePluto TVYouTube TV
Starting priceFree$59.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb
Founded2013Unknown

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 Pluto TV

  • Streaming
  • Live TV channels
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account management

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that Pluto TV does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Pluto TV

  • Free streamingnot YouTube TV
  • Live TVnot YouTube TV
  • On-demand contentnot YouTube TV

YouTube TV

  • Watching live sports with multiview capability to watch up to 4 games simultaneouslynot Pluto TV
  • Accessing 100+ broadcast and cable channels for entertainment and showsnot Pluto TV
  • Streaming news coverage from CNN, FOX News, and local stationsnot Pluto TV
  • Sharing household accounts with up to 6 individual family membersnot Pluto TV
  • Recording unlimited content with DVR storage across devicesnot Pluto TV

Where each one falls short

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

Pluto TV

  • Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

Pricing, plan by plan

Pluto TV

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full content
    • Live channels
    • Ad-supported

YouTube TV

$59.99/month
  • YouTube TV Standard$82.99/month
    • 100+ channels
    • Unlimited DVR storage
    • 6 individual accounts
  • YouTube TV Sports$64.99/month
    • 30+ sports channels
  • YouTube TV Promotional (New Users)$59.99/month
    • Standard plan
    • First 3 months promotional rate
  • Add-Ons$1.99/month
    • 4K Plus ($9.99/month)
    • Entertainment Plus ($29.99/month)
    • Sports Plus ($10.99/month)

Which should you pick?

Choose Pluto TV if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want live tv channels.
Pluto TV review

Choose YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from Pluto TV on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is Pluto TV or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and YouTube TV at $59.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or YouTube TV?
Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pluto TV and $59.99/month for YouTube TV.
Does Pluto TV or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. YouTube TV runs on Web.
Can I use Pluto TV for free?
Yes. Pluto TV has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YouTube TV starts at $59.99/month.
What is Pluto TV best used for?
Pluto TV is most often used for free streaming, live tv, on-demand content. Of those, free streaming and live tv are not what YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can Pluto TV do that YouTube TV cannot?
Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

YouTube TV: Do I need a contract or annual commitment for YouTube TV?

No, YouTube TV has no contracts or hidden fees. You can cancel anytime.

Source
YouTube TV: Can multiple household members watch YouTube TV at the same time?

Yes, YouTube TV allows up to 4 simultaneous streams and supports 6 individual household accounts with personalized recommendations for each member.

Source
YouTube TV: How much DVR storage does YouTube TV include?

YouTube TV includes unlimited DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing you to record as much content as you want.

Source
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