Is Fubo the Best Cable Alternative? Complete Review of Plans, Channels & Add-ons

I’ve found Fubo to be one of the top streaming options for watching sports after cutting the cord. It has a very large number of sports-oriented channels, even in its base plan. I discuss this and more below.

Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

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Fubo Overview

What Plans Does Fubo Offer?

Fubo has three plans: Pro, Elite, and Latino. You could create your own Elite plan by purchasing add-ons with the Pro plan, but it would be much more expensive.

The base (Pro) plan comes with 150+ channels for $79.99/month. The Elite plan adds to this Fubo Extra, News Plus, and 4K viewing for $89.99/month.

Fubo’ also offers a’s Spanish-language package, Fubo Latino, for $32.99/month comes with 65+ channels, and as with the English plans, they are heavy on sports.

Fubo offers many add-ons including pay channel sets like Paramount+ with Showtime as well as special interest channel sets like Sports Plus With NFL RedZone ($10.99/mo) and Portuguese Plus ($14.99/mo).

All Fubo services are charged per month with no contract.

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Fubo Plans

The standard Fubo plans provide everything that most viewers would want. All of them can be supplemented, of course. See our Fubo Package Guide for all the details.

Fubo Performance and User Experience

Fubo offers much more than a bunch of channels. In the following sections, I discuss its various features.

Video Quality and 4K

Fubo is generally streamed at 720p and 60 FPS (frames per second). (Some content is only available at 30 FPS.) There is substantial content that streams 1080p.

Elite subscribers can stream special events in 4K/UHD (Fubo has removed this perk for Pro subscribers). Fubo provides an up-to-date list of events airing in 4K — usually on Fox and NBC Sports. (Note, however, that 4K content cannot be recorded with the DVR.)

Simultaneous Streaming

Subscribers can use multiple screens simultaneously. The Pro and Elite packages come with 10 screens. This is the number of devices that can be used at the same time at home. You can also stream on up to three devices when you are away from home.

The Latino package allows you to watch on two devices at once. You can upgrade this with the Family Share ($5.99/mo) or Unlimited Screens ($9.99/mo) add-ons.

TV Everywhere

Also included is an excellent selection of TV Everywhere apps from roughly 50 providers that allow you to access many more channels. These are discussed in detail in our Fubo packages guide.

Fubo Cloud DVR

Fubo used to offer a set number of hours of permanent cloud DVR storage. But they have gone in the direction of most other services by now offering unlimited storage but with a 9-month time limit.

The Fubo DVR is unusual. It doesn’t record from the point in a program you start recording. Instead, it records the entire program. This is good in that it allows you to watch an entire program even if you were late to it.

Can I Skip Commercials With Fubo?

You can’t skip commercials on a live TV stream just as you can’t on live cable. You can skip commercials on shows/events you have recorded with the cloud DVR. (Some streaming services do not allow this or charge extra for the ability.) So by recording something and watching it slightly later, you can skip all the commercials.

Fubo Interface

Fubo provides a slick and easy-to-use interface regardless of the platform it is running on. If you learn it on one device, you will be very comfortable with it on all the others.

Although there are differences between these platforms, they all provide the same basic navigation features.

• Home: presents the most popular Live TV channels with the programs that are currently being shown. It also provides direct links to featured content (popular movies, shows, and sporting events). The Live Sports section lists popular events currently streaming. There are also links to Top Leagues & Tournaments.
• Sports: presents Featured content and a complete list of all the sporting events taking place. This list can be limited by sport: soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, racing, tennis, rugby, boxing, MMA, horse racing, and others. This can be further filtered. For example, Racing is subdivided into NASCAR Cup Series, eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, Formula E, and several others.
• Shows and Movies: present popular content. It also provides links to on-demand content.
• Guide: is like a standard cable interface: all the channels are listed with what they are currently and soon to show.
• Recordings: Lists all of the shows/movies/events that you’ve recorded with the cloud DVR. It is a simple list that can be filtered for sports, shows, and movies. This interface is not ideal if you have a lot of recordings. But this is a problem with most services.

Fubo Device Support

Like other live TV streaming services, Fubo works on most streaming devices — from desktop computers to smartphones to stick devices to smart TVs to gaming consoles. They are all easy to set up as well.

Our Fubo devices guide gives details but here are the major devices supported:

Fubo Content: The Basics

Fubo provides a good selection of live TV channels and on-demand content regardless of the plan.

Live TV Channels on Fubo

The exact number of channels that are included with a subscription will depend upon your location. Local and regional channels differ from place to place.

Fubo offers 10 local network affiliates (location-dependent): ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW, Telemundo, Univision, UniMas, myNetwork TV, and Cozi TV. Most locations have ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and Telemundo. It also provides access to various independent channels.

If you go to the Fubo home page, it will tell you exactly what channels are available in your area. For more information, see our Fubo local channel guide.

Fubo’s Pro Plan Channel Line-Up

The Pro plan features a wide array of 150+ TV channels. For the complete channel list, see our Fubo Packages Guide.

Here is an overview of the kinds of channels that it offers:

Fubo’s Elite Plan Channels

The Elite plan comes with all the channels of the Pro plan with the addition of 75 channels from two add-ons. See our Fubo Packages Guide for the details.

Fubo’s Latino Plan Channel Line-Up

Fubo offers a Spanish-language plan, Latino. It provides local affiliates (where available) for Univision and UniMás. It offers 60+ other channels. Twenty of these channels are sports-focused.

Our Fubo Latino Guide has a complete list of channels.

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Missing Channels on Fubo: Turner, A&E, and AMC

Fubo offers a lot for its price. But that necessarily means that it has holes in its channel lineup. There are three sets of channels that it does not offer.

In mid-2020, while otherwise greatly expanding its channels, Fubo stopped providing content from Turner Broadcasting System. So you can’t watch popular channels like CNN, TNT, or TBS. Also gone: Turner Classic Movies, Boomerang, and Cartoon Network (Adult Swim).

In mid-2021, Fubo ended its contract with A&E Networks. As a result, they no longer offer A&E, FYI Channel, History Channel, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network (LMN), and Vice.

And finally, starting in 2023, Fubo dropped AMC Networks channels. So no more AMC, BBC America, BBC World News, IFC, Sundance TV, We TV, or AMC Premier package.

On-Demand Content With Fubo

Although it is primarily a live TV streaming service, Fubo provides an impressive selection of on-demand TV shows and movies. It’s a well-rounded collection designed to appeal to a broad audience.

For a complete discussion of Fubo channels — including a comparison of the channels that come with each plan — see Fubo Packages. It should answer any questions you may still have.

Fubo Sports Channels

Fubo started in 2015 as a way to stream soccer to underserved US viewers. Since that time, it has greatly broadened its offerings. But it remains focused on sports where it continues to be a leader among the streaming services.

You will find a complete list of channels in our Fubo Packages Guide. But here is an overview of the sports channels in each plan:

• Pro: beIN Sports (10 channels), CBS Sports, base ESPN, FOX Sports, NFL Network, and TUDN (12 channels).
• Elite: Pro Plan plus ESPN subchannels (4 channels), MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, Stadium, and Tennis.

Regional Sports Networks on Fubo

All Fubo plans come with regional sports networks (RSNs) in the subscriber’s geographical area — including all of the Bally Sports channels. The only exception is in Los Angeles where Fubo does not offer the two Spectrum RSNs, SportsNet and SportsNet LA.

Note, however, that Fubo charges an RSN fee depending on how many RSNs are included. The total price for the base plan is then:

• One RSN: $91.98/month
• Two or More RSNs: $94.98/month

This still makes Fubo a better deal for most RSNs than any other provider.

Latino Sports Channels on Fubo

Even the low-cost Spanish-language plan offers a good selection of sports programming. This includes beIN Sports (3 channels), ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, GolTV, TUDN (12 channels), and TyC Sports.

Fubo Add-Ons and Premium Channels

Fubo offers premium (Showtime, Starz, MGM+ but no HBO), channel (various but especially sports), and technical add-ons (simultaneous screens — for Latino plan only). These are all discussed in detail in our Fubo Packages Guide.

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How to Get Started With Fubo

Like all streaming services, Fubo works over the internet. You need a reliable connection to use it.

The following process refers to the Starter plan. It no longer exists. It was the same as the Pro plan but it offered slightly different features.

1. Go to the Fubo website.
2. Scroll down to “Which plan is right for you?” to select the Fubo channel package. Click “Start free trial.

3. Create an account with your email address and password. Verify your zip code and click “CONTINUE.”

4. Fubo will send a message to your email address with a 6-digit code. Enter it and click “Submit.”

5. The next screen allows you to purchase add-ons for your subscription. When finished, click “CONTINUE TO LAST STEP.”

6. Finally, enter your payment information and click “START WATCHING FUBOTV.”

You can now watch Live TV on all your devices. You can cancel your subscription at any time.

Fubo Alternatives

If sports is the most important factor in your choice of a streaming service, Fubo is probably your best bet. But for those with different needs, other services provide a lot of sports and are worth considering.

General Considerations With Fubo Alternatives

• Sling TV: This is a great choice for streamers on a budget. It doesn’t include as many channels and is missing CBS and all of the RSNs. But provides a good selection of channels with unmatched price and control of what channels you pay for.
• DIRECTV STREAM: Provides a service that is most similar to Fubo. On the plus side, it doesn’t have any of the holes that Fubo does in its channel lineup (eg, TNT, TBS). On the negative side, it is notably more expensive.
• Hulu + Live TV: This is a great overall streaming service and also includes Disney+ and ESPN+. Its biggest problem is that it offers very few RSNs. It also offers very limited add-on options.
• YouTube TV: Provides a very similar service to Hulu + Live TV. It doesn’t come with Disney+ and ESPN+ and suffers from the same limited RSN selection. But it has an outstanding selection of add-ons — almost as good as Sling TV’s.

Our Choice

Fubo is my top choice for sports streaming. But it’s also arguably as good as a general streaming service. But its inclusion of RSNs virtually everywhere seals the deal. No sports fan will be disappointed with it. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

Is it easy to cancel Fubo?

Yes, you can easily cancel Fubo. Fubo is a month-to-month service that doesn’t use contracts. You can cancel at any time. In the past, Fubo offered discounts for paying on a quarterly or yearly basis. But they don’t offer that anymore. Regardless, Fubo is less expensive than any cable or satellite provider on a monthly basis.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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