How Much Does YouTube TV Cost? – NerdWallet

YouTube TV is a popular streaming service, offering more than 100 live TV channels, including local and national networks, sports, and news. It can take the place of cable TV, rather than being an extra.

But how much does YouTube TV cost, exactly? The answer will vary depending on the package and add-ons you select.

YouTube TV offers its Base Plan for $72.99 per month, though first-time customers can take advantage of a promotional rate of $57.99 per month for the first three months.

The Base Plan features over 100 channels, but if you prefer to select individual channels, YouTube TV also allows users to add some channels à la carte at varying rates.

As an alternative to the Base Plan, you can purchase the Spanish Plan, which comes with over 30 Spanish channels for $34.99 per month. Or, if you want Spanish channels in addition to the Base Plan, you can get the Spanish Plus add-on, which comes with over 28 Spanish channels for $14.99 a month on top of your Base Plan rate.

Depending on where you live, your monthly bill may also have sales or communications taxes added.

How much is YouTube TV per month if you opt for add-ons? It depends on how you customize your plan.

For instance, NFL Sunday Ticket, which offers access to games outside your local market, can be added to your Base Plan for an additional $349 a year. NFL Sunday Ticket is also available as a stand-alone, without the Base Plan, for $449 a year. NFL RedZone, which offers “whip-around coverage of every game on Sunday afternoon,” can be added to either option.

Similarly, TV and movie buffs can bundle Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz and Max (formerly HBO Max) in the Entertainment Plus add-on for an additional $29.99 per month.

Other add-on options include:

• Additional premium channels starting at $1.99 a month.

• 4K Plus ultra-high-definition viewing for an additional $9.99 a month (requires compatible device).

• Additional sports networks for $10.99 a month with Sports Plus.

• Additional Spanish language channels for $14.99 a month with Spanish Plus. 

YouTube TV is strictly month-to-month, with no option for an annual plan. If you keep the Base Plan for a year, that works out to $875.88 total. However, if you’re new to YouTube TV and get your first three months at $57.99 apiece, you’ll pay only $830.88 for your first year.

This may sound steep compared with other streaming platforms, but keep in mind that YouTube TV is meant to replace your cable TV package, with more than 100 live channels that include both local and national programming.

You can cancel at any time without penalties or cancellation fees, but you can’t get a refund for a partial viewing period. Your YouTube TV settings will be saved in case you want to restart your membership. You also have the option to pause your membership for up to six months without losing your DVR recordings.

YouTube TV offers six household accounts and can be streamed across as many as three devices, meaning you can indeed share your password with others in your household. You can send a message to invite someone to join your “family group,” but they must be age 13 or older, live in your household and not be part of another family group.

When signing up, YouTube will ask for your home ZIP code to provide the correct local channels. You can use it in other locations, such as while traveling, but may not be able to record things outside your home area. And frequent travelers should “check in” at least once every three months by watching something in their home area.

YouTube TV’s Base Plan doesn’t support offline viewing. However, users can add 4K Plus for an additional $9.99 per month, which offers unlimited simultaneous viewing and the ability to download movies or shows to watch offline. Also, some add-on networks may allow downloading of content for offline viewing.

If you’re looking to replace your cable TV package, YouTube TV can be a solid option with plenty of customizable features, though it’s worth investigating the channels offered and comparing the platform’s features to competing providers.

Overall, entertainment like cable or a streaming service falls under the “wants” portion of your budget. In the popular 50/30/20 budget, for example, 30% of your income goes toward wants, while 50% is for needs and the final 20% goes to savings and debt paydown. If you’re having trouble fitting your choice of streaming services into your discretionary spending, look into ways to save money elsewhere in your budget.