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YouTube TV’s main plan costs $82.99 per month plus tax, while genre-based plans start at $54.99 plus tax. The savings can be meaningful, but the right choice depends on your ZIP-specific local channels, sports needs, and DVR library—not price alone.
YouTube TV now offers a main plan and genre-based plans, but it is not an à-la-carte live-TV service. The main plan remains the widest bundle at $82.99 per month plus applicable tax. Lower-priced options begin at $54.99 per month plus applicable tax, provided the channels and local stations you need are included for your home ZIP code.
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The practical rule is simple: identify the networks, teams, and recordings you cannot lose; verify them in YouTube TV’s ZIP-specific plan selector; then compare the full monthly cost, including any add-ons. A lower sticker price is not a saving if it removes the local station, league coverage, or DVR library you rely on.
Verified YouTube TV plan prices
| Plan | Standard monthly price | Published new-user offer |
|---|---|---|
| Main YouTube TV plan | $82.99 plus tax | No genre-plan launch offer stated |
| Sports | $64.99 plus tax | $54.99 plus tax for the first year |
| Sports + News | $71.99 plus tax | $56.99 plus tax for the first 3 months |
| Entertainment | $54.99 plus tax | $44.99 plus tax for the first 3 months |
| News + Entertainment + Family | $69.99 plus tax | $59.99 plus tax for the first 3 months |
Those introductory prices are temporary, not the ongoing rate. They are offers for new users, and an existing subscriber who changes plans while receiving promotional pricing loses that promotion.
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- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
There are 13 selections—but not 13 publicly priced bundles
YouTube’s current membership help lists these choices: YouTube TV (the main plan), Sports, Sports + News, Sports + Entertainment, Sports + Family, Sports + News + Entertainment, Sports + News + Family, Sports + Entertainment + Family, News + Entertainment, News + Family, News + Entertainment + Family, Entertainment, and Entertainment + Family.
That menu does not mean there is a standalone News plan or a standalone Family plan. Nor does YouTube publish a fixed, comprehensive public price and channel chart for every listed combination. Additional combinations may appear with prices in your own membership selector, depending on your home ZIP code and, in some cases, who bills you.
Before subscribing or changing plans, enter your ZIP at tv.youtube.com/welcome, then inspect the available Membership plans and channel lineup. Do not assume a plan shown in an announcement is available at the same price in every location.
What each genre is meant to cover
Channel availability is location-specific, especially for local affiliates and sports programming. These are representative categories and official examples—not a promise that every household receives every listed network.
| Genre | What to expect | Representative examples |
|---|---|---|
| Main plan | The broadest option, with 100+ networks across genres. | A broad mix of live TV, entertainment, news, sports, and local programming where available. |
| Sports | For major broadcasters, local channels, and sports networks without a broad entertainment/news bundle. | ESPN, FS1, and NBC Sports Network are among YouTube’s examples. |
| Sports + News | Sports plus national-news coverage. | CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Bloomberg, and Fox Business are listed examples. |
| Entertainment | Major broadcasters and general-entertainment channels. | FX, Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, and HGTV are listed examples. |
| News + Entertainment + Family | Entertainment and news with family-oriented programming. | Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, and PBS Kids are listed family examples. |
You cannot make a custom live-TV package by selecting individual channels. If one indispensable channel is absent, compare the cost of an eligible add-on or consider whether buying that individual premium network separately makes more sense. Individual-network purchases are a different product path, not a workaround for building a custom YouTube TV lineup, and they may affect promotions.
Do the cheaper plans lose YouTube TV features?
No. YouTube says the features on the main plan are also available on the genre plans. That includes unlimited DVR, multiview, key plays, family sharing, and the usual simultaneous-stream allowance. A family group can include up to six members on one account, and standard use supports up to three simultaneous devices.
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- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
4K Plus remains separate. It can add 4K for eligible content, offline viewing of eligible DVR recordings on mobile, and unlimited simultaneous streams on the home Wi-Fi network, with three streams outside the home. Moving to a genre plan does not include 4K Plus automatically, and 4K requires both compatible programming and a compatible device.
How to switch plans safely
For a subscriber billed directly by YouTube TV, use the following path:
- Make a short list of must-have channels, local stations, sports, and DVR recordings.
- Check your home ZIP code at
tv.youtube.com/welcomeand confirm the target plan’s lineup and price. - Open YouTube TV on the web or a supported TV interface.
- Go to Settings > Membership.
- Select your current plan or an available alternative, then complete the confirmation steps.
The new plan starts immediately. YouTube applies a credit for unused time on the old plan, subject to its stated cap, and charges the new plan immediately. Your main-plan billing date changes to the switch date. Existing add-ons carry over, but each add-on keeps its own monthly billing cycle.
Read these three warnings before confirming
- A promotional price can disappear. Changing plans while on an introductory offer forfeits that promotion.
- You cannot switch in the iOS or Android YouTube TV apps. Use the web or a supported TV interface.
- A downgrade can affect DVR access. If a recording came from a channel removed by the new plan, it is removed from your library. Re-upgrade to a plan containing that genre within 21 days to regain access.
Only the Family Manager can make the change. The new channel availability and related DVR effects apply across the family group, so check with everyone who uses the account before downgrading.
If you are billed through a mobile carrier or internet provider, contact that billing platform instead. It may offer a narrower range of plans than direct YouTube billing.
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Sports Plan vs. NFL Sunday Ticket
The Sports Plan is a sensible starting point for someone who primarily wants sports networks, major broadcasters, and available local channels. But local channels are for relevant in-market broadcasts. NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate add-on for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games; it is not interchangeable with a local-channel package.
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- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
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- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
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Sports availability can still be limited by location, league, network, device, and blackout rules. Check your ZIP-specific lineup and the terms for the game or league you follow before changing plans.
YouTube says ESPN Unlimited is planned to arrive later in fall. Treat that as planned availability, not as a channel already included today, unless YouTube has updated your own plan details to show otherwise.
Home area, travel, and local channels
YouTube TV is available throughout the United States, but the home ZIP code determines the local lineup. At sign-up, YouTube may ask you to verify your device location. When traveling, you can watch programming local to where you are, but you cannot watch or record your home-area local networks. Frequent travelers must use YouTube TV in their home area at least once every three months.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Spanish-language options are separate decisions
The standalone Spanish Plan offers 28+ Spanish-language networks for $24.99 plus tax per month without a YouTube TV membership. Spanish Plus, by contrast, is an add-on to a YouTube TV plan and provides 25+ additional Spanish-language networks.
To move from the standalone Spanish Plan to Spanish Plus, you must first have a YouTube TV plan and then add Spanish Plus. Choose the standalone option if Spanish-language live TV is all you need; choose the add-on only when the broader YouTube TV lineup is also worth paying for.
Rank #4
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
When pausing or canceling is better than switching
For a seasonal viewer, pausing or canceling may be more economical than keeping a smaller plan year-round. Both options retain access through the end of the current payment period.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Pause: Choose a pause of four weeks to six months. It begins after the current billing cycle, and YouTube TV does not record new programs while paused.
- Cancel: After cancellation, recordings expire after 21 days. Otherwise, recordings generally follow the standard nine-month expiration window.
Pause is useful when you expect to return after a defined off-season. Cancel is better when you do not know when, or whether, you will resume.
Need a streaming device?
If your television already has a supported YouTube TV app or you own a compatible streamer, you do not need new hardware. If it does not, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a compatible option; YouTube officially supports all versions of the Fire TV Stick 4K. Confirm the app is supported on the specific device you intend to use before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose individual channels for my YouTube TV plan?
No. YouTube TV lists 13 main and genre-combination choices, but it does not offer a build-your-own package of individual live channels. The selections available and their prices can depend on your ZIP code and billing arrangement.
How do I change my YouTube TV plan?
Go to Settings > Membership on the web or a supported TV interface, choose an available plan, and confirm. The change begins immediately. You cannot make this change in the iOS or Android YouTube TV apps.
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A recording from a channel removed by your new plan is removed from your library. If you re-upgrade to include that genre within 21 days, you can regain access.
Is NFL Sunday Ticket included with the Sports Plan?
No. NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate add-on for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. The Sports Plan’s local channels cover relevant in-market broadcasts where available.
Will I keep my introductory price if I switch plans?
No. A direct-billed subscriber who changes plans while receiving promotional pricing loses that promotion.
The Bottom Line
The best YouTube TV plan is the least expensive ZIP-available bundle that still has your must-watch channels, local coverage, and needed DVR access. Verify those first; then switch only after accounting for lost promotions, immediate billing, and any recordings tied to dropped channels.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
