Who needs cable? Watch prime-time network shows, sports, breaking news, and more with these top, tested live television streaming services.
Canceling your cable contract doesn’t mean giving up live TV. Many video streaming services deliver live channels via an internet connection, though they cater to different viewers. For example, some live TV services are good for general audiences, others offer top sports channels, and a few focus on entertainment and lifestyle content.
Our tested options are available across many platforms, including mobile devices, web browsers, gaming consoles, and media streaming devices. Although these services are on the pricier end of the streaming video spectrum, you may still spend less money per month than you did while subscribing to cable. Besides the potential financial savings, these live TV services sometimes offer à la carte channel plans (though this flexibility is becoming rare). Whatever your reason for leaving cable behind, know that the number of live TV streaming options continues to rise. These are our top picks.Why We Picked It
Hulu is one of the best all-in-one services for cord cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. In addition to a strong library of classic shows and a good selection of movies, Hulu has a robust live TV option (more than 70 channels of news, sports, and entertainment programming). After adding 14 Viacom channels to its lineup, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Hulu recently picked up NFL Network and NFL RedZone.Who It’s For
Anyone seeking streaming convenience without abandoning traditional, live TV. Hulu’s basic on-demand streaming plan currently costs $7.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $14.99 per month. College students can get Hulu’s ad-supported version for $1.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV plan costs $76.99 per month, and combines Hulu’s live TV service with the ad-supported streaming plan. All subscribers now enjoy Enhanced Cloud DVR that increases the available DVR storage from 50 hours to 200 hours. You can also add the Unlimited Screens package (it allows an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home, and up to three outside of it) to your plan for $9.99 per month.Why We Picked It
YouTube TV offers an excellent selection of live sports and news channels, as well as many popular entertainment options. A few of the top networks available include ABC, AMC, CBS, CNN, Discovery, ESPN, Fox, FX, NBC, and PBS. Of course, this channel variety doesn’t come cheap; YouTube TV’s latest price hike raised the monthly subscription cost to $72.99 per month.Who It’s For
YouTube TV is your best option for replacing cable. If YouTube TV’s library still doesn’t meet your needs, you can add other packages, such as Acorn TV, CuriosityStream, and NBA League Pass to your subscription. The Entertainment Plus package bundles HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz for $30 per month. YouTube TV’s 4K Plus add-on ($9.99 per month) unlocks 4K streaming, support for an unlimited number of simultaneous streams, and offline viewing of DVR content. With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage, too. The service keeps your recordings for nine months, and you can stream your content from anywhere in the US. YouTube TV is currently testing a cool multiview feature that lets you check out four select channels at once.Why We Picked It
Fubo is a great option for cord-cutting sports fans. Its base subscription plan, called Fubo Starter, costs $74.99 per month and grants you access to about 150 channels, with the exact number depending on your location. For national sports events, there’s CBS, FOX, NBA TV, NBC, and NFL Network. For international sports, you get channels from the beIN network and Univision. If you’re ever not in the mood for sports, Fubo offers a wide variety of entertainment channels, such as AMC, The Food Network, FX, National Geographic, SYFY, and USA. You not only get to watch live events and programs from the included channels, but there are also a ton of on-demand shows and movies.Who It’s For
Television lovers who don’t want to miss a second of the programming. Fubo offers excellent DVR capabilities (250 hours of storage by default that can be increased to 1,000 hours) and supports three simultaneous streams (this limit expands to 10 via an add-on). The Lookback feature lets you watch anything you may have missed up to 72 hours after it first aired, while the Startover capability enables you to watch currently airing events from the beginning no matter when you tuned into the program.Why We Picked It
Most live TV subscriptions cost much more than the typical streaming video service, but at $25 per month, Philo is a far more appealing investment.
