Cut the cord and save money with one of our tested picks for the best live TV streaming services. Find out how YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, and others stack up.
Cutting the cable cord can save you big money — between $30 and over $100 a month in many cases. If you want to leave cable behind but still want the option to watch live TV, don’t worry: We’ve tested the best live TV streaming services that can help you save money by saying goodbye to expensive cable contracts and equipment while still allowing you to watch all of your favorite shows and sports, whether you’re watching on your TV, phone, laptop, or tablet.
Our tested pick for the best live TV streaming service is YouTube TV, thanks to its wide channel selection, unlimited DVR, and add-on options. Read on to find the rest of my picks for the best live TV streaming service, whether you’re looking to watch the news, sports, top TV shows, or anything else. (A tip: To see the full list of live channels that each service offers, click through to their website and enter your zip code.)
Which streaming service is the best for live TV?
The best live TV streaming service is YouTube TV, thanks to its variety of channels and unlimited DVR. To see how it compares, here is an overview of the best live TV streaming services.
Streaming Service Starting Price Channels Plan Options
YouTube TV $73/month 100+ channels 1
Sling TV $40/month 31+ channels 3
Hulu Plus Live TV $77/month 90+ channels 2
DirecTV $80/month 75+ channels 4
FuboTV $75/month 175+ channels 3
Philo $25/month 115+ channels 1
Which live TV streaming service is right for you?
If you want. Then choose.
The best live TV streaming service overall YouTube TV, with over 100 channels and unlimited DVR.
The best budget live TV streaming service Sling TV, for its affordable price and customizable channel options.
The best all-in-one live TV and VoD streaming service Hulu Plus Live TV, for its bundle of live channels, Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.
The best live TV streaming service that mirrors cable DirecTV, to get lots of channels and the channel surfing experience.
The best live TV streaming service for sports FuboTV, to watch almost any sport you can imagine.
The best cheap live TV streaming service Philo, for popular channels and unlimited DVR.
It’s important to note that each of these services could change their pricing, channel lineup, DVR capabilities, and number of available streams at any time, so make sure you check their websites before you subscribe.
Factors to consider when choosing a live TV streaming service
Before you cut the cord and subscribe to a live TV streaming service, you should consider the following factors:
How we test live TV streaming services
I’ve spent hours testing and researching the live TV streaming services on this list, as well as other VoD streaming services over the years.
