The 8 Best Live TV Streaming Services to Cut Cable [2023 Update]

Many people want to cut the cord on cable but fear losing their favorite shows or live sports. Live TV streaming services eliminate that problem.

Most cable replacements let you watch popular channels for less. For example, we spent $110 per month before we canceled DIRECTV. Today, we pay less than half of that cost.

If you want to cut the cord and still watch live TV channels, this guide ranks the top services to meet your needs.

What to Consider When Comparing Live TV Streaming Apps

There is a lot to consider when you compare streaming services. We all have different needs for our entertainment, but there are several factors to evaluate when analyzing apps.

Here are four key areas to look at.

Price: Cost is the most important component of cutting the cable TV cord. Saving money is essential, but it’s easy to let costs creep up and reduce savings.

Most video streaming services offer base plans, but add-ons are available. Be mindful of these so that you don’t overspend. Price hikes are also inevitable.

All of the TV streaming services options here have no contracts, which means that you can cancel when you want.

Channels: You don’t want to lose your favorite TV channels when you’re cutting the cord on cable. Most live TV streaming services have a wide selection of channels, but not every service carries the same networks.

We have channel guides on all of the services, which you’ll find within each respective section. Consult those to direct your decision.

Does the service include local networks?: Getting access to local channels is important for many cord-cutters. These channels increase platform costs by at least $20 a month due to broadcast retransmission fees.

If you can use an over-the-air antenna, this can be a fantastic way to watch local TV without cable and cut costs.

The Mohu Leaf is a reliable antenna, and we use them in our home. You can use the code FRUGALRULES10 to receive ten percent off the purchase of one.

Features: Satellite TV and traditional cable companies like to lure customers with a bevy of features like unlimited DVR space and numerous simultaneous streams. However, those come at a cost.

It’s important to consider the features you like best when comparing streaming TV services. Some have a healthy DVR capacity. If that is important to you, keep that in mind as you choose a service.

What Streaming Service is Best For Live TV?

There are many choices when it comes to choosing streaming services with live TV. Some are true cable replacements, while others have a smaller focus and are more affordable.

As a preview, here is a comparison of the streaming apps. We’ve tested all of the services extensively.

Here are the best services to consider if you want to switch from cable to streaming TV. All you need is an internet connection and a device to use any of the apps.

1. YouTube TV: Top Overall Service

YouTube TV is our top choice to live stream TV. It has over 100 live TV channels, including popular lifestyle, entertainment, and sports networks.

Even at its base of $72.99 per month, it’s cheaper than cable or satellite.

What to Know About YouTube TV

Unlimited DVR: YouTube TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage, letting you record streaming content as much as you want. You can access recordings from any compatible device, regardless of your location.

Recordings can be stored for nine months. This shouldn’t be an issue for most people, but it is important to know.

Hulu Live has a very similar cloud DVR. Read our YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live analysis to learn which live TV streaming is best for your needs.

Lots of sports: Watching live sports is huge for cord-cutters, and YouTube TV doesn’t disappoint. It has the full suite of ESPN channels, FS1, FS2, and most of the major collegiate networks.

YouTube TV is also one of the few platforms to offer all three major sports networks, including the NFL and MLB Networks as well as NBA TV.

The service will even have NFL Sunday Ticket, starting with the 2023 season.

*Related: Do you want to cut the cord on cable but don’t know which streaming platform to choose? Try our free quiz to see which service will best fit your needs.*

4K add-on: YouTube TV recently introduced a 4K add-on that costs $9.99 a month. This also includes unlimited downloads for offline viewing.

While it is an awesome feature, there is currently minimal content available in 4K. The upgrade even includes Dolby 5.1 audio for free for all customers.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

YouTube TV is an excellent choice to stream live TV. It has ample channel availability that fits the needs of most users.

Furthermore, we like the ease of one plan versus other services that have multiple plans.

However, it is on the high end of the cost spectrum. You might be able to find something cheaper without sacrificing what you want.

They do offer a seven-day free trial to test the service.

Read our review of YouTube TV to see the full channel lineup and learn more about its features.

2. Sling: Best for Flexibility

Sling TV shines in two areas – affordability and flexibility. The live streaming service is as close to an à la carte plan that’s available in the space.

What to Know About Sling

It has two base plans: Sling has two different plan offerings – Orange and Blue. Both cost $40 a month, but the similarities end there.

Orange has roughly 30 channels and carries ESPN. Blue has 42 channels and includes FS1 plus some additional lifestyle and entertainment networks.

Orange is for sports fans, and Blue is for people who want news, entertainment, and lifestyle content. Combining the two for $55 a month gets you all the available channels.

You can move between packages, which is what we do during college football season. We do the combined offering in the fall, then return to Orange for the rest of the year.

Lots of add-ons: Sling lets you further customize your viewing experience by offering 11 add-on packages. Each one costs an additional $6 per month, but the Sports add-on is $11.

*Related: Are you a basketball fan but want to get rid of your expensive contract? Read our guide on how to watch NBA games without cable and save big bucks.

If you choose four or more add-ons, they reduce the cost to $21. This is known as the Total TV deal.

Simultaneous streams depend on your plan: Another difference between the two Sling plans is simultaneous streams. Orange provides one stream, while Blue offers three.

If you have Sling Orange + Blue, you’ll receive four streams at once.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

Sling TV is tough to beat on price. At $40 per month, you can watch live sports and get other popular channels. It has a simple interface that’s easy to navigate.

However, the flexibility can lead to confusion on channel availability. Sling also lacks robust features that you might find with a service like YouTube TV.

Read our comparison of Sling TV vs. YouTube TV to learn how they stack up.

It also doesn’t offer local channels, with the exception of ABC, FOX, and NBC, in select markets if you choose the Blue package.

Read our guide on ways to watch NBC without cable to learn about other options.

Sling doesn’t typically offer a free trial, but they do provide money-saving promotions for new users.

Read our review of the Sling TV plans to see the full lineup and learn more about its features.

3. fuboTV: Best for Live Sports Fans

FuboTV is a near must-have for sports fans. The service began as an offering for niche sports but is now a full-fledged cable replacement.

Its base package, Pro, boasts over 140 channels for a price similar to YouTube TV.

What to Know About fuboTV

Tons of live sports: Fubo is the top choice for sports fans because it has many live sports channels. It offers the full suite of ESPN and Fox Sports networks.

It also has the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL channels. If you’re a college football fan, fuboTV carries the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC networks. It even carries all of the Bally Sports RSNs.

*Related: Read our analysis of fuboTV vs. YouTube TV to learn how the two live TV streaming services stack up against each other.

You also get all local stations, but it doesn’t currently carry the Turner networks.

Three plans: Fubo offers two separate plans plus a Latino plan. The Pro plan has roughly 140 channels for $74.99 a month, plus RSN fees.

The Pro plan has 1,000 hours of DVR space and ten simultaneous streams.

Elite also provides 1,000 hours of DVR capacity and includes about 45 additional channels for $84.99 per month. Similar to the Pro plan, you get ten simultaneous streams with Elite.

The Latino plan provides about 33 channels, 250 hours of DVR space, and two simultaneous streams.

All plans have dozens of entertainment, lifestyle, and news networks on top of the wide array of sports channels.

A dozen add-ons: FuboTV excels by offering a dozen add-ons to further focus your sports content. They range from packages including regional Pac-12 networks to international sports action.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

FuboTV is a close runner-up to YouTube TV. If you’re a sports fan, you will be thrilled by how much you can watch.

Like YouTube TV, it’s also on the expensive end. However, if you’re really into sports, you may not find everything you want on another service.

Read our review of the fuboTV channels list to see the full lineup and learn more about its features.

4. DIRECTV STREAM: Best For A True Cable TV Alternative

DIRECTV STREAM is the rebrand of DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now. It has four plans starting at $79.99 per month.

What to Know About DIRECTV STREAM

It’s the top provider of Regional Sports Networks: Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are essential for many sports fans. RSNs air programming to a local market or region of the country.

The YES Network is one example. It airs many New York Yankees games. If you don’t live in New York, you might miss out on games. Fortunately, the YES Network allows viewers to still watch games.

If you don’t need to stream live channels, the Bally Sports+ platform is a good choice to get access to local teams. Read our review of the Bally Sports+ app to learn more.

Updated cloud DVR: Until recently, DIRECTV STREAM offered a paltry 20-hour cloud DVR. You had to pay an additional $10 for unlimited recording capabilities.

In mid-January 2022, they changed that by offering unlimited recording to new customers. Recordings expire after nine months.

Four plans are available: If you want a lot of choices, DIRECTV STREAM is a service for you. The platform offers four different plans.

It starts with one that competes against YouTube TV or fuboTV and tops out with one that offers numerous premium channels for a whopping total of $164.99.

Read our comparison of DIRECTV STREAM vs. YouTube TV to see how it compares to our top-rated service.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

DIRECTV STREAM is at the top of the space, with a base cost of $79.99 a month. Only fuboTV matches that price.

Despite the cost, DIRECTV STREAM is a worthy contender if you like traditional cable but want to save money. The base plan includes nearly 70 popular networks and is good for sports and lifestyle fans.

This streaming service also boasts highly-rated video quality, making it a top choice for videophiles.

While you may not want the top tier plan (Premier), its base plan (Entertainment) or the next one up (Choice) are both good options to stream live TV.

Regardless of the plan you choose, you can test it with a five-day free trial.

Read our DIRECTV STREAM review to learn more.

5. Philo: Best for Lifestyle and Entertainment Content

Philo is a service to consider if you don’t need live sports, cable news, or local networks. It offers over 70 channels of live programming for an affordable $25 per month.

What to Know About Philo

Tons of lifestyle and entertainment content: Philo shines when it comes to lifestyle and entertainment content. Subscribers receive dozens of popular cable networks, from Discovery content to ViacomCBS channels and more.

If you’re a Hallmark, HGTV, or Lifetime fan, you’ll be happy with the service since it carries all these channels.

No sports: Philo lacks sports. It does that on purpose because sports channels are expensive for platforms to offer. Philo also doesn’t have local channels and is light on news content.

These exclusions keep the cost to a minimum. Remember that an antenna can get you all your local networks.

Awesome DVR: You might think the low cost would mean the DVR is lacking. That is not the case. Philo offers an unlimited capacity cloud DVR, and recordings expire after a year.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

If you’re not a sports fan but want access to dozens of popular cable networks like HGTV, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, and more, Philo is a fantastic choice.

It’s incredibly affordable and a mere fraction of the cost of cable.

However, the lack of local channels or cable news may hold some people back. You can test the service with a seven-day free trial.

Read our review of the Philo channel guide to see the full lineup and learn more about its features.

If you want to spend even less, Frndly TV is a good substitute for Philo. Read our side-by-side analysis of Philo vs. Frndly TV to see how they compare.

6. Frndly TV: Best For Frugal Streamers

Frndly TV is the perfect option if you want to get rid of cable TV and don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. The service has a channel lineup of over 40 popular networks, with monthly subscription costs starting at $7.99.

What to Know About Frndly TV

It’s low cost: Frndly TV is the lowest-cost live TV streaming service in the market. The most expensive plan costs $11.99 a month.

Regardless of the tier you choose, you receive access to the same lineup of channels. If your favorite shows are lifestyle or entertainment in nature, Frndly is worth trying.

You get channels like A&E, all of the Hallmark channels, Lifetime, and more. It’s also a terrific choice to watch MeTV without cable if you like shows from yesteryear.

Limited Live Sports and No Local Stations: Frndly TV keeps its cost low by not having local networks and few sports channels.

The app does carry the Sportsman and Outdoor channels, but it lacks popular stations like ESPN and FS1. Sports fans will want to consider services like Sling or YouTube TV.

It’s not lacking features: Despite its reduced price, Frndly has several helpful features. The top two tiers receive an unlimited cloud DVR.

The top plans can also stream in HD quality and multiple screens.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

Frndly TV isn’t going to work for everyone. However, if you like popular TV shows that focus on lifestyle and entertainment fare, it’s worth trying.

Here are the three available plans with Frndly TV.

If you don’t mind pairing the service with an over-the-air antenna, you can lower your TV costs to under $15 a month.

Frndly TV won’t work for many sports fans, but it has a wide selection of channels that appeal to a lot of streamers.

You can test the service with a seven-day free trial.

Read our Frndly TV review to learn more.

7. Hulu with Live TV: Best for Original Content

Hulu Live offers one base plan for $76.99 a month for nearly 90 channels. What makes Hulu Live unique is its Hulu originals that are part of its classic Hulu plan.

What to Know About Hulu Live

Live subscribers receive on-demand content: For years, Hulu was known only for its on-demand content and originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building.

**Related: Not certain which option you should choose? Read our Hulu vs. Hulu Plus guide to see which choice fits your needs.**

As a live subscriber, you get all of the live channels plus on-demand and original content. This is a solid value.

If you don’t need live TV, base Hulu starts at $7.99 a month.

Read our side-by-side comparison of Netflix vs. Hulu to see how they differ and which may be best for you.

Dozens of popular networks: Hulu Live compares well against YouTube TV because they carry many of the same channels.

It has popular sports networks, including the full suite of ESPN and Fox Sports channels. It also has other channels like Turner Networks, USA, and more.

Hulu Live even includes all local networks.

For Disney and ESPN fans: Hulu is Disney-backed, so they offer Disney+ and ESPN+ along with Hulu Live for no additional monthly charge.

Read our ESPN Plus review to learn more about that app.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

Hulu Live has nearly the same cost as YouTube TV and fuboTV. Read our review of Hulu Live vs. fuboTV to learn how those two services compare.

There is a lot to like about Hulu Live, with local channels, tons of live sports, and entertainment/lifestyle content.

If you like to binge shows and the on-demand content from the Hulu library, it could be worth trying. Unfortunately, the service doesn’t offer a free trial.

It also had regular periods of buffering in our testing, even though we have reliable high-speed internet service.

Read our review of the Hulu Live channels to see the full lineup and learn more about the features.

8. Vidgo: Best for Social Viewing

Vidgo is a live streaming app that carries 110+ cable channels for $69.99 monthly in its Plus package. The streaming service also offers a Premium package with 150+ channels for $15 more a month.

Both plans have many of the same networks as fuboTV, YouTube TV, or Hulu Live, but with a twist.

What to Know About Vidgo

Social-friendly viewing: Vidgo pioneered social viewing with family and friends. This is an angle that is growing in the live TV streaming space.

With Vidgo, you can schedule virtual watch parties, film live reaction videos, create polls as you watch shows, and more. This lets you stream movies and TV shows online with loved ones from afar.

All customers can take advantage of this at no additional cost.

Dozens of popular TV channels: Vidgo, like other services, carries many channels. Networks include the ESPN and Fox Sports channels, HGTV, TLC, Comedy Central, and more.

Vidgo includes ABC and FOX but not CBS or NBC. You will need an antenna to get those networks.

Read our guide on ways to watch CBS without cable to learn about other options.

There is no DVR: Vidgo is the only live-streaming service that doesn’t offer a cloud DVR. While this is disappointing, they do say they will have one available “very soon.”

Vidgo has a 24-hour playback feature on shows to help ease the pain.

Is the Service Worth the Cost?

This service is on the higher end of the cost spectrum of cable replacements but not quite as expensive as YouTube TV or fuboTV.

As a result, you would expect it to have some features that help it stand out against discount services like Philo. Unfortunately, Vidgo’s lack of a DVR or all local channels is a big detractor.

While it has an impressive channel lineup, the nonexistent DVR will discourage many people from trying it.

Read our Vidgo review to see the full channel lineup and learn more about its features.

Is Streaming Really Cheaper than Cable?

Streaming TV is often more affordable than paying for cable. When streaming services first came on the scene, they were cheaper and made it easy to save money.

With the top-end choices starting at $70 per month, it’s easy to quickly increase your costs.

For example, adding subscriptions to on-demand services like Max or Apple TV+ can add another $20 per month to your costs.

*Related: Read our Max review to learn more about the streaming platform.

With the right mindset, it’s possible to save significant money when you cancel cable TV. It requires having a television budget and turning off services when you don’t watch them enough.

If you do that, you can save $50 to $100 per month if you have an average cable bill of $200 a month.

What About On-Demand Streaming Services?

You may wonder why on-demand streaming services are left out of our review of cable TV alternatives.

On-demand services like Netflix, Paramount+, or Amazon Prime Video are excellent sources of content, but they’re not a true cable replacement.

Live TV streaming services are similar to what you will find with a cable TV provider but without a contract.

Video-on-demand (VOD) streaming services have content that is always available, regardless of the time. All you need is an internet connection, and you can watch shows or movies.

*Related: Do you want to save money on your Netflix subscription? Read our guide on ways to get Netflix for free or at a reduced cost.

These services are usually significantly cheaper and are meant as a complement to other content. They are not a true option for replacing cable. Instead, they are a watch content when you want and not live.

Read our guide on the best alternatives to Netflix to learn about these services.

How We Chose Our Top Choices

There is a lot to consider when choosing a TV streaming service. Options range from premium platforms that operate much like cable TV to streamlined apps with a curated list of popular networks.

We took price, channel selection, and features into consideration when testing and choosing the top live TV streaming services.

We also considered local network availability and tested each of these services multiple times to get an idea of what the respective platforms offer.

The following criteria helped determine our rankings:

• Price
• Intuitive user interface
• Free trials
• DVR capacity
• Simultaneous streams
• Device compatibility
• Parental controls
• Ability to have multiple user profiles

Accessibility is essential to watch your favorite shows. We primarily watch through an Amazon Fire Stick, though not all the options may work with the Amazon platform.

Consult our guide on the top Fire Stick alternatives if you don’t have the Amazon dongle. However, if you have a smart TV, you may not need a streaming device.

Bottom Line

Cord-cutting is one of the best ways to save money every month. With the average cable bill at roughly $200 per month, that’s instant savings you can use to do things like:

• Pay off debt
• Save for a vacation
• Build up your emergency fund
• Save more for retirement
• Pay other bills

Spending $200 a month to get your favorite shows and live sports is unnecessary. There are legitimate platforms that let you stream TV online for a fraction of the cost.

Try several of the free trials to find a platform that works for you, then pocket the savings.

What’s one channel you can’t live without?