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The best live TV streaming services for cord cutters: Expert tested
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What to Consider
Availability
Price
Channel options
DVR storage
User experience
Traditional cable is a thing of the past and is, for many people, a waste of money in the age of streaming. But what about the live sports, movie marathons, and award events that you want to watch live?
Luckily, many live TV streaming services are available on platforms you may already subscribe to. Platforms like YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV allow you to watch live channels for a fraction of the cost of traditional cable while granting access to their own exclusive content. Another plus for streaming services is the fact that you don't need to deal with additional equipment and lengthy setup phone calls -- and you can watch live programs from your TV, phone, laptop, or tablet.
Also: The best TV antennas: Expert tested
What is the best live TV streaming service right now?
Our 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 our 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.)
Best live TV streaming services of 2024
YouTube TV
Best live TV streaming service overall
YouTube TV is my pick for the overall best live TV streaming service due to its unlimited DVR and the large number of channels offered (over 100), which include AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central, FX, NBA TV, TLC, TNT, US, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon.
My family is currently a YouTube TV subscriber, partially because it's the only streaming service that offers NFL Sunday Ticket: a package for watching out-of-market Sunday afternoon football games, for an additional cost. The platform has a nice multiview feature that lets you watch up to four channels on the same screen.
You can add on Max, Starz, Showtime, and more sports networks for an extra fee. And for an additional $10 a month, you can add 4K viewing to certain content, unlimited simultaneous streams at home, and the ability to watch recorded content offline.
The biggest downside is the price, which has risen in the past year from $65 to $73 a month. (In comparison, Hulu TV costs just $5 more per month, and also includes access to Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.)
If you're looking for the widest selection of channels (and/or NFL Sunday ticket) and don't mind the price tag, YouTube TV is an excellent live TV streaming service.
YouTube TV features: Channels: 100+ | Plan options: 1 | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $73 per month
Sling TV
Best budget live TV streaming service
Sling TV is my pick for the best budget TV streaming service, with an affordable price and options that help you tailor the service to the channels you actually want to watch.
Choose from two plans: Orange ($40 a month), which includes seven channels like Disney Channel and ESPN, or Blue ($45 a month), which includes local channels like ABC, Fox, and NBC, as well as 14 more premium cable channels like FX, Bravo, NFL Network, and FS1. Both plans include 25 base channels like AMC, CNN, Comedy Central, TBS, and TNT. You also have the option to combine both plans for $60 a month.
Get half off your first month of any plan when you sign up, and add on premium channels like Showtime, Starz, AMC+, and MGM+ for additional monthly fees.
If you're looking for non-English channels, Sling TV has more options than any other service, including numerous Asian, European, Arabic, Brazilian, and Portuguese options.
Where Sling TV falls short compared to other services is its DVR offering. It only includes 50 hours of DVR storage (unless you pay extra). It also doesn't come with many local channels, though the platform suggests adding on an antenna for that.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a basic and affordable live TV streaming service that still gets you a good number of channels and an easy-to-use interface, Sling TV is a great choice.
Sling TV features: Channels: 30+ | Plan options: 3 | Video storage: 50 hours | Price: Starts at $40 per month
Hulu Plus Live TV
Best streaming service that combines live TV with VoD
For those looking to take advantage of both live TV streaming and premium VoD streaming, Hulu Plus Live TV is a solid pick and gets you a lot of bang for your buck. For $77 a month, you get 90+ channels of live TV, plus Hulu's VoD catalog (with original shows like Only Murders In the Building and The Bear), plus access to Disney+ and ESPN+.
Hulu Plus Live TV's live channels include your local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox stations in most areas, as well as the ESPN and Fox sports networks. You'll also get popular channels like HGTV, Comedy Central, TNT, TLC, USA, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel. You can add on Max, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, NFL RedZone, and more for an extra fee.
Hulu Plus Live TV also includes unlimited DVR storage, and two simultaneous streams (though you can add on more). The only downside of this plan is that Hulu, Disney, and ESPN content has ads -- you can upgrade to the $90 a month plan to get ad-free content and downloads. If you can afford it, not needing to deal with ads is a major upside.
Hulu Plus Live TV features: Channels: 90+ | Plan options: 2 | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $77 per month
DirecTV Stream
Best live TV streaming service that feels like cable
DirecTV Stream is the live TV streaming service that most resembles cable, both in terms of the user experience and the price tag, as its base offer costs $80 a month for 75+ channels. The next two tiers go up to $109 a month (for 105+ channels) and $120 a month (for 140+ channels).
You can add on a sports pack to each of these plans for an extra $15 a month, which includes ESPN, NFL Network, MLB Network, and more regional sports networks than many others on this list. (At the time of this writing, there are deals to bundle each package with the sports pack for a discounted price.)
The base Entertainment package includes 75+ live channels (including AMC, FX, HGTV, TBS, TCL, and Nickelodeon) and local news channels (like ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS) in most areas. Add-on channels Max, Showtime, Starz, MGM+, and Cinemax are included free for the first three months, and then for extra fees.
DirecTV Stream also offers unlimited in-home streams (and three maximum out-of-home streams), and unlimited DVR storage.
One fun feature that makes DirecTV Stream a good choice for those who still want a channel-flipping experience is the ability to swipe left and right to change channels.
DirecTV Stream features: Channels: 75+ | Plan options: 3 | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $80 per month
FuboTV
Best live TV streaming service for sports
If watching live sports is your main draw for a live TV streaming service, Fubo is likely the best choice for you. Watch ESPN, BeIN Sports, the Big 10, FS1, FS2, and the Golf channel, along with most local networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. That means you can access everything from NFL, NBA, and MLB games to English Premier League soccer games, NASCAR races, boxing, and more. Check Fubo TV's website below to see what specific local channels are available for your zip code.
Beyond sports, Fubo TV also includes live channels like FX, Bravo, E!, HGTV, Food Network, Disney Channel, Hallmark, Fox, and MSNBC. Add on Starz, Showtime, or MGM+ for additional monthly fees. With 1,000 hours of DVR storage, you're not likely to run out of space for a while. You can stream on up to three devices at the same time.
Choose from three different plan tiers, ranging from $75 to $95 per month. All plans offer local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in many regions. However, Fubo TV doesn't include TNT and TBS, both of which show a lot of sports. It also doesn't include the Fox regional sports networks, and if you want to watch league-specific channels (like MLB TV or NHL Network), you'll have to either upgrade your plan or add them on.
Fubo TV features: Channels: 175+ | Plan options: 3 | Video storage: 1,000 hours | Price: Starts at $75 per month
Philo
Best cheap live TV streaming service
Philo is a great option if you're looking for a cheaper live TV streaming option and aren't super interested in sports or local programming. At just $28 a month, you can stream more than 70 live channels and 100 free channels, and access an on-demand library of over 70,000 titles.
Philo's live TV channels include Comedy Central, HGTV, AMC, Discovery, TLC, Discovery, BET, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, and Food Network. Add on MGM+ for $6 a month and Starz for $10 a month to access their content as well. AMC+ is now built into Philo's core package, giving access to that platform's premium shows and movies.
A major plus: Philo offers unlimited DVR, so you can rewind and fast forward through commercials as you like. Even without the DVR, most of the platform's shows and movies remain available on demand for a few days after their first live airing, too.
Stream on up to three devices at once, and create up to 10 user profiles. If you do want to try to access some local channels and sports, you can supplement Philo with a TV antenna.
Philo features: Channels: 170+ | Plan options: 1 | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $28 per month
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 | $28/month | 170+ 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:
- Availability: Some of these services are only available in certain locations, or offer different channels depending on your location. Enter your zip code on their websites to find out more about what's available for you.
- Price: Since many people looking to cut the cord are aiming to save money, you'll want to consider how much you'll be spending each month on a live TV streaming service -- especially if you're already subscribed to other VoD streaming services like Netflix.
- Channel options: While most of the live TV streaming services on this list include similar cable channels, some don't include local channels, others don't include sports channels, and all require additional fees to access premium cable channels like Max, Starz, and Showtime. You'll want to consider what shows you want access to when choosing a service.
- DVR storage: All of the live TV streaming services on this list include some form of digital video recording (DVR) storage, so you can record live shows to watch at your convenience (and fast forward through commercials). However, they range widely, from just 50 hours of storage to unlimited storage.
- User experience: If you're making the switch from cable, you'll want to have a user-friendly live TV streaming service that's easy to navigate. Many of these services offer free trials, so if you're interested in testing them out, you can.
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. When testing a streaming service, I typically subscribe to a free trial, and spend time using it over several days. When choosing my top streaming services picks, I consider the channel options (including whether the services include local, sports, or premium channels), features (like DVR storage and multiple stream options), the design and user experience of the service (including how easy it is to navigate), and finally the value (the price compared to the rest of these factors).
What is the best live TV streaming service for sports?
The best live TV streaming service is FuboTV, which features both mainstream sports like football and hockey and non-mainstream sports like F1 racing and cricket. There are also several sports channel add-ons to choose from, including an NBA League Pass channel and International Sports Plus, so you'll find something for every sports fan.
Which is the best streaming service for NFL?
There are a number of different streaming services that you can use to watch NFL games, but they can vary considerably in their coverage types. For example, YouTube TV is where you'll find NFL Sunday Ticket, which lets you watch all out-of-market games. The NFL Plus streaming service also includes RedZone and the NFL network, though you'll only be able to watch local and primetime games on your phone, not your TV or computer. For more, check out our guide for how to watch NFL games live.
What live TV streaming service has the best picture quality?
YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV support 1080p/60fps live streams on select platforms, so if picture quality is something that's important to you, these are both good options.
Is streaming cheaper than cable?
Short answer: It depends. When people first started cutting the cord over a decade ago, it was possible to save over $100 per month and still get to watch the shows you wanted. But today, internet streaming service bills have crept up closer to cable TV levels. However, if you're savvy about which services you subscribe to (and if you can share subscriptions at times), it's still possible to save.
What live stream service is the best substitute for cable?
The live TV streaming services on this list all have something to offer. While YouTube TV is my top pick generally, if you're looking for the closest thing to cable in terms of number of channels and user experience, I'd say go for DirecTV Stream.
What is the cheapest live TV streaming service?
The cheapest live TV streaming service is Philo TV which carries 115+ channels, and includes A&E, Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, and more, for just $25 per month.
Which streaming services offer live TV?
Of the bigger streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video are the only two that offer any kind of live TV streaming at the moment. Hulu has a partnership with ESPN+, meaning that certain live sports events can be streamed through the basic Hulu plan without any additional cost. Amazon Prime Video has rights to Thursday Night NFL games, which allows Prime members to stream live football games from the Prime Video app.
Do you need fast internet to stream live TV?
To make use of any of these services, you'll need broadband internet. If you're living on your own, you may be able to get by with as little as 10Mbp. If you're sharing your home with others and/or you want to watch 4K videos, we recommend you have at least a 25Mbps internet connection. Not sure how fast your connection is? Run the Ookla Speedtest.
And, by the way, you won't lose anything by switching from a cable box to a Roku or Amazon Fire TV 4K stick. The only real difference between conventional cable and internet TV is that live streaming sports lag 15 seconds to a minute behind live broadcasts.
Which streaming device should you use?
For the most part, all of these support the most popular streaming devices. For example, no matter which service you subscribe to, an Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Cube, Roku Express, or Google Chromecast will almost certainly support it. But if you're using a more obscure streaming gadget, such as an Nvidia Shield TV Pro, it might not work with your preferred service. Smart TVs also frequently don't support newer streaming offerings. In short, make sure the service will work with your hardware before subscribing.
Other live TV streaming services we tested
If there's a production company, chances are they have their own streaming service. There are services like PBS Livestream that are dedicated to offering quality news and educational content as well as services like PlutoTV that are geared towards general entertainment. Here are a few other options to look into:
ZDNET contributor Steven Vaughan-Nichols contributed to this article.