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Best Live TV Streaming Services to Ditch Cable in 2024
As the new year kicked off, many people across the nation made the switch to a live TV streaming service. If you are someone that is still looking to cut the cord, or even just in the market for a switch up from your current streaming service, we've laid out some of the best options for live TV streaming available to you.
You can find live sports, major news networks, movies and more — all with some built-in perks only available with a streaming subscription. The best live TV streaming services offer many of the same channels you can find with cable, but without the long-term contract. You'll also be able to stream content on multiple devices while on the move, which makes catching your favorite show or sporting matchup much easier. With the right package, you can save money, watch from anywhere, and catch all your favorite live shows or events.
To choose the best streaming services for live TV, we tested and reviewed the key features of each one, from channel lineup and price to on-demand libraries and DVR space. You’ll see that each platform has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses — so the best service for you depends on your preferences and budget.
Best live TV streaming services in 2024
- Best on a Budget: Sling TV
- Best for cord cutters: DIRECTV STREAM
- Best for Versatility: Hulu + Live TV
- Best for live sports: Fubo
- Best for channel selection: YouTube TV
- Best for the basics: Philo
Best on a Budget: Sling TV (preferred streaming service)
- Lower starting price than most competitors
- Three customizable plan options
- Essential entertainment, news and sports options
About Sling TV
Sling TV packages trim out the fat from the cable experience and gets down to the basics for simplified live TV streaming. With three plan options, you can get anywhere from 31 to over 48 channels. Sling Orange is designed for sports lovers and families, featuring networks like ESPN, MotorTrend and the Disney Channel. Sling Blue features more news and entertainment, such as Discovery, FX and MSNBC. For the complete package, check out Sling Orange & Blue. Plans range from $40 to $55 per month and come with 50 hours of DVR, plus one to three simultaneous streams.
Why Sling made the cut
Sling TV offers the best way to get a slice of the cable experience with true monthly savings. If you only need essentials like ESPN, USA, CNN and TBS, you’ll find what you need here. Plus, Sling offers a wide range of add-ons to expand your channel lineup or add extra DVR space.
Best for cord cutters: DIRECTV STREAM
About DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM offers new subscribers four options for packages when signing up. The lineup starts with the Entertainment package at $79.99 per month for 75+ channels, followed by the Choice package at $108.99 for 105+ channels, the Ultimate package at $119.99 for 140+ channels and the Premier package at $164.99 for 150+ channels. All DIRECTV STREAM packages start with a five-day free trial. Each package is loaded with channels for sports, movies, family-friendly content and more for the whole family. With the Choice package and above, subscribers can access regional sports networks and more sports channels, including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and SEC Network.
Why DIRECTV STREAM made the cut
DIRECTV STREAM has solidified its position as a prominent player in the live TV streaming market for several reasons. First, it's one of the only streaming services to offer most regional sports networks, with the Choice package and above. The service also offers unlimited DVR storage, allowing sports fans to record games to watch later. And, while some services have dropped their free trials, DIRECTV STREAM has a five-day free trial, allowing customers to try out the service's channels and features before committing to a monthly subscription.
Best for versatility: Hulu + Live TV
About Hulu + Live TV
For a well-rounded live TV streaming service, Hulu + Live TV is tough to beat. The service packs in a lot for its $76.99 per month price tag, including over 90 live channels, a vast on-demand library, and access to even more live and on-demand content through the Disney Bundle. You’ll get a wide range of live channels, from news and entertainment to live sports, and you can expand your options with add-ons like Max, Showtime or extra sports channels. Large households may want to upgrade to unlimited screens, as you can only stream on two screens at once in the basic Hulu plan.
Why Hulu + Live TV made the cut
Hulu + Live TV is ideal for cord-cutters who want the best of both cable and the best of on-demand streaming. You get a little bit of everything with this streaming platform, so much so that it might be sufficient as your only subscription.
Best for live sports: Fubo
- Extensive sports coverage, including regional networks
- Plenty of news and entertainment channels
- Seven-day free trial available
About Fubo
If live sports are your top priority, Fubo is your best sports streaming service, hands down. This streaming service started with a sports focus, and it has maintained an extensive selection of sports channels even as it’s added more entertainment channels. You’ll get over 160 channels in the basic plan, including not only sports staples like ESPN and FS1 but also regional networks like Bally Sports and niche sports channels like beIN Sports and Big Ten Network. Keep in mind that Fubo will put you closer to cable in terms of pricing, with plans ranging from $74.99 to $99.99 per month.
Why Fubo made the cut
No other live TV streaming service offers the amount of sports coverage at the price point that Fubo does. With this service, you can cut the cord and still keep up with major sports like baseball, basketball, football and hockey, alongside niche interests like golf, horse racing, tennis, racing and more. Fubo’s seven-day free trial also makes it easy to test it out for yourself with no financial commitment.
Best for channel selection: YouTube TV
About YouTube TV
YouTube TV may offer the most cable-like experience for cord cutters. You’ll get more than 100 channels and unlimited DVR, and you can easily add more sports or entertainment coverage with add-ons like Sports Plus, Max, NBA League Pass and NFL Sunday Ticket. Google brings its intuitive searchability to the app interface, making it easy to find shows and save content you’d like to view later. The service isn’t cheap, though — it starts at $72.99 per month, and you can easily push it well beyond that with add-ons.
Why YouTube TV made the cut
YouTube TV offers a straightforward cable experience with the streamlined feel of a streaming service. Get a broad range of news, sports, and entertainment with a lot of customizable add-on options. You won’t find the on-demand library of Hulu, but you may get exactly what you need for live TV. Check it out with a free trial, which usually ranges from five to 14 days.
Best for the basics: Philo
- Best price of any live TV streaming platform
- Unlimited DVR
- 70+ channels and extensive on-demand library
About Philo
If sports aren’t your priority but you still want to enjoy much of the news and entertainment that cable offers, Philo is worth a look. For only $25 per month, you’ll get more than 70 channels, including major networks like A&E, AMC, BBC World News, Food Network, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, VH1 and more. There are several notable absences, but Philo still offers a range of enjoyable programming, a large on-demand library and unlimited DVR space for a low price.
Why Philo made the cut
Philo is the best way to get some of the cable experience on a tight budget. It may not come close to replacing cable, and it certainly won’t satisfy sports lovers, but it features decent options for news, entertainment and family programming. It’s one of the best live TV streaming services to try out first.
Final thoughts
Many of the best live TV streaming services now come close to cable with their channel lineups — and the extra perks will put them ahead for many viewers. Whether you want an affordable plan or extensive sports programming, there’s a live TV streaming option for you. Before you sign up, weigh your top priorities to find the right fit. The best part? You can try them all without any long-term contracts if you want to see for yourself.
FAQ
What live streaming service offers the most channels?
With over 169 channels, Fubo offers the largest channel lineup for any basic live TV streaming service plan. If you want even more, its top-tier Ultimate plan features 288 channels.
Can I stream ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox?
Not all live TV streaming services include local channels. For access to major local networks, check out Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM and YouTube TV.
Can I share my live TV streaming service?
All streaming services allow you to share your login among devices within your own household. Some services have explicit policies against sharing your password with others outside your household. Others limit your options by only allowing a limited number of simultaneous streams. Before you share your password with others, it’s a good idea to check the terms of your agreement.
