Top Live TV Streaming Services to Ditch Cable in 2025

There are three key motivations for subscribing to a live TV streaming service: sports, news, and local channels. For years, cable and broadcast signals were the primary means to access this content, but modern TVs lack built-in digital antennas, and cable contracts have long been notorious for their difficulty in cancellation. The introduction of live TV streaming around a decade ago was celebrated as an affordable, contract-free option for those cutting the cord.

However, virtually all major streaming services — including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Philo, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo — have significantly raised their prices in recent years. Philo and Sling remain the only options available for less than $50 per month. Despite this, a variety of free live streaming services such as Tubi, Pluto, and Plex have emerged at the other end of the pricing spectrum.

The distinction between live TV and traditional streaming continues to blur. Services like Peacock, Prime Video, Max, and other VOD providers now feature live sports events and shows. As you consider your options for a live TV streaming service, we’ve evaluated all major players and outlined the strengths, weaknesses, and features to assist in your decision-making process.

Editor’s Note (3/20/25): The 2025 NCAA Tournaments began this week, but due to various broadcasters owning the rights to different tournaments, viewers won’t be able to watch every game on one channel. Warner Bros. Discovery and CBS own rights to the men’s games, while ESPN has the women’s tournament. Services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling will cover the games as they all carry the necessary channels. However, sports fans seeking access to specific games might find cheaper alternatives. Engadget’s details all available viewing options.

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There are numerous ways to access free television these days. Many mainstream streaming applications have introduced live functionalities. While you are paying for the service, it technically isn’t “free,” but you can enjoy live TV with minimal additional expense. For example, Peacock provides some regional NBC stations and access to the anticipated 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Paramount+ lets subscribers access on-air programming from CBS. The standard Hulu app features a live ABC news channel, and Max recently added a live CNN outlet and cable-like linear channels to its offerings.

Your smart TV’s operating system (OS) may also provide access to free live content: Amazon’s Fire TV interface has a dedicated live tab, and Roku’s built-in Roku Channel offers hundreds of live channels at no additional cost. Similarly, Samsung TV Plus expanded its free live and on-demand offerings in 2024, including K-dramas. The PBS app features local live streams of its channels, and even NASA has launched a free streaming service providing live coverage.

For those desiring a complete package of live TV networks without subscribing to any paid service, several free ad-supported TV options are available. Even DirecTV has jumped on the bandwagon with MyFree, although we haven’t had the opportunity to test it just yet. Here’s a summary of the top picks we explored:

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Streaming live TV functions similarly to using Netflix. You access content through apps on devices like smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or streaming devices, and your signal is delivered via the internet. A quicker and more stable connection generally enhances the viewing experience. Most live TV applications require you to create an account and make payment via a web browser, after which you can activate the app across your devices.

When I began evaluating these cord-cutting alternatives, I was surprised by the price disparity between live TV and standard video streaming services. While the latter typically costs between $5 and $20 monthly, most live TV services start around $80 and can easily exceed $200 when you factor in additional features, channel bundles, and premium extras. The higher base price largely stems from the expense of providing multiple networks, especially sports and local stations. Notably, in the past year, every service, aside from Sling, has increased its base plan prices.

Out of the services I tested, only two do not provide complete local channel coverage for subscribers, and one of those offers no sports channels whatsoever — namely, Philo, which is the most budget-friendly option. Sling, meanwhile, has limited local coverage, offering only three local stations in select markets, yet still includes several key sports networks.

Upon signing up for a provider that offers local TV, you’ll enter your zip code to ensure access to broadcast affiliates like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC in your area. Alternatively, you can access these stations for free. Most modern TVs support radio frequency (RF) connections, commonly known as the coaxial port, which means if you invest in an HD antenna, you can access local broadcasts like ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, and NBC. With digital signals, the quality is significantly better than the outdated rabbit-ears.

One surprising aspect was the multitude and variety of sports channels available. Identifying which network covers the games you want to watch can be complex. Fortunately, Google simplifies this for sports enthusiasts by listing upcoming games (replace NFL with NBA, MLB, NHL, etc., as needed in searches). Clicking on an event provides details about which network carries it under the “TV & streaming” section.

The next step is confirming whether your selected service includes the regional sports networks (RSNs) you want. Unfortunately, even with additional packages, some providers may lack certain channels. Understanding the complexities of streaming rights negotiations can be bewildering, and channels frequently change hands between live TV services. That said, most significant US sports events feature coverage from ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA, and local affiliates.

It’s noteworthy that traditional streaming services have begun incorporating live sports into their offerings. Peacock broadcasts live Premier League matches, Sunday Night Football, and was the official broadcaster of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Amazon Prime streams Thursday Night Football and NBA and WNBA games, while Netflix presented Christmas Day Football. Max (formerly HBO Max) broadcasts selected regular-season games from NHL, MLB, NCAA, and NBA for an additional fee of $10 per month. You can catch MLS games through an add-on in the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ also includes some MLB games. Users of Roku devices can now access a newly launched free sports channel, and subscribers to Paramount Plus allows viewers to watch matches aired on CBS Sports, including live NFL games. Recently, Tubi hosted a free live stream of the Super Bowl. Although not all these alternatives offer the same breadth of coverage as live TV streamers do, they present potentially cheaper options for the sports you seek.

If sports is your primary concern, there are also sports-only plans available at slightly lower prices. The previously announced sports streaming service from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. named Venu was canceled early this year, but shortly thereafter DirecTV introduced a $70-per-month sports-only streaming package called MySports, and Comcast offers a sports and news bundle for a similar price (provided you are an Xfinity customer enrolled in auto-pay; otherwise, the cost is higher).

Numerous linear programming networks previously only accessible via cable TV, such as Bravo, BET, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Lifetime, SYFY, and MTV, are now harder to get through a service like Netflix or Apple TV+. However, as mentioned, regular streamers are starting to incorporate this content into their platforms. Post the Warner Bros. merger, Max integrated content from HGTV, Discovery, and TLC. Peacock now features Bravo and Hallmark shows, while Paramount+ has enhanced offerings from Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central.

Some channels, like AMC+, also provide stand-alone apps. The Discovery+ offers 15 channels ad-free for $9 monthly (or $5 with ads). Meanwhile, a service called Frndly TV starts at just $7 per month and streams A&E, Lifetime, Game Show Network, Outdoor Channel, and about 35 others. While many live TV streaming services deliver larger lists of cable networks, be mindful that you might already be paying for some directly — and if you just need a specific channel, subscribing directly could be the most economical choice.

Most live TV subscriptions provide access to a selection of video-on-demand (VOD) content, similar to traditional streaming services. Much of this includes movies and TV series recently aired on your subscribed channels. This generally excludes live events and news programming, but I was able to access specific episodes of ongoing series like Top Chef or BET’s Diarra from Detroit. You can easily search the on-demand library, select an episode, and hit play.

Collaborations, such as Hulu’s partnership with Disney, and bundled services, like Max with YouTube TV or Starz with Sling, expand your access to on-demand content. Yet again, if VOD is your only interest, directly paying for these networks might be significantly more affordable than opting for a live TV package.

Each service I evaluated provides some measure of cloud DVR storage without needing an added physical device. You’ll either receive unlimited recording capacity that expires after nine months or a year, or a specific number of hours (ranging from 50 to 1,000) that you can retain indefinitely. Typically, you only need to select which ongoing series you wish to record, and the DVR will handle the rest, saving subsequent episodes for later viewing — including sports events.

Aside from the flexibility of watching when it’s convenient, you can fast-forward through commercials in recorded content, which is not an option while watching live TV or on-demand.

Each plan permits a certain number of simultaneous streams, meaning how many devices can play content simultaneously. While most providers allow you to access your subscription while traveling, certain location restrictions may necessitate signing in from your home IP address periodically. Stream limits usually vary from just one at a time to unlimited screens (or as many as your internet service allows). Additional packages may be required to increase the number of concurrent streams.

Nearly all services permit setting up multiple profiles, allowing family members to track their own watch histories and favorites, set preferred channels, and receive personalized recommendations.

Picture-in-picture (PiP) generally refers to reducing a video window on mobile devices or web browsers so that you can watch it while using other applications. Services like Sling, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Philo, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV all incorporate PiP modes for computers and mobile devices. Multiview is another feature that permits viewing multiple live sports games simultaneously on your TV screen. Currently, YouTube TV and FuboTV are the only live TV services offering this feature, with YouTube TV enabling viewers to select up to four streams from a predefined selection. FuboTV provides an equivalent feature, but only for users on an Apple TV or Roku device.

As of now, only FuboTV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream offer 4K live streams, albeit with specific conditions. YouTube TV mandates a $20-per-month add-on, which provides access to selected live 4K content. DirecTV Stream provides Roku Channel, the live tab in Fire TV, Google TV, or the Samsung TV Plus app.

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When I commence testing for a guide, I research the leading and most highly-rated players in the segment to determine which are worth exploring. For the paid plans, just six services dominate, so I evaluated them all. Many more free live TV contenders exist; thus, I focused on the four most widely recognized. After establishing accounts on my laptop, I downloaded the applications on a Samsung smart TV running the latest version of Tizen OS. I cataloged local stations and regional sports coverage while also assessing the availability of popular cable networks within each service. I evaluated prices, base packages, and available add-ons.

Following that, I analyzed the design of each app’s user interface (UI) to determine overall navigability, from primary navigation to settings. Testing the search function allowed me to seek the same series on BET, Food Network, HGTV, and Comedy Central, as all six providers carry these networks. I noted the effectiveness of the searches and their speed in directing me to season 6, episode 13 of Home Town.

I recorded entire series and individual movies using the DVR feature and viewed VOD shows, ensuring to test pause and scan options. For services with sports content, I searched for identical upcoming NHL, NBA, MLS, and NCAA basketball games, recording them for playback a day or two later. Lastly, I documented any additional perks or frustrating quirks.

All live TV streaming services we’ve tested:

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