It’s 2022. You don’t need a cable service subscription to watch live TV anymore. Millions of people have already cut the cord with cable and bought subscriptions to live TV streaming services. They feature everything from your favorite news channels and live sports to seasonal shows. They are also much cheaper than cable TV. However, not all streaming services are created equal, and choosing the one among many can be confusing.
Read on to find out our top picks for live TV streaming services, and choose the right one for you.
YouTubeTV
YouTube TV is a go-to choice for many nationwide. After all, the live TV streaming service provides a selection of more than 85 top entertainment, news, and live sports channels. Plus, its basic plan starts at approximately 64.99 per month. Another highlight of Youtube TV is that it offers unlimited cloud DVR storage for nine months, which means that you can save several hours’ worth of movies, TV shows, and sporting events on the cloud and access them from any device and location. It allows you to stream content on three different devices and create up to six profiles.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream, formerly known as AT&T TV and AT&T TV NOW, is a popular multi-channel live TV streaming service in the country. It’s the only major streaming service that offers most regional sports networks. DirecTV Stream provides four different streaming packages options, and its basic package starts at approximately $69.99 per month. This includes well-known entertainment, sports, and other channels and 20 hours of cloud DVR storage. The base plan is flexible and lets you upgrade to unlimited hours of cloud storage at an additional $10 per month. There’s no annual contract, and you can cancel anytime you want.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a more affordable live TV streaming service option. It’s an excellent choice for those who don’t need a ton of channels. The company offers three different plans: Orange, Blue, and Orange+Blue. Sling Orange features 30 channels, including ESPN and CNN, while Sling Blue features 40 channels, including FS1, Fox News, and MSNBC, and both plans start at approximately $35 per month. If you want maximum channels, choose the Sling Orange+Blue package, which starts at $50 per month. All Sling TV packages provide 50 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Hulu Plus Live TV
Hulu Plus Live TV is another top-rated live TV streaming service. It offers more than 75 live channels, including local networks and sports channels, and full access to its on-demand library, which is packed with many popular shows and more. You get 50 hours of DVR storage with Hulu Plus Live TV and the ability to stream content on up to two screens. The basic package starts at around $69.99 per month, and you can cancel the subscription anytime. You’ll need to pay extra if you want to enjoy premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and features like enhanced cloud DVR and unlimited screens.
Philo
Philo is considered the best budget live streaming service option in the market. The service starts at only $25 per month includes more than 60 channels and an on-demand library. That said, it has no sports channel and only a few news channels. Available add-ons include Epix, Starz, and other networks. With Philo, you can record and save an unlimited amount of live or future shows on its DVR storage for up to 12 months. It allows you to create up to ten profiles and stream content on up to three devices at any given time.
Fubo TV
If you enjoy watching a lot of sports, Fubo TV might be an excellent option for you. It offers a large selection of sports channels, allowing you to watch various professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) and college sports leagues (SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12). Its Starter package costs $64.99 per month and includes over 100 channels and 250 hours of cloud DVR space. Fubo TV packages also feature many famous news and entertainment channels, such as Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, HGTV, Food Network, Bravo, Discovery, and A&E.
Peacock
If you’re looking for a free live TV streaming service, Peacock is probably your best option. It is owned and operated by NBC, and it offers a wide range of NBC TV shows and tons of movies for free. You don’t even need to enter your credit card details to get started with Peacock—your email address is enough. The streaming service is ad-supported. You can unlock more content on Peacock at $4.99 per month and get access to ad-free content at $9.99 per month.
