The best cable TV alternatives in 2022 Live TV services that save you money Tom s Guide
The best cable TV alternatives in 2022 Live TV services that save you money Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us.
Another viable alternative that my parents and I have found is to simply get an Android Box and use the Exodus add-on on Kodi. The box, with setup and such, cost us $120, but after that, it's all free (just gotta pay the Internet bill after that). :) Reply Jorani I don't think that full blown home theaters and just general HiFi people, can say goodbye to cables just yet and tbh, I'd still much rather use XLR cables that rely on wireless hardware and expect it to deliver an equally clear sound and image. Reply Jorani Than* Reply Jorani I don't think that full blown home theaters and HiFi people can say goodbye to cables just yet and tbh, I'd personally still use XLR cables, than rely on wireless hard- and software to deliver equally clear image and sound. Reply electricianjoel As a first day adopter of DTVN it has in fact had it's issues. But, I did lock in the $35/month plus free AppleTV gen 4. DTVN has all of the channels I need. As far as DVR goes, I could care less. Remember not having it? I'm good without it. Especially now that alot of the network apps have access to past episodes. Video quality has had some issues. Personally, I think it's very good. I catch myself thinking, this isn't Dish Network or cable tv but streaming. I had Dish for 12 years, great service, but I am saving $70/month. Reply Margie_37 Do any of these services have the local news live?
Thanks.
Chris Reply mcbutters @Margie I have PS Vue and I get all major live local news. I believe almost all markets have this. Look at PlayStation website to confirm it's available in your zip code. Reply Kristine_6 I've found Sling TV to not offer competitive package. I was an early user and subscriber for a couple of years. However, I felt that I was able to get a basic cable package with what Sling offered. I also had major buffering issues with Sling, especially when a season premiere or big episode of a popular show was being shown. This year, I searched my options for alternative streaming options. I tried Playstation Vue, but, I found them price-y and did not offer Viacom channels. With a majority of channel apps offering episodes of new tv shows within 24 hours, I do not feel it is really necessarily to have a DVR option. Currently, I am with Directv Now and I've been extremely happy with them. I have not had the buffering issues other people have had. I only had buffering when watching NBC. Other than that, I save money on the cheapest package and a movie channel (Live a Little package and HBO) with more channels than what's out there for $40. I was fortunate to sign up when they were offering free, latest Apple TV. Looking forward to when there is an app on Roku so I can watch tv in bed! Btw, in case anyone is wondering, I do use Comcast for internet services on the cheapest option available with no buffering issues. Reply GTrahald Having bundles, also helps. While with DTV and AT&T, you still get access to DTVN streaming content, but also 15 channels of HBO and HBO GO. After the bundle rebates, the cost is $50/mo, for the lowest tier. Certainly not cable, and your money is going to the same company, but you do get the best of both, full 5 tuner DVR whole home DVR service, plus on the go streaming. What I am trying to say, Satellite service isn't Cable or Streaming. They traditionally were the rebels against Cable TV prices. However after some time they turned into nothing under $110/mo, a lot like cable. But while there's a lot of customer churn, the prices and business modeling has changed. I am liking it, while it lasts. Reply Dennis21646 I saw somewhere online that there is a free streaming service that offered nearly 200 channels for free. Why do You not include that service in Your overview? You are right about Direct T.V. That's what I have now and it is EXPENSIVE and a terrible service. I am hell bent on getting rid of it. I just can't decide whether to go with streaming or a cable service. How dependable are the steaming services? Reply View All 25 Comments MOST READMOST SHARED1Best Wordle start words to help you keep your streak2Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday3iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how4This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more1Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday2iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how3This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 4Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more5iPhone 15 with USB-C is almost certainly coming - here's why
The best cable TV alternatives in 2022 Live TV services that save you money
By Kelly Woo published 5 October 2022 The top cable TV alternatives services based on our testing and reviews Included in this guide:1Dish Sling TVCheck Price (opens in new tab)2Hulu + Live TVCheck Price (opens in new tab)3YouTube TVCheck Price (opens in new tab)4FuboTVCheck Price (opens in new tab)5DirecTV NOWCheck Price (opens in new tab) (Image credit: Google/Shutterstock) Cancelling cable while still watching your favorite shows is easy. You can finally cut the cord with one of the best cable TV alternatives, and keep important channels such as ESPN, TNT and USA. These live TV services show that life after cable provides faster performance, sleeker interfaces - and best of all - monthly payment structures. And no annual contracts means you can switch between them however often you want. The best cable TV replacement services offer most of the broadcast, entertainment, news and sports channels you want to watch, though the more-affordable options offer fewer channels. You can even watch NFL live streams or Premiere League live streams provided you have the right service. The top pick on this list is how Tom's Guide staffers Henry T. Casey and Kelly Woo both chose to finally cut the cord (and still use to this date). This list of cable TV alternatives is for anyone who wants to watch local news to stay abreast of everything, catch sports games and record episodes of your favorite guilty pleasure reality series. And even while many are going up in price, they're still cheaper than cable.What are the best cable TV alternatives
The best cable TV alternatives offer a lot of channels (and especially the networks you want), ease of use, availability on major streaming devices and, of course, value for the cost. We tested all of the below services to see which is the best, by relying on them as our own source of TV for multiple weeks, watching live shows and movies and comparing their channel offerings. Our top cable TV alternative, Sling TV starts off at $35 per month for either the Sling Blue or Sling Orange packages. The combined Sling Orange+Blue package is $50 per month, and it gets you all the networks that Sling carries. In October 2022, Sling TV lost ESPN and other Disney-owned channels for 48 hours, regaining them once a contractual dispute with Disney was settled with a "handshake agreement." YouTube TV had a similar situation happen in December 2021. Standing high above Sling TV are Hulu With Live TV and Fubo TV (both $70 per month) and YouTube TV ($65 per month). Each of these services gives you more channels overall, as well as a higher DVR capacity. DirecTV Stream is the latest name of the service formerly known as AT&T TV. Sometimes slow performance and a clunky interface make the $70 price tag a bit steep - but fans of specific teams may find themselves locked into DirecTV Stream, as it has a stranglehold on many regional sports networks. For a full breakdown of those services, check out our Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling vs. DirecTV Stream face-off.The best cable TV alternatives you can buy today
(Image credit: Sling TV)1 Sling TV
Best cable replacement service overall Starting Price (per month): $35 Channels (in entry-level package): 30 DVR: 50 hours (200 hours for $5 per month) On-Demand: Yes Device Support: Amazon Fire, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, Roku Simultaneous Streams: 1 ($35 per month); 3 ($35 per month); 4 ($45 per month)$35/mth (opens in new tab)at Sling TV (opens in new tab)$35/mth (opens in new tab)at Sling TV (opens in new tab)$50/mth (opens in new tab)at Sling TV (opens in new tab)Wide variety of channel packagesAvailable on large number of devicesPotentially inexpensiveMissing multiple user profiles Sling TV is getting a huge interface change (coming first to Fire TV) that really brings it up to snuff with the competitors - and helps keep it the best cable replacement alternative right now and the one both TG staffers Henry T. Casey and Kelly Woo chose to replace cable. And while other competitors may be flashier or pack more features, Sling TV's customizability and low entry-price ensured it won the 2022 Tom's Guide Award for best live TV streaming service. Sling TV (also on our best streaming services list) starts off cheap ($35 per month) - and its first month is half-off right now. The service offers two basic packages of channels (Orange and Blue), then lets viewers pick and choose smaller extras, which usually cost $5 per month. Orange has ESPN (which it lost for two days) and Blue has Fox and NBC, and you can see more differences in our Sling Orange vs Blue guide. From sports to comedy to kids' programming to foreign language channels, Sling TV has a little something for everyone. We just wish its cloud DVR would go unlimited like YouTube and Hulu. For more details, including lineups and pricing and more, check out our What Is Sling TV? and Sling TV promo codes pages. Even Sling's Orange+Blue package is still more affordable than most of its competitors' base packages. Read our full Sling TV review (Image credit: Hulu) (opens in new tab)2 Hulu with Live TV
The best original programming and bundle deal Starting Price (per month): $70 Channels (in entry-level package): More than 60+ DVR: Yes On-Demand: Yes Device Support: Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Xbox One$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)at Hulu (opens in new tab)Attractive interfaceGood channel selectionUnlimited cloud DVRLots of menusStability issues Hulu began as an on-demand streaming service, then expanded into offering live TV as well - for those who pay a large extra fee. For $70 per month, you get Hulu's traditional catalog of shows and movies, plus access to more than 60 live channels, from A&E to ESPN to TNT. It also includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, which arrived with a $5 price bump. Unfortunately our hands-on testing of Hulu with Live TV showed that it can have a buffering problem, which is a no-no these days. Hulu with Live TV is particularly good at recommending new content, and its interface is one of the most colorful and navigable in the cable-replacement sphere. You'll still have to deal with a ton of advertisements on Hulu programming, and if you want fewer of them, you'll have to pay $10 more. And Hulu's added an unlimited cloud DVR to match YouTube's. Hulu gets major brownie points for throwing in its library of originals and on demand programming. Plus, the FX on Hulu partnership has added a ton of classic and modern shows, like The Shield and Atlanta. Not all of these other services boast exclusives on par with the award-winning Handmaid's Tale, Normal People and Little Fires Everywhere. As we note below, Hulu with Live TV has solid 5.1-channel audio support across many devices. Read our full Hulu with Live TV review (Image credit: Future)3 YouTube TV
Best interface by far Starting Price (per month): $65 Channels (in entry-level package): 85 DVR: Yes On-Demand: Yes Device Support: Android, Chromecast & Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS Simultaneous Streams: 3$64.99/mth (opens in new tab)at YouTube TV (opens in new tab)Unlimited DVRLocal channelsEasy to useLackluster originalsChannel and platform issues Simple, easy to use and rocking a very strong selection of channels, YouTube TV remains a top cable TV alternative. Its biggest stand-out feature was unlimited storage DVR, but Hulu's caught up to that. And just like Hulu, it has all of the major broadcast networks, so you can get your local news and sports, as well as network sitcoms and dramas. YouTube TV's got one of the lowest delays vs cable when it comes to live events, and that combined with its channel selection and its Top Plays feature made it win the 2022 Tom's Guide Award for best sports streaming service. One of our favorite aspects of YouTube TV is that it's got the shortest lag behind cable TV. Sling and other services may be a little further (less than a minute, but it still counts for sports and live events) behind the live feeds. YouTube TV also has key plays which is a great feature for watching key highlights in minutes, in sports matches once they are recorded on the DVR. And as of September 2022, YouTube TV now has 5.1-channel audio on Apple TV and Fire TV, after it was only on select Smart TVs, Roku and Google/Android TV devices. YouTube TV's $65 per month price used to be high (now it's the standard for most services not named Sling). The lack of forced bundling may be a pro or con based on your vantage point, but anyone who doesn't need Disney Plus and ESPN Plus probably appreciates it. Read our full YouTube TV review (Image credit: FuboTV)4 FuboTV
The best streaming service for international sports Starting Price (per month): $70 Channels (in entry-level package): 122 DVR: Yes On-Demand: Yes Device Support: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Chromecast, Computers, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs Simultaneous Streams: 2$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)at fuboTV (opens in new tab)$79.99/mth (opens in new tab)at fuboTV (opens in new tab)Huge number of channelsNiche sports networksSome 4K contentMore expensive than competitorsNo game console support All of these live TV streaming services offer some sports content, but FuboTV is one of the best cable TV alternatives because it has practically every single sport you could ask for. NFL fans can see every game on Fubo, with its strong list of local broadcast channels (including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), as well as the recently-added ESPN (as well as ESPN2 and 3), and the NFL Network. On top of that, you get international sports with 8 beIN Sports channels, the Big Ten Network, the Golf Channel and the TUDN (formerly known as UniVision Deportes Network) channels. It's a sports lover's buffet. The only big downside to Fubo is its $70 starting price for its entry-level Pro plan, which is twice as much as Sling Orange. But when you get more than 100 channels - many more than on any other option here - you're going to be paying more. American sports fans may not like Fubo because of its lack of TBS (for MLB live streams) and TNT for NBA live streams (and All Elite Wrestling). Read our full FuboTV review (Image credit: Tom's Guide)5 DirecTV Stream
Not recommended - but the only choice for some sports fans Starting Price (per month): $70 Channels (in entry-level package): 65+ DVR: Yes (20 hours) On-Demand: Yes Device Support: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Chromecast & Chromecast-enabled TVs, Computers, iOS, Apple TV, Simultaneous Streams: 3$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)at AT&T TV (opens in new tab)$84.99/mth (opens in new tab)at AT&T TV (opens in new tab)$94.99/mth (opens in new tab)at AT&T TV (opens in new tab)Local channelsRegion sports networks, at a priceUnlimited cloud DVRExpensive in comparisonBroadcast delays DirecTV Stream (previously AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now before that and originally DirecTV Now) is a service that keeps changing its name, but it never actually fixes its big problems. Not only is it pricier than most at $70 per month for its base Entertainment package, but that deal only includes "more than 65 channels." And it's so-called unlimited DVR deletes recordings after 90 days (YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV go nine months!). Compared to the above options, it's a big heaping bowl of "meh." And its other plans try and lure you into an annual contract - the last thing you want to get. To match services like fubo, DirecTV Stream is adding live scores to help you follow other games. That said, we feel for the folks who want to follow their favorite local sports teams, as DirecTV Stream has become the only place that many cord-cutters can find their games on select regional sports networks. The only problem? Those channels are locked in the $90 per month tier. Check out our guide on where to live stream NFL, NBA, MLB and more for more details. We hope to see better quality when we pick it back up soon for a re-test, but we're not optimistic. This all stacks up to a service that is not close to being one of the best choices. For more about how these services differ, check out our Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV comparison, which also includes DirecTV Stream. Read our full DirecTV Stream reviewHow to choose the best cable TV alternative for you
You can filter through the best cable TV alternatives in a couple of ways. The easiest, of course, is by price. If you want to spend less than $40 per month, you've got an easy buying decision. Sling TV - either its Orange or Blue packages - is the only option, and it costs a relatively low $30 per month. It may not offer as many channels, but everything else starts at least at $50, which can be frustrating when you also want streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus that cost $6 to $13 per month. But if you need all of your available local broadcast channels - ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC - your choices move away from Sling TV to all of its competitors. Hulu With Live is the most affordable to give you all four locals and costs $10 less than YouTube TV. Plus, you get those buzzworthy originals like Normal People, Shrill, Ramy and Little Fires Everywhere.How we test cable TV alternatives
To determine the best streaming services for you to cut the cord with, we evaluate them by using the services across a wide range of devices, from streaming boxes and smart TVs to mobile apps. This is a great way to see which services stream smoothly and which should be ignored. We're testing services with true live TV, not just the linear "live" TV on apps such as Pluto TV. As we use these streaming services, we also rate what their interfaces look like. The best streaming services offer clean menus and make it easy to discover new things to watch. Next, we compare the channel lineups, which can vary widely as you go from one service to the other. Some streaming services also offer multiple packages, so we take that into account before arriving at our rating. Last but not least, we consider price and value. The best streaming services can either augment cable or help you cut the cord completely. So we weigh the features that you're getting for the money versus the competition.Round up of today's best deals50% off 1st month (opens in new tab)Sling Blue (opens in new tab)$35/mth (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Hulu + Live TV (opens in new tab)$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)YouTube TV (opens in new tab)$64.99/mth (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)FuboTV Pro (opens in new tab)$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)AT&T TV Entertainment (opens in new tab)$69.99/mth (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best pricespowered byBe In the Know
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Kelly WooSenior WriterKelly is a senior writer covering streaming media for Tom's Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she's not watching TV and movies for work, she's watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening. More about netflix New on Netflix: New movies and shows week of October 24 Netflix password sharing crackdown is coming - everything you need to knowLatest Best Wordle start words to help you keep your streakSee more latest ► Topics Back to School Deal Netflix Streaming TV See all comments (25) 25 Comments Comment from the forums GoldMan27 Great suggestions, if you're an American. PS Vue, Sling, Hulu, etc. all are American-only, nothing for us Canucks.Another viable alternative that my parents and I have found is to simply get an Android Box and use the Exodus add-on on Kodi. The box, with setup and such, cost us $120, but after that, it's all free (just gotta pay the Internet bill after that). :) Reply Jorani I don't think that full blown home theaters and just general HiFi people, can say goodbye to cables just yet and tbh, I'd still much rather use XLR cables that rely on wireless hardware and expect it to deliver an equally clear sound and image. Reply Jorani Than* Reply Jorani I don't think that full blown home theaters and HiFi people can say goodbye to cables just yet and tbh, I'd personally still use XLR cables, than rely on wireless hard- and software to deliver equally clear image and sound. Reply electricianjoel As a first day adopter of DTVN it has in fact had it's issues. But, I did lock in the $35/month plus free AppleTV gen 4. DTVN has all of the channels I need. As far as DVR goes, I could care less. Remember not having it? I'm good without it. Especially now that alot of the network apps have access to past episodes. Video quality has had some issues. Personally, I think it's very good. I catch myself thinking, this isn't Dish Network or cable tv but streaming. I had Dish for 12 years, great service, but I am saving $70/month. Reply Margie_37 Do any of these services have the local news live?
Thanks.
Chris Reply mcbutters @Margie I have PS Vue and I get all major live local news. I believe almost all markets have this. Look at PlayStation website to confirm it's available in your zip code. Reply Kristine_6 I've found Sling TV to not offer competitive package. I was an early user and subscriber for a couple of years. However, I felt that I was able to get a basic cable package with what Sling offered. I also had major buffering issues with Sling, especially when a season premiere or big episode of a popular show was being shown. This year, I searched my options for alternative streaming options. I tried Playstation Vue, but, I found them price-y and did not offer Viacom channels. With a majority of channel apps offering episodes of new tv shows within 24 hours, I do not feel it is really necessarily to have a DVR option. Currently, I am with Directv Now and I've been extremely happy with them. I have not had the buffering issues other people have had. I only had buffering when watching NBC. Other than that, I save money on the cheapest package and a movie channel (Live a Little package and HBO) with more channels than what's out there for $40. I was fortunate to sign up when they were offering free, latest Apple TV. Looking forward to when there is an app on Roku so I can watch tv in bed! Btw, in case anyone is wondering, I do use Comcast for internet services on the cheapest option available with no buffering issues. Reply GTrahald Having bundles, also helps. While with DTV and AT&T, you still get access to DTVN streaming content, but also 15 channels of HBO and HBO GO. After the bundle rebates, the cost is $50/mo, for the lowest tier. Certainly not cable, and your money is going to the same company, but you do get the best of both, full 5 tuner DVR whole home DVR service, plus on the go streaming. What I am trying to say, Satellite service isn't Cable or Streaming. They traditionally were the rebels against Cable TV prices. However after some time they turned into nothing under $110/mo, a lot like cable. But while there's a lot of customer churn, the prices and business modeling has changed. I am liking it, while it lasts. Reply Dennis21646 I saw somewhere online that there is a free streaming service that offered nearly 200 channels for free. Why do You not include that service in Your overview? You are right about Direct T.V. That's what I have now and it is EXPENSIVE and a terrible service. I am hell bent on getting rid of it. I just can't decide whether to go with streaming or a cable service. How dependable are the steaming services? Reply View All 25 Comments MOST READMOST SHARED1Best Wordle start words to help you keep your streak2Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday3iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how4This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more1Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday2iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how3This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 4Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more5iPhone 15 with USB-C is almost certainly coming - here's why