Cable Alternatives: Get Rid of Cable and Still Watch TV

Why pay more for cable when you don't have to? There are plenty of better options. With this list of cable alternatives, cut the cord today.

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It wasn't so long ago that if you wanted to watch TV, you had only a couple of ways to do it, and all of them were too expensive. If you got by with just basic cable, you'd still be paying $30 a month or more.

Then there were the extras. Movie channels. Music. Pay-per-view. Suddenly you were paying a hundred dollars a month, or more. You had 900 channels, but the middle 400 or so were mysteriously inaccessible. And still, you found yourself flipping channels—because nothing was on.

Those days are over. Now you can watch what you want, when you want, for a reasonable price. Take a look at the options below to see which cable alternative is the best fit for you.

Philo: No Contract TV On Demand

Philo is a service offering live and on-demand TV without a contract. Watch popular channels like A&E, AMC, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and dozens more.

Sign up and get over 70 channels and unlimited DVR for $28 a month. That means you can record all your favorite TV shows and watch them up to 30 days after they air.

It's available for online streaming, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast via Android. Stream on up to 3 devices at once and create up to 10 profiles per account.

They also offer add-ons like MGM+ and Starz. There's a 7-day, no-obligation free trial to see if you like it.

What It Costs
$28 a month

What You Get

• Over 70 channels of live and on-demand TV
  
• Unlimited DVR

What We Like

• 70-channel package for $28/monthly
  
• Live TV on all devices, including Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire
  
• No contract

What Could've Been Improved

• No ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Disney channels, Bravo, TBS, TNT, CNN
  
• No major sports channels

Sling TV: App-Based Streaming

Sling TV is an app-based TV streaming service offering access to 46 channels for $55 per month. They offer multiple streaming plans based on what you like to watch. For example, their Blue plan is best for those into News and Entertainment, and their Orange plan is good for Sports and Family content.

All plans include 50 hours of DVR.

Sling TV works on a wide range of devices including Apple, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Samsung, LG, Fire TV, TiVo Stream, Xbox, and more.

You can access local channels free with Sling if you have an HD Antenna.

What It Costs
$40 a month for Sling Blue or Sling Orange, and $55 a month for Sling Orange + Blue.

What You Get

• 35 channels for Sling Orange, 43 channels for Sling Blue, 46 channels for Sling Orange + Blue
  
• 50 hours of DVR
  
• Stream on 3 devices simultaneously with Blue, 1 with Orange, 4 with combined Blue & Orange

What We Like

• Low cost
  
• No contracts
  
• Variety of channel packages
  
• Available on many devices

What Could've Been Improved

• No ABC, CBS Animal Planet, or most regional sports channels
  
• Only 50 hours of DVR storage
  
• Missing multiple user profiles

Hulu: Online Streaming for $9.99/month

Hulu is an online streaming service offering access to thousands of shows and movies, including exclusive original content like the Animaniacs and Monsterland. The base plan, which includes commercials, is $9.99 per month, while you can access live TV for $82.99 per month.

There are several add-ons available, including HBO Max, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX, and Starz, and when you sign up with Hulu, you can bundle Disney+ and ESPN+ for $16.99.

Most TV episodes are available on Hulu the day after they air. You can watch on your TV, laptop, or devices, and on up to 2 screens at the same time.

What It Costs
$9.99 a month for the basic plan

What You Get

• Access to thousands of TV shows and movies
  
• New episodes the day after they air
  
• Stream on 2 devices simultaneously, and create up to 6 profiles

What We Like

• Local channels, sports networks, Disney, and Cartoon Network
  
• Hefty on-demand library
  
• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
  
• Attractive interface
  
• Unlimited cloud DVR

What Could've Been Improved

• No MLB Network and NBA TV
  
• Premium channels add to the cost
  
• Lots of menus
  
• Stability issues

fuboTV: For Spanish Speakers and Sports Fans

fuboTV is a little pricier than some of the other choices, but it offers live on-demand access to TV and sports, plus over 100 channels.

Pricing starts at $79.99 a month for the Pro plan, which will get you 200+ channels, 1000 hours of cloud DVR, and access to unlimited screens at once.

Spanish speakers will appreciate fuboTV Latino plan, which is only $32.99 a month and comes with 62 Spanish language networks and over 100 sporting events. Sports fans will enjoy access to several dozen sports channels, and news enthusiasts will love their selection of news networks.

Watch on Apple and Android devices, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, and Chromecast via Android

What It Costs
$79.99 a month for Pro plan

What You Get

• Access to 200+ live and on-demand TV channels
  
• Dozens of sports channels, including ESPN and ESPN2
  
• News from Fox, MSNBC, and more
  
• 1000 hours of Cloud DVR
  
• Watch simultaneously on 10 screens at home

What We Like

• No contracts and hidden fees
  
• Great user experience
  
• Live sports and on-demand entertainment
  
• Reliable streaming
  
• Excellent web interface
  
• Some 4K content

What Could've Been Improved

• Costly add-ons and packages

ESPN+: Exclusive Sports Content

If you're a sports fan, consider signing up to stream live sports and exclusive originals with ESPN+, a digital streaming service starting at $11.99 a month.

You'll get access to the entire library of 30 For 30 documentaries, as well as popular shows like Peyton's Places with Peyton Manning, Detail with Pau Gasol, and Bettor Days with Mike Greenberg.

You'll also get exclusive UFC pay-per-view events and studio shows like Dana White's Contender Series.

What It Costs
$11.99 a month

What You Get

• Access to thousands of exclusive live events, original studio shows, and series
  
• Ability to purchase UFC PPV events
  
• 30 for 30 library and ESPN films

What We Like

• Access to some live sports content
  
• Original sports shows and documentaries
  
• Inexpensive

What Could've Been Improved

• No access to live NFL and NBA games
  
• No ESPN live coverage in your area

Amazon Prime Video: Bundle Shopping with TV

If you're already paying for free shipping with Amazon Prime, then you automatically get access to Amazon Prime Video, which has a huge library of movies and TV shows to stream on your computer, TV, and other devices.

If you aren't already paying for Prime, you can access it for $8.99 a month—and if you're interested in trying it out, there's a 30-day free trial.

What It Costs
$8.99 a month

What You Get

• Stream Amazon's library of movies and TV
  
• Rent content that isn't available on Prime individually

What We Like

• Inexpensive
  
• Relatively big library
  
• Benefits like free next-day delivery

What Could've Been Improved

• Remove titles all the time
  
• New movies only available for extra money

Vudu: Digital Rentals

Vudu by Walmart is a digital video rental and streaming service. If you are looking for a free option, Vudu is worth a look. They have a large library of movies and TV shows that you can access for free in exchange for watching commercials, though much of this content is older.

They don't have a subscription service, so if you want to watch newer content, you'll have to buy or rent things individually. One useful perk—if you buy physical copies of DVDs through Vudu, you'll instantly gain access to digital versions to watch online.

What It Costs
There is plenty of free-to-watch content with commercials. Sales and rentals start at a few dollars and go up to full-priced box sets.

What You Get

• Free access to a streaming library with commercials
  
• Ability to buy both digital and physical DVDs and Blu-rays and stream online

What We Like

• Easy to navigate "Free" section
  
• Child protection options
  
• Options to rent or buy content

What Could've Been Improved

• Advertisements before content
  
• Dated TV series
  
• Repetitive commercials

YouTube: Over 100 Popular Channels

You know YouTube for its creator-uploaded content, but YouTube can be a viable alternative to cable as well, with YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.

YouTube Premium is an ad-free version of YouTube's normal content, with the added ability to download videos for offline watching and access to YouTube Music.

YouTube TV is, as the name suggests, designed to be a more direct competitor to traditional cable services, with access to 100+ channels you probably know by name, DVR with no storage limits, and the ability to create up to 6 accounts.

What It Costs
YouTube Premium is $13.99 a month
YouTube TV is $72.99 a month

What You Get

• With YouTube Premium, ad-free videos and access to YouTube Music
  
• With YouTube TV, 100+ channels, unlimited DVR storage, 3 simultaneous streams, and 6 accounts per household

What We Like

• More than 100 live TV channels
  
• User-friendly
  
• Unlimited DVR
  
• Local channels

What Could've Been Improved

• Things to consider
  
• Missing A&E, History, and Lifetime
  
• 4K is an extra $9.99/monthly
  
• Lackluster originals

Netflix: Original TV and Movies

Netflix is synonymous with online TV and movie streaming. For $6.99 a month (for their basic plan with ads), you get access to their library of thousands of TV shows and movies, including original content.

You can watch Netflix from most internet-connected devices, including your phone. They've even got a kids section to make sure your little ones aren't exposed to anything too adult.

They don't have everything, and their library is always changing, but if you're looking for a wide variety of content with new things added almost every day, Netflix is worth a shot.

What It Costs
$6.99 - $22.99 a month

What You Get

• Thousands of movies and TV shows including exclusive content
  
• Watch in HD

What We Like

• Multiple Viewership
  
• Offline Playback Feature
  
• High Quality Library
  
• User Friendly
  
• Inexpensive

What Could've Been Improved

• Geolocking
  
• Delayed updates
  
• Content uncertainty
  
• No live sports

DirecTV Stream: Stream Over 90 Channels

DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) is an on-demand and live TV streaming service from AT&T. Stream over 90 channels for $74.99 a month, or splurge for Premier—which includes HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and more—for 185+ channels and more sports coverage.

You can access add-ons like HBO Max ($16.99/mo), Cinemax ($10.99/mo), Starz ($10.99/mo), Paramount+ with SHOWTIME ($12.99/mo), MGM+ ($6.99/mo), and their Movies Extra Pack ($4.99/mo).

What It Costs
$74.99 a month for Entertainment package (90+ channels)
$89.99 a month for Choice package (125+ channels)
$119.99 a month for Ultimate package (160+ channels)
$164.99 a month for Premier package (185+ channels)

What You Get

• Stream live TV and on-demand
  
• Premium extras
  
• Unlimited Cloud DVR storage

What We Like

• Great channel lineup
  
• Sports channels
  
• Local channels
  
• Unlimited cloud DVR

What Could've Been Improved

• Things to consider
  
• Pricey
  
• Regional sports networks not included in the cheapest plan
  
• Broadcast delays

Disney+: For Kids & Kids at Heart

If you've got kids, or you're a big Marvel or Star Wars fan, Disney+ is a streaming service you should probably check out. They have all the famous Disney and Pixar titles you know them for, including older movies you're not likely to find in stores.

Much of the content that used to be on Disney Channel is now on Disney+, as well as new original content, like The Mandalorian.

Given their extensive library, and kids' penchant for watching the same movies over and over, at $9.99 a month, it's not a bad investment.

What It Costs
Disney+ Basic is $9.99 a month
Disney+ Premium is $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year

What You Get

• Access to Disney's extensive TV and movie library
  
• Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Nat Geo, and other exclusive content

What We Like

• Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows
  
• Star Wars
  
• Disney classic TV shows and movies

What Could've Been Improved

• Less variety
  
• Not all Disney shows and movies
  
• Not every Fox classic

Peacock: Watch NBC Favorites

PeacockTV from NBCUniversal offers three separate plans—a completely free plan (with ads), where you can stream TV, movies, sports, and news; a Premium plan ($7.99 a month, with ads), which unlocks content not available for free, and Premium Plus ($13.99 with no ads).

Peacock comes with all your NBC comedy favorites like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and every season of SNL. In fact, Office fanatics should take note: Peacock is the only place to watch the classic workplace comedy.

Peacock is supported on most internet-connected devices including TV, computers, smartphones and tablets, Xbox, and PlayStation.

What It Costs

• Free, with commercials
  
• $7.99 with commercials and all content
  
• $13.99 without commercials and all content

What You Get

• Access to NBCUniversal's TV and movie library
  
• Exclusive content
  
• Telemundo

What We Like

• Free tier has no major limitations
  
• Popular movies and network shows
  
• Flexible pricing tiers
  
• Live sports for paid users
  
• Supports multiple account profiles

What Could've Been Improved

• Ads and does not support offline downloads
  
• Few high-quality originals series
  
• Missing Friends and Seinfeld
  
• Constantly changing movie library

How To Choose The Best Cable TV Alternative

To end up with the best decision, you have to factor in your budget. If you're going for a cheaper option, you can get Sling TV for less than $50 monthly. Other live TV streaming services usually start at $50.

But if you want to stream local broadcast channels, Sling won't cut it. You'll have to factor in their competitors, such as YouTube TV or Hulu Live. With Hulu Live, you'll get the added benefit of Hulu, so you won't have to pay separately for it.

All in all, include your budget and preferences in the equation. This way, you'll get a service that doesn't break the bank and offers your favorite channels, all in one.

Other Cable Alternatives

• HD Antennas
  Depending on where you live, you can access as many as 70+ TV channels for free by setting up an HD antenna.

  What you get depends on the type of antenna (directional, multidirectional, or omnidirectional antenna; indoor or outdoor) and where you put it—in some cases, higher is better.

• Television Channels Online
  Many channels you already watch know that their customers are moving online, and they're providing more options to cater to them.

  Some are free, some aren't, but if there are shows you can't miss or channels you love, it's worth looking them up to see what online offerings they have.

• Premium Channel Online Subscriptions
  Premium Channels—i.e., the high-number ones on the TV that came with a premium cable package—now often offer standalone streaming options.

  Check their websites (HBO, Starz, Showtime, and so on) to see what you can find, especially if you're only interested in their content.

• The Local Library
  The oldest free option of all, the library probably has a bigger selection of TV shows and DVDs than you realize. All you need is a library card to get started.

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to watch TV without cable?
You can purchase a Roku device for $30. There are many free channels with a good show selection, including the Roku Channel. There are no monthly fees. You won't see the latest movies and series, but you'll have more than enough to watch.

How do I get rid of cable TV?
To cut the cord, everything you need is a good internet connection. Also, you can get a streamer for your Smart TV, like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV. You'll gain access to Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and others.

Is streaming quality as good as cable?
Streaming services are better than cable. As long as you have a good internet speed. You will still have access to your favorite live channels. But you will pay less than most traditional cable TV plans.

How can I get local channels without cable?
You can try:

• Getting an HD antenna
  
• Watching the clips on Youtube
  
• Subscribing to a TV channel's app or streaming online on their website
  
• Subscribing to a Live TV streaming service

Bottom Line

Cable companies used to have a stranglehold on your viewing capabilities, but that isn't true anymore. Usually, all you need is an internet connection and an email address to start watching.

If you're still paying for cable, maybe now's the time to cut the cord and opt for something cheaper and more versatile.

Grab some popcorn and set yourself free.