Finding a live TV streaming service can be a bit much nowadays with the endless options in market. By replacing your traditional cable subscription with an affordable streaming option, you can save upwards of $100's a month depending on who you are switching from. Streaming services provide extensive channel lists that expand with the higher package you go with. Whether you're gearing up to watch the Father/Son duo of the James family on the court next year or just looking for some of your favorite shows, it's never been easier.
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You can often use live TV streaming to watch on multiple screens, record content on a Cloud DVR, and customize your lineup with add-ons. We've selected some of the best streaming services that are noted for their reasonable pricing.
How We Chose our Picks
To choose the best cheap streaming services for live TV, we considered not only the price but also the channels and features you get for the cost. We looked at content libraries, DVR capacity, and any freebies or good deals that are available to customers.
Our Picks for the Best Cheap Streaming Services
- Best Service for Movies: Max
- Best Service for Families: Peacock
- Best Service for Budgeting: Philo
- Best Service for Free Channels: Freestream by Sling TV
- Best Service for Sports: Hulu + Live TV
Best Affordable Service for Movies: Max
Pros:
- New-release movies
- Classic HBO series
- New original series with weekly episodes
- Live news and sports
Cons:
- Livestreaming is in beta
- Ad-free costs extra
About Max
Max used to be HBO Max, and it has expanded its content reach over the last few years. Now, in addition to HBO content, you can get other Warner Bro. Discovery shows and movies. This includes educational programs and reality shows from channels like TLC and Discovery. Plus, a lot of major movie releases hit Max just after they leave the theaters before they make their way to other streaming platforms. Max is new to livestreaming. Currently, CNN Max is the only live channel. However, you can sometimes get live sports like baseball games, cycling, and racing. On the downside, while Max is still pretty affordable, if you want to eliminate ads the plan nearly doubles in price.
Why We Like It
Max is the best for movies because it contains a lot of the content you would expect to find on HBO, plus new blockbusters that are released from Warner Brothers. Movie buffs can find romantic comedies, action films, family-friendly movies, and documentaries on the app. Movies are available on-demand and Max lets you create multiple profiles. That means each person who shares your account can create their own list of favorites. Over time Max will start to make unique recommendations for new movies to watch based on your previously viewed content.
Best Affordable Service for Families: Peacock
Pros:
- Access to tons of NBC content
- Kids profile available
- PIN protection
Cons:
- No DVR
- Downloading titles costs more
- Kids profiles don't have live channels
About Peacock
Peacock is NBC's streaming service, so most content is from the NBCUniversal universe. This includes sitcoms, reality shows, dramas, and sports on demand. Plus, you can watch at least 50 always-on channels from within the platform. Unfortunately, you can't record anything on this platform. However, the video-on-demand content library is extensive and includes shows and movies for all ages.
Why We Like It
It's a great option for families because the platform automatically creates a kids' profile when you sign up. Whenever you create a new profile, you can choose between an adult or kids setting. All kids' profiles have content maturity limitations applied. You can also set a PIN to stop kids from getting into your adult profiles and watching more mature content. Kids' profiles have a lot of cartoons and kid-friendly shows and movies.
Best Affordable Service for Budgeting: Philo
Pros:
- Super affordable
- Unlimited DVR
- Unique profiles
Cons:
- No local channels
- Missing major sports networks
- On-demand content isn't always fresh
About Philo
The price for Philo can't be beat. For under $30, you get dozens of channels and unlimited DVR. You can even keep saved shows for up to a year. On the other hand, you won't get local channels and some major sports and news networks are missing. For instance, ESPN and CNN are nowhere to be found. However, there are some major networks like Hallmark and Food Network in the channel roster. It may take a few days for new episodes of shows to appear in the on-demand library as well.
Why We Like It
If you care more about price than a full cable replacement, we think this is your best option. You can't find anything with 70+ channels at a cheaper price point and the cloud DVR storage is really solid. There are a lot of good entertainment networks here, and the seven-day trial lets you decide if it's right for you before you ever have to spend a dime. There are also some add-ons available if you want more movie content.
Best Affordable Service for Free Channels: Freestream by Sling TV
Pros:
- Fully free
- No account needed
- Easy to upgrade to Sling TV
Cons:
- No local channels
- No DVR
About Freestream by Sling TV
Sling TV is already a very affordable livestreaming option. You can get a plan for well under what you'd pay for competitors like Hulu + Live TV. The paid version of the platform has limited channels, but the Freestream option has more than 300 curated channels. Freestream doesn't even require you to create an account to use the service, though you will need a free account to create watch lists or use parental controls.
Why We Like It
We like it because it's literally free. You won't find a lot of major networks on the service, but you can watch some big hitters, including ABC News Live and Nick Jr. If you need a free alternative while you decide if a paid service is right for you, you lose nothing by giving Freestream a chance. If you upgrade to Sling Orange or Sling Blue, you can still get a cheap plan and unlock some major networks like ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and CNN.
Best Affordable Service for Sports: Hulu + Live TV
Pros:
- ESPN Plus access included in subscription
- NFL Network, MLB TV, and ESPN available
- Sports Add-On has NFL Redzone
Cons:
- NBA TV is not available
- Few regional sports networks
- Only one channel package
About Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV has 95+ channels in its sole channel lineup, which includes a combination of sports, entertainment, and news. Popular networks include Bravo, TLC, CNN, Fox Sports 1, and SEC Network. You can augment your service with add-ons for extra sports and entertainment channels, plus premium networks like Max and STARZ. In addition to live TV networks, your subscription also includes the entire Hulu on-demand library with thousands of titles. Customers also get Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for free. While Hulu + Live TV might not be considered "cheap" by everyone, it offers loads of value for sports fans who want to switch from cable.
Why We Like It
We chose Hulu + Live TV for sports fans because you can get a lot of sports networks in the base channel roster, plus ESPN Plus for highlights and documentaries. ESPN Plus also has some full games, including many collegiate football matches. The Sports Add-On isn't huge, but it includes NFL RedZone for out-of-market key plays like touchdowns and field goals. Other streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo may have more regional sports, but they also cost more and don't give you ESPN Plus. Take advantage of the 3-day Hulu free trial before committing to your first month with the service.
What to Consider When Choosing a Streaming Service?
Price
Cord cutting is great because it's often cheaper than traditional cable, and there are options for every budget. Most cable box plans exceed $100 these days, while livestreaming options can come in well under that budget.
Channels
Look at what you're getting for your money. Cheaper plans may not have a deal-breaker channel that you expect with your service. However, if you don't require a lot of live content, the on-demand libraries for cheap plans are often still impressive.
DVR
Cloud DVR lets you save your favorites, and, importantly, watch them back from almost anywhere. You can usually pull up your saved programs from any compatible device and watch them while you're on the go.
FAQ's
What Is the Cheapest Streaming Service With Live TV?
Philo is the cheapest service for live TV. Sling TV is also very cheap and has a totally free option called Freestream.
What Is the Cheapest Way To Stream All Local Channels?
An OTA antenna often allows you to get local channels for free. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV also give you local channels in their lineups for under $80. Sling TV is even cheaper and has local channels in some markets.
Does Amazon Prime Have Live TV?
No. You can add channels to your Amazon Prime account for video-on-demand content, but you won't get live channels.
