The best live TV streaming services are a great way to ditch expensive cable and cut the cord. Trust me — I've been using a live TV service as a cable TV alternative for years now, and I'll never go back.
I'm not the only one here at Tom's Guide to make the switch either. Multiple members of our staff currently use a live TV streaming service to cut the cord.
Once you've started using a live TV streaming service as an alternative to cable, it's easy to see why they're a popular replacement. These services give you nearly all the best stuff about cable — tons of channels, including local channels, news, live sports and entertainment on-demand — but without an eye-watering price point, renting equipment or signing a two-year contract.
Some of these live TV streaming services will even give you a discount on the best streaming services. One of our contenders will even give you three streaming services for free as part of your subscription.
In the U.S., there are six major live TV streaming services: YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo, DirecTV and Philo. I've tested and reviewed each one for Tom's Guide, looking for great value, impressive channel selection and a friendly user interface.
After putting all six to the test, there are a few I'd recommend above the rest, and a few others I recommend but with some notable caveats. So let's dive into the best live TV streaming services and see if I can find the ideal solution for you to ditch cable and cut the cord today.
My favorite live TV streaming services
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that's a jack of all trades and a master of some. It's not perfect, but with over 100 channels, features like multiview, unlimited cloud DVR and three simultaneous streams, it offers the best parts of cable but at a more affordable price.
Hulu with Live TV is the best value among the live TV streaming services. It not only gives you 100+ live TV channels, but it throws in Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for free. At the same price as YouTube TV, it's a better value for your money, but unfortunately, the live TV streaming experience is underwhelming with a confounding user interface.
Sling TV used to be our top pick for the best live TV streaming service, but recent price hikes have reduced its value and haven't added any new channels or features. If you're on a budget, it's the most affordable cable replacement, and there are tons of customizations to add channels and features. But once you start adding those, Sling TV can get even more expensive than the competition.
Meet your reviewer
I'm Malcolm and I've been covering streaming for Tom's Guide since 2023. As an editor, I've personally tested all the live TV streaming services below and I've been a YouTube TV subscriber since before I even worked at Tom's Guide. I've been cutting the cord for years, and I try and convert friends and family from cable to a live TV streaming service every chance I get, with a surprising success rate.
The best live TV streaming services for cutting the cord right now
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Best for most people
YouTube TV is the best live TV streaming service for most people. It's not perfect, but it provides almost every feature and channel you could ask for and has the best user interface of any cable TV alternative.
Read more: The good, the bad and why you should sign up
The Good
The real reason YouTube TV takes the top spot is its user interface. It's so simple, clean and intuitive to use. You're never going to go "What the f*ck?" while trying to watch shows, movies or live sports on YouTube TV.
Speaking of live sports, YouTube TV has some great features for watching sports, namely, multiview and catching up with key plays. Some streaming services have copied these features since they debuted on YouTube TV, but it's the lone live TV streaming service that offers these features on a wide range of devices.
Aside from this, you'll love YouTube TV for its variety of popular channels, unlimited cloud DVR, availability on most devices and it typically offers a healthy free trial, often giving you a discount for a few months once your trial ends.
The Bad
While YouTube TV is great for watching live sports because of the aforementioned features, it does lack some sports channels you might want. Especially if you want local sports — aside from select NBC Sports networks in select markets, YouTube TV doesn't offer any regional sports networks (RSNs).
It's also not the best value of the streaming services. Sling TV is notably cheaper and Hulu with Live TV is the same price but includes three streaming services for free in its subscription.
They both have shortcomings — Sling TV often lacks local channels and charges for unlimited DVR, and Hulu's live TV streaming user interface is my least favorite of any live TV streaming service — but if you can get over those, you might prefer them to YouTube TV.
Why You Should Sign Up
YouTube TV is perfect for those who want to ditch cable, cut the cord, save some money, and then never think about their live TV streaming service again.
It's user-friendly, gives you just about everything you could ask for, and at $82.99, it's still cheaper than cable, with no hidden fees or required equipment to rent like a set-top box.
It's not perfect, but it's more than good enough. After reviewing every live TV streaming service for this buying guide, I couldn't find a reason to ditch my YouTube TV subscription, and that's about as ringing an endorsement as I can give.
- Read my full YouTube TV review
Best value
If you're willing to put up with a few shortcomings, Hulu with Live TV could be the right live TV streaming service for you.
Read more: The good, the bad and why you should sign up
The Good
Hulu with Live TV's biggest selling point isn't even its live TV streaming service. It's that Disney will throw in Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus (all with ads) for free into your subscription.
That makes Hulu an incredible value if you're someone who uses those streaming services. That bundle alone typically will set you back $16.99 a month, so if you're already going to subscribe to a live TV streaming service and those three streaming services (or even just Hulu and Disney Plus), it'll save you money to choose Hulu with Live TV.
But that's not the only reason to get Hulu with Live TV. When I was rating each live TV service's channel selection, I put together a list of 35 must-have popular channels. Hulu offered 34 of these, missing only AMC. That's better than YouTube TV or any other live TV streaming service, unless you pay for a significantly more expensive DirecTV package.
The Bad
While Hulu with Live TV is a great value, its live TV experience could use some improvement. The user interface is my least favorite of any of the live TV streaming services that I tested, and there's an obvious reason why.
Unlike every other service I tested, Hulu doesn't offer a dedicated live TV streaming app for its live TV streaming. Instead, it sandwiches the live TV streaming into its existing Hulu streaming app, which produces a far less intuitive experience.
For example, there's no dedicated record button in the media player to let you simply record a show or movie you're currently watching. Those little things matter to the overall experience. As does the lack of a third simultaneous stream if you want to have three people watching on your account at once.
Why You Should Sign Up
There are three questions to ask yourself when contemplating Hulu with Live TV. Do you mind a less intuitive user interface? Can you manage with just two simultaneous streams? Do you watch Disney Plus, Hulu or ESPN Plus already?
If you answered yes to those questions, then Hulu with Live TV is the right live TV streaming service for you. Its value is seriously impressive — I just wish it's live TV streaming experience was equally impressive.
- Read my full Hulu with Live TV review
Best under $50
Sling TV is a great live TV streaming service, and for a lot of people, it might be the best live TV streaming service. But there are a lot of caveats you have to accept or not care about for it to be the right choice for you, which is why it's our best budget pick rather than the best for most people.
Read more: The good, the bad and why you should sign up
The Good
Let's start with the obvious: you can't get a better live TV streaming service at a lower price point.
Sling TV starts at just $45.99 a month, often giving you 50% off on your first month when you sign up. It splits its offering between two channel packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, though you can get both at $60.99 a month ($65.99 in select markets with ABC affiliates that charge a $5 DMA surcharge).
So even if you opt for the more expensive Sling Orange and Blue, you're still spending at least $15 less than you would for YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV. That's a significant discount, and for a lot of people, it's reason enough to choose Sling TV.
The Bad
You know the saying "You get what you pay for"? Well, with Sling TV, that certainly proves to be the case.
Let's go over what you don't get with Sling TV. You won't get free unlimited DVR (limited to 50 hours unless you pay $5 a month extra) and you don't get your local CBS channel.
In fact, in some markets, you might not even get your local ABC, NBC or Fox channel either, and you only get local channels if you sign up for Sling Blue or Sling Orange and Blue. They're not available as part of Sling Orange.
Why You Should Sign Up?
You should only sign up for Sling TV if it works for your live TV streaming needs.
That sounds obvious, but it's the truth. If you only need ESPN and a few other channels, and you don't care about having limits on your cloud DVR storage or having just one stream allowed at a time, then Sling Orange is a great option.
Want some (but not all) of your local channels, NFL Network and cable news all in one place? Then Sling Blue will do it for way less than the competition.
But if you need unlimited cloud DVR, your local CBS affiliate, and all of our must-have popular channels, you're either going to have to opt for something besides Sling TV or combine Sling TV with premium add-ons, an antenna and possibly even a streaming service or two.
At that point, suddenly, Sling TV isn't cheap or convenient, and that means it's probably not for you.
- Read our full Sling TV review
Best for sports fans
Fubo exists for basically one reason: sports. Yes, it offers over 150 channels, features unlimited cloud DVR and more simultaneous streams than you can count on two hands, but you sign up for Fubo to get access to regional sports networks (RSNs).
Read more: The good, the bad and why you should sign up
The Good
If you want a ton of sports, Fubo has you covered, occasionally even in 4K resolution if you pay up for the Fubo Elite plan.
You get local broadcasts and nationally televised games on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. You get collegiate and professional sports with ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, BTN, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, NBC Sports, NFL Network. You get international sports coverage through beIN Sports. If you get Fubo Elite, you also get access to MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, ESPN U and ESPNews.
Plus, you get RSNs in select markets. These channels are niche local sports channels that are sometimes the only way to watch games from your local MLB, NBA and NHL teams.
The Bad
Despite offering all those sports channels, you'd be amazed at what channels aren't included in any Fubo package.
Fubo Pro offers 150+ channels and Fubo Elite can offer more than 300 channels. But neither plan offers WBD-owned networks, including TBS, TNT, Discovery and Food Network. Those are some of the most popular channels, so missing out on them is a big deal.
Also, while you can get 4K streaming included in your Fubo Elite plan, most live TV streams on Fubo are limited to 720p HD resolution. YouTube TV offers a significant amount of its content in 1080p, and costs notably less.
Why You Should Sign Up
At this point, I've covered the three live TV streaming services I'd recommend to anyone. I have YouTube TV as the top choice, but both Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV have compelling reasons to sign up.
Fubo, however, I wouldn't recommend it to most people. It's not that it's bad, but it falls short on offering popular channels and despite offering select 4K live streams, doesn't offer many streams in 1080p.
But if you have to live sports — specifically local live sports — then Fubo might be the answer for you. DirecTV also offers RSNs in some of its packages, but Fubo charges less and, in some markets, allows you to sign up for just the RSN channels for just $29.99 a month (plus taxes and fees).
- Read our full Fubo review
Best if money is no object
DirecTV is as close to cable as a live TV streaming service can get, and I don't mean that as a positive. Especially since DirecTV killed its DirecTV Stream branding and brought its cord-cutting cable alternative under its main brand.
However, there are still some reasons to sign up, provided you're willing to pay for it.
Read more: The good, the bad and why you should sign up
The Good
DirecTV offers a lot — if you don't care about the price. You can get every single one of the 35 must-have popular channels we look for, but only if you pay up for the Ultimate package.
You also get unlimited DVR, you get unlimited streams on your home network, and there are two channels that offer 4K resolution live TV streaming.
You can even get select streaming services included in your subscription, though you'll be paying more than you would for Hulu with Live TV. DirecTV also offers more regional sports network (RSN) availability than any other live TV streaming service, but Fubo offers close to the same availability at a cheaper price.
The Bad
DirecTV is essentially cable.
Every single package it offers has hidden fees, taxes, etc. If you want the best prices, you'll need to sign a contract or agree to rent equipment from DirecTV.
I also didn't love the user interface of the DirecTV app. I got used to it more over time, and ultimately did prefer it to Hulu's user interface, but it was something I dubbed "unfriendly" in my review.
Why You Should Sign Up?
There are two reasons to sign up for DirecTV.
First, is if you want to watch your local RSN and Fubo doesn't offer it. If that's the case, DirecTV is probably the only choice you have for cutting the cord.
Second, would be if money is no object to you. The Premier plan is loaded. It features 185+ channels, includes Max, Paramount Plus with Showtime and Starz, and offers select 4K live TV streaming and RSNs. But it also can cost as much as $172.98 a month.
At that point, cable might be cheaper, depending on what options are available to you. But you can't deny that, taking price out of the equation, DirecTV can allow you to cut the cord and still give you just about everything you could want.
- Read our full DirecTV review
Best live TV streaming service: Specs compared
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | YouTube TV | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | Fubo | DirecTV |
Price | $82.99 | $82.99 | $45.99-$65.99 | $84.99-$94.99 | $84.99-$172.98 |
Channels | 100+ | 100+ | 34-46 | 150-200+ | 90-185+ |
ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox? | Yes | Yes | Varies by market (no CBS) | Yes | Yes |
RSN availability | NBC Sports only | No | No | Yes (varies by market) | Yes (Choice package and above) |
Simultaneous streams | 3 | 2 (Unlimited for additional $9.99) | 1 (Orange) | 3 (Blue/Orange & Blue) | 10 on home network (3 outside of home network) | Unlimited on home network (3 outside of home network) |
DVR | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50 Hours (Unlimited for $5 a month) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Best live TV streaming services: How I test
When determining the best live TV streaming service, I keep one question in the front of my mind: Is this streaming service good at streaming live TV?
ABC
AMC
BET
Bravo
Cartoon Network
CBS
CBS Sports
CNBC
CNN
Comedy Central
Discovery
Disney Channel
ESPN
ESPN 2
Food Network
Fox
Fox News
FS1
FX
HGTV
Lifetime
MSNBC
MTV
NBC
NFL Network
Nickelodeon
Paramount Network
PBS
TBS
The CW
The History Channel
TLC
TNT
truTV
USA
To determine how good a live TV streaming service is, I test it for hours. I test it on my TV, my phone and my laptop, which are the three devices you're most likely to watch it on. I try and find all the quirks and benefits of a streaming service I can during this testing process.
Answering this key question sometimes hurts a live TV streaming service. Hulu with Live TV could easily have taken our top spot, but while it's a great value, its live TV streaming experience is underwhelming. YouTube TV, despite its shortcomings, is simply better when it comes to watching live TV.
The next thing I look at is channel selection. Price and other specs matter, but ultimately, the goal here is to reproduce the ideal live TV watching experience at a cheaper price than cable.
I came up with a list of 35 must-have popular channels and checked to see how many a given service was missing. This hurt Sling TV and Fubo in particular, which were missing a decent number of channels.
Then I look to see what features there are. I check for unlimited cloud DVR, simultaneous streams, RSN availability, 4K streaming resolution and more. These things are all nice to have, but if the live TV streaming experience isn't good, and you can't watch the channels you want, then what point is there to the added features?
Finally, I look at how much the live TV streaming service costs. Price really matters, but only if you're using it as a tiebreaker between live TV streaming services you actually would like to use. Philo's $28 monthly price is great, but I'd much rather pay $83 for YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV and get the live TV streaming experience that I want, rather than save money but get a notably inferior product.
How to choose the best live TV streaming service
When I talk to people about choosing the best live TV streaming service, I ask them what they want from a live TV experience.
I ask what channels they actually watch — not which channels they think would be nice to have — if they need a lot of DVR storage, do they pay more certain streaming services, etc.
That would be my advice here as well. When you decide to choose the best live TV streaming service for you, create a list of features and channels you think are a must and then see which of the options we've tested and reviewed are right for you.
Live TV streaming services I also tested
Not every live TV streaming service makes the cut for our recommendations, even if there are things we like about it.
At the moment, the lone cable alternative that didn't make the cut is Philo.
At $28, the price is right, especially since you get AMC Plus and Shudder thrown in for free. But the sheer lack of many of the most popular channels makes it impossible to recommend, given that you could just mindlessly watch TV on the best free streaming services instead.
