Best live TV streaming services (2026)

Long gone are the days of needing a cable box or clunky satellite dish to watch live TV. Now, the best live TV streaming services can give you access to all your favorite channels without the hassles, lofty fees, and long-term contracts that are traditionally found in cable packages. All you need is an internet connection and a smart TV, computer, or smartphone to begin watching.

With so many solid options on the market, it can be hard to figure out exactly which service is the right one for your household's needs. To help make selecting one a bit easier, we've spent hours testing out the best live TV streaming services and highlighted our four top picks. Whether you've recently cut the cord and you're seeking out a true cable replacement or you're just looking for a way to keep up with a few notable networks without breaking the bank, there's something for everyone.

DirecTV earns our highest recommendation, as it offers both a wide range of more affordable genre packs and true cable alternatives with unrivaled channel line-ups in its pricier signature packages. Philo is a great lifestyle and entertainment-centric service if you're more budget-minded. The entry-level live TV streamer is missing local channels and major sports networks, but it's only $25 a month, so you can always supplement any gaps with other services. International sports fanatics will find lots to love in Fubo, which offers a staggering number of channels for $74 a month, but lacks Warner Bros. programming and a few other key networks. Sling is an easy middle ground, offering a concise yet mighty selection of essential channels, including ESPN.

Below, you can find our researched roundup of the best live TV streaming services for different needs. Though channel selection and price vary from app to app, these cord-cutting services all offer plenty of popular networks to watch.If you're stuck deciding between two options, our Sling vs. Fubo and Sling vs. Philo guides might be able to help you out.

Our top picks for the best live TV streaming services

Best overall

DirecTV, the streaming counterpart to the cable provider of the same name, is as close as it gets to cable in the world of streaming. The app has month-to-month options like the other live TV streaming packages in this guide (as well as an optional long-term plan if you're looking to save some money). Subscribers can watch unlimited streams on their home network and up to three streams while away from home.

The live TV streaming service carries pretty much everything you'd find in a basic cable package, with no random blackouts (like the lack of Warner Bros. networks on Fubo or local channels on Sling). Plus, you can add on pretty much any cable channel (or bundle in a popular streaming service like HBO Max and Paramount+ with Showtime) — for a price.

That being said, the streaming service can get a bit expensive in its signature packages. The base Entertainment tier starts at $90/month, which is similar to alternatives like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. Things get pricey with the other options, like the Choice tier (which has everything that Entertainment offers, plus specialty sports networks), the Ultimate tier (which carries everything in Choice, plus more sports and movie channels), and the Premier tier (which offers everything we've mentioned so far, in addition to extra channels and bonus streaming subscription access).

Most of these signature plans also tack on regional sports fees (which can reach up to $18 a month) and/or the $10 a month Gemini lease fee. The signature plans all include ESPN Unlimited, and (if you get a Gemini device) the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle. The Premier option also unlocks STARZ, Paramount Plus Premium (with Showtime), HBO Max, and Cinemax.

The service also recently started offering cheaper genre packs, which bundle together a select number of popular channels pegged to specific genres so subscribers can cherry-pick what they're interested in and not have to pay for anything extra. The packs range in price from $20 a month to $65 a month, catering to genres such as Entertainment, Sports, Kids, and News, as well as a Spanish-language package. MyEntertainment comes with access to ad-supported Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max, while MySports includes ESPN Unlimited.

Check out our DirecTV review or explore all plans on the DirecTV website.

Best budget plan

If your main concern is price, live TV streaming doesn't get much better than Philo. For only $25 a month, you get over 70 channels and unlimited one-year DVR storage. In exchange for such a low cost, Philo falls short in a few areas, but it's still an incredible value.

The Philo channel catalog is limited but does include quality content for the right viewer. You can find great lifestyle channels like Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Lifetime, and TLC, and you get Nickelodeon for your little ones. General entertainment options are also solid with stations like AMC, Paramount Network, and Comedy Central. However, if you're looking for robust news, local stations, or sports coverage, you'll have to look elsewhere since Philo doesn't include networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, TNT, or ESPN.

The Philo app is available on select smart TVs, most streaming devices, and smartphones. But, unlike other live TV services, it's not available on gaming consoles. While its display isn't that memorable, and it lacks thumbnail images for programs in the TV guide, the interface gets points for being sleek and uncomplicated. The service's 80,000+ on-demand titles are also easy to search.

If you're looking for a little extra bang for your buck, you can get the Bundle+ plan. This tier includes all of the same 70+ channels, along with ad-supported access to the AMC+ library (normally $8 a month), HBO Max (normally $11 a month), and Discovery+ (normally $6 month). Bundle+ is only $8 a month more than Essential, which offers some decent savings considering that the trio of external streaming services would add up to $25 every month if you subscribed to each app separately. Subscribers will need to activate and use the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming extras within their respective apps.

Philo cuts some corners, but it does so to keep costs low for viewers, making it the best live TV streaming service for shoppers on a tight budget, even after price hikes. The service launched in 2017 for $16 a month, and its modest price increases have come with genuine improvements to the app and its offerings. The streaming service previously reached $33 a month on its lone paid plan, but the streamer recently introduced the cheaper $25 a month Essential plan without any of the external streaming services bundled in. Overall, we suggest browsing the Philo channel lineup if you're looking for a cheap cable alternative. You might be surprised by how many popular networks you can get for only $25.

Check out our Philo guide or head to the Philo website for more information.

Best for the essentials

Sling is the best live TV streaming service for viewers who just want the essentials without any extra bells and whistles. Though its main plans aren't quite as cheap as Philo's, Sling TV includes some key networks that Philo lacks. The live TV service now also offers some more budget-friendly, flexible options.

Sling Orange targets the sporty family, while Sling Blue targets news and entertainment viewers. Of the two, Blue offers more all-purpose genre variety, while Orange's greatest selling point is ESPN. Though pricing varies slightly depending on where you live, each plan starts at $46 a month, making Sling one of the most affordable options on the market. In regions with local network coverage, Sling Blue costs $51 a month.

Sling recently introduced two brand-new, pared-down plans, Select and Essentials. Select and Essentials carry a small handful of networks found in the Blue and Orange tiers, respectively. Essentials costs $20 a month, while Select ranges from $20 to $25 a month depending on your local channel availability. Sling Orange is also newly available in short-term passes, including one-day ($5), weekend ($10), and weeklong ($15) options. Additionally, all six of Sling's plans come with a savings opportunity when you prepay for three months of service.

Both main plans feature the same base lineup of 26 channels, including popular networks like AMC, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, and Cartoon Network. In addition to that core selection, Orange and Blue each offer exclusive channels geared toward a specific kind of viewer. Orange includes exclusives like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, Freeform, and Motor Trend. In fact, it's the cheapest monthly way to live stream ESPN. Meanwhile, Blue comes with channels like NFL Network, FX, Discovery, and TLC, along with local networks like ABC, NBC, and Fox in select cities.

If you're interested in getting both lineups, you can combine the two plans with the Sling Orange + Blue package for a starting price of $61 a month (plus a bit more with local channels). At that price, however, we think you're better off paying a bit more to get the extra perks and additional channels that come with a DirecTV or Fubo membership. There's also an option to get a Sling Essentials + Select combo package, starting at $35 a month.

Check out our Sling TV review, round-up of Sling TV channels, and guide to Sling Orange vs. Blue. You can see what's available in your area by visiting the Sling website.

Best for sports fans

Fubo's strongest selling point is its huge library of available channels: At least 150 with its entry-level Pro plan alone, and more included with each tier up. (The exact number of channels varies slightly depending on your location, but base plans can get over 200 channels in select areas.) Fubo now also comes with unlimited DVR recording storage, and it stands out for letting subscribers watch up to 10 simultaneous screens at once on one account, albeit for a higher starting price than most competitors.

Fubo is mostly geared toward sports fans, especially those who want to watch regional channels and international leagues, but be ready to pay for extras. With Fubo Pro, the base plan, you get sports stations like ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, beIN Sports, PFL, Speedvision, Bleav Sports, FS1, FS2, Sportsnews, SEC Network, Motortrend, and more. Other services also offer some of these networks, but Fubo stands out further with specific add-on bundles for MLB, NBA, and international sports. These start at an additional $7 a month.

But once you start tacking on add-ons, Fubo can become expensive. If you go with the base plan at $74 a month, then opt for Sports Plus ($11 a month) and MLB.TV ($30 a month), you're already at a hefty $115 monthly cost. Plans with regional sports networks also have additional regional sports fees, which get added to your monthly bill and are not typically shown until you begin the sign-up process. Fubo briefly offered an Essential plan for the same price as Pro, which functioned the same as Pro but without regional sports coverage and the associated fees, but the service has since nixed the plan. That makes Fubo one of the more expensive live TV streaming services.

The streamer recently introduced a new Sports + News plan. The pared-down package starts at $56 a month and includes key local networks (other than NBC) and sports channels like ESPN, FS1, and the Tennis Channel, among others (totaling to a little under 30 channels). Sports + News also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited, which is also the case for the Pro and Elite plans.

While Fubo has tons of specialized sports networks, regional stations, and international options, it's important to note that it is missing some key channels, including TNT and TBS, which broadcast MLB and Unrivaled games. Other Warner Bros. networks (like CNN and HGTV) are also missing, in addition to the AMC channel. More recently, Fubo has lost NBCUniversal channels while the two companies try to reach a new content distribution agreement. Still, if you're looking for a sports-friendly service with rare and regional channels (or obscure international options), this is the way to go.

Check out our Fubo TV guide or explore subscription options directly on the Fubo website.

How we test live TV streaming services

To find the best live TV streaming services, we tested several contenders and narrowed our picks down to the top five. We evaluated multiple key factors when testing each service, including overall value, number of channels,quality of channels, extra features, and user-friendliness.

• Overall value: Live TV streaming services are much more expensive than your average on-demand streaming service, meaning it's even more important to ensure you're getting what you want from your choice. We didn't let a high price tag eliminate a competitor from the running, but if a service was unnecessarily expensive or pricier than comparable services, we noted that.

• Number of channels: If you're searching for a cable replacement, you definitely don't want to make huge cuts to your viewing library when making the switch. To measure this, we compared the number of channels each plan offers for each service. Total channels are only part of the equation, however, as having hundreds of networks is meaningless if they're not worth watching.

• Quality of channels: It doesn't matter if you have thousands of channels if you don't want to watch them, so we ensured that our top picks for the best live TV streaming service had content you'd actually tune in to. That means looking for popular channels from household names across various genres, including news, sports, family, drama, and lifestyle programs.
• Extra features: With so many live TV options to choose from, providers often set themselves apart by offering additional perks with their services. We considered this when testing, since the right features can add a ton of value to your subscription plan. Key features we focused on include user profile support, DVR capabilities, 4K streaming, simultaneous streams, on-demand offerings, and included external streaming services. Some of the services also include access to other streaming apps.
• User-friendliness: It may be hard to believe, but streaming was once supposed to make your life easier, so we've kept that in mind when testing these services. If you're signing on to spend upward of $25 a month (and often much more) on an app, it shouldn't be difficult to use. Keeping that in mind, we evaluated the interface, TV guide, and overall ease of navigation when trying out these services.

We take all these factors, and more, into account when evaluating streaming services. We've rigorously tested all four of the live TV services recommended in this guide across a variety of different devices in our own homes. You can learn more about our process in our how we test streaming services explainer, which breaks down our methodology.

What to look for in a live TV streaming service

There are a few key pros that all of the best live TV streaming services share, but in the end, the best platform for you will depend on your particular needs. Even before starting to shop, we recommend identifying what content you actually care about watching. Do you really need to pay for hundreds of channels if you only really care about a few of them? Here are some questions we recommend asking yourself before committing to a subscription.

• Does the service include a handful of channels for each genre you plan to watch?
• Does it cater to the kids in your household?
• Does it offer enough simultaneous screens for the number of viewers you have?
• Do you need on-demand streaming included?
• Do you need regional sports networks? (And if not, is there a way to make sure you're not paying extra for them?)
• Does it have the right number of DVR hours or the ability to purchase more?
• Does it include access to any external streaming services that you'd like to use?
• Can you watch this service on your existing household devices (smart TVs, consoles, etc.)?

We know that there's a lot to choose from, so we tried to make the decision process a bit easier by narrowing it down to four of the best live TV streaming services we've tried. Now, it's up to you to figure out which is right for your needs. Fortunately, half of the options we've recommended offer free trials to give new customers the chance to sample the goods before committing to a subscription. Some services also have introductory promos that might shave a few dollars off your first month of service.

Live TV streaming service FAQs

What is live TV streaming?

Designed to replace pricey cable and satellite TV, the best live TV streaming services eliminate the need for finicky, company-owned hardware and allow you to watch your favorite live channels with just an internet connection and a smart TV, phone, or streaming device. It's a must-have for cord-cutters who want to catch their favorite programs as they come out, as well as breaking news and sports games.

How do you stream live TV?

Live TV streaming is easy since all you need is an internet connection and a computer, smart TV, smartphone, tablet, or eligible gaming console. You can just download the service's app or open its website in a browser, log in, and start streaming.

If you're looking for a new streaming stick, box, or display, check out our guides to the best TVs and best streaming devices. There's something for every budget and streaming need.

Is live TV streaming cheaper than cable?

Live TV streaming services are often more affordable than cable services. Traditional pay-TV providers like Dish, Verizon, and Xfinity offer starting prices that cost more than most of our streaming picks. For cable plans that offer more than the bare minimum, you'll often find costs climb past the $100 mark.

Not only are they more expensive, but cable plans often tack on extra fees to use their required boxes and DVR equipment, and some can lock you into lengthy contracts to claim certain promos. Cable also offers far fewer features, like smaller DVR storage, no personal accounts, and fewer compatible devices to watch on.

In general, it's safe to say that live TV streaming services give you more bang for your buck. However, it is important to keep in mind that the best live TV streaming services can still get pricey once you start adding on extra channel packages and some upgraded features.

Do live TV streaming services include local channels?

Most, but not all, of our picks for the best live TV streaming services include access to local networks like ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS. Local networks are included with all signature DirecTV and Fubo plans, although local availability varies in genre packs and Spanish-language plans. Fubo is also currently missing NBC due to an ongoing dispute. Meanwhile, only select Sling TV plans include access to FOX, NBC, and ABC in certain areas. Sling doesn't offer CBS in any markets. Finally, Philo does not include any local networks with its service.

If your streaming service doesn't offer local stations, we recommend considering a digital antenna as a cheap solution. As long as your area has good reception, a digital antenna can provide free access to local channels without the need for any kind of paid subscription. Check out our guide to the best indoor TV antennas to see our top recommendations. It's worth noting that Sling will send subscribers an HD antenna if they prepay for three months of Sling.

Do regular streaming services allow for live streaming?

Standard streaming services (such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu) are best known for their on-demand content, and we don't typically recommend these for true live TV cable replacements. However, these services have increasingly begun to invest in live TV options, typically offering select live games or one specific live channel.

For example, Paramount Plus offers CBS live streaming in its Premium tier, while Peacock has NBC live streaming in its Premium Plus tier. FOX One live streams everything from FOX networks, including the flagship channel, FS1, and FS2. ESPN Unlimited live streams everything that is broadcast across Disney-owned sports networks, such as ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN2, the ACC Network, the SEC Network, and more.

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