Subscribing to a live TV streaming service lets you skip the channels you don’t need, but benefit from the ones you love while saving money and channel surfing effort, and making it easier to watch even from your tablet, laptop, or phone.
Today’s most popular streaming services offer two main kinds of streaming, the first being video-on-demand (VoD) from providers like Netflix and Amazon. The second includes live TV options from hubs like Hulu Sling TV.
Also: The best streaming services for NFL games
ZDNET looked at factors like channel availability, subscription cost, and recording options to round up the best live TV streaming services of 2023. Our top choice overall, Sling TV, has an easy user-interface, over 31 channel options, and prioritizes speed — and lets you watch certain football games. But if you’re looking specifically for streaming NFL games, YouTube TV is your best bet. Read on to see how other live TV streaming options compare whether you’re looking to catch the big game, nightly news, your favorite reality show, or something else.
Also: The best TV antennas
Pros
- Pioneered live TV streaming
- 200 hours of DVR
- Great language options
Cons
- No local channel access
- Cloud DVR storage costs extra
Sling TV features: Channels: 31+ | Plan options: 3 | Video storage: 200 hours | Price: Starts at $40 per month
Sling TV has an à la carte approach to channels that separates it from its competitors and makes it our top overall pick. While the others tend to offer only one or two packages, Sling TV offers three basic packages — Blue, Orange, Orange & Blue — plus a wide variety of packages bundling up to a dozen related channels. I like it because it lets me get only the channels I want.
It starts with $40 per month (with half off your first month) for the Blue or Orange channel packages. Sling Orange has 31 channels, including TBS and TNT, and is like an ESPN/Disney package. Meanwhile, Sling Blue offers 39 channels and offers a Fox/NBC package. Your best deal, if you want a broad selection of channels, is to combine them in the Orange & Blue package for $55.
If you want non-English channels, Sling TV is better than all the other services combined. It includes numerous Asian and European language offerings. It also offers Arabic and Brazilian Portuguese. However, it doesn’t have everything. What you won’t get are local ABC, CBS, and PBS channels.
A pioneer of live TV streaming, Sling TV is reliable when it comes to friendly interface, speed, and customization of channels. Plus, its combined Blue and Orange price is still below that of its main competitors, making Sling TV today’s best streaming service for the price.
Pros
- Local channel access
- 4K streaming
- Unlimited simultaneous streams
Cons
- Expensive
- Sports package costs extra
YouTube TV features: Channels: 100+ | Plan options: 1 with 2 add-ons | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $65 per month
I used to love Google’s YouTube TV, and I still like it a lot. However, at $65 per month for the first three months and $73 per month after that, plus taxes, YouTube TV isn’t cheap.
That said, there’s a lot to love here. With over 85 channels, it offers more of the most popular ones than its competitors. It also enables you to watch not only your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in most areas, but your local PBS stations as well. The service also offers a Spanish Plan with over 30 channels for $35 per month with the option to add the NFL Sunday Ticket, which starts at $300.
This video streaming service has a $10 monthly add-on which, while it doesn’t add any channels, gets you unlimited simultaneous streams, lets you watch 4K video, and keep up with your favorite recordings offline.
The other streaming services prices are catching up with YouTube TV. I still prefer Sling TV by a nose, but YouTube TV is great as well, and you can’t beat its cloud DVR service.
Pros
- Bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+
- Large catalog
- Sports bundle
Cons
- Pricey
- Some channels cost extra
Hulu with Live TV features: Channels: 75 | Plan options: 2 with 8 add-ons | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $70 per month
Hulu with Live TV’s big selling point is it’s the one service that combines both live TV and VoD. Besides great original content, such as exclusive titles like Only Murders in the Building, it also has a large catalog of on-demand shows and movies. On top of that, you get over 85 live and on-demand channels. Basic sports are well-covered with the ESPN and Fox sports networks, plus your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in most areas. Some favorites, such as the AMC, the CW, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and VH1, are only available in extra-price add-ons.
Hulu with Live TV now comes in a bundle with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus (both with ads) for $70 per month. If you like Marvel, Disney, Pixar, or Star Wars, this is a very attractive deal. If all you want is Hulu VoD streaming, it’s still available. The cheapest version of the ad-supported streaming library is only $8 per month. The no-ads version is also available for $15. For another $10 per month, you can stream from as many screens as you want at once (without the add-on, you can stream two).
It would be nice if Hulu with Live TV had more channels, but its one package keeps things simple and does come with Disney+ and an easy user-interface.
Pros
- Access to Euro sports leagues
- Over 100 channels
- 22 add-on options
Cons
- Does not carry certain channels
- No access to local sports broadcasts
- Expensive
Fubo TV features: Channels: 150+ | Plan options: 3 plans with 22 add-ons | Video storage: 1,000 hours | Price: Starts at $75 per month
Serious sports fans should check out FuboTV. Besides watching the US favorite trilogy of football, basketball, and baseball, you can also watch the English Premier League, F1 Racing, and cricket.
Besides sports, FuboTV is a full-fledged streaming service with all the usual stations. It comes with three basic English-language plans and one Spanish-language plan. The Pro has over 170 channels and 1,000 hours of video DVR storage. You can stream up to ten screens at once for $75 per month with a free trial. Then there’s Elite, offering 239 channels, 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage, and up to 10 simultaneous screens for $85 per month. Lastly, there’s the Premier Plan. It comes with 248 channels, including Showtime, the News Plus package, and Sports Plus with the NFL Redzone channel for $100 per month.
All plans offer your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in many regions. However, it no longer carries TNT and TBS, both of which show a lot of sports. It also doesn’t nor does it include the Fox regional sports networks.
Put it all together, and you have the best streaming service for European sports fans and other non-mainstream US sports. FuboTV is a good, general-purpose streaming service in its own right.
Pros
- Affordable
- Unlimited DVR storage
- Generous amount of channels
Cons
- Limited sports programming
Philo TV features: Channels: 130+ | Plan options: 1 with add-ons | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $25 per month
Short on cash? Not all that interested in sports? If your answer to both or either is yes, then Philo is a solid option. For only $25 per month, you get over 70 channels.
Philo offers movie channels: MGM+ for $6 per month and Starz for $10 per month with original content of its own. You won’t get any local or sports channels, but if you like popular entertainment and lifestyle shows with just enough news — BBC World News and Cheddar News — to keep you informed, Philo is well worth checking out.
Philo boasts exceptional DVR capabilities; most of Philo’s channel TV shows and movies are available on-demand for 72-hours after their first live airing. It also gives you unlimited DVR storage. Once stored, you’ll have one year to watch recordings. You can also fast-forward your way through your saved shows.
The service enables you to watch three different streams at the same time. If you go over that, the oldest stream stops working.
You can’t beat the price, and Philo’s cloud DVR functionality is second to none. If you live in an area with a lot of over-the-air stations you can pull in with an antenna, it may be all you need. For what it offers, I quite like Philo.
Pros
- Stream on up to 20 devices at once
- All packages offer access to local channels
- Thousands of VOD titles
Cons
- Very expensive
- Still a satellite contract
DirecTV features: Channels: 130+ | Plan options: 4 | Video storage: Unlimited | Price: Starts at $65 per month
DirecTV Stream, previously known as AT&T/DirecT has become better over the years, but its offerings and price have unfortunately, gotten poorer.
DirectTV Stream is an expensive service. The entry-level Entertainment package comes with 75+ channels and 40,000 VoD titles for $65 per month; the Choice package includes 105+ channels and 45,000 VoD selections for $85 per month; and the Ultimate with 130+ channels and 55,000 VoD selections is now $110 per month.
Every package offers access to local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC channels in most — but not all — areas. And, except for the bottom-tier Entertainment offering, all packages come with a large selection of regional sports networks (RSN).
There is a mere 20 hours of video storage, but there is unlimited DVR storage. Furthermore, you can stream unlimited devices simultaneously on your home network. When you’re away from home, you can stream to up to three devices.
Ultimately, DirecTV Stream is great for those who share a streaming service with multiple people, but if its primarily for single-use, it’s a bit too reminiscent in both price and interface of old cable services.
The best live TV streaming service is Sling TV, thanks to its great affordability and multiple plan options. To see how it compares, here is an overview of the best live TV streaming services.
Streaming Service | Price | Channels | Plan Options |
Sling TV | Starts at $40/month | Basic plan offers 31 channels | 3 |
YouTube TV | $65/month (for the first 3 months) | More than 100 channels | 1 plan with 2 add-on options |
Hulu with Live TV | $70/month | 75 channels | 2 plans with 8 add-on options |
FuboTV | $75/month | 150+ channels | 3 plans with 22 add-on options |
Philo | $25/month | 65 channels | 1 plan with channel add-ons |
DirecTV | $65/month | Up to 130+ channels | 4 |
If you want… | Then choose |
The best all-around | Sling TV, with YouTube TV right behind it. If you like storing movies and series for watching later, YouTube TV takes the lead. |
The best for a budget | Philo easily gives you the most for the least money. You get 65 channels for only $25 per month. |
The best all-in-one live TV and VoD | Hulu with Live TV is the only contender. You get over 75 live and on-demand channels. |
The best for soccer and other European sports | FuboTV. This live TV has Premier League, F1 Racing, and cricket channels, and all plans have local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in many regions. |
| The best for large groups | DirecTV Stream. This service is most similar to old cable services with up to 150 channels. |
You should realize that these services’ pricing, channel lineup, DVR capabilities, and how many streams you can watch at one time are all subject to change. They’re also the most important factors to consider before subscribing to a service. So, even if one service sounds perfect for you, go directly to its site and make sure that you’re still getting what I’m describing.
There are several factors to keep in mind when choosing the best live TV streaming service. These are some to consider.
Channel options: Most live TV streaming services will carry all the usual suspects, but for premium channels like HBO and Starz, you usually need to upgrade your plan or purchase an add-on. Not all services will provide local channels, either. Before you choose a live TV streaming service, make sure that it has the type of channels that you want.
Recording: There is typically the ability to create digital video recording (DVR) storage with many live TV streaming services. However, the amount of storage you receive may vary. For example, DirecTV Streaming offers unlimited recordings while FuboTV only gives you 1,000 hours.
Trial: Before you subscribe to a new live TV streaming service, be sure to check whether there is a free trial. Whether it is a month or a week, you can receive significant savings or even a free trial service.
Subscription cost: Price can be a driving factor for many cord-cutters looking to make the switch from cable to a streaming service. As you can see here, costs can vary significantly from one service to another so it is important to compare pricing when choosing the right package for you.
The best live TV streaming service is Fubo TV since it features both mainstream sports like football and hockey and non-mainstream sports like F1 racing and cricket. There are also eight sports channel add-ons to choose from, including an NBA League Pass channel and International Sports Plus, so there is literally something for every sports fan.
There are a number of different streaming services that you can use to watch NFL games, but they can vary considerably in their coverage types. For example, YouTube TV is where you’ll find NFL Sunday Ticket, which lets you watch all out-of-market games. The NFL Plus streaming service also includes RedZone and the NFL network, though you’ll only be able to watch local and primetime games on your phone, not your TV or computer.
YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV support 1080p/60fps live streams on select platforms, so if picture quality is something that’s important to you, these are both good options.
Not really. Back in 2009, when I first cut the cable cord, I saved over $100 per month and still got to watch all my shows. Just over 10 years later, my internet video streaming bills are closing in on cable TV-level bills. Why? Internet streaming is copying the tired, old cable business models.
Sure, the delivery technology is different. Instead of a set-top box, you use a streaming device, such as my own favorite, the Roku Express 4K Plus. Or you can just buy high-end TVs with full-featured streaming built-in. But the bills are increasingly getting higher. That said, you can still save money.
There’s a lot to love about the best live TV streaming services. You get access to your favorite TV shows while having the ability to stream the latest and greatest movies. However, FuboTV is our pick if you want the best substitute for cable. With access to over 150 channels, there is something for everyone. Plus, there are 22 add-on channels, so you can customize and create the exact package that is right for you.
The cheapest live TV streaming service is Philo TV which carries 65 channels, and includes A&E, Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, and more, for just $25 per month.
Of the bigger streaming services such as Netlifx, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video are the only two that offer any kind of live TV streaming at the moment. Hulu has a partnership with ESPN+, meaning that certain live sports events can be streamed through the basic Hulu plan without any additional cost. Amazon Prime Video has rights to Thursday Night NFL games, which allows Prime members to stream live football games from the Prime Video app.
To make use of any of these services, you’ll need broadband internet. If you’re living on your own, you may be able to get by with as little as 10Mbp. If you’re sharing your home with others and/or you want to watch 4K videos, I recommend you have at least a 25Mbps internet connection. Not sure how fast your connection is? Run the Ookla Speedtest.
And, by the way, you won’t lose anything by switching from a cable box to a Roku or Amazon Fire TV 4K stick. The only real difference between conventional cable and internet TV is that live streaming sports lag 15 seconds to a minute behind live broadcasts.
For the most part, all of these support the most popular streaming devices. For example, no matter which service you subscribe to, an Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Cube, Roku Express, or Google Chromecast will almost certainly support it. But if you’re using a more obscure streaming gadget, such as an Nvidia Shield TV Pro, it might not work with your preferred service. Smart TVs also frequently don’t support newer streaming offerings. In short, make sure the service will work with your hardware before subscribing.
If there’s a production company, chances are they have their own streaming service. There are services like PBS Livestream that are dedicated to offering quality news and educational content as well as services like PlutoTV that are geared towards general entertainment. Here are a few other options to look into:
Best alternative for NBC content
Peacock
Peacock has live TV, with 24/7 broadcasts of popular NBC shows. Its Premium Plus tier includes live TV from all local NBC stations. Plans start at $6/month.
Best alternative for Paramount movies and TV shows
Pluto TV
Paramount Global’s Pluto TV has more than 250 channels of free live TV and thousands of on-demand movies and TV shows.
Best alternative for live streaming PBS
PBS Livestream
Just choose your local station to start streaming PBS live for free. You can take a look at the full day’s schedule in advance to see the lineup.
