Best Ways To Watch TV without Cable or Satellite

Let’s face it: both cable and satellite TV plans are expensive. Consumers are easily shelling out a couple hundred per month for TV, Wi-Fi, and sometimes even smartphone combination plans. That’s a lot of money to pay out for internet access and access to the only couple of channels we watch per month, compared to the hundreds, if not thousands, available. You won’t even have control over when to watch your favorite programs since you’ll have to follow a particular channel’s schedule.

That’s why cable cutting has gotten so popular. Consumers would rather pay for one or two channels they regularly watch than hundreds of channels they’ve never even visited. Is it really that easy, though? Yes! If you follow along with us below, we’ll show you how you can watch TV without cable or satellite subscriptions. Let’s dive right in.

The advent of cable-cutting

Cable-cutting started a few years back when streaming devices like the Fire TV stick appeared on the market. We began seeing media apps launch on platforms like the Fire TV stick and Android as a whole, allowing you to subscribe to them, getting the same content you would see on TV, but for a fee. These are apps like CBS, Fox, AMC, HBO, and many more.

Of course, it can still add up quite a bit when you start subscribing to all of your favorite channels. What you might’ve not known is that there are also cost-efficient options like Sling TV that allow folks to purchase a TV subscription on the cheap and with no contracts. Slings and others discovered there was a market for something like this, and as such, we’ve seen all sorts of new TV streaming services launch that don’t require cable or satellite, only an internet connection.

So, how do you start taking advantage of services like this? You can take advantage of a short trial from almost any of them and then sign-up and subscribe. All that’s required is a streaming device, such as the Fire TV stick, Chromecast with Google TV, or Apple TV. It’s pretty easy to set up; once you subscribe, just plug the hardware into your TV, make sure the app is downloaded, and log in with your credentials. Alternatively, you can simply download your chosen service’s app onto your phone and log in from there. Here are the best ways to watch TV without cable or satellite plans in 2022.

Hulu + Live TV is the best option, especially when you love streaming movies and series as much as watching live programs. You get tons of channels to choose from and many sports games live streams. You can also add channel add-ons to your package, but for an extra monthly cost. The unique aspect of Hulu with Live TV is that you not only get access to many channels but to Hulu’s massive VOD library too. You will have thousands of on-demand TV shows and movies to choose from on Hulu’s regular service. You can pick between older, iconic content or binge-watch one of the many Hulu originals they have. Hulu’s interface is user-friendly, and you can find something for you no matter what genre you like. Users can watch Hulu on two screens simultaneously, and you get to store Live TV recordings for up to nine months. The plan costs $69.99 monthly, and the best part is you also get access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney+ has all the memorable Disney movies from back in the day, the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe, and all the Star Wars movies people came to love. ESPN+, on the other hand, is where you can watch live baseball, soccer, UFC, etc. 

Pros

• Tons of live TV channels
• Access to on-demand films and TV shows
• Unlimited cloud DVR
• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Pricey
• Has ads

Specification

• Price $69.99/month
• Add-ons Unlimited Screens
• Channels over 75

YouTube TV is up next, acting as another streaming service that brings you all of your favorite channels as long as you’re connected to the internet. Like the others, there are no commitments; you can cancel anytime you want. YouTube TV gives you access to over 100 live TV channels, though many of them vary based on what region or market you’re in in the United States. Youtube offers potential customers a free trial before they start paying for a subscription, and if you end up liking it, you will get a discounted rate for your first three months. YouTube TV, like the others, has plenty of great channels you can view, though they charge extra for some of the more popular ones. The nice thing about YouTube TV is that it has Cloud DVR, allowing you to record your favorite shows, so you don’t miss them. You can add a variety of different popular channels to your package for an extra charge per month. That “extra’ varies based on what you’re watching. Channels like AMC and Showtime are more affordable than the MLB Sports Pass. YouTube TV doesn’t offer any promotions for free streaming devices, but it is available on various platforms, including Apple and Android TV. You can also find it on Xbox One, iOS, and Android phones.

Pros

• 100+ channels
• Unlimited cloud DVR storage
• Includes MLB, NBA, NFL networks

Cons

• On the pricier side
• Could have better parental control options

Specification

• Price $64.99/month
• Add-ons Unlimited Screens
• Channels 85

FuboTV is a unique streaming service because its big focus is on sports channels. You’ll get to watch events from the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and international soccer, which you might not find on the other services above. And yes, you’ll still get access to your favorites, including live news channels, television series, and movies. fuboTV actually has over 100 different channels that you can stream live. And with Cloud DVR, you’ll never miss a show or sports game again. FuboTV offers a free trial, but you’ll later have to pay $69.99 per month for the Pro plan. Such a plan includes 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage and unlimited screens. For those that want even more channels, fuboTV offers an Elite and Ultimate plan that cost $79.99 and $99.99, respectively. The Elite plan gives users at least 130 events in 4K, and you get 62 additional channels in total. For the most expensive option, the Ultimate plan,  you get everything the Elite plan offers with Showtime live/on-demand access and Sports Plus with NFL Redzone.

Pros

• Wide selection of live sports events
• 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage
• Unlimited screens
• Fantastic interface

Cons

• Expensive
• Livestream quality could be better

Specification

• Price $69.99
• Add-ons Unlimited Screens
• Channels over 100

Sling TV is one of the oldest running cord-cutting services and the most affordable. Like the others on our list, Sling TV allows you to stream live TV over the internet. All you need is to get Sling’s hardware in the mail, and then you’re ready to roll. Sling TV comes with a couple of different offers: Sling Orange for $35 per month, Sling Blue for $35 per month, or Sling Orange and Blue for $50 per month. Sling may even throw you a 50% discount if you’re a new subscriber. These plans don’t come with any long-term contracts or hidden fees, and just like Netflix, you can cancel when you want. Each subscription tier comes with over 30 channels, with the Sling Blue & Orange combo package obviously bringing you all the available channels. You can expect to see all your favorite channels on Sling TV; they offer you access to things like ESPN, History, Food Network, AMC, HGTV, and countless other choices. Sling TV also offers a la carte channels that aren’t included in their subscription tiers. On top of a package, you can get your favorite top channels like Showtime and STARZ for an added fee. One thing to note about Sling TV is that whichever plan you buy, you will only get 50 hours of DVR storage. It’s worth keeping an eye out regularly on the company’s website, as they’re always offering new promotions and discounts.  

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Lots of popular channels
• Many add-on choices

Cons

• DVR storage is limited to 50 hours
• Channel selection isn't as nice as large as competitors

Specification

• Price $35-$50/month
• Add-ons Limited
• Channels over 30

If you love shopping online in the United States, there’s a chance you’re an Amazon Prime member. Amazon Prime members don’t only get perks for their shopping but also get access to Amazon Prime Video. Users can opt for a Prime Video membership for a monthly fee of $8.99 monthly, or pay $14.99 monthly for an Amazon Prime membership. For those who want to save even more cash for the Amazon Prime membership, you can get a yearly package worth $139, which is like having an $11.58 monthly fee. Prime Video is a flexible service to use because you can watch it on your mobile phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. You can use the service on up to three devices simultaneously. Those who like to discover information about the actors on their screen will love Amazon’s X-Ray feature, which displays actors’ names, trivia, song titles, etc., on your screen. Amazon Prime Video isn’t precisely a live TV service, but you can pay for add-on channels like HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME, and NBA League Pass. We believe the Amazon Prime membership is worth it because of benefits like free and fast delivery, unlimited photo storage, streaming music with no ads, etc. For those who rarely do online shopping, the cheaper Prime Video-only membership would be the best choice for you. 

Pros

• Affordable
• Tons of benefits
• Excellent interface
• Lots of on-demand content

Cons

• Need to pay to add channels like SHOWTIME, STARZ, NBA League Pass, etc.
• Limited add-on channel selection

Specification

• Price $8.99/month
• Add-ons Limited
• Channels Channel Selection