Live TV Streaming Services With a Free Trial in 2026

Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (previously Paramount+ Premium) is a Netflix-style streaming service, offering movies and TV shows on-demand like The Good Fight and Yellowstone. But unlike Netflix, it gives you access to Live TV from CBS. That means CBS local channels, CBS News (CBSN), CBS Sports, ET live, and some live sporting events like NFL on CBS Live. It also offers on-demand access to programming from Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Pictures, and Smithsonian Channel.

As of 2024, it increased its monthly price to $12.99, but with that comes a significant upgrade: members now have access to all of Showtime’s content, which includes movies and shows like Billions, Dexter, and Yellowjackets, as well as live coverage on sports including boxing, football, and MMA. Since Showtime shut down its standalone service in early 2024, this Paramount+ plan is now one of the few ways to watch Showtime without cable.

Lifetime Movie Club is a subscription video service that gives you access to thousands of original titles, many of which can also be found on its cable counterpart the Lifetime Channel. Lifetime movies are known for being unapologetically dramatic and occasionally sinister, so if you’re one to indulge in such content, then this might be for you. Lifetime Movie Club also welcomes new movies to its library every Friday, as well as hosts a handful of syndicated shows, including the much-beloved Grey’s Anatomy.

Over 140 channels, unlimited DVR and RSNs included – DirecTV Stream Ultimate is one of the most complete cord-cutting streaming bundles out there. Think of every sports network for example, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NHL Network, etc, you name it, you got it. You also get over 55,000 (15,000 more than the base Entertainment package, mainly from Starz Encore) of on-demand movies and shows included. Of course, there is a price tag that comes with all of this that will rival the most expensive cable packages: over $100 a month.

With this package DirecTV is saying: if you want cheap, go to Sling. This is not cheap, but it has everything a family could need from a TV package.

There’s a reason why DirecTV Stream Choice is the provider’s most popular package to date: it carries over 105 channels, many of which are specialty sports channels like Big Ten Network, MLB Network, and NBA TV; it has local channels and RSNs where available; it offers premium add-ons like Starz and HBO; and maybe most important of all, it’s still under a hundred bucks, which is not something you can say about most live TV packages these days.

In other words, Stream Choice is for those looking for extra sports coverage while wanting to enjoy the usual benefits of DirecTV, like unlimited screens and DVR, and keeping it all under a reasonable budget.

The most cable-like live TV package to date, DirecTV Stream Premier carries every possible channel you can think of. The sports department has ESPN and Fox Sports, to name a few, plus all the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB specialty channels. Meanwhile, the entertainment department has premium networks like HBO, Starz, Cinemax, and Showtime. It even has RSNs and local channels, all of which total more than 150 channels, so if you want your subscription to cover multiple bases, this is as comprehensive as it gets. All this comes to a hefty $160/month, which seems like a lot for a cord-cutting service, but with features like unlimited screens and DVR, it’s worth considering if you have the budget to spare.

With DirecTV Stream’s MyEntertainment plan, subscribers can access popular entertainment channels and services for just $35/month. Live channels like FX, Bravo, CNN, History, and HGTV cover the basics like news and lifestyle, while ad-supported services like Hulu, Disney+, and Max, which are included at no additional cost, cover nearly all your film and TV needs. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try this plan free for 5 days, then cancel anytime.

With DirecTV Stream’s MyEntertainment plan, subscribers can access popular entertainment channels and services for just $35/month. Live channels like FX, Bravo, CNN, History, and HGTV cover the basics like news and lifestyle, while ad-supported services like Hulu, Disney+, and Max, which are included at no additional cost, cover nearly all your film and TV needs. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try this plan free for 5 days, then cancel anytime.

DAZN, which somehow means “The Zone” (where did the “O” go?), is a sports-focused Live TV service and one of the fastest-rising streaming platforms out there. You pay $30 each month (or $20 if you’re on the annual plan) to access a host of live sporting events, including boxing, MMA, soccer, tennis, and chess, as well as various sports-related shows, documentaries, and interviews. For extra special matches, DAZN also offers pay-per-view, which can range from $20-$40. DAZN is compatible with most streaming devices, and it’s available in many countries outside the US.

FuboTV is the only sports-focused streaming service out there, and with three tiers of packaging, users can decide how dedicated they want to be to the sports world. For the die-hards, FuboTV’s Elite package is the most all-encompassing version they offer.

The interface can be difficult to navigate

If you’re a hardcore baseball fan, you’ll be glad to know you can tune in to your favorite pastime via MLB.TV, the league’s official streaming service. Previously MLB.TV offered All Teams and Single Team packages, but it’s replacing them with more affordable tiers that start at $5.99/month. The cheapest plan allows you to stream MLB Network 24/7 and tune into extensive baseball coverage and analyses, while the MLB.TV + At Bat plan, which costs $6.99/month, adds access to La Liga Dominicana (Spanish only), live Spring Training games, and archives from past seasons. An important reminder: if you’re still on the cord and have the MLB Extra Innings cable TV package, you’re likely entitled to a free MLB.TV subscription. Contact your provider to check whether you’re eligible.

NFL+ is the league’s official streaming service that gives you access to live and local regular season and postseason games, on-demand programs, and even tools for your next fantasy football game. As of 2023, NFL+ also offers the NFL Network and NFL Redzone channels in its plans, making it a solid option for true-blue football fans hoping to finally cut the cord.

A regular subscription costs $6.99/month and includes everything in the above, except for NFL Redzone and replays of full games, highlights, and all-22 coaches films, which are only available in NFL+’s premium subscription, priced at $14.99/month. Both plans offer free trials and are available on most major streaming devices, with the exception of live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, which can only be viewed on phones and tables.

For the diehard soccer fan, Fanatiz is a streaming service dedicated to Latin American and Spanish soccer. Here, you’ll get access to live and on-demand matches held by La Liga and Copa Libertadores, as well as complete coverage of Brazil’s intense local competition Brasileirão. It’s available in most countries worldwide, but North American viewers, in particular, will be glad to know that Fanatiz carries beIN and TyC Sports—vital channels that have exclusive rights to stream select leagues.

Fanatiz has an $6.99 and $12.99 monthly tier, the latter of which gives you access to even more leagues and hours of VOD content. But we suggest you try the platform first (free for a week) to really test its quality and see how it stacks up to other similarly inclined services, like FuboTV.

The “MySports” package from DirecTV is the cheapest way to combine ESPN, ESPN+, Fox Sports, ABC, TNT, and NBC. It’s the sports bundle that we could have only dreamed of in the past, especially considering that DirecTV is widely considered to have the best picture quality out of every cord-cutting service.

Fox One brings together all things Fox into one accessible platform for $19.99/month. The live and on-demand streaming service carries every Fox channel, from your local affiliate and Fox News to FS1 and FS2. It also allows you to watch ongoing Fox sitcoms and dramas on demand, but older shows might be missing from the catalog. Though pricey, Fox One is free for viewers who already pay for TV subscriptions that come with Fox, like DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu with Live TV. It’s also available in select bundles and as an add-on to platforms like Prime Video.

Level News is a slim ten-channel cord-cutting offer for, you guessed it, the news. It’s a good add-on if you have another cord-cutting subscription that doesn’t include news such as Frndly TV. That said, you will have to contend for less familiar channels as big-name broadcasters like CNN, the BBC, and MSNBC are still not available. Plus, some of the channels that are available, like France24, are streamable for free online. The service only launched in November 2022, and there are echos that it’s looking to add more news channels soon. 

Cord-cutters only interested in Spanish-language content will find much to like in Fubo Latino. Instead of the usual lineup, the Latino plan carries more than 65 channels in Spanish, including Unimas, Univision, BeinSports, Nat Geo Mundo, Sony Cine, and Discovery en Español. And since Fubo started as a soccer streaming service, it also has live sporting events featuring leagues like the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, and MLS.

At only $14.99/month, it’s Fubo’s most affordable plan yet, but it still has base features like unlimited cloud DVR and two simultaneous streams. If you already have a Fubo base plan, Fubo also offers these channels as an add-on for $20/month.

Unlike other streaming services, Sling doesn’t have just one but six Spanish-language plans that you can choose from. The base Sling Latino plan costs $10/month and includes more than 20 channels, including BeinSports, so you can tune into live soccer games. You can subscribe to this without signing up for Sling’s Orange and/or Blue plans. When you combine the Sling Latino plan with another regional Latino plan, like Sling Mexico (11 channels), Sling Sudamérica (11 channels), Sling Caribe (9 channels), Sling España (4 channels), or Sling Centroamérica (3 channels), you only have to pay $5 more on top of your existing plan. On their own, however, they also cost $10/month each. Following the same logic, combining any of these Latino plans with either Sling Orange (which has the Disney networks) or Blue (which has more news and sports channels) will cost you anywhere from $56-$76/month.

That’s one thing about Sling: the options may get overwhelming, but at least you know you can customize your plan to your specific liking. Needless to say, every single one of these plans comes with the usual Sling TV features like 50 hours of cloud DVR (which you can upgrade for a fee) and three simultaneous streams.

If you’re looking for a lean plan focusing on news and local coverage, then DirecTV Stream’s MyNews pack just might be for you. It brings together your local ABC, NBC, and FOX (though availability varies per market) with channels like CNN, CNBC, and i24 to round up your news fix. You can choose to add premium channels a la carte, or you can pair it with DirecTV Stream’s “MyCinema” add-on for $10/month. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try MyNews free for 5 days if you want to test it out first.

TV Choice is available either by calling Spectrum or visiting a branch. You can pick a selection of 15 channels from most popular networks in the US, including ESPN, FOX, MSNBC and TNT, and like other cord-cutting services, cancel anytime.
Free trial duration will depend on your account history with Spectrum, but usually ranges between 7 and 30 days.

Frndly is a Roku-owned live TV streaming service with a focus on affordability and family-oriented content. With their 7-day trial you can try History, Hallmark, Lifetime, and other similar channels. There are no major news channels, local channels, or sports. But as you will find, they have a simple yet effective interface, DVR for all plans, and an extremely budget-friendly price point. Another thing to try is their support for multiple streams, with the "premium" plan offering support for 4 simultaneous streams.

DirecTV recently rebranded to focus on its cord-cutting service, offering new "genre" packs as well as its base packages. All these are included in the free trial:

• MyEntertainment for $34.99 includes 40 channels, Disney+, and Hulu.
• MySports for $69.99 includes 20 channels including ESPN and ESPN+.
• MyNews for $39.99 and includes 9 channels as well as most news local channels

Of course, you can use your trial towards their "base" package (Entertainment), which comes with 135 channels and can be cancelled at anytime.

Traditionally, the more popular a streaming service is the less likely it will offer a free trial, just take a look at Netflix. Youtube TV is the exception. It is the most popular live TV streaming service and yet it offers not a 3-day or 5-day trial, but a generous 7 days.
If you're looking to get major news and sports networks, local channels, or even regional sports networks, Youtube TV has one of the strongest coverages in the cord-cutting world.
If you get the Youtube TV trial, make sure to invite your closed ones to try it as well. Its support for 6 accounts and comprehensive channel lineup are designed with families and large households in mind. Make sure also to test their mobile app,

Hulu offers a way to test its extensive channel lineup which includes most local channels and national networks. Disney+ and ESPN+ come included, so a trial to Hulu with Live TV is the only way to get a trial to both Disney+ and ESPN+. Of course, you'll also get a chance to try Hulu's own on-demand library. The price point around $83 might be standard for a live TV service nowadays, but, since the free trial here only lasts 3 days, there is increased risk that you will be charged a month-long subscription. If the goal is to get a free trial and then cancel it, make sure to set a reminder.

Philo is one of the most interesting ways to cut the cord out there: it offers over 70 channels for as little as $25. If you don’t watch sports or a lot of local TV, but want access to everything else, it’s the perfect Live TV option. Their Bundle+ subscription adds access to AMC+, HBO Max, and Discovery+.

Paramount+ used to be called CBS All-Access, which was a more straightforward branding about what kind of content you can expect here. Their week-long free trial will give you access to your local CBS station and CBS Sports HQ, which notably airs NFL and UEFA Champions League games. You'll also get on-demand content from Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodean, BET, and more. And lastly, you'll get to try Parmaount+'s growing on-demand library, including Yellowstone and recent hits like Landman.

Fubo is a live TV and on-demand streaming service. The platform had it beginning as a soccer stream service, but it quickly became popular as a viable alternative to expensive cable subscriptions in the U.S, offering an attractive bundle of more than 100 live channels as well as an endless array of on-demand movies.