The Cheapest Live TV Streaming Services

Updated on August 19, 2025 • Staff

The promise of cost-effective cord-cutting may have been broken for the big names like Youtube TV and Hulu with Live TV, but there are still havens of affordability.

The cheapest live TV streaming services are Frndly TV, Philo, and Sling TV, especially the Orange and Blue plans. These range in price between $8.99/month for Frndly TV to $45.99/month for Sling TV Orange.

In this list, we look at each of them in details.

$45.99/month | 33 channels

Sling TV Orange
For viewers prioritizing sports and family entertainment, Sling TV Orange offers a compelling, budget-friendly option in 2025, currently priced at $45.99 per month. This package is particularly appealing for households that don't need a sprawling lineup but want reliable access to key channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and the Disney Channel. It's an excellent choice for NBA and NCAA fans, or families looking for popular kids' programming without the higher costs of more comprehensive streaming bundles.
While Sling Orange delivers a solid core of 34-35 channels, it's worth noting its single-stream limitation, meaning only one device can stream at a time. This could be a consideration for larger households with diverse viewing habits. However, for those seeking a focused, economical entry into live TV streaming, and especially for sports enthusiasts who appreciate ESPN, Sling Orange remains a top contender in the live TV streaming landscape. Pros
  • First month half-off
  • Available on most streaming devices
  • Good for sports, kid, and lifestyle content
  • Comes with 50 hours of free DVR
Cons
  • No Fox Sports
  • No local channels
Go to Sling TV Orange
$28/month | 95 channels | 7 days free trial

Philo
Philo, at a straightforward $28 a month in 2025 comes with popular lifestyle, reality, and entertainment channels – think HGTV, Food Network, AMC, Comedy Central, MTV, and TLC. A recent price hike from $25 was justified by the addition of AMC+ at no extra charge.
The trade-off here is obvious: no sports or local channels. That said, live sports is so fragmented these days between channels and new services like Paramount+, that the days of a complete sports streamer are gone. You'll need multiple subscriptions anyway, so adding Philo to, say, a Peacock for NBC Sports, will still run you less than Fubo or Youtube TV. For local channels, the obvious and free alternative is a good ol' antenna. For the core entertainment value, plus a generous unlimited cloud DVR that saves recordings for a full year and the ability to stream on three devices simultaneously, Philo absolutely solves the problem of getting great TV without breaking the bank. Pros
  • Straightforward offer
  • Great interface, especially on the website
Cons
  • No sports or local channels
Go to Philo
$45.99/month | 46 channels

Sling TV Blue
For news watchers, reality TV enthusiasts, and households needing multiple streams, Sling TV Blue presents a strong contender in 2025, typically priced at $45.99 per month, though some markets with local ABC/FOX/NBC affiliations may see it at $50.99. This package is distinguished by its inclusion of local Fox and NBC channels in select areas, along with a robust lineup of entertainment and news channels like Bravo, Discovery Channel, E!, FX, SYFY, TLC, USA, truTV, Fox News, MSNBC, and NFL Network. Its ability to stream on up to three devices simultaneously makes it ideal for families or shared living spaces where different viewers want to watch different programs.
While Sling Blue offers a broader array of general entertainment and news, it notably lacks ESPN, a key difference from Sling's other offer, Orange, which we cover below. However, for those less concerned with specific sports networks and more interested in a diverse channel selection that accommodates multiple viewers, Sling Blue offers a flexible and economical solution within the live TV streaming market. Pros
  • Includes local channels in some areas
  • Three simultaneous streams
  • Good for watching news live
Cons
  • No ESPN
Go to Sling TV Blue
$8.99/month | 54 channels | 7 days free trial

Frndly TV
For a certain kind of viewer, Frndly is perfect. Don't watch news or sports, and just want access to family-friendly channels to put on from time to time? You don't have to pay more than $8.99 for that.
You can compliment it with an antenna for local channels or a different service for those specific needs. However, if you value channels like A&E, INSP, The Weather Channel, or Great American Family, along with a 72-hour look-back feature and an optional unlimited cloud DVR (available with higher-tier plans), Frndly TV is a surprisingly robust and budget-conscious solution that truly lives up to its name.
Also worth to note that Frndly has been recently acquired by Roku. Pros
  • Lifetime and Hallmark come included
Cons
  • Incomplete channel lineup
Go to Frndly TV
$29.99/month | 10 channels

ESPN Unlimited
Streaming is so fragmented that a service like ESPN+ has become a necessary accessory. This is especially true if you're looking to watch out-of-market NHL games, exclusive UFC Fight Nights, expanded PGA Tour coverage, college sports and international soccer leagues. Very important to keep in mind: ESPN+ does not include a live stream of ESPN. I quickly learned that if I wanted to watch, say, F1 or the NBA on the main ESPN channel, ESPN+ wouldn't cut it. It's more of an add-on, a way to get a ton of extra content rather than the direct feed of those big broadcast channels. That said, there's a huge development on the horizon: a completely new, comprehensive ESPN streaming service is actually set to launch this coming September 2025. It is expected to cost around $29.99 a month for what they're calling its "unlimited" tier, and the big deal is it's supposed to finally bring all of ESPN's linear channels – like ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU – straight to us streamers, without needing any cable whatsoever. From what I understand, current ESPN+ subscribers will just roll right into a "select" tier of this new service at their current price. For me, if this new service delivers, it really could be the ultimate answer for getting pretty much all the sports I care about, both the niche stuff and the big broadcast games, all in one spot. Pros
  • Exclusive access to many sports events
Cons
  • No ESPN live stream
Go to ESPN Unlimited

The absolute cheapest way to get live TV might be an antenna + free streaming services

Depending on where you live, a good old antenna can get you a wealth of channels and sports coverage. I'm going to sound like I'm writing from 1995, but you have two options: an indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna. For the indoor, you can get the usual rabbit ears or loop antenna. You can order one online or grab one at Walmart, Target, or Best Buy. For the outdoor, one of the most reliable is the ClearStream 1 Max, which you can order online as well.

Of course, if you have a smart TV or a streaming stick, it would be easy to combine the antenna with any of the free streaming services we mentioned in the list.

What is the cheapest live TV streaming service for sports channels?

The most affordable streaming service for sports viewing is Sling TV. Out of its two available plans, Sling Orange has the most coverage since it carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, but Sling Blue is also a good option as it carries NFL Network and FS1. Each costs around $45.99/month and $60.99 together as Sling Orange + Blue. These channels may be enough for casual sports fans, but if you're looking for more, you can always pay extra for the sports bundle and add 11 more sports channels in your lineup.

What are the cheapest cord-cutting bundles?

The cheapest streaming bundle is probably the Disney+ Bundle Trio (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) for $14.99. Another option that incldues live TV is the new the Xfinity Now TV "Streamsaver" bundle for $55.