The Cheapest Live TV Streaming Services for Cord-Cutting in 2025

Updated on July 5, 2025 • Written & edited by our Staff

As you have probably noticed, the "best live TV" lists from big publications are ordered based on affiliate earnings or ambigious criteria. In this list, we simply ordered the best live TV streaming services by price: from cheapest to most expensive. This list being sorted by price, and only price, offers the most helpful guide to finding the best affordable streaming service for your needs.

Here are the best and cheapest live TV streaming services:

  • Frndly TV ($8.99/month): Cheapest for History, Lifetime, and Hallmark
  • Philo ($28/month): Cheapest for A&E, HGTV, AMC, and Comedy Central
  • Sling TV Blue ($45.99/month): The cheapest for local channels like ABC
  • Sling TV Orange ($45.99/month): The cheapest for ESPN
  • Hulu with Live TV ($82.99/month): Live TV with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ coming included
  • YouTube TV ($82.99/month): A complete cable alternative
  • Fubo ($84.99/month): The service with the most sports
  • DirecTV Stream ($86.99/month): ESPN, Fox Sports, RSNs, and most local channels

Every major live TV streaming service ordered by price:

Our top three picks to watch live without cable:
Frndly TV
7-day free trial.
$8.99 Watch
Philo
7-day free trial.
$28 Watch
Sling TV Blue
No free trial.
$45.99 Watch

Cheapest for History, Lifetime, and Hallmark

$8.99/month | 53 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.
Go to Frndly TV

Cheapest for A&E, HGTV, AMC, and Comedy Central

$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.
Go to Philo

The cheapest for local channels like ABC

$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.
Go to Sling TV Blue

The cheapest for ESPN

$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.
Go to Sling TV Orange

Live TV with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ coming included

$82.99/month | 105 channels | 3 days free trial

Hulu with Live TV
Hulu live TV is one of the "big 4" of cord-cutting, next to Youtube TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo. They all offer somewhat the same channels, cost somewhat the same, and when one of them goes through a price hike, the rest usually follow suit. The only reason Hulu stands out is that it is in effect a bundle: you'll get all the same channels as the Big 4, but also Hulu on-demand, ESPN+ and Disney+. If you were to subscribe to their base plans separately, it would cost you $35.99/month. This same number is what makes Hulu with Live TV a good deal: you'll be getting the live TV offering of an $82.99 service, but in reality only paying $47 for those channels ($82.99 - $35.99).
Go to Hulu with Live TV

A complete cable alternative

$82.99/month | 143 channels | 7 days free trial

YouTube TV
Great for cord-cutting, not so much for cost-cutting. Youtube TV includes all the major national networks, and has a great coverage of local channels, especially local sports. It's also the industry's foremost innovator, rolling out new features like Key Plays, which is basically an ever-updating highlight reel, or Fantasy Football view, where you can link your fantasy account and see real-time updates. But as you can tell, it already costs quite a bit. If you add NFL Sunday Ticket, or any of the many extras, it gets even more expensive, quickly.
Go to YouTube TV

The service with the most sports

$84.99/month | 91 channels | 7 days free trial

Fubo
Where Youtube TV excels with more features, Fubo excels with more sports channels. Once a sports-only streamer, Fubo found itself by virtue of packaged licensing deals, offering as many channels as its competitors. You'll get something for everyone, from entertainement to news and reality TV, and this will depend on where you are based, but Fubo still tends to have the best local sports coverage of any other streamer.
Go to Fubo

ESPN, Fox Sports, RSNs, and most local channels

$86.99/month | 135 channels | 5 days free trial

DirecTV Stream
DirecTV, stepping into 2025, has truly shaken up its streaming game with what they're calling "genre packs," aiming to give folks a more focused and wallet-friendly way to watch live TV. Instead of those sprawling channel lineups, you can now grab packs like MyEntertainment for $34.99 a month, which includes Bravo and HGTV, or MySports at $69.99 for ESPN and FS1. There's also MyNews for $39.99 with CNN and FOX News Channel, and MiEspañol at $34.99 for Univision and Telemundo. This move gives subscribers a real say in what they pay for, and it's especially sweet that the MyEntertainment pack throws in Disney+, Hulu Basic, and Max Basic with Ads – a pretty smart play to offer more bang for your buck. It's a smart play for anyone watching their budget or who just has very particular tastes in what they watch, setting DirecTV up to attract a whole new segment of streaming subscribers who truly value customization and a lighter monthly bill over an overwhelming channel lineup.
Go to DirecTV Stream

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.