The Cheapest Live TV Streaming Services in 2025

The Cheapest Streaming Services with Local Channels

• Sling TV (Blue)
• Best For: ABC, FOX, and NBC in select markets
• Summary: As one of the cheapest cable alternatives, Sling Blue offers great bang for your buck. This is especially true if you're looking to watch national channels like A&E and Lifetime, and sports channels like NFL Network and TNT. However, you would have to turn to Sling's other plan, Sling Orange, if you want Disney and ESPN on your lineup. As for local TV, Sling Blue offers NBC, ABC, and FOX in select markets. You can take a look at this page to see if your area is covered.
• Pros
• Has popular channels like TBS, TNT, A&E, and CNN
• Has plenty of add-ons that range from sports to international channels
• Cons
• No Disney Channel and ESPN channels
• DirecTV Stream
• Best For: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, Telemundo, and Univision
• Summary: At $86.99, DirecTV Stream is not exactly cheap but they do offer the most extensive local channel lineup. DirecTV Stream’s local channels include NBC, PBS, ABC, FOX, The CW, and CBS. It even carries the Spanish-language Telemundo and Univision. If you're looking for the most comprehensive cord-cutting solution, DirecTV Stream is probably your best bet.
• Pros
• Offers plenty of features
• Carries regional sports networks (RSNs)
• Higher tiers carry premium channels like HBO and Showtime
• Cons
• Interface can be complicated for beginners
• Fubo
• Best For: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, and Telemundo
• Summary: Fubo is only a few dollars cheaper than DirecTV Stream, but it also has RSNs and unlimited DVR. Additionally, Fubo boasts plenty of specialty sports channels like Willow and The Golf Channel, making it a great pick for multi-sports fans. On the flip side, the streaming service is missing crucial channels like TNT, TBS, and HGTV.
• Pros
• Plenty of specialty sports channels
• Has RSNs in select markets
• Carries all major local networks
• Cons
• Missing Turner channels like TNT, TBS, and TruTV
• Missing Discovery channels like HGTV, Food Network, and TLC
• Hulu with Live TV
• Best For: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW
• Summary: Hulu's live TV offering carries the four major local networks, plus your local CW in some markets. Along with these, you also get access to other channels like A&E, ESPN, and Bravo, as well as streaming services Disney+, Hulu (on-demand), and ESPN+. Since the last three come at no additional cost, you get to save at least $22/month.
• Pros
• Comes with Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu
• Has some RSNs
• Has popular channels like Hallmark, TBS, TNT, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon
• Cons
• Only allows 2 simultaneous streams
• Paramount+
• Best For: CBS
• Summary: You can stream your local CBS station if you’re subscribed to Paramount+’s ad-free plan, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME ($12.99/month). CBS affiliate channels are available in most markets, but it’s still best to check with the service before you subscribe. In addition to local CBS, the service also offers CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, and a big on-demand library.
• Pros
• Has other live channels like CBSN and CBS Sports HQ
• Cons
• Doesn't carry other major networks
• Local CBS channel is only available with Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
• Peacock
• Best For: NBC
• Summary: Like Paramount+, Peacock streams local affiliates of its parent channel, NBC, to premium subscribers. Aside from local NBC, the Peacock Premium Plus plan ($13.99/month) also comes with fewer ads, offline downloads, and access to live sports matches by the NFL, NASCAR, and Premier League. Recording might cost extra, however, since Peacock doesn’t come with cloud DVR. You can check this this list to see if Peacock streams your local NBC channel.
• Pros
• Streams live sports
• Cons
• Unable to record programs
• Doesn't carry other major networks
• Local NBC channel is only available with Peacock Premium Plus
• YouTube TV
• Best For: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, and Univision
• Summary: YouTube TV used to cost way less than the competition, but now that it’s just as expensive, it pays to look at its strengths and weaknesses. A big pro is that YouTube TV has a user-friendly interface, making it feel smooth and streamlined. It also has a great selection of channels, both local and national, which the streamer allows you to record with unlimited DVR. However, YouTube TV has fewer RSNs than DirecTV Stream and Fubo, which might be a dealbreaker for sports fans. It doesn’t carry originals, too, which is where Hulu Live has it beat.
• Pros
• Smooth, easy-to-use interface
• Cons
• Very limited RSNs

How to choose the right (cheap) service for your needs

The cheapest live TV service is not always going to be a feature-stacked cable replacement, but that's OK. Limiting features or channels is how these services keep costs down. Here are a few things that are helpful to think about:

• Channel Lineup: live TV on a budget will often mean doing without local channels and sports. These are the two factors that usually drive up the price of a service: local broadcast fees and sports streaming rights. Think if you can do without them. If you can't, there are always more affordable options like Sling TV.
• DVR: sometimes it is a core feature, sometimes it's a paid add-on, and sometimes there is none. Do you record programs or watch previously aired programs? Make sure you check how long stuff sticks around.
• Multiple devices and simultaneous streams: if you are getting a service for more people in your house, pay close attention to how many devices are allowed to stream at once, and where. DirecTV, for example, allows up to 20 streams at home, but only 3 outside of your home. It often helps to think about who is going to be watching, rather than what they're going to be watching.
• Add-ons: this can be both an opportunity and a cost. If you already subscribe to other streaming services, see if you can get them as "premium channels" in your new live TV service, as they will often be cheaper or in the case of Hulu with Live TV, included (Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu on-demand). Otherwise, add-ons like extra DVR space and more streams can quickly drive up your monthly bill.
• Bundles: streaming bundles are a great way to save, and that includes bundles of services themselves but you will also find deals on bundles of internet and streaming (like NOW TV) as well as mobile and streaming (like T-Mobile + Netflix), etc.
• Antenna: we get into this more below but the cheapest way to get live TV is often a good old antenna. Enter your zipcode on this FCC tool to see which channels you could get.

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.

Which live TV streaming services are completely free?

Plenty of live TV streaming services are completely, wholly, and no-strings-attached free. The most popular two are Tubi and PlutoTV.

How we picked these streaming services

When thinking about the cheapest streaming services, we're thinking about two things: 1- which are cheap in the absolute sense of things, so the completely free streaming services take the trophy here, and 2- which offer good value for the price. For example, Sling Orange might not be objectively the cheapest streaming offer but it is the cheapest way to get ESPN, which is the most watched sports channel in the US.

Another great example is Frndly TV. It's not free but it costs less than a cinema ticket, and you get coveted channels like Lifetime and Hallmark.

In making this list, I tried to include the affordable options for each cord-cutting need.