11 Best Services to Watch A&E Live Without Cable in 2025

cord-cutting › ae • March 19, 2025 • The Staff

If you're more of a non-fiction media consumer and prefer the likes of documentaries, reality shows, travel programs, and true crime, then you're likely already tuned into A&E, which specializes in this kind of content.

You can watch A&E without cable on Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW TV, Spectrum TV Choice, Xfinity Choice TV, Spectrum TV Stream, or Optimum Entertainment TV.

The cheapest option to watch A&E is Frndly TV for $6.99/month. Unfortunately, you cannot watch A&E with DirecTV Stream, and YouTube TV.

Below, we count down the best ways to watch A&E that cord-cutters use. We made this ranking based on each service's value: how many other channels each dollar of subscription will get you.

Our top three ways to watch A&E:

Sling Orange $22.99 off your first month.	~~$45.99~~ $23	Watch

Sling Blue $22.99 off your first month.	~~$45.99~~ $23	Watch

Philo 7-day free trial.	$28/month	Watch

A&E on Sling Orange

No commitment

Sling Orange is for all cord-cutters who wish to save money, but it's especially for sports fans who watch ESPN channels as well as households that watch the Disney Channel.

Go to Sling Orange

Price: ~~$45.99~~ $23

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Disney Channel, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Freeform, Fuse, HGTV, History, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MotorTrend, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Vice

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One

A&E on Sling Blue

No commitment

Sling Blue has one of the best price-quality ratios for cord-cutters. For only $45.99, you get access to big networks like AMC, Bravo, TBS, National Geographic, and NBC. This package from sling makes the most sense for cord-cutters who don't watch ESPN or the Disney Channel, which are included in the "Sling Orange" offer.

Go to Sling Blue

Price: ~~$45.99~~ $23

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, Food Network, FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, FS1 4K, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NFL Network, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA Network, Vice

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

A&E on Philo

Second cheapest option for A&E

If you already have other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Philo is the perfect option to get access to Live TV without spending too much money. At $28, it has an offer that beats much more expensive services. Plus, in terms of the channel lineup, it has a little bit for everyone, from news channels like BBC World News to the Discovery Channel, to Nickelodeon and Vice.

Go to Philo

Price: $28/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: A&E, AccuWeather Network, AMC, AMC Plus, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, aspireTV, AXS TV, Baywatch, BBC America, BBC News, BET, BET Her, Catchy Comedy, Cheddar News, Cleo TV, CMT, Comedy Central, Cook’s Country, Cooking Channel, Crackle, Crime-Investigation, Dabl, Deck the Hallmark, Destination America, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, FETV, Food Network, FYI, Game Show Network, GetTV, Great American Family, Great American Living, Gusto TV, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Mystery, Heroes & Icons, HGTV, History, IFC, INSP, Investigation Discovery, KIN, Law&Crime, Lifetime, LMN, Logo, Magnolia Network, MeTV, MeTV Toons, Motor Trend, MSG SportsZone, MTV, MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTV2, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Oprah Winfrey Network, Overtime, Paramount Network, Perform by LIFETIME, PlayersTV, pocket.watch, Pop TV, RetroCrush, REVOLT, Revry, Ryan and Friends, Scares by Shudder, Science Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, Story Television, Sundance TV, Tastemade, TeenNick, TLC, Travel Channel, TV Land, TV One, UPtv, Vevo 80s, Vevo 90s, Vevo Country, Vevo Hip-Hop, Vevo Holiday, Vevo Pop, VH1, Vice, WE tv, Xtreme Outdoor by HISTORY

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG Smart TV, Roku, Samsung TV

A&E on Fubo

Longest free trial for A&E

With over 100 live TV channels, including ESPN and BeIN, Fubo TV is first and foremost for sports fans. But as it expands, it's including channels and movies that appeal to a wider audience.

Go to Fubo

Price: $84.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, AccuWeather, Bein Sports, Big Ten Network, Bravo, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports Network, CBSN, Cheddar, CMT, C NBC, Comedy Central, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, CW, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Estrella TV, FETV, FMC, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Freeform, fubo Sports Network, FX, FXX, FYI, Galavision, GetTV, Golf Channel, GRIT, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Mystery, History, IFC, Intravel, Local Now, MASN, MSNBC, MTV, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NBCLX, NBCSN, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Olympic Channel, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, RSNs, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SYFY, Tastemade, Telemundo, Telemundo local channels, The Weather Channel, Travel Channel, TUDN, TUDNxtra, TV Land, TVG, Unimas, Unimas local channels, Universal Kids, Universo, USA Network, VH1, Vice, WGN America, Willow, YES Network

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, Roku, Xfinity Flex, Xumo

A&E on Hulu with Live TV

Free trial includes A&E

Hulu with Live TV is an obvious choice if you already have Hulu On-Demand, as you'll get to keep all your payment information and history, interact with a similar interface, and get a Live TV service without much effort.

Go to Hulu with Live TV

Price: $82.99/month

Free Trial: 3 days

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BET, Big Ten Network, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS News, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar News, CMT, C NBC, CNN, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN College Extra, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, History, HLN, ID, Justice Central TV, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, LiveNOW, Localish, Military History Channel, Motor Trend, MSNBC, MTV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBCLX, NBCSN, News Nation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, SYFY, TBS, Telemundo, The Grio, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, TVLand, Universal Kids, USA Network, Vevo '80s, Vevo '90s, Vevo Country, Vevo Features, Vevo Hip-Hop, Vevo Pop, VH1, Vice, Weather Channel

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

A&E on Frndly TV

Longest free trial for A&E

Frndly TV is a streaming platform focused on family-friendly live TV channels, with an attractive price starting at $6.99. There are three plans, Basic, Classic and Premium, which respectively cost the $6.99 starting price, $8.99, and $10.99. The Basic plan only allows for SD streaming, but both other plans allow for HD. The basic plan doesn't allow for DVR recordings, but the other plans allow for 3 months and 9 months respectively. And lastly, the basic plans allows for only one simultanious stream, but the Classic allows for 2 and the Premium allows for 4.

Go to Frndly TV

Price: $6.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: A&E, ASPiRE TV, BabyFirst, Bounce, BYUtv, Catchy Comedy, Circle, Court TV, Cowboy Way Channel, Crime-Investigation, Dabl, Dove Channel, Dove Family Movies, Dove Kids, FETV, FMC, FYI, Game Show Network, GetTV, Great American Family, Great American Living, GRIT, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Movies Now, Hallmark Mystery, Heartland TV, Heroes & Icons, Holiday Scapes, INSP, ION, ION Mystery, JusticeCENTRAL.TV, Laff, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, Local Now, MeTV, MeTV Toons, Military HISTORY, Movies!, Outdoor Channel, PixL, QVC, Recipe.TV, Sportsman Channel, Start TV, StoryTV, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, UPtv, VICE TV

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio

A&E on NOW TV

No commitment

Now TV is the new cable alternative from Comcast (owner of Xfinity). For $20/month, you get over 40 live channels, 20 hours of DVR, and watch on up to three devices. It also doubles as a bundle since you get Peacock Premium included at no additional cost. No need to pay an extra $8/month. And of course, no minimum commitment and you can cancel anytime. To get it, you have to first subscribe or already be a subscriber to Xfinity Internet. You can then add it at checkout. At $20, it is one of the cheapest cord-cutting services out there, especially considering the channels that it offers. It's also one of the few services that offers Netflix in some of its bundles (for more on that, you can check this link).

Go to NOW TV

Price: $60/month

Channel lineup: A&E, AccuWeather Now, ACL Cornhole TV, Afro, AMC, America’s Test Kitchen, American Crimes, AméricaTevé, Animal, Are We There Yet?, Aspire, At Home with Family Handyman, BBC America, BBC World, Billiard TV, Bravo Vault, Buzzr Let’s Play, Cine Romántico, Circle TV, Cleo TV, Comedy TV, Cooking, Crime + Invest., Dateline 24/7, Discovery Channel, Discovery Life, E! Keeping Up, Ebony TV by Lionsgate, Estrella News, EstrellaTV, FILMEX Clasico, Food Network, FYI, GAC Family, GAC Living, Get TV, GSN, Hallmark, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Movies, HGTV, History, ID, IFC, Justice Central, Kevin Hart’s LOL! Network, Kevin Hart’s LOL! Standup, Latino Vibes, Lifetime, LMN, Love Nature, Magnolia, Military HISTORY, Million Dollar Listing, MotorTrend, MovieSphere by Lionsgate, Murder, NBC local channels, NBC News Bay Area, NBC News Boston, NBC News Chicago, NBC News Connecticut, NBC News Dallas Fort Worth, NBC News local channels, NBC News Los Angeles, NBC News New York, NBC News Now, NBC News Philadelphia, NBC News San Diego, NBC News South Florida, NBC News Washington D.C., NBC Sports, Noticias Telemundo Ahora, OuterSphere by Lionsgate, OUTtv Proud, OWN, Oxygen True Crime Archives, PBS | Antiques Roadshow, PGA Tour, PowerNation, Pursuit, Real Housewives Vault, Recipe.TV, Science, Shades of Black, She Wrote, Sky News, SNL Vault, Sony Movies, Stingray Holidayscapes, Sundance, Tastemade in Espanol, Telemundo Acción, Telemundo Al Día, Telemundo local channels, Telemundo Noticias California, Telemundo Noticias Florida, Telemundo Noticias Noreste, Telemundo Noticias Texas, Telemundo Romance, The Jamie Oliver Channel, The Weather Channel, The Weather Channel en Espanol, TLC, TODAY All Day, Travel, TV One, Universal Crime, Unsolved Mysteries, Up TV, Vice, WE tv, World Poker Tour, Xumo Free Channels

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, iOS

A&E on Spectrum TV Choice

Longest free trial for A&E

You need to already be subscribed to Charter Spectrum internet services in order to access Spectrum TV Choice and other services under Spectrum TV umbrella. That includes broadcasts and on-demand content from over 60 major channels networks including Viacom, Discovery, A&E, AMC and Hallmark.

On the other hand, you won’t be able to custom add any extra channels, and you can’t access other major TV broadcasters like ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and NBC, nor the many ESPN and Fox Sports channels––the absence of which helps keep the cost of the service down. Note: ESPN is back on Spectrum!

Go to Spectrum TV Choice

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

A&E on Xfinity Choice TV

A&E + local channels

If you already subscribe to Xfinity internet, Choice TV is an easy way to get access to some live TV channels while staying in the Xfinity ecosystem. The start price, at $18 per month, is attractive, but the add-ons quickly add-up. Exact pricing depends on where you are based.

Go to Xfinity Choice TV

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

A&E on Spectrum TV Stream

No commitment

This newcomer to cord-cutting quietly launched in April 2024. It's about 90 channels for $39.99, without any additional fees like a local channels surcharge, because there are simply no local channels. What you won't find either are sports channels. And some of the channels are Spectrum channels like Spectrum Originals and Spectrum News.

With Philo having a similar channel lineup but costing $15 less, you probably need a very good reason to go for Spectrum TV Stream. But, it's always nice to have another option.

Go to Spectrum TV Stream

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

A&E on Optimum Entertainment TV

No commitment

Optimum Entertainment TV is a live TV plan that offers about 80 live channels for $30/month. It's only available to those using Optimum Internet, which starts at $40/month, and an Optimum Stream device, which costs $5/month. Its lineup has yet to feature sports channels and local networks, though it does cover news for the New York tri-state area via its very own News 12 channel. Other notable channels include HGTV, Discovery, History, AMC, Nickelodeon, Hallmark, and Lifetime. For now, Optimum Entertainment TV is only available in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas. Unlike their cable service, there is no commitment so you can cancel anytime. The only catch is that you can't cancel online and have to get on the phone with Optimum to do so.

Go to Optimum Entertainment TV

Price: $30/month

Device availability: Optimum Stream

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Let's recap the streaming services that allow you to watch A&E without cable.

What is the cheapest way to watch A&E?

The most cost-efficient way to watch A&E content is to get a subscription to Frndly TV for $6.99/month.

How to get a free trial to A&E?

You can get a limited time free trial to A&E by subscribing to Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E for free?

Unfortunately there are no streaming services that offer A&E completely for free. That said, as we mentioned above you can get it for free for a limited time by subscribing to a service with a free trial. Here they are, this time ranked by which one offers the longest free trial:

Spectrum TV Choice (7 days free)
Philo (7 days free)
Fubo (7 days free)
Frndly TV (7 days free)
Hulu with Live TV (3 days free)

How to get a A&E live stream?

The platforms that will get you a A&E live stream right now are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW TV, Xfinity Choice TV, Spectrum TV Stream, Spectrum TV Choice, or Optimum Entertainment TV.

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How to watch A&E outside the US?

You can watch A&E abroad by combining NordVPN and one of the streaming services above like Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch A&E on Roku?

You can watch A&E on your Roku device by subscribing to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, Xfinity Choice TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E on an Amazon Fire TV?

A&E can be accessed on an Amazon Fire TV device by subscribing to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, or NOW TV.

How to watch A&E on an Apple TV device?

The streaming services that include A&E and are available on Apple TV are Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, and Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E on a computer?

On a web browser head to the websites of Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, Xfinity Choice TV, or Spectrum TV Choice to start watching A&E.

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How to watch A&E on iOS (iPhone or iPad)?

You can watch A&E on an iPhone or iPad by subscribing to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E on an Android phone?

You can watch A&E on an Android device such as Samsung or Google Pixel by subscribing to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E on an Android TV?

You can watch A&E on a Smart TV that runs on Android by getting a subscription to Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch A&E on an Xbox?

You can watch A&E on an Xbox console through Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Hulu with Live TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

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How to pay for a A&E subscription with Paypal?

The services that accept Paypal and carry A&E are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, NOW TV, Spectrum TV Stream, and Spectrum TV Choice.

How to pay for a A&E subscription with Apple Pay?

The services that accept Paypal and carry A&E are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Philo.

How to pay for a A&E subscription with Google Pay?

The services that accept Paypal and carry A&E are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Philo.