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

cord-cutting › ae • March 5, 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 don't need cable to watch A&E. You can stream A&E live without cable on Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW 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.

The 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

Sling TV Orange is perfect for the live TV minimalist: $45.99 a month, a lean array of 32 channels, and the ability to stream on only a single screen at once. You can add small channel bundles to the package as well if you’d like, leaving you in control and ensuring that you’re not going overboard paying for stuff you don’t need.

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

If you’re in the market for a live TV service to add to your streamer collection, Sling TV Blue is a competitive choice. For $45.99 a month, you get access to over 40 channels and their on-demand content, plus 50 hours of DVR storage — a cost-effective option that blows traditional cable out of the water.

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

News and sports junkies, look away. Everyone else, listen up! Philo TV offers a cord-cutting live TV package that includes 62 live channels, unlimited DVR space, and simultaneous screening capabilities for the low, low price of $25 a month. Philo doesn’t carry sports channels, but if you can go without, a better deal is hard to find.

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 DirecTV MyEntertainment

TV and film fans are well catered to with DirecTV MyEntertainment. You get A&E, Fox channels, MSNBC, CNBC, TLC, and more for less than the price of Sling TV. Cord-cutting services have been looking more like cable lately, but this new option from DirecTV is a welcome change.

Go to DirecTV MyEntertainment

Price: $34.99/month

Free Trial: 5 days

Channel lineup: A&E, AHC, Animal Planet, Aspire, Bounce, Bravo, C NBC, CNN, Cooking Channel, Cozi TV, Destination America, Discovery, Discovery Life, E!, EarthxTV, FETV, Food Network, Fox Business, Fox News, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Game Show Network, Great Entertainment Television, HGTV, History, HLN, ID, Lifetime, Magnolia Network, MSNBC, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, OWN, Oxygen True Crime, Science Channel, SYFY, TLC, Travel Channel, UPtv

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

A&E on Fubo

FuboTV’s comprehensive Starter Plan gives YouTubeTV a run for its money. $79.99 a month gets you over 100 channels, a huge amount of DVR storage space, and since Fubo is a sports-focused live streamer, all the main sports channels are included. As an added bonus, the package includes simultaneous streams on up to three screens.

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

Movies, acclaimed TV shows ready for binging, your favorite current series — and more than 75 live channels at your fingertips. For $75 a month, Hulu with Live TV lets you have it all. The package’s 50 hours of DVR storage sounds smaller compared to its competitors, but with Hulu’s content library included, it’s a trade off that ensures you won’t be left wanting more.

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

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

Now TV is the new cable alternative from Comcast (owner of Xfinity). It's 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. To get it, you have to first subscribe or already be a subscriber to Xfinity Internet or Xfinity Internet Essentials. You can then add it at checkout.

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 Stream

This little-known cord-cutting offer from Spectrum includes 90 channels for $39.99, without any additional fees like a local channels surcharge. That's because, well, there are simply no local channels included.

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 hey, it's always nice to have another somewhat affordable option.

Go to Spectrum TV Stream

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

A&E on Optimum Entertainment TV

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

Channel lineup: A&E, Adventure Sports Network, All Babies, AMC, America's Test Kitchen, American Classics, Animal Planet, Architectural Digest, Backstage, BBC America, BBC News, BET, Bon Appétit, Cheddar, Comedy Central, Cooking Channel, Discovery, Discovery Life, Divorce Court, Fail Army, Family Feud, FilmRise Action, FilmRise Classic TV, FilmRise Free Movies, FilmRise True Crime, Food Network, Food52, Funny or Die, FYI, Game Show Network, Get TV, GoTraveler, GQ, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Family, Hallmark, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, History Channel, i24, IFC, Investigation Discovery, It's Showtime at the Apollo, Jr., Judge Nosey, Just for Laughs Gags, Kocowa, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, Magnolia Network, Motor Trend, MOTORVISION.TV, MTV, NatureVision, NBC News Now, News 12 NY, News 12 Regional, Nick, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nosey, Outdoor America, OWN, Paramount Network, PBS Digital Studios, Pet Collective, Qello Concerts by Stingray, REELZ Famous & Infamous, Science Channel, Scripps News, Stingray Classic Rock, Stingray Greatest Hits, Stingray Hitlist, Stingray Hot Country, Stingray Karaoke, Stingray Soul Storm, Sundance, TLC, Travel Channel, TV Land, USA Today News, VH1, Vice, Vogue, WEtv, Wired, World Poker Tour, Xumo Free Movies, XUMO Free Westerns

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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, or Frndly TV.

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:

Philo (7 days free)
Fubo (7 days free)
Frndly TV (7 days free)
DirecTV MyEntertainment (5 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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, NOW TV, Spectrum TV Stream, 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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, or Frndly TV.

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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, 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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, and Frndly TV.

How to watch A&E on a computer?

On a web browser head to the websites of Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Philo, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, or Frndly TV 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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, or NOW TV.

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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Frndly TV, or NOW TV.

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, DirecTV MyEntertainment, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, or Frndly TV.

>How to watch A&E on an Xbox?

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

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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, and Spectrum TV Stream.

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.