How to Watch Animal Planet Without Cable in 2026: 6 Best Services from $25/mo
Updated on May 31, 2026 • Written & edited by our Staff
Quick answer: Animal Planet is available on 6 streaming services without cable. The cheapest option is Philo at $25/month. You can try DIRECTV free for 5 days.
The cheapest way to watch Animal-planet is Philo for $25/month.
From documentaries on wildlife to shows about pets and in general humans' relationships with our animal friends - Animal Planet is a great place for nature lovers.
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Contributors to AGMTW include Bilal Zouheir (founder), Renee Cuisia (lead curator), Maddie McCann (previously Showtime and CBS), Farah Cheded (published in Paste, The Playlist, The AV Club), Rory Doherty (published in Vulture, GQ, The AV Club), Emily Maskell (published in Vulture, GQ, W MAG).
Other channels on DIRECTV include: ABC, ACC Digital Network, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, AMC, Anger Management, Are We There Yet?, Ax Men, AXS TV, BABY FIRST, BBC America, BET, Big 12, Bloomberg TV, Bob Ross, Boomerang, Bravo, BUZZR, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, Cheddar News, Cleo TV, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy Dynamics, Court TV, Crime 360, Curiosity Now, CW, Daystar HD, Declassified, Discovery Channel, Duck Dynasty, E! Entertainment, EarthxTV, Ebony TV, El Rey Rebel, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, FMC, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), Fox Weather, Freeform, FUEL TV, Fuse Music, FX, FXX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HerSphere, HGTV, HLN, Home Shopping Network, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery (ID), ION, ION Television, Jewelry Television, Lifetime, Lionsgate Collection, MeatEater TV, MotorTrend, MovieSphere, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, News Nation, Newsmax, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, One America News, Ovation, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount Network, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, Poker GO, Pursuit Channel, QVC, QVC2, QVC3, Racing America, REELZ, REVOLT, RFD-TV, RSNs, Scientology Network, Scripps News, Shop LC, Somos Novelas, SportsGrid, Start TV, SundanceTV, SYFY, Tastemade Home, Tastemade Travel, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, Telemundo local channels, The First, theGrio, TLC, TNA, TNT, truTV, TV Land, TV One, Univision, Up TV, USA Network, VH1, Waypoint TV, WE tv, Women’s Sports Network, and Yahoo! Finance.
Devices supported by DIRECTV include: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, and Samsung TV.
MyKids
$19.99/mo
10+ Kids channels
Disney+ included
Skinny bundle
MyEntertainment
$34.99/mo
60+ Entertainment channels
Disney/Hulu/Max bundle included
Skinny bundle
Entertainment
$89.99/mo
90+ channels
Unlimited DVR
Local networks
72 hour playback
Choice
$94.99/mo
125+ channels
Regional sports
75k+ titles
72 hour playback
Ultimate
$124.99/mo
160+ channels
Extra sports/movies
85k+ titles
72 hour playback
Premier
$149.99/mo
185+ channels
Premium networks
100k+ titles
You can watch Animal Planet on all DirecTV Stream plans. While it can be a bit pricey, the cost may be worth it if you're sharing your plan with a large family. That's because you can stream up to 20 devices at the same time in your house, and 3 devices outside. However, if you don't need that many streams, and if you're looking for something cheaper, Animal Planet is also available on their MyEntertainment plan listed below.
Other channels on Philo include: A&E, AccuWeather Network, AMC, AMC Plus, American Heroes Channel, 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 Family, Hallmark Mystery, Heroes & Icons, HGTV, History, IFC, INSP, Investigation Discovery (ID), 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, and Xtreme Outdoor by History.
Devices supported by Philo include: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG Smart TV, Roku, and Samsung TV.
Bundle+
$33.00/mo
Everything you get from the Essential plan
AMC+
Ad-supported HBO Max and Discovery+
Essential
$25.00/mo
70+ channels
Ad-skippable DVR
If you want Animal Planet without a hefty price tag, Philo might be a better choice for you. Out of all the streamers listed, it has the lowest price, though it also has the smallest number of channels. It's a fine alternative if you're not looking for sports or local TV.
Devices supported by Hulu with Live TV include: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Samsung TV, and Xbox.
Live TV (Ads)
$89.99/mo
95+ channels
Ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN Select included
Unlimited DVR
Live TV (No Ads)
$99.99/mo
95+ channels
Ad-free Disney+ and ESPN Select included
Ad-free VOD
Hulu with Live TV Español
$29.99/mo
Ad-supported Hulu and Disney+ included
Access to Spanish-language channels
Live TV Only
$88.99/mo
Access to live TV channels only
Live TV Español Only
$28.99/mo
Access to Spanish-language channels only
Hulu + Live TV is one of the pricier options in this list. However, while similar in cost, Hulu + Live TV has a better selection of on-demand films and shows. That means you can watch the Animal Planet channel, as well as National Geographic shows like Secrets of the Penguins. If you already have Hulu, adding live TV to your existing on-demand plan is likely to be cheaper than subscribing to a new one.
Other channels on YouTube TV include: ABC, ABC (depending on zipcode), ACCN, Adult Swim, AMC, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, Big Ten Network, Bounce, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports Network, Charge!, Cheddar, Cheddar News, CMT, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Docurama, Dove Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), Fox Sports 2 (FS2), Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Galavision, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, HLN, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery (ID), ION, Justice Central TV, LAFC Channel, Law & Crime, Live Now, Local Now, Localish, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, My TV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBC Universo, NBCLX, NBCSN, NECN, Neon, News Nation, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Orlando City Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, PC Mag, Pop, QVC, Recipe.TV, Scripps News, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SNY, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBD, TBS, TCM (Turner Classic Movies), Teen Nick, TeleHit, Telemundo local channels, Tennis 2, The CW, The Great Courses, The Walking Dead Universe, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, Tru TV, Turner Classic Movies, TV Land, TYT, Unimas, Unimas local channels, Universal Kids, Univision, Univision local channels, USA Network, VH1, WE tv, Willow, YouTube Originals, and Zen channel.
Devices supported by YouTube TV include: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sharp, Vizio, and Xbox.
Base Plan
$82.99/mo
100+ channels
Unlimited DVR
Six accounts
Spanish Plan
$97.98/mo
30+ Spanish channels
No base required
Unlimited DVR
Sports Plan
$64.99/mo
FS1
NBC Sports Network
All of the ESPN networks
ESPN Unlimited coming this fall
Sports + News Plan
$71.99/mo
Everything in the Sports plan
National news networks like CNBC and CNN
Discount available for new users for the first 3 months
Entertainment Plan
$54.99/mo
Comedy Central
Bravo
Paramount
Food Network
News + Entertainment + Family Plan
$69.99/mo
Major news channels
Every channel in the entertainment plan
Kid-friendly channels
Discount available for new users for the first 3 months
Out of all the streamers in this list, YouTube TV has the largest number of channels. Aside from Animal Planet, nature lovers can also enjoy channels like National Geographic, NetGeo Wild, and the Smithsonian Channel. If you're sharing the plan with your family, the streamer's line-up is sure to have something for everyone.
Other channels on Spectrum TV Stream include: A&E, AMC, American Heroes, Aspire, AXS TV, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, BET Jams, BET Soul, Bloomberg, Boomerang, Cars.TV, Cartoon Network, Cheddar News, Cleo, CMT, CMT Music, CNN, CNNi, Comedy Central, Cooking Channel, Crime & Investigation, Destination America, Discovery Life, Disney Channel, Food Network, Fox Business, Fox News, Fox Weather, FX, FYI, Great American Family, GSN, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, Hallmark Mystery, HDNet Movies, HGTV, History, HLN, HSN, HSN2, IFC, INSP, Investigation Discovery, Jewelry TV, Justice Central, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, Logo, Magnolia, Military HISTORY, MotorTrend, MTV, MTV Classic, MTV Life, MTV2, MTVU, National Geographic, Newsmax TV, Nick Jr, Nickelodeon, NickMusic, Nicktoons, Outdoor Channel, OWN, Paramount Network, Pets.TV, QVC, QVC2, Recipe.TV, Science, Spectrum News, Spectrum Originals, Sundance TV, TCM, TeenNick, The Weather Channel, theGrio, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, TV Land, TV One, UPtv, VH1, Vice, and WE tv.
Spectrum TV Stream
$45.00/mo
Lowest internet plan starts at $50
85+ channels for $45
No broadcast surcharge but no local channels
Cloud DVR available for $5
Spectrum TV Stream Latino
$25.00/mo
Lowest internet plan starts at $50
All Spanish channels for $25
Line-up depends on location
Cloud DVR available for $5
This newcomer to cord-cutting quietly launched in April 2024. It's about 85 channels for $45, 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 $12 less, you probably need a very good reason to go for Spectrum TV Stream. But, it's always nice to have another option.
Devices supported by Spectrum TV Choice include: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, and Xbox.
Spectrum TV Choice
$53.19/mo
15+ live channels inc. local channels for $30
Cloud DVR available with an additional $5
Local surcharge of $23.20 depending on the area
You can change channel line-up after 30 days
Spectrum TV Choice is an internet television service that is available only by call-in and only to Charter Spectrum internet customers.
The channels available to you will depend on your location, but usually you can choose 15 more channels to add to your plan. Please be careful that after 30 days, you might not be able to change the list of 15 channels you choose.
You can read more in our dedicated explainer here: Spectrum TV Choice Explained: Plans, Pricing, Channels.
Is Animal Planet on Sling, Hulu, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or Philo?
Here are the major live TV streaming services and whether each one carries Animal Planet without cable.
Is Animal Planet on Sling TV? No
No, Animal Planet is not included with Sling TV. If you want to watch Animal Planet without cable, we recommend Philo.
No matter what device you have, you can probably watch Animal Planet on it — even without cable. Here are the streaming services that support each device.
How to watch Animal Planet on Roku
To watch Animal Planet on Roku, subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
How to watch Animal Planet on Amazon Fire TV
To watch Animal Planet on Amazon Fire TV, subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, or YouTube TV. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
How to watch Animal Planet on Apple TV
To watch Animal Planet on Apple TV, subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
How to watch Animal Planet on Android TV
To watch Animal Planet on Android TV, subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
How to watch Animal Planet on iOS (iPhone & iPad)
To watch Animal Planet on iOS (iPhone & iPad), subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
How to watch Animal Planet on Android phones
To watch Animal Planet on Android phones, subscribe to DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice. Install the app on your device, sign in with your account, and you can stream Animal Planet live.
The bottom line: you have 6 great options for watching Animal Planet without cable. The cheapest is Philo at $25/month. You can also try DIRECTV free for 5 days before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to watch Animal Planet without cable?
The cheapest way to watch Animal Planet without cable is Philo at $25 per month.
How much does it cost to watch Animal Planet without cable?
Animal Planet starts at $25/month on Philo. Other services carrying Animal Planet include DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV.
Can I watch Animal Planet for free?
Yes, you can watch Animal Planet for free with a 5-day free trial on DIRECTV. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid charges.
Which streaming services carry Animal Planet?
Animal Planet is available on 6 streaming services without cable, including DIRECTV, Philo, Hulu with Live TV.
How can I watch Animal Planet live without cable?
To watch Animal Planet live, you need a live TV streaming service. Philo is the cheapest at $25/month and lets you stream Animal Planet live from any device.
If you subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research and curation, our work is sometimes supported by a commission when you make a purchase.