9 Best Services to Watch Investigation Discovery Live Without Cable

cord-cutting › investigation discovery id • April 9, 2025 • The Staff

True crime has become such a staple in American media consumption that there's now a whole channel dedicated to it. Investigation Discovery (ID) airs investigative documentaries like On the Case with Paula Zahn, Disappeared, CBS' 48 Hours, and NBC's Dateline.

You can stream Investigation Discovery (ID) live without cable on Sling Orange, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream, Sling Orange + Blue, Philo, Max, YouTube TV, Spectrum TV Choice, or Spectrum TV Stream.

The cheapest option to watch Investigation Discovery (ID) live is Max for $9.99/month.

Our top pick to watch Investigation Discovery (ID) without cable is Sling Orange:

Sling TV

Investigation Discovery (ID), ESPN, TNT, TBS, A&E and more.

Price: ~~$45.99~~ $23 for the first month

Devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and most Smart TVs

Go to Sling TV

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Sling Orange

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 compatibility: 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

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Sling Blue

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

Investigation Discovery (ID) on DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is a Live TV streaming platform with a twist: you can download the app on any of your existing devices, or for a $120, you can get a box with a custom remote control for the service. But without the box, DirecTV Stream functions like a Netflix or Hulu, allowing you to stream Live TV from anywhere by downloading the app. Within your home, you can stream on up to 20 devices (!), and from outside your home you can stream on up to three devices.

Go to DirecTV Stream

Price: $86.99/month

Free Trial: 5 days

Channel lineup: ABC, ACC Digital Network, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, AMC, Anger Management, Animal Planet, 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, C NBC, 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, Fox Weather, Freeform, FUEL TV, Fuse Music, FX, FXX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HerSphere, HGTV, HLN, Home Shopping Network, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery , ION, ion Television, Jewelry Television, MeatEater TV, MotorTrend, MovieSphere, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, News Nation, Newsmax, Nick Jr., 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, Yahoo! Finance

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

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Sling Orange + Blue

Get Sling if you're specific about the channels you watch: if you like sports, they have a package for that, if you like news, another one. You can get both of course, but being able to pick either is a big advantage of Sling.

Go to Sling Orange + Blue

Price: ~~$60.99~~ $30.5

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, FOX, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FS1 4K, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery , Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MotorTrend, 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 compatibility: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Philo

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

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Max

You can watch Investigation Discovery without cable with a free trial on YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and Fubo, or with a subscription on Sling Orange + Blue.

Below, we count down the best ways to watch Investigation Discovery 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.

Go to Max

Price: $9.99/month

Channel lineup: CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery , TLC

Device compatibility: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Investigation Discovery (ID) on YouTube TV

If you enjoy using the DVR option, Youtube TV is arguably the best option in the market for you: it gives you unlimited DVR storage on the Cloud (accessible from any of your devices), and it saves each of your recordings for 9 months. Also, you can share Youtube TV with up to six accounts, so if you have a big family, this is a much better option than getting a bunch of cheaper Live TV subscriptions. Youtube TV allows up to three accounts of the six to watch at the same time.

Go to YouTube TV

Price: $82.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: ABC, ABC News, ACCN, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, 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, C NBC, C NBC 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, ESPN U, ESPN2, ESPNews, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Galavision, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, HLN, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery , 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, 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, YouTube Originals, Zen channel

Device compatibility: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sharp, Vizio, Xbox

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Spectrum TV Choice

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: $53.19/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, ASPiRE TV, BBC America, BBC World News, Bein Sports, BET, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Cleo, C NBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, Food Network, Fox Business Network, Fox Deportes, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, FX, Galavision, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, History, HLN, Investigation Discovery , Lifetime, LMN, MSNBC, MTV, National Geographic, NFL Network, Nickelodeon, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, REVOLT, Smithsonian Channel, SYFY, TBS, TCM, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, TV Land, TV One, Univision, USA Network, VH1

Device compatibility: Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Investigation Discovery (ID) on Spectrum TV Stream

Cable goliath Specturm has been trying to lure cord-cutting customers for many years now, starting with Spectrum TV Choice, which allows a selection of 15 channels from a list of big names like ESPN. Spectrum TV Stream is their more budget-oriented offering, featuring 90 channels for $39.99.

Go to Spectrum TV Stream

Price: $40/month

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, American Heroes, Animal Planet, 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 Drama, 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 Originals, Sundance TV, TCM, TeenNick, The Weather Channel, theGrio, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, TV Land, TV One, UPtv, VH1, Vice