The cheapest way to watch Lifetime is Frndly TV for $8.99/month.
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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).
Sling Blue is the other plan offered by live TV streaming service Sling. It’s similarly priced as Sling’s other plan, Sling Orange, and while both boast 50 hours of DVR and a wide-ranging channel lineup, Sling Blue has the advantage of offering local channels in select markets. Although for the same reason, it charges an extra $5 monthly broadcast fee that you can’t opt out of, even if you don’t care for local content.
Pros
Has a great channel lineup that includes local networks in select markets
Cons
If you get local channels in your area, you can't opt out of the $5/month broadcast fee
An affordable cable replacement service that covers the basics
Sling Orange is one of two plans offered by the affordable live TV streaming service Sling. Unlike the other plan, Sling Blue, Sling Orange doesn’t offer local channels. It’s also missing a few favorites, like FS1, Bravo, TruTV, and USA. However, Sling Orange does carry Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, Freeform, and MotorTrend. Lifetime fans can also switch to channels like Food Network and ID for similar alternatives.
DirecTV Stream usually has a good lineup of women-focused channels, for example every package comes with WE TV, Bravo, and ION. However, a while back they made Lifetime only available on their "Choice" package, the second most expensive "base" package. The good news is that they also included the channel in their MyEntertainment skinny bundle for just $35.99/month. Whether you're looking for a cost-effective way to stream the Lifetime suite of channels, or for a complete cord-cutting package with all the bells and whistles, DIRECTV now offers a wide spectrum of ways to get the channel without the constraints of cable.
Pros
Available for $35.99 as part of DIRECTV MyEntertainment skinny bundle
Cons
Lifetime is only available in the "Choice" package
Philo is a skinny bundle that offers nearly a hundred live channels, all for under $30/month. Lifetime fans can also enjoy similar channels like LMN, Hallmark, Magnolia, and ID, among many others. You can even customize your plan with add-ons like Starz and AMC+. It’s notably lacking in the sports and news department, but it’s an otherwise solid option for pure entertainment.
Pros
Has unlimited DVR
Cheap
Cons
Missing key channels, including sports, news and local channels
Best for: covering all your needs, including live TV and on-demand viewing
Hulu with Live TV is one of the most expensive services in this list, but it offers plenty to justify that price. It has a wide range of channels that cover local, sports, and entrainment. It also comes with Disney+ and ESPN+, not to mention Hulu’s growing slate of on-demand titles. Still, with that price you’d think it would allow for more than two simultaneous streams. Another potential downside is that Hallmark and History are missing in the channel lineup, which might disappoint Lifetime fans.
Frndly doesn’t have plenty of channels to its name, but its focus on family-friendly content makes it appealing to plenty of viewers. Apart from Lifetime, it also carries Hallmark, LMN, and ION. If you upgrade your plan, you can even watch Frndly from anywhere on up to four devices. It might not be enough on its own, but it's a great way to supplement your streaming lineup with live TV channels.
Pros
Also has Hallmark, LMN, and ION
Cheap
Cons
Missing key channels, including sports, news and local channels
Best for: Xfnity users looking for a good live TV service
Now TV is a cordless streaming service offered exclusively to Xfinity internet users for $20/month. Now TV carries popular channels like HGTV and Discovery, and whatever gaps it may have on the its lineup are filled by the Peacock Premium subscription that comes included at no additional cost. Now TV’s total price starts at $40/month, but it’s subject to change depending on what internet plan you’re on.
Pros
Already includes Peacock Premium
Cheap
Cons
Requires Xfinity internet
No local channels
Best for: Spectrum users looking for a decent live TV service
Spectrum TV Stream is one of the live TV streaming plans offered by the internet provider. It carries nearly a hundred channels, including LMN, Magnolia, and Hallmark and it allows two devices to watch at the same time. It doesn’t have much going for it, but it is convenient that you can cancel it anytime since it’s contract-free, unlike Spectrum’s cable TV plans.
True to its name, Spectrum TV Choice gives subscribers the unique freedom to choose up to 15 live channels on its lineup, then change those channels every month. You’ve given a wide-range of options that include sports, news, entertainment, and local channels. However, if you do get the latter, you’re charged a mandatory $23.20/month in broadcast fees. While cancelling a subscription is easy enough, signing up requires you to visit or call your nearest branch.
Pros
You can select up to 15 channels and change them every 30 days
Cons
Requires Spectrum internet
If you get local channels in your area, you can't opt out of the $23.20/month broadcast fee
Bilal Zouheir founded A Good Movie to Watch in 2014. Over the last decade, millions of people each year have used the site to decide what to watch and which service to subscribe to. He has covered every major shift in the US cord-cutting market. His goal is to help you find the best thing to watch, and then the best place to watch it.
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She has reviewed more than 500 films and shows on the site since 2022, spanning every major US streaming service, and brings the editorial lens to our cord-cutting guides: which service is actually worth subscribing to based on what's in the catalog, not just the channel count.
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.
