How to Watch NBC Online Without Cable For Free 2026

By Renee Cuisia

Hulu with Live TV is a streaming package that combines live channels with Disney+, ESPN+, and, of course, Hulu on-demand at no extra cost. It's the best option if you're already subscribed to those services, since getting them via bundle usually costs less. Your local NBC comes with the plan, as do other local channels. It also has unlimited DVR. Where it differs from most services is that it only allows two, instead of the usual four, simultaneous streams.

By Renee Cuisia

Thanks to its familiar interface and wide-ranging channels, YouTube TV is one of the more popular cable alternatives right now. It features local channels like NBC, easy-to-use cloud DVR, and premium add-ons in case you want to strengthen your streaming lineup. It's great for general viewers, though it might not be the best fit for sports fans, since YouTube TV's picture quality can be inconsistent. It also doesn't have too many RSNs when compared to Fubo and DirecTV Stream.

By Renee Cuisia

DirecTV Stream is pricey, but it covers all bases when it comes to live TV streaming. It offers NBC and all the other local channels, has unlimited DVR, provides remote and simultaneous viewing, and it's fairly easy to flip through. Out of all the streaming services, DirecTV Stream is the most similar to traditional cable, except you don't have to commit to a contract. You can cancel your subscription to DirecTV Stream anytime you want.

By Renee Cuisia

Fubo is known by many as a sports-forward live TV streaming service. And while that is true, it also offers a good number of entertainment, lifestyle, and news channels — among them your local NBC. A carriage dispute resulted in Fubo losing Warner Bros. channels like CNN, TNT, and TBS, but if you don't mind missing them on your lineup, then Fubo is a worthwhile cord-cutting option.

By Renee Cuisia

The "MySports" package from DirecTV is the cheapest way to combine ESPN, ESPN+, Fox Sports, ABC, TNT, and NBC. It's the sports bundle that we could have only dreamed of in the past, especially considering that DirecTV is widely considered to have the best picture quality out of every cord-cutting service.

By Renee Cuisia

If you're looking for a lean plan focusing on news and local coverage, then DirecTV Stream's MyNews pack just might be for you. It brings together your local ABC, NBC, and FOX (though availability varies per market) with channels like CNN, CNBC, and i24 to round up your news fix. You can choose to add premium channels a la carte, or you can pair it with DirecTV Stream's "MyCinema" add-on for $10/month. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try MyNews free for 5 days if you want to test it out first.

By Renee Cuisia

Sling is establishing itself as a viable cheap alternative to cable, with many local as well national channels available at as little as $60.99. Sling allows to manage packages, so for example if you don't watch a lot of sports you can remove that package and save a good amount of money. Getting Sling when you're trying to cut the cord is the closest thing to an "à la carte" service, you only pay for what you use.

By Renee Cuisia

Sling Blue is a live TV plan owned by telecom company Dish. It offers 50 hours of DVR and carries popular channels like CNN, FS1, and AMC. In select markets, it also streams local affiliates of NBC, FOX, and ABC. You have to pay an extra $5/month for local channels, but the final cost still beats the price tags of a lot of the other live TV services in this list.

By Renee Cuisia

Peacock's Premium Plus plan, which goes for $13.99/month, now comes with your local NBC channel. Along with this, Peacock streams live sports and boasts an on-demand catalog filled with original titles and popular NBC programs. The premium tier supposedly removes ads from on-demand titles, but some subscribers have complained about still getting them. Another point of improvement? For the price, it would be nice to get live feeds of NBC's sister channels, like USA or Bravo.

By Renee Cuisia

At first glance, Sling Select looks like a stripped-down Sling Blue, and for the most part, it is. For $19.99 a month you get NFL Network, Fox Sports 1, Fox News, and National Geographic, plus Lifetime Movie Network and a cozy run of nostalgia (MeTV, Heroes & Icons, GRIT). But the price moves with your ZIP code: where Sling carries local ABC, NBC, or Fox, it climbs to $24.99 for one or two stations and $29.99 for all three. It's easy to read this as Sling's answer to cable creep, a small bundle for people who only ever watched a handful of channels anyway. There's no ESPN here (that lives on Sling Essentials, and the pair costs $34.99 together). For football fans and Fox viewers on a budget, it's as narrow as it is useful.