What Is Streaming TV?

Live TV streaming services can be a simpler and cheaper alternative to cable TV. First, you don't need someone to install a set-top box or other special equipment that cable and satellite TV services require. You also don't have to pay for the hundreds of channels that come with a typical cable or satellite TV subscription, most of which you probably don't watch. Instead, with a live streaming TV service, you only pay for the channels you actually want. Many live TV streaming services offer free trials, which is great for trying out a service cost free. You also don't have to sign a long-term contract, which means you pay month to month and can cancel anytime. Finally, unlike cable TV, there are no hidden fees with a streaming service.

To watch a TV streaming service, you will need the following:

• A fast internet connection. Check your internet speed to make sure it’s fast enough to stream internet content without buffering. Live streaming services have different rules for using mobile hotspots, so be sure to read the fine print. For example, Hulu + Live TV requires a residential, non-mobile internet connection to work. 

• A streaming device. Most live streaming services allow you to stream live TV right from their websites using a compatible browser. For example, you will need Chrome or Firefox for YouTube TV. For a big-screen experience on a regular TV, purchase a streaming device like a Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, many new "smart" TVs come with built-in streaming apps. Some DVD players and game consoles, like Xbox or PlayStation (PS4 or PS5), also support streaming. Whatever streaming service you choose, make sure your preferred streaming method is compatible with it.

Many live streaming services also let you watch movies and TV shows on demand, similar to on-demand-only services like Netflix.

TV Live Streaming Services Guide

• Does the service offer a free trial?

One of the ever-so-wonderful perks of streaming TV services is the free trial period. Unlike cable or satellite, streaming TV services don’t have installation appointments or contracts, so taking a service for a spin is simple and costs nothing. The trial windows are brief (usually seven days) but adequate.

• Is cloud DVR space included?

Most streaming TV services that offer live TV also include cloud DVR storage with the package. Like a physical DVR, though, they do have limits on space and time. Some give you as little as 10 hours, while some “unlimited” options will save your Hoarders episodes backlog for only a few months. Ironic.

• Does the service carry local channels?

You may not think about local channels much, but they carry the shows you love live from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and The CW . If a streaming TV service doesn’t carry local affiliate channels, you could miss out on those shows, as well as area sports, news, and weather.

If these are important to you, check the availability of local affiliates on streaming TV services you’re interested in. If they’re not available, a digital antenna can make up the difference.

• Are your streaming device and apps compatible?

As we mentioned above, setting up and trying out a streaming TV service is as easy as downloading an app—but is that app available on your preferred set-top box or mobile devices? Most services reviewed here are available as smart TV apps, though we recommend streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku for better stability and performance.

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The Best Live TV Streaming Services 2024

Hulu Live 

Best Live TV and Streaming Bundle

Hulu's live TV service features approximately 70 channels of news, sports, and entertainment programming. News channels include CNBC, CNN, CNN International, FOX Business, FOX News, and MSNBC. Hulu also gets you access to local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates.

For sports fans, Hulu offers BTN, CBS Sports, ESPN, Golf Channel, and the Olympic Channel. Hulu is adding the NFL Network and NFL RedZone channels before the start of next NFL season, too.

Channels from the Discovery Network (Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Disney, Food Network, FX, and HGTV) and ViacomCBS (Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon) cover the entertainment genre. HBO Max and Showtime add-ons are available for $14.99 and $8.99 per month, respectively.

Hulu + Live TV Specs

How much is Hulu + Live TV?

There have two main live TV plans to choose from:

Review

Hulu Plus Live TV supported devices

• Hulu Plus Live TV can be watched on any device that permits users to download the service’s app. Other options include web browsers on computers and laptops. It is compatible with these devices: 

• Amazon Echo and Echo Show devices

• Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube

• Android 5.0 or later

• Android TV

• Apple iOS 12 or laterApple TV 4th generation or later

• Google Chrome OS

• Google Chromecast

• HiSense, Samsung Smart, Sony Bravia, and Vizio SmartCast TVs

• MacOS X 10.9 or above

• Microsoft Windows 10

• Nvidia Shield

• Nintendo Switch

• Roku Express, Roku Stick, and Roku Ultra

• Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari web browsers

• Xbox 360 and Xbox One 

• Xiaomi Mi Box

Who is Hulu + Live TV best for?

Hulu Plus Live TV is an outstanding option for people looking to cut the cable cord. In addition to carrying dozens of live entertainment, news, and sports channels, the service also provides access to an impressive library of on-demand movies and TV shows. 

Hulu Plus Live TV also delivers a strong user experience — subscribers can create six profiles per account and restrict the content available to individual users.

YouTube TV

Best Cable Substitute

Ever since its launch in 2017, YouTube TV has proven to be one of the best live TV streaming services, with an excellent channel selection and unbeatable user experience. While it has almost doubled in price since, it continues to be a better choice than any of its premium competitors, including Hulu Plus Live TV, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream.

YouTube TV's main strength for cable-cutters is the sheer number of channels. It now offers 78 of the top 100 networks, the most of any streaming service, a count that includes numerous cable staples plus all four local networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- and local PBS stations in most markets nationwide. It also introduced a 4K streaming upgrade -- for an additional $20 monthly -- which coincided with the Tokyo Olympics.

Beyond channels, YouTube TV is easy to use, slick and speedy on a variety of TV and mobile devices. Its cloud DVR is the best in the business, with unlimited storage and pretty much all the capabilities of a hardware DVR such as TiVo. 

YouTube TV Specs

How much is YouTube TV?

At $64.99, YouTube used to be one of the most expensive full-featured options, but now Hulu + Live TV charges the same price. 

Review

YouTube TV supported devices

YouTube TV subscribers can watch the streaming service on any device that supports its app. Other viewing options include computer and laptop web browsers. YouTube TV is compatible with the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV cube

• Amazon Fire TV stick

• Android L or later

• Apple iOS 11 or later

• Apple TV

• Google Chromecast

• Hisense, LG, Sharp, and Vizio SmartCast Smart TVs

• PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4

• Roku

• Web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox

• Xbox One

Who is YouTube TV best for?

If you're looking to cut the cord, YouTube TV is a solid choice. YouTube TV combines the best of all things TV and streaming has to offer with access to live TV, on-demand movies, full seasons of popular TV shows, unlimited DVR space, YouTube videos, and the latest news clips.

Sling TV

Best Value for a Basic Channel Package

Sling TV is a streaming provider that enables viewers to watch live television. The service is a subsidiary of television provider Dish Network and launched in February 2015. It currently has 2.46 million subscribers after adding 203,000 subscribers in Q3 2020.

The service’s main appeal is its price point. The service’s two basic $35/mo. packages, Blue and Orange, are significantly cheaper than most other live streaming providers, such as Hulu + Live TV ($64.99/mo.) and YouTube TV ($64.99/mo.) While combining the two Blue and Orange offerings is just $50/mo. However, unlike the majority of its competitors in the video streaming market, Sling TV does not simply advertise a free trial. Instead, it provides a $10 discount on the first month of a subscription.

Sling TV’s interface, local programming options, and app performance are put to the test when compared to some of its top competitors. But for its attractive price point and availability of top cable channels it’s a great plan for cord cutting.

Sling TV Specs 

How much is Sling TV?

The price for all of Sling TV's plans recently increased for new users. Currently, Sling TV offers a 3-day trial for those looking to try out the service.

New Offers:Refer a friend to Sling TV & you both get $20.

Review

Sling TV supported devices

Download the Sling TV app on your smart TV, smartphone, or tablet so you can watch Law & Order, or catch up on sports news with Skip and Shannon: Undisputed while on the train.

You can stream Sling TV on these streaming devices:

• Amazon Fire TV and tablets

• Apple TV

• Roku

• Xbox One

• Google Chromecast

• iPhones, iPads (iOS 9 and up, iPhone 4.0 and up)

• Android smartphones, tablets, and TVs

• LG and Samsung Smart TVs

Who is Sling TV best for?

The service is for those looking for a balance between sports and general entertainment.  It’s far cheaper than a cable TV subscription and has more than enough content to keep casual TV watchers happy. Although, if you’re more into your sports, we’d recommend Fubo, while the more entertainment focused might be better off at Hulu. 

Fubo TV

Best for Sports Fans

FuboTV is a live streaming provider that started out as a sports-focused service but has evolved into an all-encompassing offering that will appeal to cable cutters.

The FuboTV service launched in January 2015 and initially delivered live streams focused on soccer, which is why it’s our top ranked streaming service for soccer fans. It eventually branched out and added entertainment and news channels as well as wider sports coverage, including MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL action. It now has more than 250,000 subscribers. In addition to streaming live channels, it also enables subscribers to purchase add-on packages that extend their viewing options.

FuboTV was the first streamer to offer 4K HDR pictures  — a feature that launched in 2018, just in time to broadcast high-quality World Cup soccer streams. It was also the second live streaming service to support and provide content through the Apple TV app across iOS devices.

Fubo TV Specs 

How much is Fubo TV ?

Plans for fuboTV recently underwent a bit of an overhaul, with the company simplifying its available packages to just three: fuboTV Pro, fuboTV Elite, and fubo Latino Quarterly.

Click here for Add-ons & More Plans.

Review

FuboTV supported devices

FuboTV subscribers can watch the service on several devices, including mobile phones and tablets, desktops on computers and laptops, and smart TVs. However, it is worth noting that users cannot view FuboTV programming with LG or Vizio Smart TVs. The service also does not work with Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox gaming consoles. FuboTV is compatible with the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV

• Android OS 5.0 or higher

• Android TV with Android OS 5.0 or higher

• Apple iOS v10.0 or higher

• Apple TV 4th generation or newer

• Google Chromecast

• Roku Model 3600X or higher

• Samsung Smart TVs

• XBOX

Who is Fubo TV best for?

Most definitely one for sports fans. To get this sort of range of choice from a cable company, you might expect to pay twice as much as the packages on offer here. While there are options to add on more general entertainment channels like Showtime and AMC Premiere, it can get a little expensive. If you want to catch the latest popular TV shows and dramas, we’d recommend trying another streaming platform.

Philo

Best Budget Service

Philo is an entertainment-focused streaming service and an excellent value. A subscription lets you stream 60 channels, including AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Cooking Chanel, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, and the Travel Channel. Philo offers few news channels and no sports coverage, so it's best for users who don't care about either genre.

Philo's DVR capabilities work differently than other services; it allows users to save the entire available catalog of a show for on-demand (but not offline) viewing, instead of just a single episode. Philo keeps saved content for up to a year and does not impose any storage limits. Philo supports up to three concurrent streams and performed well across all platforms in testing. The service recently added Starz and Epix channel add-ons.

And although Philo doesn’t feature any local or sports options, fans of food shows, documentaries, and reality TV are well served.

 Philo Specs 

How much is Philo TV ?

Unlike most other live TV streaming services, Philo has a single subscription plan. From monthly costs to available features, here’s the lowdown on what it includes:

Review

Philo supported devices

Currently, Philo supports several devices, including smartphones, tablets, web browsers, and TV platforms like Roku. (The only other thing you’ll need is a high-speed internet connection.)

Once subscribed, you’ll also get access to participating networks’ apps, allowing you to view Philo on a wide range of devices, such as Chromecast and Xbox. 

Here’s the full list of devices you can use the service with right now:

• Amazon Fire TV

• Android TV

• Apple TV

• Roku

• Android phones and tablets

• iOS phones and tablets

• Fire tablets (OS 5.0 minimum)

• Chrome

• Edge

• Firefox

• Safari

Who is Philo best for?

Philo is definitely aimed at those looking for an affordable cord-cutting option that’s focused on entertainment. However, if you’re after live sports, broadcast networks, and a range of news options, you’ll need to try a different platform like Fubo TV. At such a low cost, though, we’d highly recommend it for undecided customers that are looking to dip their toes into the TV streaming water.

Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling vs. Fubo vs. Philo: Comparison Side by Side

1. Features

Almost every service lets you stream content to at least 2 devices at the same time. “Sling Orange” is the one exception; it only lets you stream on 1 device.

Hulu Live TV and Sling TVare the only services that have parental controls.

2.Plans & Prices

You can try FuboTV, Philo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV each with 3-7 day free trial depending on the service. Hulu Live TV no longer offers a free trial, but now includes The Disney Bundle as part of your subscription.

Pricing for service range from $25-35 for skinny bundles like Sling TV and Philo, to $64.99+ for services like fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV.

3.Users

• Hulu + Live TV

Hulu Plus Live TV provides individual accounts for up to 6 users, each of which receives a personalized service tailored to their preferences and interests. Subscribers can create profiles that restrict viewing to specific content and block certain types of programming. There is even an option to limit searches to only return viewing options that meet specific requirements.

• YouTube TV 

YouTube TV subscribers can create six user profiles per account, with each receiving personalized show recommendations and a customizable live guide. Each user profile also gets its own space for recording content, and YouTube TV enables users to watch on three simultaneous streams. 

• Sling TV 

Sling TV provides one account per user and does not enable subscribers to create multiple profiles.Sling TV Blue lets viewers watch from three devices simultaneously, but Sling TV Orange only allows one stream per account. Upgrading to Sling TV Blue & Orange increases the total to four simultaneous streams.

• FuboTV

FuboTV provides users with 2 simultaneous streams, and they can buy a third one for an additional $5/mo. The Fubo Family ($70.97/mo.) and Ultra ($98.94/mo.) plans also enable subscribers to stream on up to 3 devices at the same time. The service does permit viewers to create multiple profiles per account, similarly to other streaming services in the market.

• Philo 

Philo also lets subscribers replay almost any show or movie that’s aired within the past 72 hours. It also permits users to watch the same, or different, title on up to three devices at once. This is likely to be a huge plus for any household with multiple TV viewers.

4.Live TV Channel

If you want to see if a specific TV Show or Movie is available on a streaming service, you can use  this TV Show Finder or Movie Finder tools.

5.Streaming Experience

All of the services have relatively similar video quality. Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, and YouTube TV have the most reliable connections.

6.Cloud DVR

Every service offers a cloud DVR, which lets you record streaming content to watch at a later time. 

Each has slightly different restrictions on what can be recorded, when the recording will start, and whether commercials can be skipped. For instance, some will let you record from the beginning of the episode even when you tune in after it starts. Others will let you watch while the episode is still recording.

• Hulu + Live TV starts with 50 hours of storage. If you want more storage or the ability to fast forward you can pay $9.99/mo.

• YouTube TV has unlimited DVR storage and will keep shows for nine months.

• Sling TV offers 50 hours of DVR storage for all subscribers. You can upgrade to DVR Plus to get 200 hours of storage for $5/mo.

• fuboTV accounts come with 250 hours of Cloud DVR space at no extra charge.

• Philo includes an unlimited 365-day DVR.

7.Device Compatibility

Let’s look at which services work with the devices you own:

Tips:Available if you already have the app downloaded on your device. Not available for new downloads at this time.

8.Streaming Sports

Streaming subscribers can watch many nationally televised games with a live TV streaming service. Because of carriage disputes, most streaming services do not carry regional sports networks (RSNs). 

Compare the Best Live TV Streaming Services of 2024

Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling vs. Fubo vs. Philo: OutlooK

For overall channel inclusion, features, and performance, we think YouTube TV is more than worth its $64.99-a-month price tag—it’s the Cadillac (or Tesla, if you prefer) of live TV streaming services. Hulu + Live TV is a close second, and a great value when you factor in access to regular Hulu.

Philo is obviously the cheapest live TV streaming service, even though it does have some shortcomings. On the other end of the price spectrum, fuboTV is a killer service for sports fans,  too—namely, fat channel lineups and all the RSNs. At $55 a month, channel-loaded newbie live TV streamer Vidgo is also worth a look.

Which Streaming Service Should You Choose?

Hopefully looking at the channels and features for each live TV streaming service can help you make your decision. Before subscribing, be sure to take advantage of free trials to see how you like the interface of each; how it looks on your TV, computer, and mobile devices; and which offers the user experience that works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

1.Are FREE Trial at Streaming Service ?

2.Can I Watch Live Sports?

3.Are  Streaming Service Worth the Money? 

4.How Many Devices Can I Stream to at the Same Time?

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