Cable and satellite TV subscriptions are becoming a thing of the past with new streaming services becoming available. The reason is that streaming TV gives you more flexibility, as well as saves you more money. Those who have paid for cable or satellite know about the price increases— even though some streaming services tend to increase their prices occasionally.
To stream TV, all you need to have is a wifi connection and the ability to stream apps on a device, whether it’s a TV or a smartphone. You also have the choice of streaming live TV as if you were watching cable or on-demand shows and movies. Here are some of those streaming platforms and their price points.
The Best Live TV Streaming Platforms
ESPN Plus
ESPN plus allows you to stream a variety of different sports live. For $6.99 each month, you get access to football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, golf, tennis, and so much more.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is an ad-supported streaming service with more than 250 channels— that’s completely free! You’ll be able to stream familiar networks, such as NBC, CBS,various sports channels, as well as on-demand TV shows and movies. Pluto TV is probably more well-known for classic TV shows, such as those that play on TV Land.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a little more pricey at $35 per month— but it’s still about half the price of other live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo TV. You get a decent channel selection with over 40 channels to choose from, including ESPN for the sports lovers.
XUMO TV
XUMO is another free, ad-supported live TV streaming platform. With less channels than Pluto TV, you still get around 200 channels plus on-demand movies and TV shows. Some popular networks available on XUMO include NBC and FOX.
So if you’re looking to cut down on your cable costs, one or more of these streaming services is the way to go. Sling TV and ESPN Plus are pretty affordable compared to cable costs, but you can’t beat free with XUMO and Pluto TV.
The Best Non-Live TV Streaming Platforms
Crackle
Crackle is another free streaming service, although it’s not a live TV streaming service. It is, however, an on-demand streaming service with a very impressive library of familiar movies and TV shows— and the library updates regularly.
Some popular TV shows and movies currently available include:
- 21 Jump Street
- 3rd Rock from the Sun
- Jack the Ripper: The Case Reopened
- Royal Wedding: A Day to Remember
- Sherlock
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- What’s Happening Now!!
Disney Plus
Disney Plus is definitely a dream come true for Disney/Pixar lovers, those that grew up watching Disney Channel, as well as Marvel and Star Wars fans. All of this content can be accessed for $7.99 per month— which is very affordable and a really good deal for the non-ad supported content.
Disney Plus also lets you bundle Hulu and ESPN Plus with your subscription. You’ll end up paying only $13.99 each month for all three platforms. This is a great option for families as each platform offers something different that everyone can enjoy.
HBO Max
HBO Max is the streaming platform from HBO. This means that you’ll be able to stream HBO hits as well as other TV shows and movies. Prices for HBO MAx start at $9.99 per month.
Combining an on-demand streaming service with a live TV streaming service is a great way to make up for what you’d be missing out on with cable— especially if you choose all of the free options. Even if you don’t you’ll still get a lot for your money with any combination of these streaming services.
As mentioned earlier, you’ll need internet access and a device that allows you to stream. Such devices can be a smart TV, smartphones, computers, or even game consoles (Xbox and PlayStation) and streaming devices (Roku and Fire Stick). All of the streaming platforms listed above are available on the latest smart TVs, smartphones, computers (via their websites), game consoles, and as extra add ons for Fire Stick.
Depending on how you choose to view the streaming services, there may be a few upfront costs (such as purchasing a smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or game console). Still, it’s much less expensive to stream services— especially those listed above— rather than pay for cable.