Best TV Streaming Services for Cord-Cutters

Article Summary

Cord-cutters looking to stay current with TV can sign up for services like Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, or YouTube TV. 

If live TV isn't a priority, cord-cutters can opt into on-demand subscription services like Amazon Price Video, Hulu, and Netflix.

Of course, you'll need to right device and the right internet plan to meet your cord-cutting TV needs.

In the late 1940s cable TV systems were built with the goal of getting television signals to remote areas where over-the-air signals couldn't reach. Through the decades, loosening of regulations and technological advances helped accelerate the growth of cable TV through the 1990s when cable TV became near ubiquitous. 

Nowadays cable TV remains giant with millions of subscribers and hundreds of channels. Yet the love affair between the public and big cable companies has waned with prices soaring and other sources of content offering much more control of what any given person chooses to consume without the hefty long-term contracts that often come with cable TV subscriptions.

With established on-demand streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and the relatively recent rise of live-TV streaming services like Sling and YouTube TV, now more than ever is a prime time to cut the cord and ditch cable. 

Best Live TV Streaming Services

For prospective cord-cutters, losing live TV might be the biggest hurdle getting in the way of actually cutting the cord. However, with the rise of live-TV streaming services, that hurdle has become much smaller than it once was. Now the more daunting task is choosing just which live-TV streaming service to subscribe to.

YouTube TV

From the same company that has given you countless hours of cat videos comes YouTube TV. Relatively new to the scene, YouTube TV has quickly become a heavy hitter in the live-TV streaming game. 

With over 60+ channels, including major network affiliates and local sports channels, YouTube TV is available in most major cities and metropolitan areas.

Sling TV

Sling TV is not new to the live-TV streaming scene. In fact, Sling has helped pave the way for live-TV streaming services, having been one of the first TV alternatives available to cord cutters. Sling boasts about a highly customizable TV-watching experience without the hefty price of cable TV. You'll still have to buy a base package to add the customizable features, but they are significantly cheaper than the average cable TV package. 

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu was already well established as a cord-cutter's haven of on-demand content before they established their Hulu with Live TV streaming service. Now you can get all the on-demand offerings available from Hulu plus live TV for just about $40/month. With a strong lineup of live channels, Hulu with Live TV has the content to keep any cord-cutter satisfied. You can even download select movies and shows for offline viewing.

Best On-Demand Streaming Services

Let's be honest, there are only two main reasons why you'd want a live-TV streaming service as a cord-cutter (for most of us anyway). Live TV is the best way to keep up with and watch local news and sports. If those two things aren't all that important to you, the abundance of on-demand content available to you is more than enough to satiate your need for on-screen entertainment. 

Netflix

Netflix. Have you heard of it? This video streaming juggernaut is one of the biggest players not only in streaming content, but in media as a whole. Powered by a library of movies and shows from all over the world of entertainment as well as an incredible lineup of original content, Netflix is a force to be reckoned with. 

Hulu

We've already mentioned Hulu's live-TV service above, but you can't really talk about on-demand streaming services without talking about Hulu. Essentially all of the new shows from the major broadcasters are available on Hulu making them a great choice for people who want to cut the cord but also want to stay current on the hit shows of the day. 

Hulu also has a growing and highly-acclaimed stable of original programming including the hit show The Handmaid's Tale.

Disney+

If you thought that the media and entertainment giant didn't have their own streaming service, well, you would have been right up until November 2019. Now, however, Disney certainly does have its name in the streaming service game. Included in Disney+ is basically everything from the Disney vault, classic Disney shows, all things Marvel, all things Star Wars (including the already very popular The Mandalorian) and a ton more. 

Don't forget, Disney also owns Hulu and with a modestly priced package you can get Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+  together. 

Apple TV+

Another newer name in the streaming TV race is Apple, who also launched its service in November 2019. Apple TV+ has nowhere near the amount of content that Disney+ has (who, by the way, has nowhere near the amount of content Netflix does), but they have a lineup of intriguing and award-winning original shows, such as The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carrell, and Reese Witherspoon. Its breakout hit, Ted Lasso, swept the 2021 Emmy awards for all categories in which the show was nominated.

HBO Now

HBO Now is a great service for anyone wanting the new(ish) movies available on HBO, as well as its original series like Game of Thrones, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm and much more. 

Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to streaming services, with more niche services popping up now and then.  

Streaming Devices for Cord-Cutters

You can't watch any of these cord-cutter alternatives without having a device to watch them on.

These days it seems harder to find a TV that isn't a "smart TV" already set up with most major streaming apps. 

For perhaps a more robust experience, devices like Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick can be plugged into your TV and connected to your WiFi network to give you access to all sorts of streaming services. 

Even modern gaming consoles are able to connect to TV streaming services.  

And, of course, you can access most streaming services on your computer, tablets, and smartphones. 

Internet Plans for Cord-Cutters

You'll also need to be connected in order to stream TV. If you are a heavy viewer, you're probably going to want an internet plan with plenty of speed. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a dramatic scene only to have the experience hampered by buffering. 

Take a look at just some of the plans below that could be the right one for your streaming needs. 

Internet Plans

#1	WOW!	WOW! Internet 300 Cable 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#2	Breezeline	Breezeline Internet 100 Cable 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. View Plan	$20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount.	View Plan
#3	Kinetic	Kinetic 100 Mbps Fiber 100/100 Mbps Unlimited Data $24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. View Plan	$24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Cable 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan
#5	Mercury Broadband	Mercury Broadband Mercury Foundation Fixed Wireless 30/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Contract (24 mths) $25/mo with AutoPay + $45 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$25/mo with AutoPay + $45 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#6	Frontier	Frontier Fiber 500 Internet Fiber 500/500 Mbps Unlimited Data $29.99/mo with AutoPay with AutoPay View Plan	$29.99/mo with AutoPay with AutoPay	View Plan
#7	Brightspeed	Brightspeed 200 Mbps Fiber 200/200 Mbps Unlimited Data $29.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. View Plan	$29.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change.	View Plan
#8	Astound	Astound 300 Mbps Internet Fiber 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get one line of Unlimited Mobile FREE for 12 months $30/mo Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only + $14.99 Upfront Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only View Plan	$30/mo Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only + $14.99 Upfront Observed speeds may vary | One-time fees extra | Restrictions apply | Not available in all areas | New residential customers only	View Plan
#9	Fidium	Fidium 300M Fiber 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $30/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations. View Plan	$30/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations.	View Plan
#10	Armstrong	Armstrong Zoom Express Cable 25/4 Mbps Unlimited Data $34.95/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations View Plan	$34.95/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations	View Plan

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See More Plans ~ Last Updated 6/4/2026

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Angelo Ilumba

Senior Writer

Angelo is a highly experienced writer for WhistleOut, specializing in unraveling the complexities of the mobile and tech world so that readers can easily understand what is relevant to them. Angelo has been featured on several publications such as MoneyTalksNews, Yahoo Finance, NPR and more.

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