I’m a big Netflix girl and haven’t paid for traditional cable in years. At this point, there are so many other ways to watch TV that paying for a huge package of channels you rarely turn on can be hard to justify.
The important part is figuring out what you actually watch before canceling anything. If your household can’t live without local news, ESPN, HGTV, football, or a particular network show, start there and find the least expensive service or combination of services that covers those favorites.
And be careful not to replace one big cable bill with a dozen smaller streaming bills. These 12 options give you plenty of ways to build a TV lineup around what you actually watch and what you want to spend.
Hulu — Starting at $11.99 a Month
Hulu starts at $11.99 a month with ads and can be a good choice if you want more current television mixed in with movies, originals, and older series. There’s also a higher-priced ad-free option if you’re willing to spend more to cut down on commercials.
Sling TV — Starting at $19.99 a Month
Sling is worth comparing if the channels keeping you tied to cable are things like ESPN, CNN, Fox News, TNT, or TBS, although the exact lineup depends on the package you choose. Smaller packages start at $19.99 a month, while the larger Orange and Blue options cost more but come much closer to the familiar cable-TV experience.
Peacock — Starting at $8.99 a Month
Peacock starts at $8.99 a month, with higher-priced plans offering a larger library and additional features. It’s worth a look if you watch NBC and Bravo programming or want access to sports such as Sunday Night Football and Premier League.
Paramount+ — Starting at $8.99 a Month
Paramount+ starts at $8.99 a month and brings together shows and movies from CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount, and other familiar brands. Sports fans may also find plenty to watch here, while the higher-tier plan includes access to a local CBS station in supported markets.
Tubi — Free
Tubi is completely free and gives you access to thousands of movies and TV shows, along with live channels covering news, entertainment, sports, and other categories, with ads covering the cost instead of a monthly subscription.
You won’t get the same lineup as cable, but it’s an easy service to add to your cord-cutting setup when you want more to watch without adding another bill.
Pluto TV — Free
Pluto TV is another free, ad-supported option, and its hundreds of live channels make it feel a little more like flipping through traditional television than many streaming services.
You’ll also find on-demand movies and shows, so it’s worth trying before paying for another subscription simply because you miss having something to turn on and watch.
Apple TV — $14.99 a Month
Apple TV costs $14.99 a month and is less of a cable replacement than a way to add a smaller collection of original shows, movies, documentaries, and select live sports. It could be a better fit for someone who only watches a handful of programs and doesn’t need dozens of live channels running in the background.
Prime Video — Included With Amazon Prime
If you’re already paying for Amazon Prime, don’t overlook the television and movie library included with your membership. Check whether something is marked as included with Prime before you watch, since rentals, purchases, and additional channel subscriptions are mixed into the platform.
Netflix — Starting Around $8.99 a Month
Netflix plans start around $8.99 a month, and this is still one of my personal favorites for having plenty to choose from without cable. There are movies, documentaries, kids’ programs, original series, and older shows, with different plans available depending on whether you mind ads and what features you need.
YouTube TV — $82.99 a Month
At $82.99 a month, YouTube TV certainly isn’t the bargain option on this list, but it may make sense for someone who wants to cancel traditional cable without giving up live television. It includes more than 100 channels, local networks, sports, news, and unlimited DVR, so you may be able to use it as your main TV service rather than stacking several smaller subscriptions.
Discovery+ — Starting at $5.99 a Month
Discovery+ starts at $5.99 a month and is one of the more affordable choices if reality and nonfiction shows make up a big portion of your TV watching. Rather than paying for a bundle of channels, you can get a concentrated library of the type of programming you already tend to watch.
Disney+ — Pricing Varies by Plan and Bundle
Disney+ is an obvious one to compare for families or anyone who regularly watches Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, or National Geographic programming. Before paying for Disney+, Hulu, and related services separately, check the available bundles because combining what you already want may make more sense.
