Show of hands: Who misses channel-surfing? Flipping around the dial, landing on the final 30 minutes of The Shawshank Redemption
or a Bob's Burgers
rerun. You just don't get that kind of satisfaction from Netflix
, HBO Max
or other on-demand peddlers. And that brings us to the best live TV streaming
services, which do a great job recreating the cable/satellite viewing experience, streaming up to 100 or more channels for your surfing enjoyment.
Yes, you'll still have to sit through commercials, but consider their secret benefits: bathroom breaks, snack runs, maybe even a few sets of squats. And you'll get not only popular networks like Comedy Central, CNBC, FX, Food Network and TNT, but also your local stations: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and sometimes PBS. In many cases a subscription includes extras like DVR and on-demand movies and TV shows.
In this story
But, wow, there are a lot of different choices, with different channels, features and pricing models. Lucky for you, I watch a lot of TV — Alone, Survivor , Shark Tank , you name it — and I've put all the top services to the test: DirecTV , Hulu + Live TV, Fubo , Philo, Sling and YouTube TV . (Note: A growing number of "traditional" streaming services, including Amazon Prime , HBO Max , Paramount+ , Peacock and Netflix , are dipping toes into the live-TV waters — usually with sports or special events — but they're hardly cable replacements.)
How did we rank these things? Find out below in "How we tested." What are some important factors to consider when shopping for a streaming live-TV service? They're below as well, along with answers to frequently asked questions.
The best live TV streaming service
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Free trial:5 days | Channels in base tier:90+ | Streaming resolution:720p | DVR:Unlimited | Regional sports networks:30+
DirecTV earns our top spot thanks to its robust channel selection, thoroughly polished interface and what may be the best "skinny" subscription option of any live TV service.
The $90/month Entertainment tier offers over 90 channels and a modest selection of sports, including ESPN Unlimited. Another $5/month bumps you to the Choice tier, which adds a ton more sports (via both regional and specialty networks).
But if you're seeking a more affordable solution, one of the DirecTV's Genre Packs might fit the bill. MyEntertainment ($35/month), for example, is particularly appealing: It includes some 60 channels and subscriptions to Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max (all with ads, alas).
Whatever option you choose, DirecTV offers what is perhaps the most visually pleasing and logically designed interface. I especially like the live-TV previews on the Home screen and the Recents and Favorites sections in the channel guide — two great ways to quickly access the channels you watch most often.
I do wish live TV would stay visible in a window when you return to the guide, but only the audio continues. And there's a learning curve with time-shifting live content; it works a little differently than expected. I don't like the full-screen ads that appear when you press pause, but at least there's a 30-second delay before that happens.
Indeed, while it's not quite perfect, I do consider DirecTV the best live-TV streaming service — especially for those accustomed to a cable or satellite box. To learn more, read our full DirecTV review .
- Excellent UI and program guide
- Lots of sports
- Robust parental controls
- Genre Packs offer some compelling budget alternatives
- Unlimited DVR
- Search feature not as robust as others
- Can fast-forward or rewind only in timed increments; no scrubbing
- Ads appear on paused content
Other live TV streaming services we like
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Free trial:7 days | Channels in base tier:70+ | Streaming resolution:720p | DVR:Unlimited | Regional sports networks:None
Philo flies under most viewers' radar, and that's a shame: The service is arguably the best-kept secret in streaming, with live basic-cable networks like AMC, Comedy Central, History, Hallmark and Nickelodeon.
Your $33 monthly subscription includes over 70 such channels, plus around 100 specialty ones like The Baywatch Channel and Pickleball TV. You also get access to the entire AMC+ catalog — but the real news is the 2025 addition of HBO Max and Discovery+ subscriptions (both with ads).
Philo proper mixes old-school and new, with unlimited cloud-based DVR for shows you want to keep for later and some 70,000 shows and movies (from the aforementioned networks) available for on-demand viewing. (Interestingly, that content streams at 1080p, though live streams top out at 720p.)
The interface doesn't conform to the side-menu standard; options like home, guide and search are arranged along the top. Thankfully, what was previously a drab, often confusing channel guide has improved considerably, including a picture-in-picture view that lets you keep watching while you browse the menu.
Ultimately, Philo offers tremendous value to anyone wishing to keep "basic cable" on the menu. More cord-cutters should know about it.
Read our full Philo TV review .
- Costs much less than most live-TV streamers
- Over 70 channels, including AMC+
- Now includes standalone HBO Max and Discovery+ subscriptions
- Improved interface
- Unlimited DVR
- Limited news, no sports
- Live streams limited to 720p
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Free trial:3 days | Channels in base tier:95+ | Streaming resolution:1080p (select devices) | DVR:Unlimited | Regional sports networks:Limited
(Note: Hulu + Live TV merged with Fubo late last year , but the two continue to operate as separate entities.)
Let's do some basic math: Hulu + Live TV costs $90 monthly, same as DirecTV and in the same general range as YouTube TV. But there's one key difference: This cable alternative includes not only on-demand Hulu (with all its original content and streaming movies and shows), but also Disney+ and ESPN Select.
That means you're effectively getting four streaming services for the price of one, and if you value those additional three, there's a very compelling case to be made for choosing Hulu.
Starting with its channel lineup, which is generous and includes the five major locals (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS). There's a solid helping of sports here, and although ESPN Select doesn't add a ton, your subscription includes ESPN Unlimited content (in the mobile app).
I like Hulu's polished, easy-to-navigate interface, though its live-TV guide needs work; it's chunky and doesn't let you change the channel order or specify favorites. No live previews, either.
Hulu's free trial is the shortest in the group — just three days — so you'll need to decide quickly if you like the value proposition. For a much deeper dive into the service, read our full Hulu + Live TV review .
- Simple, novice-friendly interface
- Includes "regular" Hulu, which has tons of on-demand content
- Includes Disney+ and ESPN Select
- No added fees
- Unlimited DVR
- Live-TV channel guide could be better
- No regional sports networks
- No support for voice-powered search
- Time-shifting live TV forces you to rewatch ads
Rick Broida/Yahoo News
Free trial:21 days | Channels in base tier:100+ | Streaming resolution:1080p | DVR:Unlimited | Regional sports networks:Limited
Not to be confused with regular YouTube (home of user-created content), Google's live-TV service delivers over 100 channels, including local ones and a decent selection of sports — plus the exclusive option of NFL Sunday Ticket. Most content streams at 1080p, and you can add 4K (for select channels) for an extra $10 monthly.
The interface bucks convention, though, dividing everything into just three sections: Library, Home and Live. Those live up top instead of in a side menu, making for slower, clumsier navigation. I do like that you can reorder the channel guide to your liking: alphabetical, reverse-alphabetical, most watched, even a custom layout.
The DVR feature is a bit confusing; you don't "record," you "add to library." And when you subsequently visit the Library page, it's challenging to figure out what's actually recorded, what's coming up, and what might be available on-demand.
Sports fans will definitely appreciate Multiview, which lets you watch four live events at once. And I love the "key plays" option for when you've just tined in: It shows a highlight reel of the big plays and then return you to the live broadcast.
Given YouTube TV's price, I'm miffed that a subscription doesn't include YouTube Premium (meaning ad-free regular YouTube); you still have to pay for that separately. This would be a great value-add to give YouTube TV a boost over the competition. However, there are now a number of less-expensive "skinny" tiers available if you're looking to save money (though not much, alas).
As it stands, it's a solid live-TV service that's notable for its 1080p streaming and available 4K add-on. Read our full YouTube TV review to learn more.
- Streams in 1080p
- Lots of add-on options, including NFL Sunday Ticket
- Some neat viewing features for sports fans
- Excellent search function
- 21-day free trial
- Interface has room for improvement
- Limited, confusing on-demand content
- Doesn't include YouTube Premium
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Free trial:None | Channels in base tiers:34/44 | Streaming resolution:720p | DVR:50 hours (extra charge for unlimited) | Regional sports networks:None
Got $5? You can get a day's worth of Sling TV — which might be just what you need to watch, say, a particular sporting event or some other live broadcast. (I enjoy the Emmy Awards, for example, but don't want to subscribe for a whole month just for that.) This option is unique to Sling, and it's ingenious enough to earn the service a spot on Yahoo's best-list.
Previously, we'd relegated it to the "Other services we tested" section, below. That's because, on the whole, Sling offers a comparatively modest channel selection without a significant savings to justify it. You have to choose between two confusing, partially overlapping, tiers (dubbed Orange and Blue), each priced at $46 monthly or $61 for both. At that point it's worth spending a little more for a more comprehensive service or a little less for something like Philo or a DirecTV Genre Pack.
But Sling's new Passes are a game-changer. In addition to paying $4.99 for a 24-hour subscription (a day-pass, essentially), you can get a Friday-Sunday pass for $9.99 or a one-week pass for $14.99. Assuming Sling has the channel that carries the thing you want to watch, it's a no-brainer impulse-buy.
Alas, Passes are still available only for the Orange tier, which nets you the likes of ESPN, TBS and TNT but leaves out the various Fox Sports channels available in Blue. (Here's a thought, Sling: How about a $5 "game pass" that includes all your sports channels but dispenses with everything else?)
So Passes aren't perfect, but they're a huge step in the right direction for people seeking an inexpensive, a-la-carte way to watch live TV.
Read our full Sling TV review .
- Inexpensive options available for day, weekend or weeklong subscriptions
- Clean, straightforward user interface
- Live stream retreats to a window while you browse the program guide
- Select sporting events streamed in 4K at no extra cost
- Passes available only for Orange tier
- Drab-looking channel guide
- Confusing packages, minimal savings
- Limited channel selection, especially locals
- Most streams are 720p; 4K available only on select devices
- Limited DVR unless you pay extra
Other live TV streaming services we've tested
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Free trial:7 days | Channels in base tier:130+ | Streaming resolution:720p | DVR:Unlimited | Regional sports networks:30+
(Note: Hulu + Live TV merged with Fubo late last year , but the two continue to operate as separate entities.)
In its current incarnation, Fubo has dropped off our list of recommended live-TV services. That's because in addition to lacking various Warner Bros. Discovery channels — CNN, TBS, TNT and others — it's now bereft of NBC as well.
An ongoing dispute with that network also means no Telemundo, USA, Bravo, Syfy, MSNBC and several other popular channels. Thankfully, Fubo did lower its monthly price to reflect those losses, but there's little else here to really recommend the service.
In fact, I'm increasingly frustrated by certain aspects of the interface, which is attractive and easy to navigate but cumbersome in certain areas. In the channel guide, for instance, you can't filter without side-scrolling a lengthy, randomly ordered list of genres. And I could definitely do without the banner ads that occasionally appear.
Fubo was always a sports powerhouse, and your subscription includes not only a strong roster of regional networks (especially with the Pro plan), but also ESPN Unlimited. Remember, though: You won't be able to watch any games on NBC, TBS or TNT. (We're still smarting over not being able to see the Winter Olympics.)
It's absolutely worth taking advantage of the free trial to see if Fubo meets your needs, but right now we think there are better options. To learn more, read our full Fubo TV review .
- Has the most channels, even in the base tier
- Lots of sports channels, including regional ones
- Visually pleasing user interface
- Too many missing channels
- Ads sometimes appear in with the channel guide
- So-so search feature
- Most content streamed at 720p resolution
How we tested live TV streaming services
All these services can be streamed just about anywhere there's a screen: TV, tablet, phone, web browser, etc. While the bulk of our testing took place on TVs, we also looked at each service's mobile app; we can easily envision wanting to catch, say, a big game or other live event when you're not able to be home in the living room.
Our testbed TV, a Sansui S55VOUG , runs the Google TV operating system. There might be minor differences in user interface and/or features on platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. Thus, if something shown or described here doesn't exactly match what you're seeing, that's likely why.
Obviously we considered things like price and number of available channels, but for actual testing, we spent time evaluating each service's interface, channel guide, search capabilities, time-shifting (pausing and scanning live TV) and image quality. This last is often dictated by streaming resolution: 720p tends to look a little soft and grainy; 1080p is reasonably sharp; and, of course, 4K looks best (but has limited availability).
Factors to consider when choosing a live-TV streaming service
What's important when deciding where you put your streaming dollars? These are some of the key factors to consider:
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Free trial:All the services here will let you kick the live-TV tires for a few days free of charge — usually seven, though Hulu + Live TV limits you to just three days, DirecTV to five. It's definitely worth taking advantage of these offers to be sure you're comfortable with the interface, features, etc. Try them all!
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Channel lineup:Which ones are most important to you? For many viewers, local TV channels (CBS, ABC, etc.) rank highly; others want news or live sports or favorite cable stations. If you can't get everything you want from a single service, choose the one that gives you most of what you want.
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Interface:Most of these services rely on a familiar design: a home screen populated by various categorical rows ("On now," "Recommended for you," etc.) and a side menu for access to things like search, DVR and channel guide. Some are definitely better than others, though, both in terms of appearance and navigation.
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4K:You probably own a 4K TV; it stands to reason to choose a streaming service that can deliver 4K content. However, at this writing, not many channels actually broadcast in 4K, and not all services offer it from those that do. The bigger question might be 1080p versus 720p; the former is available (on select channels) only from Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
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DVR:If you like to record shows to watch later, look for a service with DVR included — ideally unlimited DVR, so you don't have to worry about running out of room. Most of the major ones offer this, and at no extra charge.
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Sports:Modern sports streaming is a colossal mess. Different sports (football, baseball, hockey, etc.) air on different networks, and different live-TV services have different selections of them. Meanwhile, some games air only in some regions, and local games can be subject to market blackouts. To further complicate matters, there's FanDual Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports), a standalone streaming service offering live games from around 30 NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA teams. Sadly, there's no single one-service-for-all-sports solution right now; be prepared to do some research and planning in order to watch your favorite teams' games.
FAQs
Can I watch movies on a live-TV streaming service?
Yes, but... it gets a little confusing, especially with regard to what's available and where to find it. Remember that these services aim to be cable TV alternatives, so at any given time, there are movies showing on various channels. In some cases you'll see a selection of those you can join live or "in progress". And even if a movie is halfway through, you might be able to start it from the beginning. Meanwhile, many of these services have rotating selections of movies you can watch on-demand (with ads, but at no extra charge). To find them, try browsing the movies section or searching for a particular title.
Do live-TV streaming services have commercials?
Yes, because remember that they're giving you the same channels you get via cable TV, and those stations all have commercial breaks. In other words, this is still ad-supported television. Where it gets a little confusing is with Hulu + Live TV, because there's an ad-free tier available. However, that option eliminates the commercials from "regular Hulu" content, not from the live channels.
Can I skip commercials?
When watching recorded content, you should be able to fast-forward past commercials — though there may be exceptions here and there depending on licensing and other regulations.
Are live-TV streaming services easy to use?
At a basic level, yes: Each one provides a channel guide that should be fairly familiar to anyone who has used a cable or satellite service. But expect a learning curve, especially with regard to things like time-shifting (i.e. pausing or rewinding live TV), DVR features and overall navigation. For example, I often struggled to remember how to access the channel guide while already watching a show. With some services you press the up button on the remote; others use the down button. And what appears after that is sometimes just a channel subset, not the full guide. All this can get a little frustrating; I recommend taking notes as you learn your way around the interface.
How do I watch a live-TV streaming service?
To watch these services, you just need a smart TV, streaming device, phone or tablet — anything that has the necessary app(s). Indeed, DirecTV, YouTube TV and the like exist are exactly that: apps, just like on-demand services such as HBO Max, Hulu and Netflix.
I already pay for a streaming service that has some live channels. Do I really need one of these expensive cable alternatives?
Yeah, this is another area where things get mighty confusing. Peacock, for example, includes live NBC local programming, which is great if that's the slice of the live-TV pie you like. No need to subscribe to, say, YouTube TV to watch your local news station or, say, the Olympics, as Peacock will be streaming most of it. But that's just one network. Here's a rundown of what you can find elsewhere in terms of live, simulcast channels:
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Peacock :Live NBC local programming
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Paramount+ :Live CBS local and Showtime programming
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ESPN Unlimited :All live ESPN channels
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HBO Max :Live HBO channels and some live TNT and TBS sporting events
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Fox One :Live Fox local, Fox News and Fox Sports programming
Take note, however, that in some cases you may need to subscribe to a higher service tier to get those channels. And even if you subscribe to all four of those services, you'd get only a portion of the live programming of, say, Fubo — and potentially at a higher total price.
Are there any free streaming services?
Yes! If the budget won't accommodate any of the above options, look no further than our roundup of the best free TV streaming services . A few of them are even commercial-free, though you'll need a library card for those.
I just want to watch local channels. Can I do that without paying for a streaming service?
Depending on where you live, you might be able to leverage an old-school solution: a TV antenna! Just connect one to your TV and see how many local affiliates you can tune in. (It might be all of them, it might be just a few; only one way to find out.) See our roundup of the best TV antennas to learn more.
Update, March 5, 2026: We checked all service prices and updated those that changed. Our overall pick for the top live-TV streaming service has changed.
