You can watch The CW live without cable with one of these streaming services: Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV. In this article, we’ll help you decide which streaming option is best for you.
Before we get started, want to find out what’s playing on CW right at this very moment? Our live CW TV guide will let you do exactly that, and it’s totally free. There aren’t any ads on the page, either. Check it out if you’re unfamiliar with CW’s programming schedule.
And in case you’re looking to find out how to stream your favorite local channels, you can check out our Local Channel Guide.
Watch The CW For Free
You can watch the The CW for free by trying any of the subscription services below with a free trial. Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV all offer some version of a free trial, whether it be 7 days, 2 weeks, or a month. After that, you’ll be charged the regular subscription rate for the service you chose. Find out more about these services below.
What to Watch on The CW
The CW offers a lineup of popular shows including Arrow, Walker, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Riverdale, Superman & Lois, Batwoman, Naomi, and more. The CW is known for a steady stream of DC universe superhero shows.
Watch The CW on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers the best of what on-demand and live TV services bring to the table. For a reasonable monthly fee, you can get both live TV streams and on-demand movies and TV shows.
Hulu + Live TV Pricing and Packages
Hulu + Live TV’s main subscription is competitively priced compared to other streamers, especially if you take into account the fact that it gives you access to the notoriously massive on-demand vault.
Hulu + Live TV No Hassle TV $69.99/ month | 75+ Live TV Channels 2 simultaneous streams Unlimited DVR Disney+ and ESPN+ Included | SIGN UP |
Hulu + Live TV No Ads $79.99/ month | 75+ Live TV Channels 2 simultaneous streams Unlimited DVR Disney+ and ESPN+ Included | SIGN UP |
For more information about Hulu + Live TV’s plans, click here.
Hulu + Live TV Channels
When Hulu + Live TV first came out, it only offered on-demand content from The CW. But in March 2018, Hulu + Live TV added a live stream of The CW to its roster of supported live TV channels. The base subscription package comes with a strong mix of channels of all genres.
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Hulu Live TV
$54.99 / month
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Hulu + Live TV Supported Devices
Whatever TV device you use, Hulu + Live TV probably has an app for it:
- TV streaming media players: Apple TV (4th gen and up), Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick, Chromecast and Roku (most models)
- Smart TVs: LG TV (select models), Samsung TV (select models), Android TV and Roku TV
- Mobile devices and tablets: Android (5.0 and up), iOS (11 and up), Amazon Fire (tablets)
- Game consoles: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One S | X, Xbox Series S | X, Playstation 4, Playstation 5
- Desktop browsers: Most Mac and PC browsers
- Smart home devices: Amazon Echo Show (video and voice controls)
- Desktop operating systems: Windows 10 (dedicated app)
Click here to learn more about devices that work with Hulu + Live TV.
Hulu + Live TV Simultaneous Streams
The two-stream simultaneous stream limit can be upgraded with the Unlimited Streams feature expansion. Unlimited Streams costs $10/month extra and lets you stream to an unlimited number of devices on your home network simultaneously. Hulu + Live TV is the only streamer that offers this kind of flexibility.
Click here to learn more about Hulu + Live TV’s simultaneous streams.
Hulu + Live TV DVR
With a recent update, Hulu + Live TV added unlimited cloud DVR for all subscribers.
Click here to learn more about Hulu + Live TV’s DVR.
Hulu + Live TV On-Demand Library
Hulu is probably the second brand name behind Netflix that comes to mind when you think of on-demand content. The combination of live TV streams and a massive library of shows and movies means that you may be able to get all your entertainment through one app if you go with this service.
Watch The CW with fuboTV

fuboTV has support for live 4K streams, sports channels that no other streaming service offers and more local CW affiliates compared to the competition. This combination of features makes it one of the most unique streaming services on the market right now.
fuboTV Pricing and Packages
fubTV’s subscriptions start at the Starter plan price point of $64.99/month and the base subscription plan comes with The CW and a wide range of sports and family friendly channels.
Learn more about fuboTV’s subscription plans here.
Pro 7-day free trial $69.99/ month | 138 channels 10 simultaneous streams 1,000 hours of DVR space | TRY FREE |
Elite 7-day free trial $79.99/ month | 202 channels 54 more channels with fubo Extra 12 more channels with fubo News Plus 10 simultaneous streams 1,000 hours of DVR space | TRY FREE |
Latino Monthly $8 off for the first month $33/ month | 45 channels 2 simultaneous streams 250 hours of DVR space | SIGN UP |
Ultimate 7-day free trial $99.99/ month | 240 channels 54 more channels with fubo Extra 12 more channels with fubo News Plus Showtime Live and On Demand Sports Plus with NFL Redzone 10 simultaneous streams 1,000 hours of DVR space | TRY FREE |
fuboTV Channels
In 2018, fuboTV expanded its support for The CW into nine markets– and it improved coverage for many other local broadcast stations, as well. As a result, the streaming service now still has better support for local TV stations than many of its competitors.
You can see a full channel list here.
fuboTV Supported Devices
Except for game consoles, fuboTV has apps for most TV devices. Supported TV devices include iOS and Android mobile devices, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and more.
You can learn more about fuboTV’s supported devices here.
fuboTV Simultaneous Streams
fuboTV used to be weak here, but not anymore. Every plan comes with the ability to stream on up to 3 devices at once. A paid upgrade gives you the ability to tune into this streamer from ten devices at once that are connected to your home network, and an additional 2 outside of your home wifi network.
You can learn more about fuboTV simultaneous streams here.
fuboTV DVR
All fuboTV subscribers can record up to 250 hours of programming to fuboTV’s cloud DVR. A paid upgrade expands that capacity to 1000 hours. You can also pay to upgrade to more DVR hours on a cheaper plan for a fee.
You can learn more about the fuboTV DVR here.
fuboTV On-Demand Library
fuboTV offers 72-hour Rewind, which lets you stay current with many popular TV shows. The library also has movies, but not as many as Netflix, Hulu and other services that specialize in on-demand content.
Watch The CW on DirecTV Stream
Even though DirecTV Stream, formerly known as AT&T TV NOW, recently raised its subscription prices, it’s still worth a look if you’re in the market for a streaming service that supports The CW.
DirecTV Stream Pricing and Packages
Entertainment, DirecTV Stream‘s cheapest plan, is about the same price as pricier plans offered by other streaming services, clocking in at $69.99/month. All the plans come with CW.
For more information about DirecTV Stream plans, click here.
DirecTV Stream Channels
A live stream of The CW comes with all the main DirecTV Stream subscription packages. No matter which one you choose, CW will be part of the lineup if it’s available in your local area.
Click here to see the full list of DirecTV Stream channels.
DirecTV Stream Supported Devices
With the exception of game consoles, DirecTV Stream has apps for all the most popular TV devices:
- TV streaming media players: Apple TV (4th gen and up, 5th gen and up for 4K), Amazon Fire TV (2nd gen and up, 1st gen for Cube), Chromecast (2nd gen and up), Roku (most models)
- Smart TVs: Samsung TV (2017 and 2018 models), Android TV (4.4 and up), Roku TV (7000X), Mi TV, Amazon Fire TV Edition smart TV (2nd gen and up), Chromecast Built-in TV
- Mobile devices and tablets: Android (5.0 and up), iOS (10 and up), Amazon Fire (tablets)
- Desktop browsers: Chrome and Safari recommended
Click here to learn more about devices that work with DirecTV Stream.
DirecTV Stream Simultaneous Streams
DirecTV Stream lets you watch on up to 20 devices at once while you’re home on your WiFi network. Plus, you can stream on three devices outside of your home network.
To learn more about DirecTV Stream’s simultaneous streams, click here.
DirecTV Stream DVR
DirecTV Stream allows you to record unlimited DVR to help justify the high price point. All DVR recordings are deleted 90 days after the record date.
Click here to learn more about how DirecTV Stream’s DVR works.
DirecTV Stream On-Demand Library
DirecTV Stream has a fairly large on-demand library for a live TV streaming service, but its’ selection of titles isn’t quite as deep compared to Netflix, Hulu and other similar on-demand specialists.
Watch the CW on YouTube TV
Google’s YouTube TV features excellent local broadcast station coverage, above average features, a user-friendly interface and a solid lineup of channels.
YouTube TV Pricing and Packages
YouTube TV, like Hulu With Live TV, has only a single package of channels. The cost is $64.99/month, but for your money, you get a great selection of 85+ channels.
To learn more about YouTube TV’s pricing options, click here.
YouTube TV Channels
Along with The CW, YouTube TV has a great sports lineup that includes all the major ESPN channels, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, NFL Network, NBA TV and many others. Premium channels that are available as add-ons include Showtime, Epix and Starz.
To learn more about YouTube TV’s channel list, click here.
YouTube TV Supported Devices
Until a couple years ago, an ongoing feud between Google and Amazon prevented Amazon TV device users from using YouTube TV. Since then, YouTube TV no longer lacks when it comes to TV device support.
- TV streaming media players: Apple TV (4th gen and up), Chromecast and Roku (most models), Amazon Fire TV Cube and Fire TV Stick (most models)
- Smart TVs: Android TV (select models), Samsung TV (2016+ models only), LG TV (2016+ models only), Vizio (select SmartCast models), Hisense (select models), Sharp (select models)
- Mobile devices and tablets: Android (5.0 and up), iOS (9.1 and up)
- Game consoles: Xbox One (all versions)
- Desktop browsers: Most Mac and PC browsers
Click here to learn more about YouTube TV supported devices.
YouTube TV Simultaneous Streams
You can stream to up to three devices simultaneously through one YouTube TV account.
To learn more about YouTube TV’s simultaneous streams, click here.
YouTube TV DVR
YouTube TV’s unlimited DVR lets you record as much TV as you want and save your recordings for nine months. Plus, you can create up to six individual profiles and each profile gets its own separate, unlimited DVR.
Click here to learn more about YouTube TV’s DVR options.
YouTube TV On-Demand Library
Many TV shows that air on YouTube TV live are available on-demand. This lets you stay up to date with your favorite shows, even if you forget to use your unlimited DVR to record them. Some movies are available on-demand as well.
How to Watch The CW on Amazon Fire TV
You can watch The CW on Amazon Fire TV with one of these streaming services: fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV. Simply go to the Amazon Fire TV app store and click whatever live TV service appeals to you the most– or try them all.
How to Watch The CW on Roku
You can watch The CW on Roku with one of these streaming services: fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV. The process of installing a Roku app is the same as installing a smartphone app. Just look up the app you want to try and complete the sign-up process to get going.
How to Watch The CW on Apple TV
You can watch The CW on Apple TV with one of these streaming services: fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV. Apple’s app store has them all, so try them out for yourself and compare.
The CW Over-the-Air
If you live near a station that broadcasts The CW, you may be able to get The CW broadcasts for free via your TV antenna. Check this FCC website to find out the exact channels you can get in your location.
With a TV antenna, you get:
- Dozens of channels in addition to The CW
- No monthly fees
- 1080p picture quality (better than cable)
The two best TV antenna makers
Amazon and Mohu both make excellent HDTV antennas. Mohu’s are a bit more stylish and generally more powerful than Amazon’s, but you may actually be better off with a low-powered antenna if you live close to a major city. Extra power can cause interference issues.
Amazon Basics

AmazonBasics antennas are grouped into several different ranges: 25 mile, 35 mile, 50 mile. All 3 varieties can pull in 1080p HD feeds of The CW and other broadcast channels.
Mohu

Mohu antennas come in 3 different models: Leaf, Sky and Curve. Leaf antennas are extra thin and can be mounted on windows. Long range Sky Mohu antennas are designed to be mounted outside and can pull in feeds from 65 miles away. The Curve line of antennas are for people who live closer to cities.
Add next-generation TV features
The two devices listed below let you record over-the-air broadcasts from the CW and other local TV stations.
HDHomeRun

The most popular device for recording broadcast TV channels right now is HDHomeRun.
Cord-cutters love SiliconDust’s HDHomeRun because it’s cheap and easy to set up. A basic HDHomeRun device costs $100, and its DVR feature is just $35 a year.
First, you connect your HDHomeRun to your TV antenna. Then, you connect it to your WiFi router — and that’s it. HDHomeRun’s many apps let you watch and record TV on every popular platform.
HDHomeRun apps:
- Living room devices: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
- Smart TVs and Blu-ray players: Sony TVs with Android TV.
- Mobile devices and tablets: Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
- Game consoles: Xbox One
- Desktop browsers: macOS and Windows 10.
Tablo

Tablo devices start at $220. You have to buy a $50 annual subscription to unlock the programming guide and stream content to your devices outside your home network.
Tablo apps:
- Living room devices: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast and Roku.
- Smart TVs and Blu-ray players: LG (based on WebOS) or devices running the Roku or Android TV platforms.
- Mobile devices and tablets: Android and iOS.
- Game consoles: Xbox One
- Desktop browsers: Chrome and Safari.
The CW App & Website
If you can’t get The CW from a TV station, you can watch The CW shows via The CW’s app or website instead.

The CW has free apps for Roku, Chromecast, AirPlay, AppleTV, XBox One and Amazon Fire TV.
Alex Munkachy is a freelance writer, game developer and hobby robotics enthusiast. You can find his blog about robotics news and reviews at robotfanatics.com.
No, YouTube TV does not carry the NFL Network. Unless you know something I don’t. (Wishful thinking? 🙂
None of these services carry the CW live in the Phoenix market, and I suspect, many other markets (there’s no reason we would be singled out). The CW has it’s own “space” on YouTubeTV, but you cannot watch anything live – it is on demand with commercials. That may indeed be the only (and best) way to catch CW content, but you should just say that instead of trying to sell people on streaming packages that won’t actually solve their challenge.
I reached out to YouTube TV via live chat, and was informed that The CW is an On-Demand feature only, not live.
Very disappointed!
The CW live broadcast is not available on DirecTV Stream in the Los Angeles market. It’s only available On Demand, so you have to wait one to two days after a live broadcast to watch the same show on demand.