As streaming has risen in popularity, so has streaming prices. These days, streaming can cost just as much (if not more) than cable did originally, especially live TV streaming.
The good news, though, is that there are still a variety of cheap live TV streaming services that offer quality content without breaking the bank.
- Frndly TV, Basic plan: $6.99 per month
- Philo, Base plan: $33 per month
- Sling TV, Orange plan: $45.99 per month
- Fubo, Pro plan: $73.99 per month
1. Frndly TV: $6.99 per month
What is Frndly TV?
Frndly TV is a live tv streaming service with on-demand options featuring family-oriented programming. A group of former DISH TV executives launched the app in 2019. Its channels cover all demographics, from babies to moms to sportsmen and all members in between, with 20 live channels broadcasting award-winning-options, on demand episodes and supporting DVR recording for higher subscription plans.
How much does Frndly TV cost?
Compared to some other live TV streaming services, like Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV, the price for Frndly TV is extremely affordable. However, of course the channel list for Frndly TV isn't as dominant as its larger competitors.
Frndly TV’s subscription package breakdown
Frndly TV currently offers three different subscription package tiers: Basic, Classic and Premium. The live TV channels and on-demand selection are the same with all 3 packages, but differ in terms of video quality, number of simultaneous streams, and DVR recording capability.
The Basic package includes SD video quality and only 1 person can stream at a time.
The Classic plan includes HD video quality, 2 simultaneous streams, unlimited DVR recordings, and the ability to save your DVR recordings for up to three months.
Finally, the Premium plan includes HD video quality, 4 simultaneous streams, unlimited DVR, and the ability to save your recordings for up to 9 months.
All plans offer the option to sign up for the whole year and save upwards of 15%.
2. Philo: $33 per month
Philo 60-second review
With a large package of channels that keeps growing well beyond its price, Philo is a strong contender in the cord-cutting market for new subscribers. Some may balk at the lack of sports and local TV broadcast networks, but this niche service is just that: niche. It provides a unique opportunity for those who want access to entertainment-focused cable TV channels to get them at a price that's more easily affordable.
Philo's biggest faults are indeed the fact that it doesn't provide local broadcast networks or sports channels. Beyond that, its app library leaves a lot to be desired. However, if you're willing to combine Philo with other options, such as ESPN+, an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, or another streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV, you'll still be able to cut the cord while saving a huge amount versus traditional cable TV.
Pros
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Low cost-per-channel ratio. Because Philo only offers entertainment cable TV channels, it's able to load offer a lot of networks for a low price.
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Must-have entertainment networks. Philo isn't just full of networks nobody wants. You'll have access to popular channels like Discovery, History, AMC, A&E, MTV, BET and more.
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High-quality streaming. Philo's streams come through in HD quality with minimal buffering or freezing issues.
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Excellent features. Despite the low price, Philo offers a cloud DVR and 3 simultaneous streams per account.
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Smooth UI. Philo has one of the cleanest user interfaces on the market for a service of its type.
Cons
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No local broadcast networks. You won't find ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX or other local networks on Philo.
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No sports networks. Philo also offers no cable TV sports networks.
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Limited app library. Philo works on some popular devices, but the number of devices with direct app support is limited.
Final comments
You will need to look at the channel lineup on Philo to decide whether it makes sense for you. If you consider local stations or sports networks essential TV, then Philo is not for you. Where Philo comes into its own is when it’s paired with a TV antenna. Philo adds most of the basic cable channels that round out the TV experience for an amazingly low price.
Considering so many of its competitors keep raising prices, the fact that you can still get Philo for so cheap makes its service all the more attractive.
3. Sling TV: $45.99 per month
Sling TV 60-second review
With its 2 base plans of 31 and 41 channels priced so low, Sling TV offers a high-quality live-TV streaming experience at roughly half the price of most competitors. People new to streaming live television may find Sling TV a good starting point to get familiar with streaming TV without feeling the pressure of a more expensive option.
On the other hand, those who have been streaming for a while might find some relief through Sling TV in light of price increases across the market, particularly with services like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
Sling TV's biggest shortcomings are the way it presents its features and the somewhat confusing way it delivers its streaming packages. Still, the wide range of bundles and premium channels available as add-ons make Sling TV a versatile and highly customizable service with a low base price.
Pros
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One of the lowest prices out there. Price hikes seem to be a constant feature of the streaming industry, and most options on the market have had multiple price increases since they launched. Sling TV is no different, but it's still just around half the price of other services.
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Must-have networks. You can find a lot of the must-have networks through one of Sling TV's channel packages or add-ons, including local affiliates for Fox and NBC, TBS, and TNT. Sports fans can also enjoy ESPN and Fox Sports, as well as the premium specialty networks for the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA.
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Plays well with OTA antennas and equipment. Sling TV is the only service of its kind that not only plays well with over-the-air antennas and equipment but sells equipment that integrates with OTA architecture.
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HD streaming. Sling TV provides HD streaming quality, which many subscribers count as an improvement over their traditional cable TV. However, other people will see this as a limitation due to the lack of 4K.
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A large app library for multiple devices. Sling TV offers a huge number of apps for streaming devices.
Cons
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Limited-space DVR. In a world where competitors are offering unlimited DVR, Sling TV still thinks a 50-hour DVR is a selling feature.
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Confusing package setup. Sling TV's package options can be a bit confusing with a lot of channel cross-over between packages.
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Only 1 stream for Sling Orange. The Sling Orange package offers only 1 stream per account.
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Limited local broadcast network support. Sling TV has among the worst support for local broadcast networks, making an OTA antenna almost necessary.
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Inadequate customer support. Sling TV's customer support leaves a lot to be desired, with very slow response times.
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No 4K streaming. Just as some people consider HD quality a step up, others will see it as a step back. 4K resolution is well on its way to becoming the global standard, with most on-demand streaming services including 4K content with their standard plans. And live-TV multichannel streaming services already offer 4K quality for live TV.
Final comments on Sling TV
Sling TV hasn’t changed its approach since its 2015 launch. The service still offers a low-cost selection of channels, but it's still the only service of its kind that charges for cloud DVR.
Nevertheless, Sling TV has kept its prices relatively low compared to competitors, a sign it is dedicated to the idea that cord-cutting should be inexpensive. That low price requires some give and take, especially when it comes to streaming quality and features. But if you really need to cut the traditional cable bill, Sling TV is an alternative worth your consideration.
4. Fubo: $73.99 per month
The Fubo 60-second review
Designed with sports in mind, Fubo offers a wide selection of sports networks. Many of the networks it offers are difficult to find on even traditional cable TV without paying exceptionally high subscription fees. Meanwhile, the service also offers dozens of entertainment-focused channels in its TV package line-up as well.
All told, Fubo offers a unique mixture of sports and entertainment that you won't get from any other internet TV streaming service. The real problem for new subscribers might be the cost of entry, as the service is more expensive than its competitors (primarily due to the cost of providing sports networks). That said, if you're a hardcore sports fan, Fubo should be one you at least give shot via its 7-day free trial.
Pros
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It's loaded with sports. Fubo provides a wider range of sports than other OTT streaming services.
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Bang for your buck. Although the entry price is high compared to other services, Fubo offers a large load of sports networks that typically cost a lot to access through traditional cable.
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High definition streaming. Fubo offers consistently good quality streaming across its service.
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Large entertainment channel line-up. Those 80+ channels offer more than just sports. Fubo provides dozens of must-have entertainment networks, as well.
Cons
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High cost of entry. Fubo's cost may be good for what you're getting, but it's still far pricier than most competitors in this market.
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No gaming console apps. Gaming console users are among the biggest sports fans, making Fubo's lack of any console apps a notable problem.
Final thoughts on Fubo
Deciding how to evaluate Fubo was tough. Should I treat it as a general over-the-top network that competes with Sling and DirecTV? Or should I treat it as a niche, sports-focused service that happens to have a growing entertainment lineup?
In the end, I had to treat Fubo as a niche service. Many of my critical comments about Fubo are common to over-the-top services.
From a sports fan’s perspective, however, those criticisms pale in comparison to the benefits Fubo offers.
It's most useful to look at Fubo as an over-the-top service for sports fans that happens to have entertainment streams. That could change as the company tightens up its device support and adds more deals with networks like ABC. If you have missed sports ever since dropping your cable subscription, then Fubo is worth considering. If you are a soccer fan, then Fubo is the service for you. Otherwise, you'll be better off with another service.
Free live TV
Over the past decade, saving money has been a driving force behind waves of people ditching cable and satellite for streaming. Live TV services like Sling TV, Philo and Fubo, and on-demand platforms like Hulu, Disney+ and Max, all cost less than cable or satellite. However, a new kind of TV service has been gaining traction over the past few years and it doesn't cost a dime.
The free streaming TV market has grown considerably in the past couple of years, with major companies like Amazon, NBCUniversal and Paramount investing in the space.
However, as the choices out there continue to grow, it can be time-consuming to find the service that checks all your boxes. Whether you're looking for movies, TV shows, or even live programming like news, you're sure to find something to meet your needs.
Pluto TV
Founded in 2013, Pluto TV is another free streaming service that was acquired in the past few years, by entertainment giant Paramount in 2019. It's one of the most popular free streaming services out there, with 68 million active monthly users as of April 2022. With 170 content partners, Pluto TV has 250+ channels and over 100,000 hours of unique programming.
In addition to standard categories like News, Sports and Game Shows, Pluto TV's linear channel guide is further organized into genre groups, such as Crime, Reality and Classic TV. Many channels are dedicated to a single show, playing episodes one after another 24/7, such as Three's Company, Iron Chef, and The Price Is Right.
With Paramount as its owner, Pluto TV offers channels you won't get elsewhere for free, such as CBS Sports HQ. There are also over a dozen local CBS News channels for markets such as Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.
Pluto TV's "Kids Mode" is even more secure than Tubi's, as it can be locked with a PIN, guaranteeing that your kids won't be able to access other content areas when you're not in the room.
Currently, Pluto TV supports most modern web browsers, Roku, Amazon Fire devices, and iOS/Android smartphones and tablets.
Tubi
Launched in 2014, Tubi was acquired by Fox in 2020. It's a completely free, ad-supported service offering 20,000+ movies and TV shows on-demand. It delivers content both live and on-demand, offering local news, sports, movies and TV shows. It also creates original content, such as Corrective Measures starring Bruce Willis and Michael Rooker.
Tubi is a great free option for news, offering local FOX affiliates in key markets like Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, as well as national channels like ABC News Live and NBC News NOW.
The Tubi Kids content hub offers a safe browsing space for families with young children. It's got everything from classic cartoons like Scooby-Doo Where Are You! and The Flintstones, to newer titles like Lego Ninjago, A Turtle's Tale and for preschoolers, the unavoidable Baby Shark.
You don't need an account to watch Tubi content, but signing up for a free account lets you add shows to your favorites list and pick up watching where you left off.
Tubi TV has robust device support. You can watch it on Android and iOS mobile devices and streaming devices like Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV. It’s also available on Xbox and PlayStation, and cable set-top boxes from TiVO and Xfinity.
Sling Free
Live streaming service Sling TV has a free service called Sling FreeStream. It's ad-supported and offers a mix of live and on-demand content. Its on-demand library is smaller than others on this list, but it's got an impressive selection of news, including live broadcasts of ABC News, CBS News and Cheddar News.
Sling FreeStream can be regarded as a freemium service in that a lot of the shows are "sneak peeks". Trying to hook you with a free episode or two, Sling is hoping you'll sign up for a paid plan to watch the rest of the series.
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is one of the most robust free streaming services available. It offers a huge variety of premium TV 24/7, free of charge. You can choose to watch live TV and shows from a number of different channels, as well as on-demand TV shows and movies.
The selection of movies and shows is excellent. You can watch classic and modern movies including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Contagion, and The Terminator, just to name a few. You can also watch TV shows like Rules of Engagement, Schitt’s Creek, Spaced, and Queer As Folk.
Despite the name, the Roku Channel isn't exclusive to Roku devices. You can also watch it on web browsers, Android and iOS mobile devices, Fire TV, and Samsung smart TVs.
Xumo
Xumo features both live and on-demand content from top channels like CBS News and NBC News, as well as some online-only content from media outlets like Vanity Fair, FailArmy, and Bloomberg. It’s quite similar to Pluto TV, with both full episodes and abbreviated clips of TV shows and online content available.
Xumo is ad-supported and completely free with no paid upgrades available, and you don’t even have to sign up for an account.
The user interface is well-organized and responsive, while videos load very fast and stream in up to 720p HD quality,
You can watch it on web browsers, Android and iOS mobile devices and Fire TV, Roku and Xfinity media devices. There are also apps for Android TV and a wide selection of smart TVs, including Hisense, Magnavox, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony and Vizio. Xumo also powers an exclusive streaming platform for LG TVs called LG Channels.
Contributors
Written by: Eric Liston, Laura Davis, Lisa Holden, Sam Cook, Staff
Edited by: Davan Hamilton, Kelsey Reynolds
Eric Liston
Freelance Writer
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
Lisa Holden
Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself.
She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
Sam Cook
Freelance Writer
Sam Cook is a full-time content strategist by day, a part-time freelance content writer since 2015. In another life, he was a high school English teacher for nearly a decade. Based in sunny New Orleans, he writes long-form educational content on technology, including Insurtech, Fintech, HRtech, and content streaming. He loves whittling down complex ideas within these areas that make decisions easier for buyers. When he’s not reading books with his son Miles and playing video games with the family, you can find him immersed in his growing collection of Euro-style board games.
Davan Hamilton
Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry.
Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
Kelsey Reynolds
Content Lead
Kelsey is a content strategist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota.
Kelsey was drawn to working at Flixed because the team was so open, motivated, and curious. She most enjoys thinking about how to blend programmatic and editorial content to answer readers’ questions as completely and efficiently as possible.
When she’s not at her computer, Kelsey can usually be found working in her garden or walking her two dogs in the park.
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