Home to all your favorite TV superheroes and childhood comics reimagined, The CW has a lot of entertainment to offer.
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. Check it out if you're trying to figure out what to watch live on the CW.
Top pick: Watch The CW on Youtube TV
There are many ways to watch The CW without cable, including Youtube TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
But our team’s pick for most people to watch The CW is Youtube TV. Here’s why:
- Youtube TV is available at the lowest monthly price point on this list.
- Youtube TV is available in every region of the United States. (Viewers outside the US can try to access Youtube TV with a VPN, like ExpressVPN.)
Read more about how we recommend streaming services. And read our full Youtube TV review.
Why we recommend Youtube TV
If you're looking for the cheapest way to stream The CW, Youtube TV could be your best choice. Youtube TV is our top pick for watching The CW because it offers the best combination of price, channels, and features.
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. Read more about YouTube TV’s channel list.
You can use Youtube TV on web browsers, Android, or iOS as well as Amazon Fire, Roku, Chromecast, or Apple TV. Other devices include LG/Samsung Smart TVs or Xbox One. Read more about YouTube TV supported devices.
Sports fan pick: Watch The CW on fuboTV
Most sports fans already know and love fuboTV. If you’re trying to watch The CW without cable and you also watch a lot of sports, fuboTV is probably the best pick for you.
Despite its lack of ESPN, the service offers almost every league, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. With 1000 hours of DVR space and 10 simultaneous streams available, you’ll never miss a game. At its cheapest plan, fuboTV offers 140+ channels to choose from, so you’ll have access to more than just sports as well.
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.
Other channels included with fuboTV are: A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Cheddar, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, Food Network, Freeform, FX, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, IFC, NFL Network, TLC, Travel Channel, TV Land, USA
fuboTV is available on devices like: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One.
Read our fuboTV review.
Plus, if you’re a sports-betting fan, find out which sportsbooks are best in your state.
Family pick: Watch The CW on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV’s offerings of family and kids-oriented content, both live and on-demand, makes it a great choice for families and large households. What makes it number one, though, is its inclusion of Disney+ in its packaging.
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.
Other channels included with Hulu + Live TV are: A&E, ABC News, BET, Bloomberg Television, Cartoon Network, CBS, Cheddar Big News, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Food Network, Freeform, FX, HGTV, History, ID, Lifetime, NFL Network, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, TruTV, Vice
Check out our Hulu+ Live TV guide to see what’s on Hulu and when.
Hulu + Live TV is available on devices like: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One.
Read our Hulu review.
News fan pick: Watch The CW on DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream offers a great range of news channels, including C-SPAN, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, as well as local and regional networks based on your location. All levels of DirecTV Stream plans include access to the CW.
Other channels included with DirecTV Stream are: A&E, ABC News, AMC, AXS TV, BET, Bloomberg Television, Cartoon Network, Cheddar Big News, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Food Network, Freeform, FX, HGTV, History, IFC, Lifetime, National Geographic, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, TruTV, Vice
DirecTV Stream is available on devices like: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One.
Read our DirecTV Stream review.
FAQs
You ask, we answer. Below are answers to the most common questions we get about watching the CW live without cable.
Can I watch the CW on Amazon Prime?
While you can’t currently watch the CW’s programming live on Prime Video, you can find movies and TV shows made by the CW on Amazon Prime Video. Just set your filters for the CW or search by the names of your favorite movies and TV shows.
Is the CW app free to stream?
You can easily watch the CW’s current shows for free with the CW app. New episodes of CW shows and new movies are available the day after they air live on TV, so if you can wait 24 hours, this is a great free option.
Is the CW on Paramount+?
The CW is a Paramount brand, but Paramount+ doesn’t currently have a live stream of the CW’s programming on its app, Paramount+.
How do I watch the CW on my smart TV?
YouTube TV, our top pick for watching the CW without cable, is available on just about every device you can imagine. If you go with the next-day option, the CW app is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, VIZIO Smart TV, LG TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV, and Xbox One.
Davan Hamilton • Author
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 • Editor
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.