TV Channels You Can Watch Without Cable: Every Channel You Can Stream Cheaper

Not too long ago, I risked missing must-see TV when cutting the cord — especially full coverage of major sporting events like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup 2022. But that’s no longer the case.

In a hurry? This is a long article with lots of details about all aspects of the channels you love and how to watch them. But if you just want to get started with a streaming service that will replace your cable subscription with a broad range of channels, these are my favorites:

• Fubo: Get something for everyone with 150+ channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
• Philo: Great selection of basic cable channel for a super low price and 7-day free trial.
• Sling TV: Customize your channel lineup with this low-cost streaming service featuring a 50% discount your first month.

Thanks to the advent of live TV streaming services in the last decade, you can now watch virtually everything that was once limited to cable — free in some cases. As such, networks have essentially become online TV channels, available to stream on your smart devices — everything from the smallest phone to the largest big-screen TV.

When you search for live TV channels online and streaming services that offer them, you need to know the difference between on-demand and live TV streaming. Some on-demand content libraries like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and even the Hulu Classic plan, do not offer live TV channels. They do, however, offer some of the same content.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Live TV Channels To Watch Online

Looking for how to watch a particular TV network online? I’ve created a comparison table of TV channels available on four of the most popular live streaming services.

The following services offer a decent range and number of channels. Note that these streaming services have further add-ons that allow you to buy online access to TV channels not listed in this table.

The symbols in the table mean the following:

• ✔️ = the channel is available with the basic plan
• 💲 = the channel is available with an add-on or advanced plan
• ❌ = the channel is not available

Note that I did not include Spanish-language plans in the above table. And in general, I did not include channels that are available with Spanish-language add-ons (this is particularly important for Fubo). The table does include Spanish-language channels that are particularly popular with English-language viewers.

Streaming Services To Watch TV Online Live

There are streaming services that let you watch all types of live TV channels online. Many on-demand services now offer some live channels but these are the main live TV streaming services:

Service	Price	Channels	DVR (hrs)	Screens
	$79.99	150+	unlimited	10
	$86.99	90+	unlimited	unlimited
	$82.99	95+	unlimited	2
	$40.00	30+	50	1/3
	$28.00	70+	unlimited	3
	$82.99	100+	unlimited	3

Streaming Service Features

All of the live TV streaming services allow you to watch on multiple devices. The one exception is the Sling Orange (ESPN channels) package, which limits you to one.

The vast majority of devices are supported. This includes Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV-based smart TVs, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS (eg, iPhone), Roku, Samsung smart TVs, and web browsers. Gaming systems like Xbox and PlayStation are also supported by some services.

Cloud DVRs are also standard with all the live TV streaming services. The amounts are listed in the table above.

Can I Watch Local TV Channels Online?

You can watch local channels with online streaming services. But the exact channels available depend on whether the streaming provider has negotiated the rights.

Three streaming services provide limited (or nonexistent) access to local channels:

• Philo: no local channels
• Sling TV: ABC, NBC, and Fox in limited locations.

Here’s a comparison of the best local channel providers out of our reviewed streaming services:

For more information, check out our guide on How to Watch Local Channels Without Cable.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Sports TV Channels and Services Online

There are dozens of sports TV channels with online streaming services. Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular ones with a summary of what they show and which services offer it:

Sports-Exclusive Subscriptions Online

It’s also possible to get many sports channels including ESPN, FS1, and regional sports channels through the services I’ve already discussed. While those services are great, if you want a full sports lineup, you might want to supplement them with a niche service that is dedicated to sports.

Here are some of the most popular subscriptions to watch sports online without cable.

• ESPN+: ESPN+ is one of the best deals in sports streaming. You get a wide variety of sports including college sports, MLS, NHL, MLB, NFL, and much more. Events are available live and on-demand. Note, however, that it does not allow you to stream ESPN live. The on-demand library also includes select ESPN offerings, including the complete 30 for 30 documentary series. ESPN+ is available for $10.99/month or $109.99/year. You can learn more in our ESPN+ review.
• DAZN: DAZN is a great choice if you’re into combat sports. They offer the best events from MMA, boxing, and other combat sports. DAZN even offers exclusive fighter libraries on-demand. This gives you a chance to watch GGG, Canelo, and many others, whenever you want. You can choose between a monthly plan at $19.99 or just $99.99 for the full year ($8.33/mo). You can learn more in our DAZN review.
• NFL+: A great way to watch all of your favorite teams during the NFL season. You get access to live local and primetime games on mobile devices. And if you get NFL+ Premium, you can watch every game on-demand. The catch is that you have to wait until after the game is finished airing live. It is $6.99/month for the base plan and $14.99/month for the premium. It comes with a free 7-day trial. See our NFL+ review.
• Peacock (formerly WWE Network): If you’re a wrestling fan, WWE Network was one of the best deals in town. The service offered hundreds of hours of on-demand content including interview shows, events, and more. The thing that really sets this service apart though was that you got every single WWE PPV at no additional cost. WWE Network is now part of Peacock and comes with a Premium subscription for $7.99/month.
• Triller TV: This is great place for combat sports including boxing, MMA, and wrestling. You can enjoy Top Rank Boxing, Unified MMA, Brave FC, Star Boxing, and WOSW. Unlimited PPVs are available from over 25 organizations a month after they air live. You also get a $2 monthly credit for any live PPVs available on Triller TV. They also offer soccer and other sports. Packages are available for either $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, after a 7-day free trial.
• Fanatiz: If you’re a soccer fan or a fan of other international sports, then check out Fanatiz. This streaming service is excellent for people in the US that have difficulty finding international events, such as soccer tournaments. It has some notable free content but if you want to watch live games, it costs $7.99/mo or $79.00/year after a free trial. Learn more in our Fanatiz review.

Where Can I Watch News Channels Online?

The main cable news channels including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC are readily available on many streaming services. The services that offer one network often offer the others. So if you see a service offering CNN, there’s a good chance they have the other cable news networks in their lineup.

Hulu Live, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all offer options for all three main cable news networks. Fubo offers Fox News and MSNBC (it doesn’t have any Turner channels).

Remember that local news channel availability depends on where you are located. Your best options for both local and cable news will be Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. That said, you can check your lineup for any of these services on their websites before you sign up.

For more information, read our article, How to Watch Live News Online Without Cable.

Can I Watch Spanish TV Channels Online?

If you want access to only Spanish-language channels, you can find many standalone or add-on packages.

Fubo’s basic Starter plan offers Telemundo, Univision, and beIN Sports. This is a small selection of channels that are included with your main package. Fubo also offers a Spanish-language sports-focused Latino plan with 33 channels for $32.99/month.

Sling TV offers the Sling Latino plans for as little as $10/mo for up to 20 channels.

Check out our guide on how to watch TV in Spanish online without cable.

Free Options for Watching Online TV Channels

If you’re on a tight budget and want to try streaming without spending any money, there are free streaming services that are available. Despite the limitations, there is plenty of content available, though you won’t generally find the live channels.

If you want to enjoy some TV without getting charged, any of these services might work for you:

• Pluto TV: Pluto TV offers a wide variety of current and former TV. The website is set up similarly to a TV guide. You pick a channel and can watch what you want. They offer movies, news, and entertainment. This is a great option for movies that you might not be able to find elsewhere. Some fun channels include Cult Films and 80s Rewind. They also offer older TV content from the likes of MTV, BET, and Spike.
• The Roku Channel: If you own a Roku, your best option for free TV and movies is The Roku Channel. This section on your Roku includes both movies and TV from recent years to classics. They offer content in sections including Reality, Adventure, Sitcoms, and Family Night. With plenty in the library and no cost, this is a great free option to watch TV channels online.
• Tubi: Tubi offers thousands of movies and TV shows. You can watch through the computer or using a streaming device. There’s no catch. It’s all free. You will be able to watch a revolving slate of TV and movies with titles coming and leaving each month. While the lineup does change from time to time, you’ll find titles from MGM, Lionsgate, Starz, and Paramount. All you do is pick the selection you want and start watching!
• Crackle: Crackle is similar to the other services listed here because they offer free TV and movies. You can choose to make an account in order to save your progress or make a watch list, or you can watch without an account. The difference is that Crackle also offers some original content that you can’t find anywhere else. They offer a wide selection including movies and TV in all genres.
• Peacock TV: Peacock’s paid plans give you access to thousands of hours of on-demand movies, series, and more.
• Sling TV: Although a pay service, select live TV channels are available to watch for free at watch.sling.com.

Also, you may have heard of a service called Blip TV. While it was once a very popular aggregator, it was shut down in 2015. You can, however, try out FreeCast, which is a service that helps you find free content online.

What about Online TV Channel Scams?

If a streaming service offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scams are less prevalent now, but there are still scams with online TV streaming services.

All of the services I’ve listed here are legit, but if you come across any service offering you today’s cable channels for free, you can assume it’s not real or it’s illegal and could conceivably get you in trouble.

You can find more about scams for both online services, streaming devices, and more in our Online TV Scams list. Of course, the best way to avoid scams is to choose a trusted service and a device that you’re familiar with.

FAQs

What TV channels are free online?

Depending on your location, you can watch dozens of free TV channels online. Some channels you can watch include:

• BBC (as long as you tune in from the UK)
• Sky News
• Bloomberg TV
• ABC (for American citizens abroad)
• Fox Sports (via Pluto TV)
• CNN (if you tune in from the US).

How can I get local TV channels for free?

You can get local TV channels for free in several ways. Locast used to be an option but it was shut down in mid-2021. So the main way to catch free local channels is to buy an HD antenna and stream over the air.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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