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TLC Without Cable: Best Streaming Plans to Watch TLC Channel Online

I find TLC’s shows to be polarizing, but one thing is undeniable: I can’t get enough of them. The good news is that I don’t need a cable subscription to catch up on all the drama happening with the channel’s various quirky characters. Below, I’ll share how to watch TLC without cable.

In a hurry? If you don’t want to dive into the details and just want to know how you can watch TLC without cable, these services should make you happy:

  • Fubo: With 150+ channels, it offers something for everyone. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial!
  • Philo: Super inexpensive live TV streaming service with 7-day free trial.
  • Sling TV: Probably the best streaming service in terms of customization with a 50% discount your first month.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports, TV and movies because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve. Signup now.

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $4.99/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

How to Watch TLC Live Without Cable

TLC is only available through a TV provider, never over-the-air. It is widely known for its reality-based programming, centering around odd families, unusual medical issues, unconventional relationships, and personal stories of human interest. It’s part of the Discovery group of pay channels.

Your best bet for watching TLC live is with a commercial streaming service. These are delivered to you via the internet and displayed on streaming devices — everything from your smartphone all the way up to your giant-screen TV.

Among TV streaming services, TLC is typically included in the base package. That means you don’t have to shell out top dollar to stay on top of the drama on You, Me & My Ex.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Streaming Services with TLC

Unlike your local cable provider, you have many TV streaming services to choose from. All of them generally follow the same model: you pay a monthly fee and you get access to a set of channels.

Different services have different channels in their packages, and different options for add-ons, so you can choose which one best fits your viewing habits at a price within your budget.

Fubo: Stream TLC With a Side of Sports

fubotv logo
Available ChannelsDiscovery, Food Network, HGTV, TLC
Total Channels150+
Cloud DVR1000 hours
Simultaneous Screens10
Free Trial
Fubo Price$79.99/month

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is best-known as a sports fan’s dream come true. Of its 150+ channels, 35+ are sports-oriented. But don’t worry, they have TLC, plus plenty of other non-sports channels too, such as Food Network, Bravo, E!, HGTV, and FX.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Fubo also provides a good selection of add-ons for additional general channels. For example, the Fubo Extra add-on gives you 45 additional channels for just $7.99/mo. You can also get premium channels like MGM+, Starz, and Showtime.

With the basic plan, you can stream on up to ten screens at once. You also get 1000 hours of DVR storage.

Fubo is available starting at $79.99/month for the basic Pro plan. Or you can pay a little more Elite plan. With any plan, you get a seven-day free trial. For more information, see the following:

  • Fubo Review
  • Fubo Packages
  • Fubo Local Channels
  • Fubo Devices.

Philo: Cheapest Way To Stream TLC

philo logo
Available ChannelsDiscovery, Discovery Family, Discovery Life,
Food Network, HGTV, TLC
Total Channels70+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous Screens3
Free Trial
Philo Price$28.00/month
* Recordings are deleted after one year.

Philo focuses on entertainment, lifestyle, and knowledge channels. One downside is that, unlike some other TV streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, Philo does not offer any network affiliates (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox). In most areas, however, this can be remedied with a simple antenna.

Try Philo for Free

Philo, at $28.00/month, is the lowest-priced service on this list. Along with TLC, Philo’s 70+ channels include other favorites like Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, HGTV, Food Network, and many more. It also offers access to AMC+. Philo’s cloud DVR allows unlimited TV shows and movies to be saved for up to a full year.

Subscribers get a free seven-day trial and can stream on up to three different devices simultaneously. For more information, see the following:

Sling TV: TLC With Flexible Channel Packages

Sling TV Logo
Relevant ChannelsDiscovery, Food Network, HGTV, TLC
Total Channels40+
Cloud DVR50 hours
Simultaneous Screens3
Free Trial
Sling TV Price*$40.00/month
*Save 50% on Sling TV now!

Sling TV was the first streaming service to have app-based live-streaming channels (instead of just on-demand listings) when it launched in 2015. It is one of the most affordable streaming services, and the cheapest to offer network channels (but only Fox and NBC).

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

They have two basic plans: Orange and Blue, which are both $40.00/month. Sling Blue includes 40+ channels with 3 simultaneous screens to stream on. Sling Orange only offers 30+ channels but includes ESPN. Both plans provide 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage. You can get them together for a total of 50+ channels for $55.00/month.

TLC is only available on Sling Blue, along with Discovery Channel, E!, Bravo, National Geographic, and others. Sling TV does not have a free trial. For more information, see the following:

  • Sling TV Review
  • Sling TV Packages
  • Sling TV Local Channels
  • Sling TV Devices.
TLC on Sling TV
TLC’s schedule and program guide on SlingTV.

DIRECTV STREAM: TLC Along With Lots of Local Networks

DIRECTV STREAM
Relevant ChannelsDiscovery, Food Network, HGTV, TLC
Total Channels75+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous ScreensUnlimited
Free Trial
DIRECTV STREAM Price$86.99/month
* Online signup only

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is the highest-priced option on this list. But it has advantages. TLC comes with its basic (Entertainment) plan, which includes over 75+ live channels and local stations for $86.99/month. You also get access to 40,000 on-demand titles.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

DIRECTV STREAM provides unlimited DVR as long as you sign-up online.

One of the best things about DIRECTV STREAM is that it allows you to stream on unlimited screens at once. This is great if you have a large household. It also allows you to stream on up to three devices at once when you are away from home.

They also make it easy to move from cable by providing their own streaming device if you wish to use it.

See our DIRECTV STREAM review for details. (Black Friday details)

Hulu + Live TV: Stream TLC Live Plus So. Much. On-Demand.

hulu logo
Relevant ChannelsDiscovery, Food Network, HGTV, TLC
Total Channels85+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous Screens2
Free Trial
Hulu Price$82.99/month
*9 month storage

Hulu is practically synonymous with its encyclopedic on-demand offerings, but with Hulu + Live TV, they add 85+ live TV channels. You get both the on-demand and live content for $82.99/month.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

They provide local affiliates (eg, ABC, CBS) in most areas as well as pay channels like TLC. You can also get premium add-ons (eg, HBO, Showtime) or bundle Hulu Live’s service with Disney+ or ESPN+.

In addition to streaming all your favorite channels, Hulu also produces highly-rated, award-winning, exclusive original programming of its own, such as The Handmaiden’s Tale.

The base package supports up to six user profiles streaming on up to two screens at a time and unlimited cloud DVR (9 month storage). See the following for more information:

Other Ways to Stream TLC

TLC is also available via a few other ways:

  • TLC.com: Using your streaming service, you can watch TLC live and on-demand via their website.
  • TLC GO: This is the same as TLC.com but its an app that runs on most devices and smart TVs.
  • YouTube TV: a live TV streaming service with over 85 channels including TLC.

Watch TLC With Most Streaming Devices

TLC on FuboTV
Android phone with TLC on Fubo

If you have a reasonably new smart TV or another streaming device, you should be set to use any of the streaming services we’ve discussed.

Pretty much all modern TVs can be cast to. You can use any service to cast its video stream to your TV. This is an increasingly popular way to watch.

Most of the services directly support some smart TVs — particularly Samsung. Fubo, Hulu, and Sling support LG smart TVs. Only Fubo offers support for Hisense TVs.

TVs that support Android TV can be used with any of the services except for DIRECTV STREAM. And all of them support standard devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

They also all support mobile devices running Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad).

Fubo, Hulu, and Sling also support the Xbox One. Hulu also supports the PlayStation.

There are other supported devices. If you haven’t seen yours listed here, contact the streaming service. But generally speaking, almost all the major devices are supported.

Wrapping Up

TLC shows have some of the most loyal fans around, but just because you’re hooked on 90 Day Fiance doesn’t mean you have to be hooked to your cable provider.

The repeat viewership TLC shows generate makes it a valuable property for any streaming service to carry — and they do.

So go for it. Ditch that cable subscription and Doubling Down With the Derricos for less.

FAQs

Can I watch TLC for free?

Unfortunately, TLC is a pay channel. This used to mean you could only get it through a cable or satellite service provider, but increasingly it simply means that it requires a paid subscription which, more and more often, takes the form of an online streaming service.

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Alanna Baker

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