Cable Alternatives for 2023

The best cable TV alternatives come chock full of features including a large number of channels (particularly the ones everyone wants), simplicity of use, availability on key streaming devices, and, of course, good value for money. We put all of the following services to the test to discover which is the best by using them as our primary source of entertainment for many weeks, watching live shows and movies and comparing their channel offers.

Sling TV

Sling TV (also on our best streaming services list), happens to be our undisputed cable TV option, starting at $35 per month for either the Sling Blue or Sling Orange bundles. The combined Sling Orange+Blue plan costs $50 per month and includes access to all of Sling’s networks. On top of that, you get on-demand channels like HBO, ESPN, and FOX news. A little something for all sorts of tastes. And if you can plug in a network as efficient and speedy as CenturyLink, then you’ll set yourself up for an uninterrupted entertainment extravaganza. Sling’s service is comparatively cheaper and has a wide range of channel options to choose from. Even its biggest packages will set you back less than or to a maximum of 50 bucks with all the bells and whistles you could wish for.

Hulu TV

Hulu began as an on-demand streaming service before expanding to include live TV. It’s a bit over the top but there’s quite a lot to invest in here. For $70 per month, you receive Hulu’s regular repertoire of TV and movies, as well as access to over 60 live channels, including A&E, ESPN, and TNT. It also includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, both of which have seen a $5 price increase. Additionally, with ESPN Plus’s latest price rise, this bundle now saves customers more money if they choose to get the entire thing with ESPN included. There’s a bit of an issue with smoothness because random buffering can turn into pain but there’s hoping Hulu does something about that soon. Hulu with Live TV excels at recommending new content, and its interface is among the most colorful and user-friendly in the cable-replacement space.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV, has made strides in roping in a good amount of customers lately. It has established itself as a good cable TV alternative since it is simple, easy to use, and has a large range of channels. It also keeps giving free trials to entice its trial users. Its most notable feature was limitless storage DVR, however, Hulu has since surpassed it. And, like Hulu, it offers all of the main broadcast networks, so you can watch local news, sports, and network comedies and dramas. When it comes to live events, YouTube TV has one of the lowest delays compared to cable, and that, along with its channel selection and Top Plays feature, earned it the 2022 Tom’s Guide Award for best sports streaming service.

YouTube TV has the least lag after cable TV, which is one of our favorite features. It also enjoys a unique position, offering bundles with YouTube Premium that keeps your songs and videos playing even when the screen is turned off. YouTube is one of the largest video providers and its years of investment and storage pay off with its TV services; with seamless interlinkage of the two. The only downside is that the price tag is a bit high comparatively; sitting at 65 dollars makes a lot of people out there turn their heads the other way.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is an amalgamation and representation of former AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now before that, and initially DirecTV Now. Funnily enough, the service constantly changes its name yet never addresses its major issues. Not only is it more expensive than others, with a standard entertainment package of $70 per month, but it only contains “more than 65 channels.” This is pretty average if not meager in comparison to the others out there. Furthermore, its ostensibly infinite DVR deletes recordings after 90 days (YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV go nine months). In comparison to the preceding selections, DirecTV Stream pales and fizzles out quite early before it makes a proper footing. Additionally, its other plans aim to entice you into a yearly contract, which is the last thing you want. DirecTV Stream is introducing live scores to let you follow other games, similar to Fubo TV. We’d consider this a saving grace.

Conclusion

There are several ways to find the finest cable TV alternatives. The most straightforward method, of course, is pricing. If you want to pay less than $40 each month, you have a simple purchasing selection. Sling TV – either the Orange or Blue subscriptions — is the sole choice, or it costs only $30 per month. It may not have as many channels, but everything else starts at $50 or above, which might be inconvenient when you also want streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, which cost $6 to $13 per month.

However, if you require all of your local broadcast channels – ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC — your options shift away from Sling TV and toward all of its competitors. You’d be best off weighing your options and seeing which service is better tailored to your tastes. Either you can go down the streaming service path or the news channel path. In either case, there’s a multitude of options awaiting you.