9 Best Live TV Streaming Services of 2026

YouTube TV ranks first because it covers what most cord cutters miss from cable with the fewest catches. The main plan lists 100+ networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network and local sports and news channels, for $82.99 a month. A newer Sports + News plan trims the lineup to 50+ channels for $71.99 a month while keeping locals. Every plan includes unlimited DVR space, with each recording stored for 9 months, plus up to 6 household accounts with their own logins and 3 simultaneous streams. Multiview shows up to 4 games at once, and the 4K Plus add-on at $9.99 a month adds unlimited streams at home and offline recordings. Google states there are no box, DVR, broadcast or cancellation fees, and there is no annual contract. The weak spots are price and app reviews: the US App Store rating is 3.6 from 60K ratings, and NFL Sunday Ticket costs extra. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not test streams.

Fubo takes second place because no other service here documents as much live sport. Its US App Store listing counts 350+ live TV channels and claims it is the only way to get every Nielsen-rated sports channel without cable, from ABC, CBS, FOX and ESPN to NFL RedZone, MLB Network, beIN SPORTS and the SEC, ACC and Big Ten networks. Regional sports networks such as YES Network, NESN, MASN and Marquee Sports Network are included in most markets, which matters if you follow a local MLB, NBA or NHL team. Most plans also include ESPN Unlimited and FOX One at no extra cost. Every account gets unlimited cloud DVR plus a 72-hour Lookback. The cost is the catch: Fubo's help center lists Essential and Pro at $88.99 a month after a $15 increase, Elite at $98.99, and a $15.99 Regional Sports Fee for some NBC Sports networks. The Fubo Sports plan at $64.99 is cheaper. We compared documented features and published prices.

Hulu + Live TV ranks third because it is the strongest bundle for families who would otherwise pay for several Disney services. Hulu's help center lists the main Hulu + Live TV plan at $99.99 a month with live TV, Hulu with ads, Disney+ with ads and ESPN Select. Subscribers also get the full ESPN Unlimited experience in the ESPN app, which covers ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. A Live TV Only plan is $98.99, so the bundle costs just $1 more, and the Premium version with ad-free Hulu and Disney+ is $109.99. For Spanish speakers, Live TV Only Español is $28.99 a month. The drawbacks are the highest English-language starting price in this list and no published channel count on the pricing page, so check the lineup for your ZIP code. You must be located in the US to subscribe. We compared documented features and published prices.

DIRECTV ranks fifth because it offers both the biggest traditional lineup in this list and the most flexible way to buy less. Its US App Store listing describes traditional streaming packages with up to 185+ channels, each including local channels, regional sports and live news where available, thousands of on-demand titles and Unlimited Cloud DVR. For smaller budgets, Genre Packs split the lineup by interest: MySports carries 20+ sports networks such as MLB Network, NFL Network and NBA TV plus the ESPN Unlimited plan, MyEntertainment bundles 60+ channels with Disney+, Hulu Basic and HBO Max Basic with Ads, and MiEspañol covers 60+ Spanish-language channels. MyFree DIRECTV adds 160+ free live channels with no credit card. Paid services come with a 5-day free trial and no annual contract. Out-of-home viewing is limited to 3 streams. DIRECTV's pricing pages blocked our checks, so its price is pending. We compared documented features and published prices.

Sling TV ranks fourth because it lets cord cutters pay for a smaller slice of cable instead of a full lineup. Its US App Store listing describes multiple base subscriptions that you can switch as your viewing changes, plus Extra channel collections by interest, such as a News Extra package with national, financial and diverse news networks. Live sports listed include NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college basketball, MLS soccer, golf and NASCAR, depending on the package. Sling Freestream adds hundreds of free live channels and on-demand titles with no credit card required, so you can try the app before paying. Sling states there are no hidden fees and no long-term contracts, and you can pause service at any time. The app holds a 4.6 rating from 254K ratings. We could not load Sling's pricing pages from our checking location, so its paid price is marked pending; check sling.com for the current rate. We compared documented features and published prices.

Frndly TV ranks eighth because it is the cheapest paid live TV service here, but its lineup is narrow by design. The Frndly TV site lists 50+ live channels, including A&E, The HISTORY Channel, all 3 Hallmark Channels, INSP, UPtv, Lifetime, MeTV and The Weather Channel, and every plan includes every channel. Plans differ by quality and features: Basic costs $8.99 a month in SD on 1 screen, Classic is $10.99 in HD on 2 screens with unlimited DVR kept for 3 months, and Premium is $12.99 in HD on 4 screens with recordings kept for 9 months. A 72-hour Lookback replays shows after they air on any plan. Apps cover Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android and web browsers, and there is a 7-day free trial with no commitment. The lineup has no sports networks or local broadcast stations, and its US App Store rating is 3.6 from about 2.5K ratings. We compared documented features and published prices.

Philo ranks sixth because it is the cheapest way here to keep a large cable entertainment lineup, but it is not built for sports or local news. Its pricing page lists the Essential plan at $25 a month with a 7-day free trial, covering 200+ live pay TV and free channels, including 70+ must-have live channels, and 75,000+ on-demand titles. Recordings use a 1-year unlimited DVR with ad skipping, and both plans allow 3 simultaneous streams. Bundle+ costs $33 a month and adds an expanded library plus HBO Max Basic with Ads, AMC+ and discovery+, which Philo says saves $22 a month versus buying those apps separately. Premium add-ons such as Hallmark+ and an ad-free HBO Max upgrade are extra. The pricing page names no sports networks or local broadcast stations, so cord cutters who watch games or local news should pair Philo with another option or choose a full lineup. We compared documented features and published prices.

Pluto TV ranks seventh because it is the strongest free option for cord cutters, though it cannot replace a paid lineup. Its US App Store listing promises "Stream now. Pay never." and describes hundreds of free live channels with no antenna or cable box: exclusive channels for sports, crime, comedy and anime, around-the-clock news and local headlines, and sports channels featuring UFC, NFL, NBA, MLB and classic games. Content providers named include Paramount, CBS, NBC, NFL, BET, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. On-demand movies and shows are added daily, and a free registration lets you resume on any device. The app holds a 4.8 rating from 1.6 million ratings. The trade-offs are ads and the type of channel: Pluto TV's channels are its own curated streams, not the live ESPN or local network feeds a paid service carries. It works well as a free second app next to Philo or an antenna. We compared documented features and published prices.

NOW TV ranks ninth because it is a strong deal with a hard limit: you must subscribe to Xfinity Internet to get it. For those households, Xfinity's FAQ lists NOW TV at $20 a month with no annual contract, no Regional Sports Network or Broadcast TV fees, and over 270 live channels from networks such as HGTV, AMC, History, A+E and Hallmark. Peacock is included at no additional cost. You watch in the Xfinity Stream app on your own device or on a Xumo Stream Box, which Xfinity provides at no additional charge, and up to 3 devices can stream at once. DVR is capped at 20 hours, against 300 hours on traditional Xfinity TV, and pay-per-view events and sports packages are not available. NOW TV also cannot be watched on X1 boxes or added to a traditional Xfinity TV package. Outside Xfinity's internet footprint it is not an option. We compared documented features and published prices.