Best Live TV Streaming Services (2026)
YouTube TV ranks first by our published score at $82.99/mo; Sling TV is cheapest from $45.99/mo; Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM lead on regional sports.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
The five live TV streaming services, ranked
Score order. Each card shows the lowest recurring monthly price for new subscribers, the plan it applies to, and the verification date.
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The best all-around cable replacement
- 100+ channels incl. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
- Unlimited cloud DVR, 3 streams
- Intro offer: $59.99/mo for 2 months
$82.99/mo after the intro period
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members
Best live TV overall
Editorial scoreExcellent8.0/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV plus three on-demand libraries in one plan
- 95+ live channels with locals, ESPN, TNT
- Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select
- Unlimited cloud DVR
2 streams unless you add $9.99/mo
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- On-Demand
- No Contract
From$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium
Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN
Editorial scoreVery good7.4/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV for less, if you can skip CBS
- Lowest-priced major live TV service
- Orange: ESPN, TNT; Blue: FS1, NFL Network
- No contract; cheap add-on packs
No CBS; 1 stream on Orange; 50-hour DVR
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- No Contract
From$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both
Best budget live TV
Editorial scoreVery good7.1/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
- Most regional sports networks of any streamer
- Up to 10 streams, unlimited DVR, 4K events
- Free trial usually offered
No TNT or TBS; regional sports fee extra
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- 4K
- Free Trial
From$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee
Best for regional sports networks and soccer
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
- Deepest channel lineup, up to 185+
- Regional sports plus ESPN and TNT
- 5-day free trial, unlimited at-home streams
Highest price; regional sports fee up to $19.99
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99
Best cable-like channel lineup
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
Live TV services side by side
Sort by price or streams. On phones the table becomes a stack of cards.
| Provider | Starting price | Live TV | Sports | DVR | 4K | Free trial | Streams | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 YouTube TV#2 · Best live TV overall |
$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Add-on | Yes | 3 | View Plans |
 Hulu + Live TV#6 · Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN |
$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Not confirmed | Varies | 2 | View Plans |
 Sling TV#8 · Best budget live TV |
$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Select events only | No | 1 | View Plans |
 Fubo#9 · Best for regional sports networks and soccer |
$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Select events | Yes | Up to 10 at home | View Plans |
 DIRECTV STREAM#10 · Best cable-like channel lineup |
$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99 | Yes | Yes* | Yes | Limited | Yes | Unlimited at home | View Plans |
YouTube TV
#2 · Best live TV overall- Live TV
- Yes
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- Yes
- 4K
- Add-on
- Free trial
- Yes
- Streams
- 3 (unlimited at home with 4K Plus)
Hulu + Live TV
#6 · Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN- Live TV
- Yes
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- Yes
- 4K
- Not confirmed
- Free trial
- Varies
- Streams
- 2 (unlimited at home with add-on)
Sling TV
#8 · Best budget live TV- Live TV
- Yes
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- Yes
- 4K
- Select events only
- Free trial
- No
- Streams
- 1 (Orange), 3 (Blue), 4 (both)
Fubo
#9 · Best for regional sports networks and soccer- Live TV
- Yes
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- Yes
- 4K
- Select events
- Free trial
- Yes
- Streams
- Up to 10 at home (2 away)
DIRECTV STREAM
#10 · Best cable-like channel lineup- Live TV
- Yes
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- Yes
- 4K
- Limited
- Free trial
- Yes
- Streams
- Unlimited at home
No services match those filters. Try removing a filter.
Checkmarks show features included on at least one plan; an asterisk or a short label means it depends on plan, add-on, or local market (hover or open the review for the detail). Starting prices are the lowest recurring monthly price for new subscribers, verified Oct 12, 2026. Taxes and fees may apply. Details and sources are in each review.
Key facts
- Order follows the weighted score on How We Rank.
- Sling: ESPN on Orange only, no CBS, one stream on Orange.
- Fubo carries no TNT, TBS, or truTV.
- Regional sports fees apply on Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM.
- Locals are always "select markets"; check your ZIP code.
- No contracts; intro pricing steps up after the first months.
How we chose and ordered these services
- Each service gets a 1-to-10 score in seven weighted categories: value, content, streaming quality, device support, interface, flexibility, and support; weights are on How We Rank.
- We score from published plan details, documented features, and public reporting; no hands-on lab testing is claimed.
- For live TV, content is driven by local coverage, ESPN and TNT carriage, and regional sports networks; value by the recurring price after intro and by extra fees.
- YouTube TV leads despite not being cheapest: near-complete lineup plus the most generous DVR and stream allowance. Hulu + Live TV is second for its Disney+ and ESPN Select bundle, offset by two streams.
- Sling scores well on value and flexibility, poorly on content and quality (split lineup, one-stream Orange, no CBS). Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM tie: Fubo wins regional sports and quality, DIRECTV STREAM channel depth; both lose value points for fees and price increases.
Channel coverage: where the five services differ
- Locals (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX): YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM carry all four in most but not all markets (verified Oct 12, 2026). Sling carries ABC, FOX, and NBC only on Blue in limited metros and has no CBS. Guides: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX.
- ESPN: all five carry ESPN and ESPN2. Sling in Orange only; Fubo on Pro; DIRECTV STREAM in MySports and ENTERTAINMENT and up. ESPNU and SEC Network are base on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, an add-on on Sling, and in CHOICE or MySports on DIRECTV STREAM. See the ESPN guide.
- TNT, TBS, truTV: four of five carry TNT and TBS in base plans. Fubo carries no WBD channels, losing NHL national games, MLB on TBS, March Madness games, and the French Open. See the TNT guide.
- Regional sports networks: Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM (CHOICE and up) carry FanDuel Sports Networks and NBC Sports RSNs in their markets, plus a regional sports fee. YouTube TV carries NBC Sports RSNs only, Hulu + Live TV a limited set, Sling none. Team-by-team options in the sports streaming guide.
DVR and simultaneous streams
- DVR: YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV unlimited with nine-month retention; Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM unlimited; Sling 50 hours with a paid upgrade to 200.
- Streams: YouTube TV three (unlimited at home with 4K Plus); Hulu + Live TV two (unlimited at home with a paid add-on); Sling one on Orange, three on Blue, four combined; Fubo up to ten at home; DIRECTV STREAM unlimited at home.
- For three rooms at once, Sling Orange is the only plan here that cannot do it.
Price versus cable
- YouTube TV at $82.99/mo and Hulu + Live TV at $99.99/mo cost about what basic cable costs; savings come from no equipment rental, installation, or contract, and month-to-month cancellation.
- The real gap opens with smaller plans: Sling from $45.99/mo or DIRECTV STREAM's MySports pack at $74.99/mo keep the sports channels for less than most cable tiers.
- Add-backs: regional sports fees on Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM, a local-channel surcharge in some Sling Blue markets, and the end of promotional pricing.
- The streaming vs. cable guide totals three household scenarios.
Live TV streaming FAQ
Which live TV streaming service is best overall in 2026?
YouTube TV by our weighted score, for its lineup, unlimited DVR, and three streams. "Best" is scoped to the five live TV services we rank, per How We Rank, as of Oct 12, 2026.
What is the cheapest live TV streaming service?
Sling TV at $45.99/mo for Orange or Blue, as of Oct 12, 2026. Trade-offs: a split lineup, one stream on Orange, 50 hours of DVR, no CBS, and locals only in select markets on Blue.
Which services have all four local networks?
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM carry ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in most markets. Sling has ABC, FOX, and NBC in select metros on Blue and no CBS; confirm your ZIP code.
Which services carry regional sports networks?
Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM (CHOICE and up) carry the most, including FanDuel Sports Networks, with a regional sports fee. YouTube TV carries NBC Sports RSNs only, Hulu + Live TV a limited set, Sling none.
Do live TV streaming services have free trials?
As of Oct 12, 2026: DIRECTV STREAM 5 days, Fubo usually 5 to 7 days, YouTube TV varies by promotion, Hulu + Live TV's short trial not always shown, Sling none. Trials convert to paid unless canceled.
Do I need a contract?
No. All five bill month to month; promotional prices step up after the intro period, and YouTube TV lets you pause for up to six months.
Channel carriage claims on this page cite docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md, verified Oct 12, 2026, re-check by 2027-01-10. Prices are rendered from our provider database. Top10StreamingServices.com is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with any provider named here.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure