Top 10 Streaming Services of 2026
Compare the leading live TV and on-demand services by price, channels, sports, and features, then jump straight to the plan that fits.
- Prices verified Oct 12, 2026
- Scored on 7 published criteria
- Licensed U.S. services only
- Updated monthly
Editors’ top picks
The three services most people should start with
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
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#2 Runner-up
8.0
The best all-around cable replacement
From $82.99/mo · Best live TV overall
View Plans Read review -
#1 Top Pick
8.5
The biggest streaming library for originals and movies
From $8.99/mo · Best for on-demand originals
View Plans Read review -
#3 Runner-up
7.9
The family catalog, with flexible bundles
From $12.49/mo · Best for families
View Plans Read review
Top 10 streaming services, ranked
Lowest recurring price per service, three key benefits, one limitation, and the date we checked. Advertising-supported comparison.
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The biggest streaming library for originals and movies
- Largest original series and film library
- Plans from $8.99/mo with ads
- Works on virtually every device
4K only on the $26.99 Premium plan
- On-Demand
- 4K
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moStandard with ads; $19.99 ad-free
Best for on-demand originals
Editorial scoreExcellent8.5/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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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
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The family catalog, with flexible bundles
- Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Nat Geo
- Bundles with Hulu and ESPN available
- Premium adds 4K and 4 streams
No free trial; price rises every October
- On-Demand
- 4K
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$12.49/moWith ads; $21.49 Premium (no ads, 4K)
Best for families
Editorial scoreVery good7.9/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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NFL, NBA and Premier League without a cable bundle
- Sunday Night Football and NBA on NBC
- Most Premier League matches
- Annual plans on every tier
Select tier has no live sports
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moSelect tier (no sports); Premium $12.99
Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League
Editorial scoreVery good7.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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The cheapest way to stream CBS and the Champions League
- NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League
- Premium adds SHOWTIME and live local CBS
- Annual plans from $89.99/yr
No free trial since January 2026
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moEssential (ads); $13.99 Premium with SHOWTIME
Best for CBS, NFL on CBS, and Champions League
Editorial scoreVery good7.6/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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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
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A strong bonus if you already pay for Prime
- Included with Amazon Prime membership
- Thursday Night Football and NBA games
- 30-day Prime trial for new members
Ad-free and 4K need the $4.99 Ultra add-on
- On-Demand
- Sports
- Free Trial
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime
Best if you already pay for Prime
Editorial scoreVery good7.3/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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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
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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
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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
Default order follows the weighted editorial score explained in How We Rank; ties are broken by lower price. Where verified commercial performance changes the order, the page says so above the list. Only licensed U.S. services are listed. Last full editorial review: Oct 12, 2026.
Side-by-side comparison
Sort by price or streams, filter by must-have feature. Cards replace the table on phones.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
| Provider | Starting price | Live TV | Sports | DVR | 4K | Free trial | Streams | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix#1 · Best for on-demand originals |
$8.99/moStandard with ads; $19.99 ad-free | No | Limited | No | Premium plan only | No | 2 to 4 | View Plans |
| 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 |
| Disney+#3 · Best for families |
$12.49/moWith ads; $21.49 Premium (no ads, 4K) | No | Via ESPN bundles only | No | Premium plan only | No | 2 | View Plans |
 Peacock#4 · Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League |
$8.99/moSelect tier (no sports); Premium $12.99 | NBC only | Yes* | No | Premium Plus, select titles | No | 3 | View Plans |
 Paramount+#5 · Best for CBS, NFL on CBS, and Champions League |
$8.99/moEssential (ads); $13.99 Premium with SHOWTIME | CBS only | Yes* | No | Premium, select titles | No | 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 |
 Amazon Prime Video#7 · Best if you already pay for Prime |
$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime | No | Yes* | No | Ultra add-on | Yes | 3 | 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 |
Netflix
#1 · Best for on-demand originals- Live TV
- No
- Sports
- Limited
- DVR
- No
- 4K
- Premium plan only
- Free trial
- No
- Streams
- 2 to 4 (by plan)
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)
Disney+
#3 · Best for families- Live TV
- No
- Sports
- Via ESPN bundles only
- DVR
- No
- 4K
- Premium plan only
- Free trial
- No
- Streams
- 2 (ads) or 4 (Premium)
Peacock
#4 · Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League- Live TV
- NBC only
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- No
- 4K
- Premium Plus, select titles
- Free trial
- No
- Streams
- 3
Paramount+
#5 · Best for CBS, NFL on CBS, and Champions League- Live TV
- CBS only
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- No
- 4K
- Premium, select titles
- Free trial
- No
- Streams
- 3
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)
Amazon Prime Video
#7 · Best if you already pay for Prime- Live TV
- No
- Sports
- Yes*
- DVR
- No
- 4K
- Ultra add-on
- Free trial
- Yes
- Streams
- 3 (5 with Ultra)
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.
Comparison insights
The differences that decide most choices, in one line each.
Buying guide, in brief
Expand any topic. Full articles are in Guides.
Streaming vs. cable: what actually changes
- No contract, equipment rental, or installation fees.
- Mid-tier live TV bundles cost $82.99/mo to $99.99/mo, close to basic cable.
- Real savings come from smaller plans (Sling from $45.99/mo) or one or two on-demand services.
Live TV vs. on-demand
- Live TV services carry broadcast and cable channels with a cloud DVR.
- On-demand services are libraries you watch any time, for far less.
- Peacock and Paramount+ are hybrids: a library plus NBC or CBS sports.
How to choose in four steps
- List the five channels, shows, or teams you cannot lose.
- Check locals by ZIP code and regional sports networks.
- Match simultaneous streams to your household.
- Decide whether ads, 4K, or DVR size matter to you.
Sports: why no single service has every game
- National rights are split across ESPN/ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, TNT, Prime Video, Netflix, and Apple TV.
- Local games sit on regional sports networks (Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM).
- League packages black out local-market games.
What a household really pays
- Typical stack: one live TV plan plus two or three on-demand services.
- Add taxes, regional sports fees, ad-free upgrades, and 4K add-ons.
- Three sample budgets from about $30 to $110 a month.
Internet speed, devices, and cancellation
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest streaming service in 2026?
Netflix Standard with ads at $8.99/mo, then Peacock, Paramount+, and Prime Video at $8.99/mo each. The cheapest live TV service is Sling TV at $45.99/mo. Verified Oct 12, 2026; promotional first-month pricing excluded.
Which service has all the local channels?
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV STREAM carry ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in most markets; Fubo in many. Sling TV carries ABC, FOX, and NBC only on Blue in select cities and has no CBS. Check your ZIP code on the provider's site.
Which services offer a free trial?
As of Oct 12, 2026: DIRECTV STREAM (5 days), Fubo (usually 5 to 7 days), YouTube TV (varies by promotion), Amazon Prime (30 days for new members). Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, and Sling TV have no standard trial. Trials need a payment method and convert to paid unless canceled.
Can I watch NFL games without cable?
Yes: CBS and FOX via live TV services or Paramount+, NBC via Peacock, ESPN/ABC via live TV, Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, Christmas games on Netflix, and out-of-market games with NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube. See the NFL page.
Can I share a subscription outside my home?
Most services limit accounts to one household. Netflix and Disney+ charge for extra members, YouTube TV requires a home check-in every three months, and live TV services cap away-from-home streams.
How does this site make money?
Through affiliate commissions when you click to a provider and subscribe. Commissions never change the price you pay. They can affect which providers appear and their placement, which we disclose on every page; editorial scores are calculated separately. Affiliate Disclosure.