How to Stream TV Without Cable (2026)

• Providers recommend about 5 to 8 Mbps per HD stream and 15 to 25 Mbps per 4K stream; live sports are less forgiving of drops than on-demand video.
• Count screens watching at once, assume one 4K stream, add headroom for phones and laptops; two 4K streams plus normal web use needs at least 50 Mbps.
• Wired Ethernet to the main TV, or Wi-Fi 6 near it, reduces buffering on game nights. Numbers by service in the bandwidth guide.
• If your internet is bundled with cable TV, ask what internet-only costs before you cancel; the savings depend on that number.

• Every ranked service runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV and Android TV, Chromecast, Samsung and LG smart TVs, iPhone and Android, and browsers.
• A TV from the last few years almost certainly has the apps built in; otherwise an inexpensive stick from Roku, Amazon, or Google adds them.
• Gaps: Sling TV and Fubo have no PlayStation app; DIRECTV STREAM has no Xbox or PlayStation app (it sells its Gemini box). Full matrix in the device compatibility guide.

• This step decides whether cord-cutting saves money. You need it for live ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, TNT, FS1, cable news, or regional sports networks; skip it if you mostly watch on-demand or an antenna covers locals.
• YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM carry all four locals in most markets; Sling carries ABC, FOX, and NBC only on Blue in select metros and never CBS.
• All five carry ESPN (Sling on Orange only; Fubo on Pro). Fubo does not carry TNT or TBS.
• Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM carry the most regional sports networks, with a fee.
• Confirm your ZIP code on each provider's site, and see the best live TV ranking for the detailed comparison.

• Entry prices are low: Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Select, Paramount+ Essential, and Prime Video standalone are each $8.99/mo as of Oct 12, 2026; Disney+ with ads is $12.49/mo.
• Subscribe for the show and cancel when it ends; none has a contract.
• Choose hybrids deliberately: Peacock Premium adds Sunday Night Football, NBA on NBC, and the Premier League; Paramount+ Premium adds live local CBS in supported markets plus NFL on CBS and the Champions League; Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and NBA games. For some sports households those three replace the live TV step.
• Compare them on the on-demand overview and cheapest services page.

• ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and others transmit over the air at no charge; a one-time antenna purchase receives them in HD in many areas.
• Reception depends on distance from transmitters and terrain: good in and near cities, less reliable in rural or hilly areas.
• Many cord-cutters pair an antenna with on-demand services and skip the bundle; others pair it with Sling TV to fill the CBS gap.
• We make no claim about which stations you will receive at your address.

Recurring monthly prices for the named plan as of Oct 12, 2026, before taxes and fees, promotional pricing excluded. Components, not totals, so a price change on one service does not break the arithmetic.

• Setup A, antenna plus on-demand: antenna (one-time, no monthly cost); Netflix Standard with ads $8.99/mo; Disney+ with ads $12.49/mo; Peacock Select $8.99/mo. Local broadcast live via antenna, three libraries, no cable sports, no DVR for live TV.
• Setup B, budget live TV: Sling TV Orange $45.99/mo (ESPN, TNT, TBS; one stream); Paramount+ Essential $8.99/mo (NFL on CBS feed; add Premium for live local CBS). Cable sports without a big bundle; no live ABC, NBC, or FOX unless you add an antenna or switch to Sling Blue in a covered market.
• Setup C, full cable replacement: YouTube TV Base Plan $82.99/mo (locals in most markets, ESPN, TNT, unlimited DVR, three streams); Netflix Standard with ads $8.99/mo; Prime Video $8.99/mo standalone or included with Prime. Close to a cable lineup with no equipment fees or contract; a regional sports network need moves the live TV line to Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM, plus a fee.
• The household cost guide totals three scenarios with every fee; the streaming vs. cable guide compares them with a real cable bill.

• Some channels: Sling lacks CBS, Fubo lacks TNT and TBS, YouTube TV lacks most regional sports networks and MLB Network. Check the channel guides.
• Simplicity: sports are spread across live TV services, Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, and ESPN's app. The sports streaming guide maps each league.
• Predictable pricing: live TV services raised prices repeatedly in 2025 and 2026; promotional rates expire; regional sports fees vary by ZIP code.
• Immunity from carriage disputes: YouTube TV lost Disney channels for two weeks in late 2025; Fubo lost NBCUniversal channels for seven months ending June 2026.
• Unlimited screens: streams are capped per plan, and most services verify a home location.
• What you gain: no contract on any ranked service. The cancellation and billing guide explains each one.