Streaming Guide
A Brief Guide to Watching Cable Channels Without Cable
Cut the cord on cable, or thinking about it? Here’s how to livestream your favorite channels without the box (or the contracts)
Oscar Hartzog
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October 30, 2025
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Cable is dying, but it’s a slow death. And — worse — it’s making things very confusing for customers. While streaming services now carry the bulk of buzzy series and movies, some content is still only available on traditional cable channels. That means some content, like certain sports, live events, and series, is unavailable to cord-cutters.
Luckily, if you’ve cut the cord on cable, there are plenty of live TV streaming services that let you, well, watch cable without cable. Best of all, many of these services now offer flexible packages depending on which channels you want (and how much you want to pay for them). Here’s a quick rundown of how to watch cable channels without cable, including ways to watch cable for free and the hardware you’ll need.
How to Watch Cable Channels Without Cable
If you want to watch cable channels without cable, the answer is a live TV streaming service. There are now several good options to choose from, but most are quite different from each other. Here’s a brief guide to our favorite live TV streaming services:
best overall
DirecTV
Pros: Free trial, affordable genre packs, many packages include major sports channels
Cons: Some packages are pricey
Our favorite way to watch cable without cable is DirecTV. The company has successfully modernized with a great lineup of streaming packages, including robust plans with up to 185+ channels and more affordable Genre Packs. Their plans start at just $39.99 a month and carry every major cable channel. Best of all, you get a five-day free trial to test out any package.
Most Channels
Fubo
Pros: Great overall coverage for both sports and entertainment
Cons: Expensive
In terms of sheer number of channels, Fubo gets top marks. The streamer carries up to 300+ channels, including sports, entertainment, and news cable channels. Package start at $55.99 a month, but Fubo almost always offers steep introductory discounts, and you can get a five-day free trial.
Entertainment Channels
Philo
Pros: Very affordable, bonus streaming services included, good entertainment channel lineup
Cons: No sports channels
If you’re just looking to watch entertainment channels like AMC, MTV, TLC, and HGTV, Philo is a great option. For just $33 a month, you get access to more than 70 channels — plus HBO Max, AMC+, and Discovery+ are all included. Get a seven-day free trial to check it out.
Budget Pick
Sling TV
Pros: Tons of channels, easy to use, plenty of a la carte options, short-term passes
Cons: Slightly confusing package lineup, no free trial available
Streaming is getting expensive, but some services still offer great value. Sling is one of them, offering monthly live TV streaming packages starting at just $45.99. We also love Sling’s new short-term passes, which get you access to cable TV for a day ($4.99), a weekend ($9.99), or a week ($14.99) at a time. It’s a great way to check out individual games or events, and they carry most big channels.
For Sports
ESPN Unlimited
Pros: Affordable, all of ESPN in one place
Cons: Limited coverage, no free trial
ESPN recently launched an upgraded streaming service, ESPN Unlimited. The service delivers livestreams of every ESPN channel and gets you access to content on ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+). Considering how much you get, it’s well-priced at $29.99 a month.
Live TV + Streaming Bundle
Hulu (and Hulu + Live TV)
Pros: Free trial, appealing bundle, unlimited DVR storage
Cons: Pricey, missing some sports networks and RSNs
Another one of the best ways to watch cable without cable is Hulu + Live TV. The service carries 95+ channels, including almost every major cable channel and broadcast network, but you also get ESPN, Disney+, and Hulu’s on-demand library included in your subscription. Get a three-day free trial to check it out first.
How to Stream Cable for Free
Because services like DirecTV, Fubo, Philo, and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials, it’s fairly easy to watch cable for free online right now. Of course, you’ll only get free cable for a limited time, but it’s a great option for individual live events or sports.
What Hardware Do You Need for Live TV Streaming?
Although live TV streaming is the “hardware-free” option, you’ll likely need some hardware, like a smart TV or (better) a device with streaming capabilities. If you don’t have one, the best option is a dedicated streaming device. The biggest players are Roku, Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Roku is our favorite brand thanks to its great interface, remotes, and loading speeds.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
$39.99 $49.99 20% off
Currently 20% off at Amazon.
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