The Best Streaming Services for Watching Live TV Online in 2025

DirecTV Stream is one of the best cable alternatives, offering endless flexibility to customize your ideal TV experience. The service features three Signature Packages, each with a different selection of channels to fit your preferences. The Entertainment pack includes over 90 popular channels focused on entertainment and family-friendly programming. The Choice pack adds 35 additional channels, including specialty channels and regional sports. For those who want it all, the Ultimate pack offers more than 160 channels covering everything from movies to sports to news.

For those with more specific tastes, DirecTV Stream also offers new Genre Packs—each focused on a particular type of content, like live sports, entertainment, or news. These packs are more affordable and perfect for viewers who know exactly what they want to watch.

With your subscription, you’ll enjoy unlimited DVR storage, simultaneous recording, and streaming on an unlimited number of devices in your home. Plus, you can watch your favorite shows up to 72 hours after they’ve aired—even if you forgot to record them!

Hulu + Live TV

Best Streaming Bundle With TV

Hulu + Live TV combines the popular Hulu streaming service with a live TV package that features over 95 channels. It’s an excellent choice for fans who want to experience the best of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and more, as it includes the Disney Bundle in its monthly cost, a service that would typically set you back $19.99 per month. This means, in addition to more than 95 live TV channels, you’ll also get the base Hulu (with ads), Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN (with ads), which is one of the best ways to get ESPN access amid ongoing contract tension with YouTube TV.

With Hulu + Live TV, you’ll also enjoy unlimited DVR space to record your favorite movies and shows. Plus, the service allows you to stream on two supported devices at the same time, or you can upgrade to unlimited screens so the whole family can watch without anyone getting kicked off.

Fubo

Best For Sports Variety

Fubo is a live TV subscription service with a strong focus on sports, offering more than 200 channels and unlimited Cloud DVR storage to record your favorite content. Known for having one of the most comprehensive catalogs among live TV streaming services, Fubo does come with a higher price tag. Most Fubo plans allow streaming on up to 10 devices simultaneously, and you can watch on up to three devices while on the go.

For sports enthusiasts, Fubo is the ultimate choice, providing access to over 55,000 live events each year, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA college sports, NASCAR, international soccer, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA, and much more. With over 35 regional sports networks included in the base plan, you’ll always have a game to catch. There’s a seven-day free trial of Fubo available for new subscribers that lets you test out the service for yourself.

YouTube TV

Best Alternative for Sports

YouTube TV is, as you can imagine, a live TV service provided specifically through YouTube. The base plan comes with over 100 live channels, including Fox, Nickelodeon, TLC, and NBC, and is generally a particularly good deal for live sports. The service lets you make up to six individual accounts, stream on up to three screens, and gives you unlimited DVR space. Right now, YouTube is offering $30 off the base plan, normally priced at $82.99/month, for your first three months.

There is a small catch to this one, especially for sports fans: YouTube TV is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with Disney, which has led to some of its major offerings, particularly ESPN, being removed from the service. These changes may be temporary, as they have happened before and then been reverted when a contract is reached, but it is possible, especially with the rise of ESPN Unlimited, that Disney really does just crack down on their licensing.

If what you’re interested in is ad-free YouTube videos and unlimited downloads, you’re probably looking for YouTube Premium, a separate subscription starting at $7.99/month.

Sling Freestream

Best For Free TV

If you’re just looking for something to watch without a particular preference, Sling Freestream might be a solid option. It features over 600 channels with more than 40,000 on-demand movies and TV shows— completely free of charge. Of course, don’t expect any recent movies or TV shows. You’ll mostly find reruns and older content, but with such a wide variety, you’re bound to find something interesting to watch.

While not required, creating a free Sling TV account gives you 10 hours of complimentary DVR recordings, allowing you to pause, fast-forward, and rewind content. Plus, you’ll earn rewards and even have a chance to win prizes just by watching TV or movies through Sling Freestream. Sling Freestream also gives you the option to upgrade with various add-ons from the Sling TV plans later on from within your profile.

There are plenty of other free streaming services out there, but this version from Sling TV is our overall top pick.

Live TV Streaming FAQs

Can You Watch Live TV For Free?

Certain TV shows and channels can be viewed for free, but don’t expect any major networks. One of the easiest ways to catch live TV is by utilizing a TV antenna to pick up your local channels and a handful of extras. Aside from that, your best bet is to check out a free streaming site or app like Sling Freestream (mentioned above), the Roku Channel, Tubi, and more.

Which Live TV Streaming Services Have Free Trials?

Most of the live TV streaming services mentioned above offers a free trial, though the duration varies slightly. DirecTV Stream offers five days, and Fubo is the most generous with a seven-day trial.

Should You Get Cable Instead?

Well, we’ve really come full circle now, haven’t we? After years of cutting the cord and moving exclusively to streaming, many people are starting to feel the burn. With so many streaming services available, content being removed, and constant price hikes, it almost feels like going back to cable could make more sense.

While you can often find basic cable for around $50–$100 per month in most areas, these prices are usually limited-time promotional offers. Signing a contract often locks you in for a year or two, and once that time is up, the price can skyrocket. Then, you’re faced with the decision of either sticking with the higher price or hunting for a new provider.

One of the main advantages of streaming services is the flexibility they offer with month-to-month billing. Once you’ve had your fill of a particular service, you can cancel with no hassle—and if something new catches your eye, you can easily resubscribe.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make. If you’re fed up with the ever-expanding number of streaming services and rising costs, cable might be a good option to consider again.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.