14 Cable Alternatives to Save You Money
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14 Cost-Effective Cable Alternatives
1. Disney+ ($7–13 per month)
A whole new world is coming your way soon thanks to Disney’s streaming service. At this point, Disney basically owns everything, so why not step into the streaming service space? Now you can watch original shows and films along with classic favorites from Disney’s catalog, like Frozen, Mary Poppins and everything else in between. Oh, and we do mean everything else. Let’s not forget all the Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and National Geographic you can handle (because remember, Disney rules the world and owns all of those things).
But get this: The Disney+ triple package bundle will also offer Hulu and ESPN+. So if watching sports was the only reason you were clinging to your cable cord, your excuse just met its match. Of course, ESPN+ doesn’t carry every single athletic game known to humankind, so just keep that in mind there, sport.
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2. Hulu ($6 per month)
Hulu is a great option if you want to watch a Hulu original series or currently airing shows right after they broadcast. The only catch? Unless you want to upgrade to the commercial-free version ($12), you’ll have to sit through some repetitive ads. So if you’d rather not wait to keep watching, maybe cough up the extra six bucks. Still, it’s one of the best cable alternatives on the market.
3. Hulu Live ($45–51 per month)
If you love streaming Hulu’s shows but also want access to things like live sports and news, then opting for Hulu Live might be the right fit for you. Sure, watching shows live in real time is nice, but the best thing about Hulu Live might just be the ability to record shows and watch them later.
4. Netflix ($9–16 per month)
Netflix is a great place for binge-watching entire seasons all at once. But unless it’s a Netflix original series, you’ll have to wait until a season finishes airing to get started. But hey, no commercials!
And you just can’t beat how easy it is to access Netflix. You probably have 10 devices in your house right now that came preloaded with the Netflix app. But if you want to use Netflix on more than one device at once, you’ll have to upgrade to the standard ($13) or premium ($16) plan.
5. Amazon Prime Video ($9 per month)
That’s right! Amazon—it’s not just for shopping. It’s a major contender in the online streaming market. A membership to Amazon Prime Video gives you access to a wide selection of popular movies and TV series, plus a bunch of Amazon original series.
And if Prime Video doesn’t include the show or movie you want to watch, you can usually pay to download it outright (you own it) or rent it. But just remember, if it’s a “rental” your access to it will expire.
If you can afford it and you’re a frequent Amazon shopper anyway, an even more cost-effective option is to opt for Amazon Prime for $13 a month. If you pay for it as an annual membership it’s one payment of $119. That comes out to just $9.91 per month (which is about a dollar more than the monthly basic Prime Video rate). Plus, you get access to all the other Amazon Prime perks, like free two-day shipping.
6. Apple TV+ ($5 per month)
Being the dominant tech company of the universe wasn’t good enough for them, so look out world, here comes Apple’s own streaming service! Just like their powerhouse contenders Netflix and Amazon, Apple TV+ will showcase their own original television series and movies. And at just $5 per month, Apple is coming out swinging. To top it all off, if you purchase an Apple device, you’ll get the streaming service for free for an entire year. If you were already saving up for a new gadget, they just sweetened the deal.
7. HBO NOW, Showtime, or Starz (starting at $15 per month)
After HBO launched its own streaming service a few years ago, Showtime and Starz wised up and followed suit. You can subscribe to each as stand-alone services or add them to your Amazon Prime, Hulu, Roku, or Apple TV accounts for an extra fee.
8. Sling TV (starting at $25 per month)
With Sling, there’s no more waiting on a show to air. You can watch it live just like with cable or satellite, except you’re watching over the internet! The basic package includes 30 live channels like AMC, CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, HGTV and the Disney Channel. You can get Sling Blue or Sling Orange (each with a different lineup of networks) for $25, or get both for $40. There are also $5–10 add-on packages for sports fans, movie buffs and your little ones too.
9. HDTV antenna (prices vary)
If you really want to cut back, all it takes is an antenna. Luckily, they’ve come a long way since your grandma’s rabbit ears. Not only do they look better than the finicky metal rods, but the HD quality is better.
10. Philo ($20 per month)
If traditional cable still has your heart, fear not—here comes Philo to the rescue. You can get 58 popular cable channels like Nick, AMC, TLC, and yes, even Hallmark for $20 a month. Philo’s biggest claim to fame? You can stream it on up to three devices and record as many shows as you want. That means no more family feuds over what you watch every Friday night!
11. Cable network channels online (free)
Most major networks post recently aired episodes to their websites for a limited amount of time. CBS even offers online viewers an additional paid subscription option (starting at $6 per month) to unlock more than 10,000 episodes of everything from Frasier to The Brady Bunch.
And if you own a smart TV or other streaming device (like Apple TV or Roku), you can download many network apps straight to your device and watch there—and most of them are free! Why, hello, reruns of Fixer Upper!
12. YouTube (free)
YouTube is known for hosting thousands of viral videos. But it’s also a great place to learn. In the span of a few minutes, you can discover everything from how to fold a fitted sheet to how to make delicious recipes that won’t bust the budget. You can even watch many classic shows and movies there too!
13. YouTube TV ($50 per month)
Not to be confused with the viral video app where everyone watches cute cat videos, YouTube TV actually lets you stream your favorite channels—more than 70 of them, to be exact. You also get access to local cable TV channels in your area, plus 24-hour news networks like CNBC, Fox News and CNN.
YouTube TV also boasts a pretty good lineup of sports programming like ESPN and CBS Sports, plus very specific channels like the Tennis Channel and the Olympic Channel, if that’s your thing.
14. Library (free)
Here’s a shocker: You can find everything from modern TV shows to workout videos at your local public library. The only downside is that you actually have to drive to a physical location—but at least you can keep your rentals for a week or two!
What Are You Waiting For? Just Cut the Cord.
So, why pay for premium channels you never use when, for a fraction of the cost, these cable alternatives can fulfill all your television binge-watching needs?
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the cable alternatives that exist, but it’s a great mix-and-match way to get started. Something to watch out for though: If you sign up for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Hulu, things will start to add up. Will it still be cheaper than a cable bill? Sure. But be careful that you actually use the streaming services you sign up for.
If you aren’t sure what’s worth it and what isn’t, just dip your toe in the water. You can usually get a free trial of almost any of these services before you fully commit. If (after all of these fine options) you’re still not quite ready to give up cable, you can always call your provider and try to negotiate a better deal. Knowing your options will usually work to your advantage!
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