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21 Best Ways to Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite

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Gone are the days when people used to stick to their Cable TVs and pay for hundreds of channels while actually watching only a few. Today, users get the option to choose what they watch and pay accordingly. With cable being more expensive than what it offers, Smart people are looking for smart options like ways to watch TV Without Cable or Satellite.

To help them all out, here we have included the best streaming services that one can use to throw away cable and get access to the best of entertainment means. Stay tuned till the end to know about streaming devices that you can use to watch TV without satellite or cable.

Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite

If you are wondering, Yes, it is possible to Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite using various streaming devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Chromecast, etc., and streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Kanopy, and so on. 

Best Ways to Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite

 

Given below are the most popular and best alternatives to Watching TV Without Cable or Satellite. We have also mentioned some of the best streaming devices that can be used to access streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and so on.

1. Hulu

 

One of the most loved platforms for seeking entertainment is Hulu. The best part about Hulu being the substitute for Cable TV is that you can still watch a lot of Cable TV Shows on Hulu, plus you can also download them to view later!

From Dramas like Killing Eve and The X-Files to comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Malcolm in the Middle, you can find a wide range of variety here. You can also get genres like Anime, Sports and Live TV, documentaries, Movies, Series, and so on. 

Even the interface of this app is such that it will only help you understand the platform well, even if you are using it for the first time. With a premium subscription, one can also download certain Movies and TV Shows to view offline. You can also add a Kids Profile for parental control.

  • Price – $12.99
  • Available in – United States, Puerto Rico, and military bases, and in some locations in Japan.

2. Sling TV

 

If you are on a budget or do not want to spend too much on entertainment, Sling TV has covered you. With packages as low as $35/month, one can experience live stream and DVR on-demand content too.

With this platform, one can get a number of local channels, thus a perfect substitution for Cable TVs. Sling also offers you 50 hours of free DVR to record movies and series to watch later.

Apart from the base package, one can also pick additional services like Sports Extra, Lifestyle Extra, Hollywood Extra, Comedy Extra, Kids Extra, and so on.

Sling TV can be streamed on various streaming devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and tablets, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, etc.

3. Prime Video

 

Amazon Prime Video can easily replace your cable TV since it has got your latest TV series as well as many additional movies and other shows to watch. You can easily download your favorite content to watch later.

They also offer a variety of original content, just like Netflix originals. The Big Sick, The Report, Honey Boy, My Spy, and so on. You can also watch Documentaries, Anime, as well as Live Sports on Prime. However, if you ask about the quality, Netflix is still the better option out there. 

One of the most peculiar features of Amazon Prime is its Renting and Buying option. This is a competitive advantage that Amazon Prime has over its major competitors – Hulu and Netflix. So basically, you can buy or rent TV Shows and movies just like you do on iTunes.

Their app and website both have an interface similar to each other and also sort of similar to the competitors. They have the features of parental control, which allows parents to restrict adult content on the Kid’s profile.

  • Price – $15 a month
  • NOT Available in – Mainland China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria

4. Netflix

 

Who does not wish to have Netflix over their cable TV connection? Netflix has become one of the most sought-after entertainment mediums, especially due to the great quality content and the gamut of options that they offer.

With exclusive never-seen-before features like Ad-free streaming, 4K Content, free mobile games, downloading options on mobile phones, and high-quality and original content, Netflix has gained enough popularity among the masses.

Yet another great feature of this streaming website is that it is available for Mobiles as well with the option of a Playback screen, which can be very helpful if you are a multitasker.

They have Netflix originals in a number of languages with multiple subtitles and audio options. The streaming platform also supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision standards for certain titles and on compatible devices.

  • Price – $19.99 Month
  • Not available in – China, Crimea, North Korea, Russia, and Syria.

5. Paramount Plus

 

What was formerly known as CBS, All Access is now Paramount Plus as a result of the merger of Viacom and CBS. It is known to be one of the most affordable entertainment streaming services out there and can be a great alternative to Watch TV Without satellite or Cable.

One can get to see over 30,000 TV shows from the siblings of Paramount Plus, such as Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Smithsonian Channel, Nickelodeon, etc.

The price point of Paramount+ is much lesser than its competitors like Hulu, HBO Max, and Netflix. In addition to the Essential and Premium packages, one can also choose their favorite add-ons. The platform has over 1,000 live sporting events every year.

One can engage in News, Original Programming, sports, kids’ shows, family entertainment, and other such genres on Paramount+.

6. YouTube TV

 

YouTube is one of our favorite platforms when it comes to watching videos, movies, and the like. Although most of the content on YouTube TV is free, this is still one of the best contenders to its major competitors like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc.

One of the best parts about YouTube TV is that it has recently added cable channels of the Viacom family, like Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, and Showtime.

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You can watch cable TV channels like ABC, ESPN, CNN, CBS, USA, TBS, TNT, the Disney Channel, Fox, NBC, AMC, HGTV, etc. Of course, you get the option to add premium channels to your YouTube TV Plan that have to be paid for on a monthly basis.

A great feature of YouTube TV is its unlimited DVR. One can save as many recordings as they want for over 9 months. Among all its competitors, only Hulu offers unlimited DVR to watch YouTube TV.

The only downside that you can experience with YouTube is its multiple ads. That can be a little annoying to people who wish to have a seamless entertainment experience.

7. Network Apps

Yet another free way to watch TV without satellite is by using network apps. By network apps, we mean individual channel apps. For example, if you want to watch channels available on cable tvs, such as ABC, C.W., PBS, NBC, and Fox, then you can use the individual network app for these TV Networks. 

Generally, the majority of TV channels have their own network applications available on both iOS and Android. You can watch such channels on individual apps, which would, at most times, also be free of cost.

Although the live streaming on such platforms is limited, most of these are always free to use. So if you want to get rid of your cable TV, then this could be the cheapest option to go ahead with.

You can also watch the last episodes of your favorite and currently available TV shows but do keep track of the number of fast episodes they still show on the app. Since you will be watching the content on these apps for free, you will also have to bear with the ads and commercials.

  • Price – FREE

8. FuboTV

 

Although FuboTV initially began its services with a focus on soccer, the eventually evolved to become one of the best cable TV alternatives. With their multiple packages, users get a lot of variety and options. This streaming service supports 4K streaming for certain items. 

You will find its interface quite user-friendly as well as pretty to the eyes. One can get 250 hours of cloud DVR with FuboTV. One of the best parts about FuboTV is that they offer a 7-day free trial for its basic plan with over 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage. 

You might be surprised to know that the database of FuboTV is as extensive as YouTube TV If you start typing for a particular show, you will come across a number of suggestions in the search results. 

FuboTV is the perfect way to watch TV without cable since it has almost all the local as well as top cable networks. They have channels such as ESPN, MTV, Nickelodeon, ABC, Comedy Central, and so on.

9. Disney Plus

 

One of the most loved streaming channels of all time is our very own Disney Plus. Indeed it is a great alternative to watch TV without a cable connection.

Many people might not be aware that Disney owns a lot of brands under its umbrella, such as Marvel studios, National Geographic, Lucas films or Star Wars, and Pixar Animation studios. 

Basically, you can get access to every Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Disney classic show, as well as movies.

Although you get less variety as compared to other streaming services such as Netflix, this can be a good option if you are a fan of Disney creations and considering the fact that almost every major movie of the current period is made by Disney.

Disney Plus is supported on a lot of devices, such as Amazon fire tablet, Amazon fire TV, Apple devices, Google Chromecast,  PlayStation, Roku, Vizio Smart TV, Panasonic smart TV, and so on. 

Disney plus offers various packages where you can also get Hulu and ESPN + services in the bundle. These packages come in various combinations like no ads,  live TV, no ads, Plus live TV, etc.

10. HBO Max

 

HBO Max is the streaming platform of Warner Bros Discovery. If you are looking for a creamy layer of must-watch future content across multiple genres, HBO Max would be a great choice to make.

One can watch a range of entertainment shows, including Premium HBO Shows, Classic Movies, Cartoons, New Originals, Anime, Sports, movies, and shows from brands such as the Turner library, D.C., CNN, New Line Cinema, Looney Tunes, Rooster Teeth, and so on.

The interface of HBO Max is quite user-friendly and attractive to the eyes. It comes with a left-handed menu and has various sections such as Series, Originals, Movies, Last Chance, Just Added, Coming Soon, etc. using which you can navigate to find your favorite show to watch.

Coming to options for customizing, one can change the font, window, well as background of the interface. Some of the content on HBO Max has an audio description as well, which means a narrator will describe what is happening in a scene which will also include changes in character movements and changes in the settings.

  • Price –Plans start at $14.99/month
  • Available in – The United States and certain U.S. territories, as well as select countries in Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean.

11. Philo

Yet another one of the amazing streaming services that can be a great alternative to watch TV without cable is Philo. This streaming platform is one of the most affordable options out there. 

You can get access to 63 channels on film that include Comedy Central, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, IFC, logo, BET, BBC America, AMC, cooking channels, Food Network, Hallmark, People TV, Tastemade, and so on. New editions of this platform are Crime + Investigation, Newsy, etc. 

As you might have understood by now, Philo focuses more on lifestyle and entertainment channels. You may not be able to find Sports channels as easily. Major sports channels like ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox, etc., are not available on Philo. 

The interface of Philo includes a dark design with hints of blue and white shades. You will find three header items on the top – Home, Guide, and Saved. You can add channels as your favorite, which will move these channels to the top of the list so that you can easily access them.

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12. Peacock

Peacock is one of the most valued streaming services offered by the NBC network. Certainly, peacock offers a number of NBC network shows, popular and classic movies, original series, live sports, and so on. However, it still lacks a lot of popular NBC shows.

The free tier program offered by peacock is one of the most commonly preferred services. It offers full H.D. streams and more than 13,000 hours of programming. For the premium subscribers, peacock offers more than 20,000 hours of programming.

The most crucial competitive advantage that peacock has in comparison with its peers is that it’s content it comes from the broadcast and the channels. Thus, one can get to watch popular NBC shows like Meet the Press, Today, NBC Nightly News, etc. 

Yet another cash for peacock is that the subscribers can enjoy the night football game every Sunday along with the Super Bowl. Another good feature of peacock is that anyone can sign up for 7-day free trial program to see if this service will fulfill your needs.

13. Apple TV Plus

Apple TV plus is everything you would expect from an Apple product. However, its current collection of original content is not up to the level of its competitors like Netflix, Amazon Prime video, etc., the features offered like no commercials, an offline download option on iOS, affordable rates, and support for 4K.

One can watch a gamut of shows like The Elephant Queen, Dickinson, For All Mankind, Oprah’s Book Club, The Morning Show, Ghostwriter, Helpsters, See and Snoopy, and so on. However, thriving only on original shows might not be a strategy for the long term for Apple.

For the price, Apple TV is a good alternative to Watch TV without a Cable connection. The interface to does not stand on par with the competitors. However, if the shows and the media content you require are available on Apple TV, this might be a good choice.

14. ESPN Plus

If you cannot get it right, buy now. Are you even a sports fan? ESPN Plus, By the name, might be perceived by people to be the hub of the biggest ESPN games. But, in reality, you might not get the biggest ESPN games available on this streaming service. However, it certainly is the best platform for sports enthusiasts. 

You can watch games such as football from La Liga in Spain, golf from the PGA tour, Major League Baseball, English domestic Cup competitions, and so on. You will also find a lot of on-demand content, like the 30-for-30 documentary series. 

The recent and extreme rise in price has negatively affected the customer base. The content of ESPN Plus is available through the main ESPN App. It can also be accessed through the Hulu App if you have subscribed to the Disney bundle that also includes Hulu and ESPN+. 

Offline downloads are available only for ESPN series and movies. A major setback for ESPN Plus is the absence of 4K Support, HDR Visuals, or Dolby Atmos. There is no access to the ‘Crown Jewels’ of U.S. Sport.

15. Kanopy

Kanopy is yet another well-known streaming service that can be a great alternative to watch TV without Cable connection. If you have a current university email I.D. or library card, it will be all the more beneficial for you, as the services will then be free of cost.

With thousands of on-demand films and shows, no commercials, unlimited access to Kanopy Kids content, and no limit on simultaneous streaming from one account, Kanopy has got some really cool features, cool enough to give tough competition to its peers.

It caters to the entertainment needs of the entire family. It has a massive collection of over 30,000 films. Apart from movies, one can watch comedies, TV Series, dramas, documentaries, biopics, and so on.

One drawback of Kanopy would be that it does not support offline downloads on mobile phones. Also, the Kanopy users will be able to stream just 10 Play Credit titles per month.

  • Price – FREE
  • Available in – Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

16. Discovery Plus

Discovery Plus can be your replacement for Cable TV With its diverse library of lifestyle and documentary categories and over 55,000 episodes from its range of networks, and Discovery Plus offers great service at a reasonable price.

Although you will not be able to download videos offline on your mobile phone, the seamless and user-friendly interface of their app and website will make your user experience much better. They lack certain crucial features like Parental Controls and offline downloads.

It supports certain 4K Content and allows 5 profiles with 4 simultaneous streams for each account. One can get access to a number of amazing cable channels like the Food Network, OWN, History Channel, Lifetime, Discovery Life, DIY Network, ID (Investigation Discovery), Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, HGTV, Travel Channel, TLC, and so on.

17. Antenna

And how can we miss out on the O.G. of entertainment channels? At the sight of the word Antenna, you might imagine the good old physical antennas installed on the rooftops in an era long gone. But you must know that Antennas have evolved too.

If you are wondering about How to Get Free TV Channels without Cable or Satellite, Antennas will be your best choice to make.

There are a number of antennas out there, like the digital HDTV Antenna, that have been modified so that they offer the best services and that too at very affordable prices. In case you are from a rural area, you might need an outdoor antenna.

Choosing a Streaming Device

Choosing a Streaming Device

Cable Televisions have been one of the most popular streaming devices across nations. The reason is Cable TV offers over 500 channels for around $90, which could seem an ideal deal for many. However, do you watch all the 500 channels available on your TV?

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It comes down to the famous quote – Quality over Quantity. Although there weren’t a lot of options in those days, today, one has a plethora of choices for streaming devices. These streaming devices generally rely on the internet, and thus, you can access quality content at a lesser price.

Given below are some of the most popular and our favorite streaming devices that you can use to watch TV without Cable.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

I’m sure you might have already heard about this one before. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is one of the most popular streaming devices out there, using which you can watch all your favorite movies and shows on various streaming platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, YouTube, HBO Max, IMDb TV, Disney+, etc.

This is a very compact device that can be plugged into the HDMI port behind your TV. This device supports all the latest playback standards, like Dolby Vision, 4K Ultra H.D., HDR10+, and HDR.

The system loads apps in no time and gives a seamless user experience. This one is the best Fire TV Stick out there today and the best option if you wish to be hooked to the Amazon Ecosystem.

Roku

Roku’s Ultra is its most expensive 4K/HDR/HD streaming box but also totally worth the price. It packs some of the most amazing and exclusive features like the Voice Remote Pro, Dolby vision, wired Ethernet Port, enhanced WiFi, and so on.

This version of Roku has over four times the wireless range as previous versions. One can indulge in streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, etc. Roku would be the perfect alternative for other streaming devices as Chromecast does not support Amazon Prime Video and FireTV is not compatible with YouTube TV

You can use apps like F.X. Now, HBO Go, NBC Sports Gold, etc., on Roku. In case the Roku Ultra seems quite expensive to you, you can also try the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, which too comes with a Voice Remote Pro.

Apple TV

Apple TV, as you might have already guessed, is the most expensive TV streaming device and certainly the best option out there in terms of the exclusive features it has got to offer.

One can get access to the best shows and movies with an Apple TV+ subscription. One gets the option to customize their viewing preferences by selecting the TV channels that they want to subscribe to. You can then watch these channels using the internet without a cable or antenna.

However, with Roku and its latest versions like the Roku Ultra in the picture, Apple might not seem as amazing of an option for streaming. But if you are someone with the Apple One Subscription or want to utilize Apple Arcade to the fullest, this can be a good choice to go ahead with.

Chromecast TV

Chromecast with Google TV is one of the best alternatives to watching TV without a Cable. Chromecast supports almost all streaming services with features like 4k Support, Google Assistant, high-quality sound, and so on.

Chromecast with Google TV is basically an Android TV streamer that uses a voice remote powered by Google Assistant. You can use your smartphone as the remote and simply open the mobile app that you want to use for watching your favorite shows and movies.

There is no need to download or login in order to play your favorite shows and movies. In some of the TVs, Chromecast is in-built, and thus you do not have to buy a separate streaming device.

There are over 1,000 plus apps that support Chromecast and nearly 200,000 plus TV shows and movies. If you want to integrate Google smart home devices, this would be a great option since Google TV is powered by Google Assistant.

Summary

Those were the various streaming services that you can use to watch TV without Cable connection. You can also choose to have different streaming devices, as mentioned above.

When you are looking for ways to watch TV without Cable connection, there are a number of options ahead. A variety of popular streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc., generally support all the major streaming devices.

Choosing a streaming service depends totally on what your requirements for entertainment are. If you are more inclined toward quality content, services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, etc., would be a great option.

What is the cheapest way to watch TV without cable?

As mentioned above, using alternate options to watch TV without cable, like Kanopy, Channel Network Apps, and other completely free streaming services, can be the cheapest way to watch TV without cable.

Apart from this, there are certain streaming mediums like FuboTV and Peacock that offer a certain day trial period for free. This could be a temporary and cheap way to watch TV without cable.

You could also use streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Chromecast (which comes in-built in certain TVs) or even antennas as one of the cheap ways to watch TV with no cable. 

Is streaming cheaper than cable?

It can be said that streaming is cheaper than cable. Streaming generally uses the internet, which at times can be accessed even free of cost. There are multiple options when it comes to streaming that caters to all requirements of the users.

However, there is very little to no flexibility in terms of choosing channels on a Cable connection. Thus, using cable would result in paying for channels that you wouldn’t even watch. Whereas with streaming, you can either use free streaming services like Kanopy and Network apps or pay for only what you are watching.

Can I get rid of cable and still watch TV?

Yes. You can remove the cable connection and still watch TV. There are multiple ways you can connect your TV with streaming services. Most smart TVs nowadays come with in-built streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and many more. You can also use streaming devices like Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast, etc., to watch TV without a Cable.

Can you watch a smart TV with just Wi-Fi?

Yes. Smart TVs have been made so as to be compatible with WiFi and internet services. All Smart TVs have an in-built WiFi feature that can be used to connect to either a Wireless network or by using a wired connection. Smart TVs connect to the internet directly or through an internet-enabled device like a set-top box.

Article Written By: Sarah Mitchell