9 Online streaming options so you can cut your cable

If you’re like me, you watch a handful of shows on a handful of channels. Usually streaming.

Getting hundreds of channels means nothing to you. It means nothing to me.

It’s like being at a buffet filled with food you wouldn’t eat.

I know many of you are like me because one of the most popular money-saving guides is our guide to cutting your cable. It gives you a step-by-step guide to replacing your cable television service with other services. I kept it purposely simple, not recommending a laundry list of services because you’re more likely to take action.

Today, I want to offer up options – including several free TV apps.

If you’re a convert to cutting your cable and going with just internet service (if you like sports, sometimes that’s all you need!), here is a curated list of options to still get the shows you want.

1. Puffer

Puffer is a research project by Stanford that is using machine learning to improve video-streaming. They want users to go to the website and just watch the streams.

They are trying to “figure out how to teach a computer to design new algorithms that reduce glitches and stalls in streaming video (especially over wireless networks and those with limited capacity, such as in rural areas), improve picture quality, and predict how the capacity of an Internet connection will change over time.”

What you get is access to eight local TV channels:

• KPIX (CBS)
• KPIX+ (CBS)
• KNTV (NBC)
• KTVU (Fox)
• KQED (PBS)
• KRON (CW)
• KGO (ABC)

It’s completely free, completely legit, though I’m not sure when it will end since it is a research project.

👉 Try Puffer

2. SlingTV

SlingTV is easily one of the best alternatives to cable television service.

For $40 a month “Orange” plan, their basic package, gives you 32 channels. ($20 for the first month)

It includes 7 exclusive Sports and Family channels – ESPN, Disney Channel, Freeform, ESPN2, ESPN3, Motortrend, and QVC.

The Blue plan, also $40, has your local FOX and NBC channels, Fox News, MSNBC, Bravo, NFL Network, FS1, FX, USA, Discovery, TLC, E!, Syfy, National Geographic, TruTV, and HLN.

Then both have the 24 channels on every plan – TBS, TNT, CNN, HGTV, AMC, History Channel, ID, A&E, , Food Network, Nick Jr. Comedy Central, IFC, BBC America, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, BET, MGM+, Lifetime, Vice, AXStv, Fuse, Bloomberg TV+, Local Now, Comet, and Charge.

How much are you paying for cable today and do you really watch channels outside of those? If the answer is no, consider cutting the cable for this way cheaper alternative that you can watch anywhere you are able to stream.

SlingTV supports computers, tablets, Chromecast/Roku/etc, and even the Xbox One.

The best part, there’s a 7-day free trial.

👉 Try SlingTV

(curious how they do it? SlingTV is owned by Dish Network, it’s not some random startup that’ll disappear on you)

3. Roku

Do you have an older television? If it has an HDMI port, you can make it smarter with Roku.

Roku is a streaming device you can connect to your television via an HDMI port. It’s a one-time purchase and one of the cheapest options is a Streaming Stick at under $30.

Many years ago we purchased the Roku 3 (it replaced a defective and underused cable box that cost us $13 a month!) and it’s been fantastic. I list this as an option even though it doesn’t technically come with service because it offers a great streaming option and some free channels.

After you purchase a Roku device, you can link up all your paid services to your TV plus some free channels including PBS, Crackle, Smithsonian Channel, PBS Kids, CBS News, and more.

You can also purchase HBO Now and Showtime at the regular direct rates. Showtime offers a 2-month trial on Roku.

Roku has no on-going subscription fee, the only cost is the device, which you can usually pick up on sale on Amazon.

4. Netflix

I like to watch television shows with a few seasons under their belt. I’m always worried I’ll love a show and then they cancel it after a season.

For that, I usually turn to Netflix, which has a huge library of television shows, movies, and their own original content. At less than ten bucks a month for their basic streaming package (you have to tolerate ads), it’s insanely cheap and you can stream to nearly any device out there.

If you want to get the most out of your Netflix subscription, you won’t want to miss our Netflix hacks.

👉 Try Netflix

5. Amazon Video

Amazon Prime is Amazon.com’s video streaming service that comes packaged with Amazon Prime, the free shipping membership. Amazon Prime costs $139 per year (paid annually), or $14.99 per month, which is a good deal if you do a lot of shopping on Amazon.

You get free two-day shipping (sometimes free Same-day deliveries too), a slew of other benefits, plus access to their video streaming service which has thousands of free TV shows and movies.

Like Netflix, you can stream it to nearly any device currently available. Amazon also has their Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices.

If you’re a big fan of Amazon, you won’t want to miss our list of the best Amazon hacks.

👉 Try Amazon Video (Prime)

Amazon also offers add-on packages that include Starz. You need an Amazon Prime account to get the add-on but they’re $8.99 a month after a 7-day free trial.

6. Hulu

Hulu is a great service that has a ton of current television shows but Plus is where you get access to an enormous library of content – older shows in syndication like Seinfeld, new original content like The Mindy Project, plus you get limited commercials at $7.99 a month or No Commercials for $17.99 a month.

They’ve also added a Hulu + Live TV option that includes Disney+ and ESPN+ for $76.99 a month.

Showtime is also available as an add-on for Hulu Plus for $8.99 a month.

👉 Try Hulu Plus

7. Peacock

NBCUniversal’s logo, if you look carefully, is a peacock and that’s the name of their streaming service, Peacock.

If you like NBC shows, it has a massive library of shows including all the new content they’re producing.

There are two plans:

• Premium ($5.99/month) – 80,000+ hours of programming, plus LIve sports and events, 50+ always-on channels (has ads)
• Premium Plus ($11.99/month) – Everything with Premium but no ads, download shows, and your local NBC channel

If you’re a fan of shows that appear on NBC as well as Universal movies, this streaming service is for you.

8. HBO, Showtime & Premium Channels

If you want to pick and choose premium channels, you can always buy a subscription directly from the providers.

For those that have partnerships with other services (like Amazon or Hulu), you’ll pay a few bucks more going direct.

• HBO Now
• Showtime
• Paramount+ (how to get Paramount+ free)
• Starz

9. YouTube Premium & Live TV

YouTube is a relatively new entrant to the paid service route and their YouTube Premium gets you ad-free videos, offline viewing, and background playing when you’re using other apps. It costs $13.99 per month (or $139.99 when paid annually) and you get two months free. There’s a family plan for $22.99 per month, for up to 5 family members, as well as a student plan for $7.99 a month.

If you want television access, there’s also YouTube Live TV, which is a separate package. For $72.99 per month (you can get the first three months at just $62.99 per month), you get 100+ channels that you can confirm by checking your zip code on the website.

If you have YouTube Live TV, you can add on NFL Sunday Ticket for just $349 a year. If you don’t have YouTube Live TV, you can just get NFL Sunday Ticket for $449 per year.

For both services, there are no contracts so you can cancel at anytime.

You can still get your shows without having to pay ridiculous cable fees for the channels you never watch!