5 Best TV Streaming Services – 2023 Reviewed

Live TV streaming service is a good way for people who want to cut the cord and still watch their favorite live sports, news, and events with ease. All you need is an Internet connection and your preferred device, whether it’s a TV, phone, computer, or tablet. No additional equipment, no long-term contracts, and in most cases, you’ll be spending less money than for the traditional TV. 

Among so many TV streaming services, you may wonder which one suits your needs. Below we’ve compared several live TV streaming services based on their cost, features, and channel lineup to help you make an informed decision.

• DirecTV Stream – Best for sports streaming
• Sling TV – Best value for money
• Hulu+ Live TV – Best combination of live TV and on-demand content
• YouTube – Best channel selection
• Philo – Best budget-friendly

DirecTV Stream – Best for sports streaming

Price: Starts from $64.99/month
Channels: 75+ – 150+ (depending on your plan)
Simultaneous streams: Unlimited at home (3 devices outside of home)
Cloud storage: Unlimited (keep for 9 months)
Free trial: 5 days

DirecTV Stream is a premium live streaming service designed to be a true cable TV replacement. It has tons of exciting content and a robust channel lineup, with up to 150 channels in its highest tier. And it also features over 30 regional sports networks (RSN), more than most major service providers on the market, including RSNs from AT&T, Bally Sports, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS, and so on. So even without cable, you won’t miss out on the latest games from your local sports teams!

DirecTV Stream offers a variety of features to match the expensive price, delivering an improved watching experience for its customers. You can stream on unlimited devices in your home (and three devices away from your home network), and enjoy unlimited DVR storage to save your favorite titles for up to 9 months.

 Pros:
More regional sports networks than other streaming services
Unlimited cloud DVR storage
Unlimited simultaneous streamings on a home network, perfect for larger households

 Cons:
Higher cost
Not compatible with gaming consoles and certain smart TVs

Sling TV – Best value for money

Price: $40/month for Orange/Blue; $55 for the Orange + Blue bundle (Half the price for the first month)
Channels: Up to 46 channels
Simultaneous streams:
Orange: 1 screen
Blue: 3 screens
Orange + Blue bundle: 1 stream for channels on Orange, and 3 streams for channels on Blue
Cloud storage: 50 hours for free (200 hours for $5/month)
Free trial: No

Sling TV makes it easier and more affordable to stream live TV and on-demand content over the Internet. With two streaming plans Orange and Blue suited to different tastes, Sling is very flexible and allows users to pay for what they’re genuinely interested in.

Both plans cover popular channels like AMC, BBC, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS, and TNT. If you prefer family and sports content, Sling Orange is a good fit with exclusive channels ESPN and Disney. But if you want more news and entertainment, opt for Sling Blue, which offers Fox, MSNBC, NFL Network, etc. Sling Blue subscribers in select areas can also get local ABC, FOX, and NBC affiliates. If no locals are available in your area, you can grab Sling’s special offer to get a free HD antenna to connect your TV for local streaming.

The Blue + Orange bundle priced at only $55/month is worthwhile to enjoy the comprehensive list of 48 channels. If the base package still can’t fulfill your needs, there are lots of premium add-ons, focusing on sports, entertainment, news, and more categories. 

 Pros:
Affordable pricing
Flexible plans with different channel selections

 Cons:
Limited of local and regional sports networks
Fewer channels compared to other more expensive services
Limited cloud DVR storage and simultaneous streams

Hulu+ Live TV – Best combination of live TV and on-demand content

Price: $$76.99/month ($49.99 for first 3 months)
Channels: 95+ channels
Simultaneous streams: 2 screens (Unlimited screens if you buy a $10 add-on)
Cloud storage: Unlimited (keep for 9 months)
Free trial: No

Hulu+ Live TV offers a seamless combination of live TV and exclusive on-demand streaming. For one price of $76.99/month, you can not only tune into over 95 live channels (including local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates) but also gain full access to the library from Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ with ads. The extensive content coverage is what no other streaming service can compare.

 Pros:
Solid mix of live TV channels and on-demand content
Free access to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus
The only live TV service compatible with Nintendo Switch

 Cons:
Lacking some popular networks like AMC, NBA TV, and MLB Network 
The basic plan includes ads for on-demand content; The no-ads version costs extra

YouTube TV – Best channel selection

Price: $72.99/month ($52.99 for first 3 months)
Channels: 125 channels
Simultaneous streams: Up to 3 devices 
Cloud storage: Unlimited (keep for 9 months)
Free trial: 21 days

YouTube TV, known for broad channel selection and top-notch features, is an excellent choice for cord-cutters with strong streaming demands. 

It boasts a vast library of channels, ranging from local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS channels, to hundreds of top networks for news, sports, entertainment, and family. It’s also the exclusive home to NFL Sunday Tickets, where you can watch all the out-of-market football games. You can purchase it on YouTube at $499/year, but if you’re already subscribed to a YouTube TV base plan, you can get it for only $349/year.

Beyond channel variety, YouTube TV offers impressive features like surround sound, unlimited DVR storage, offline viewing of DVR content, and 4K streaming for certain programs (available with the 4K Plus add-on) to ensure you get a smooth and enjoyable viewing experience.

 Pros:
Excellent channel variety 
Unlimited DVR storage
Up to 6 household accounts available with one membership
Access to NFL Sunday Ticket (with discounted price)

 Cons:
Expensive price
4K viewing only available for certain content and costs extra ($9.99/month)

Philo – Best budget-friendly

Price: $25/month
Channels: 70+ channels
Simultaneous streams: 3 devices
Cloud storage: Unlimited
Free trial: 7 days

If you’re looking for an affordable live TV streaming service, look no further than Philo. It offers a single package for $25/month and delivers satisfying entertainment and lifestyle content from channels like AMC, BBC America, Comedy Central, Discovery Central, Food Network, and so on.

Philo’s channel listing is very limited, with no live sports, news networks, or local channels, making it more budget-friendly than competitors. However, it’s still a cost-efficient choice, offering a lot of useful functionality as pricer services, such as simultaneous streams on up to 3 devices, unlimited DVR storage, and a maximum of 10 profile setups which can create unique viewing history and content recommendations for different family members. If you’re not sure whether this service is right for you, you could give it a spin with the 7-day free trial. 

 Pros:
Inexpensive, ideal for streamers on budget
Unlimited DVR storage

 Cons:
Not compatible with gaming consoles
Limited channels for news and sports, and no local channels
No parental control options

That’s all for the best TV streaming services. Have other recommendations? Feel free to share your thoughts or ideas in the comments below.

By Brinksley Hong

Brinksley is a dedicated content writer for Super Easy who's on a mission to discover efficient ways to tackle everyday tasks and enhance daily routines.

With over 5 years of experience in content creation, she has explored a variety of domains including computer issues, tech news, social media, digital marketing, life hacks, and more. The diverse expertise empowers her to craft well-informed and high-quality content that genuinely benefits the audience.

When she’s not writing, Brinksley immerses herself in the enchanting world of books. She’s also an enthusiast of live shows, relishing the magic of various concerts and band performances. Her rich life outside of work, together with a wealth of experience and passion for writing contributes to unique insights she brings to her writings.

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