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10 Best Live TV Streaming Services - With Comparison

Liza Brown
Liza Brown Originally published Nov 30, 22, updated Sep 29, 24

With Live TV streaming services, you can watch your favorite shows and movies on various channels, catch up on missed episodes, and stay up to date with the latest news and events.

Live streaming services have many advantages, such as watching TV shows and movies on demand, pausing and rewinding, or recording live TV.

So, if you’re searching for a live TV stream, look no further! With the help of this comprehensive review, you can compare live TV streaming services and choose the one that best meets your needs.

In this article
  1. Comparison of 10 Live TV Streaming Services
    1. YouTube TV - Best Live Streaming Service
    2. Netflix - Best For Original Content
    3. Hulu - Best For VOD and Live Streaming
    4. Sling TV - Overall Best For Streaming and Add-On Channels
    5. Philo - Best For On-Budget Users
    6. Peacock - Best Live TV Streaming Services Free
    7. Amazon Prime Video - Best For On-Demand Content
    8. DirecTV Stream - Best For Sports
    9. FuboTV - Best For Sports
    10. Disney+ - Best For Family-Friendly Movies & Shows

Comparison of 10 Live TV Streaming Services

There are many different streaming services for live TV available online today. But which one is right for you?

To help you decide, we've created a comparison table of 10 of the most popular live streaming services. In this table, you'll find each service's price, the number of channels, features, and more.

Name Price Live & Channels DVR capabilities Resolution, or FPS Key Features
YouTube TV $64.98/month Over 85 channels unlimited 60 fps Best dish/cable alternative
Netflix $9.99/month On-demand service None 60 -120 fps Best for movies and documentaries
Hulu $7/month 70 channels 50 hours to 200 hours 60 fps Best for TV shows
Sling TV Starts at $35/month Only 31 channels 50 to 200 hours 720p and 30 fps Best for Add-On Channels
Philo $25/month 65 channels unlimited 720p at 30 fps Best for entertainment channels
Peacock Free Over 50 channels None 720p-1080p and 60fps Best free live TV service
Amazon Prime Video $14.99 per month Over 100 channels None 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 fps Best for HDR streaming experience
DirecTV Stream $70/month Over 140 channels 50 hours 30fps Best for sports fans
FuboTV $69.99/month Over 150 channels 250 hours 720p/60 fps Best for sports fans
Disney+ $70/month Over 85 channels None 24 fps Best for family-watching content

10 Best Live TV Streaming Services

The world of streaming services with live TV has changed a lot in recent years. In the past, there were only a few providers to choose from. But now, dozens of live video streaming services are available, all offering their unique selection of channels and features.

So what is the best live TV streaming service? If you are eager to find out, below is a list of them.

1. YouTube TV - Best Live Streaming Service

youtube tv for live streaming

Price: $64.98/month

YouTube TV offers the best live streaming service, better than any other platform out there, to let you in on a wide selection of channels, including sports, news, and entertainment.

YouTube TV also offers unlimited DVR cloud storage that can save your recordings for nine months. Moreover, the interface is similar to YouTube.com and is easy to use. 

Pros
  • Unlimited DVR cloud storage.
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
  • One membership supports up to 6 accounts.
  • Supports add-ons.
  • Live sports, news, and shows.
Cons
  • Includes only basic parental control options.
  • Some regional sports channels are not included.

2. Netflix - Best For Original Content

netflix for on demand content

Price:  Netflix $9.99/month

Netflix service comes with a vast library of TV shows, movies, and documentaries, making it one of the most popular streaming services. The streaming service also produces its own original shows, which have been praised by critics and viewers alike.

The pricing plan is divided into three tiers, each designed to meet your needs. A single device subscription costs $9.99/month, HD quality, and up to 2 devices support at $15.59/month, while the premium plan costs $19.99/month and gives you 4k quality content experience and four concurrent streams.

Pros
  • Supports a variety of devices.
  • Original and high-quality streaming.
  • Ad-free streaming.
  • Also supports multiple games.
  • The offline download option is available.
Cons
  • No trial period.
  • Expensive for some users.

3. Hulu - Best For VOD and Live Streaming

hulu live tv streaming

Price: $70/month

Hulu is one of the top live TV streaming services available today and comes with something for everyone, whether you're looking for a movie to watch or a live TV show to catch up on.

Hulu offers a free trial and a no-commitment or no-contract policy, so you can cancel your plan or change it at any time.

Pros
  • 40,000+ movies and TV series.
  • Excellent DVR option.
  • Provide access to local channels.
  • Includes ESPN+ and Disney+.
Cons
  • The base plan includes ads.
  • Missing some local sports channels.
  • Download option is only available on the Premium plan.

4. Sling TV - Overall Best For Streaming and Add-On Channels

sling tv live streaming

Price: $35/month

Sling TV is our top pick for the best streaming service for live TV due to its great selection of channels, package customization options, and 30+ Channel-Add Ons feature to ensure you get the channels you want.

Sling TV offers its users 50 hours of cloud DVR and is great for watching family-friendly content. The pricing plan has three options: Sling Blue at $35/month, Sling Orange at $35/month, and Sling Blue+Orange at $50/month.

Pros
  • Allow streaming on 3 devices at a time.
  • Huge on-demand content library.
  • Flexible subscription plans.
  • 3-day free trial option.
Cons
  • Only available in the US.
  • Limited regional channels.

5. Philo - Best For On-Budget Users

philo for live tv streaming

Price: $25/month

Philo is the best streaming service for live TV for users opting for a cheaper option. The service has a great selection of channels and offers a 7-day free trial. 

Philo also has a DVR with unlimited storage space, so you can record all your favorite shows and catch up on them later.

Pros
  • Affordable pricing plan.
  • Supports 3 simultaneous streams.
  • Unlimited DVR cloud space.
  • Intuitive mobile app.
  • Excellent streaming performance.
Cons
  • No sports or local channels.
  • No parental control option.

6. Peacock - Best Live TV Streaming Services Free

peacock best live streaming service

Price: Free

Peacock offers a great selection of channels for your entertainment needs, including NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, E!, SYFY, and more. 

To our findings, this is one of the best free live TV streaming services available with several original content from major productions. 

Pros
  • No major limitations in the free plan.
  • Live sports streaming for paid users.
  • Daily live news.
  • Several original series and hit movies.
Cons
  • Only available in the UK, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland.
  • No offline download option.

7. Amazon Prime Video - Best For On-Demand Content

amazon prime video streaming service

Price: $14.99 per month

Amazon Prime Video has a wide variety of on-demand content, including movies, TV shows, and documentaries. The platform also offers outstanding technical features like 4K HDR streaming and offline downloading.

Pros
  • Original series and movies.
  • Gives HDR and 4K streaming experience.
  • An offline content streaming option is available.
  • Offers movies and TV shows on-rent.
Cons
  • Fewer original hits.
  • Expensive than Netflix.

8. DirecTV Stream - Best For Sports

directv stream best for live sports

Price: $70/month

If you're looking for the best live streaming service provider for sports, then DirecTV Stream might be the perfect option. The platform lists a great selection of channels and packages and is perfect for sports enthusiasts who love to stay up-to-date on all the latest games, events, and news. 

Pros
  • Supports streaming on up to 20 devices at a time.
  • Best for sports and RSN coverage.
  • Up to 50 hours of DVR experience.
  • Great substitute for traditional cable service.
Cons
  • It might not be affordable for some users.

9. FuboTV - Best For Sports

fubo tv live streaming

Price: $69.99/month

FuboTV is a live video streaming service with a comprehensive package of live games, on-demand content, and news coverage for its users. 

With the robust DVR feature, you can record shows while streaming and enjoy them later as well.  

Pros
  • Impressive live sports streaming and on-demand content.
  • Comes with parental control option.
  • 250 hours of DVR support.
Cons
  • Expensive add-ons.

10. Disney+ - Best For Family-Friendly Movies & Shows

diseny plus best for movies

Price: $70/month

Disney+ comes with a huge library of family-friendly content, including classic and new Disney movies and TV shows, along with non-Disney productions. The service is ad-free so that you can enjoy your shows without interruption.

Pros
  • Supports offline download.
  • Excellent performance and 4k streaming.
  • Hude content library.
Cons
  • Not every Disney movie and show is listed.
  • Missing some Fox classic content.

Conclusion

In this article, we've compared the best live TV streaming services to help you make a decision on which one is perfect for you. After comparing the various services, it’s clear that each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Philo is the most affordable choice but has no sports or local channels. Sling TV is a good middle-ground option, with a decent selection of channels at a moderate price. And finally, if you’re willing to pay more for the best selection of channels and features, then YouTube TV is the best service.

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Liza Brown
Liza Brown Sep 29, 24
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