14 Best Alternatives to Cable TV for 2019

When it comes to services that help you save money, cable is never on that list.

Most people despise that monthly bill, even if they enjoy watching television, as the cost often seems extreme compared to the value.

This general disdain for the price of television services spurred a new market of options that function as alternatives to cable and satellite tv.

Over time, people have adopted these alternatives, officially ditching cable and satellite television (cord cutters!) without having to miss out on their favorite shows.

But these days, there’s so many options that it can actually be hard to choose.

To be considered a great alternative to cable and satellite tv, the service needs to be affordable and offer a reasonable amount of programming for the cost.

Luckily, there are quite a few options that meet those criteria.

If you want to lower or eliminate that burdensome tv bill, here are the 14 best alternatives to cable for 2019.

1. Philo

A relative newcomer to the video streaming scene, Philo gives you access to cable channels at a fraction of the cost, making it one of the best alternatives to cable around.

Philo offers one package of 58 channels for $20/month. These channels include:

• A&E
• AMC
• BBC America
• Comedy Central
• Discovery Channel
• Food Network
• Hallmark Channel
• HGTV
• Lifetime
• MTV
• Nickelodeon
• and many more…

Philo is available for streaming on all your devices (computer, phone, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire), offers personalized profiles, and lets you save shows to watch up to 30 days later.

SERVICE: Philo
PRICE: $20
CHANNELS: 58
FREE TRIAL: 7-day

2. Hulu

Hulu is one of the most affordable alternatives to cable and satellite tv and best streaming services available.

Not only is there original content, but you can also view shows from local channels and some cable networks soon after they air.

The best part about Hulu is that they have options for every budget, letting you decide what features or channels you’re willing to pay for.

It’s right in line with the original inspiration for the “cord-cutting” movement.

SERVICE: Hulu
PRICE: $6 – $45
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content Basic Service; 60+ Live
FREE TRIAL: 30-day for basic; 7-day for Live

3. Amazon Prime Video

If you pay for Amazon Prime, you already have access to one of the best alternatives to cable available: Amazon Prime Video. But, even if you don’t need Prime shipping, you can also pay for the service on its own for about $9 per month.

Like other streaming giants, you gain access to a giant library of content and original programming. As a bonus, if something you want isn’t on Prime but is available through Amazon, you may have the ability to rent it, including single television episodes.

SERVICE: Amazon Prime Video
PRICE: $9
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content
FREE TRIAL: 30-day

4. fuboTV

fuboTV is a cord-cutting option that provides access to over 176 channels in their “Ultra” plan starting at $74.99 / month. This includes all the major sports, entertainment and local channels you could want…even SHOWTIME.

They have a “Standard” and “Family” plan offering 107 channels for $54.99 and $59.99 per month. The major difference between the two are the number of simultaneous devices allowed going from 2 to 3 in the Family plan and the Cloud DVR storage increasing from 30GB to 500GB.

The Standard and Family plans both come with a 7-day free trial option, and while the Ultra plan does not, there are no contracts with fuboTV and you can cancel any time.

If you’re looking for a cord-cutting option with no contracts or hidden fees, check out fuboTV.

SERVICE: fuboTV
PRICE: $55 – $75
CHANNELS: 107 – 176
FREE TRIAL: 7-day

5. Sling TV

Sling TV operates more like actual cable or satellite television, making it a great option for those looking to cut the cord.

The basic package, available for about $25, includes 30 live channels, including popular ones like HGTV, ESPN, and Disney.

There are also several other line-ups and add-ons that give you the ability to customize your service a bit. Sling TV is probably the closest thing to à la carte television service available, so it’s worth exploring.

SERVICE: Sling TV
PRICE: $25
CHANNELS: 30
FREE TRIAL: None, but 40% off first month

6. Vudu

In an attempt to get in on the movie rental and content delivery game, Walmart created Vudu.

While they were a little late to the game when compared to other online content services, Vudu has been aggressive in using Walmart’s retail backing to grow and bring a quality product to market.

There are several features that make the service unique from many of the other video streaming services. First, there is a TON of free content that is supported by showing short ads.

This applies to both movies and full seasons of television shows. Both in the movies and television categories the best options to watch for free seem to be at least two years old. So you are not going to get the latest and greatest options for free and will have to purchase and rent those kinds of titles.

Second, for those who like to rent and do not care so much about picture quality, you can still rent many of the movies in the “Standard Definition” format for $1 less than the HD format. This is a great way to save money on getting movies for your kids since they don’t seem to even care if the movie is in English.

If you are a person that likes to physically own your movies, Walmart makes watching them amazingly easy.  If you purchase a physical copy that includes the digital copy you can order it on the Walmart website, have it delivered to your house, and watch the movie INSTANTLY on Vudu.

That’s a pretty cool way to sync the two business models.

SERVICE: Vudu
PRICE: Varies
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content
FREE TRIAL: None

7. Local Networks with an Antenna

For those who want to scale back completely, then consider an antenna.

HDTV antennas are fairly affordable (for example: this one on Amazon has great reviews, 130-mile range and is less than $30) and much less intrusive than the rabbit ears of yore. Plus, thanks to digital television signals, the picture quality can be outstanding.

With an antenna, you can potentially pick up any local broadcast stations, such as:

• ABC
• CBS
• NBC
• FOX
• CW

…and more for absolutely nothing.

However, you may want to check to make sure you have a reasonable signal before making the switch, especially if you have a favorite show you don’t want to miss and live outside of a major city.

The benefit of using an antenna as an alternative to cable tv is that you don’t need internet service either. You can cut the cord entirely and still keep up with network news and shows all for free.

SERVICE: Antenna
PRICE: $0 (after hardware purchase)
CHANNELS: Varies
FREE TRIAL: N/A

8. Television Channels Online

Most major television networks post recently aired episodes of their leading shows online.

Each episode may only be available for a short time, and you may have to wait for a week or so after it originally airs on television, but it does give you the ability to watch without an additional cost.

When you start exploring your options, don’t be afraid to look at cable channels as well as networks. While ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox are obvious places to begin, many cable channels also have some of their content available online.

For example, HGTV and Comedy Central both have some of their content up for free online. However, you might not have access to recent shows or episodes, and some shows aren’t available at all without a subscription.

If you have a smart TV, you may be able to download the network’s app onto your television. This allows you to watch the show on your biggest screen without a subscription, making it a great alternative to cable and satellite tv.

Usually, the apps themselves are free. However, some networks offer paid subscription options to access certain shows or old episodes.

But that doesn’t mean the cost isn’t potentially reasonable, depending on how many shows you may watch. For example, CBS All Access is available for as little as $5.99 per month (plus tax), which isn’t bad in comparison to the cost of cable.

SERVICE: CBS All Access
PRICE: $6
CHANNELS: 1
FREE TRIAL: 7-day

9. YouTube

The home of everything from viral videos to how-to guides to unique content from a plethora of creators, YouTube is the quintessential destination for free video-based entertainment.

And it’s not just home videos shared by someone you’ve never met; there’s professional-quality programming in nearly every genre.

YouTube also has a paid subscription option known as YouTube Premium. It includes original series and movies, as well as YouTube Music Premium, a newer streaming service.

The price tag for the service is around $12, which is comparable to other video streaming companies.

SERVICE: YouTube Premium or YouTube TV
PRICE: $12 Premium; $50 TV
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content Premium; 70+ TV
FREE TRIAL: 30-day for Premium; 7-day for TV

10. Netflix

Netflix is both highly affordable and incredibly accessible. Nearly any internet-connected device can be used to watch Netflix, so it’s about as convenient as possible.

There are multiple pricing plans to choose from, starting around $9 a month. However, every option is commercial-free, which is certainly a bonus.

Along with a massive library of movies and television shows, you also gain access to original series and movies.

Plus, you can create multiple viewer profiles on a signal account, allowing you to separate each household member’s list and recommendations from everyone else.

SERVICE: Netflix
PRICE: $9 – $16
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content
FREE TRIAL: 30-day

11. Premium Channel Online Subscriptions

It wasn’t long ago that the only way to watch programming from HBO, Showtime, and Starz was through add-on subscriptions on a cable package.

Now, these premium channels have their own online streaming services, usually for between $9 and $15 a month.

While you don’t get as much bang for your buck as you do with Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, it may be the only alternative to cable for certain original series and movies anywhere close to their original air date.

SERVICE: Premium Channel Online Subscriptions
PRICE: $9 – $15
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content
FREE TRIAL: Varies

12. AT&T TV Now

Once DirecTV figured out that the best way to beat the streaming services was actually to join them, AT&T TV Now entered the mix.

The service, which runs between $65 and $135, depending on your package, is a no-contract alternative to satellite television (though priced about the same).

In total, you gain access to between 45 and 125 channels – including some premiums like HBO – making it one of the largest offerings that most closely mimics genuine cable.

SERVICE: AT&T TV Now
PRICE: $65 – $135
CHANNELS: 45 – 125
FREE TRIAL: 7-day

13. PlayStation VUE

Similar to AT&T Now, PlayStation VUE offers multiple packages between $50 and $85 a month, ranging from 45 to 90 channels.

Unlike many of the other services, HBO and Showtime are included in the higher end plan, making it worth exploring for anyone who would want these premium channels.

Note: Sony has announced that they’re discontinuing this service at the end of January, 2020.

SERVICE: PlayStation VUE
PRICE: $50 – $85
CHANNELS: 45 – 90
FREE TRIAL: None

14. The Local Library

Many local libraries have movies and television shows on DVD, and some even offer BluRay.

Borrowing one is completely free as long as you are eligible for a library card, and you usually have a generous return window too.

The only caveats are that your selection may be limited and other borrowers may not have been kind to the DVD when they borrowed it, so some of them may not work.

But, when the cost is $0, it isn’t as painful when that happens.

SERVICE: Local Library
PRICE: $0
CHANNELS: On-Demand Content
FREE TRIAL: N/A

Do You Need Internet to Use the Best Alternatives to Cable?

Mostly, you do need the internet to use alternatives to cable and satellite tv.

The only exceptions on this list are using an HDTV antenna or heading to your library, both of which give you the ability to watch movies and television shows while cutting the cord entirely.

However, there are free and cheap internet options available, and you can save a ton by ditching your television service subscription.

Just be aware that cable and satellite companies will tout their service bundles to try and convince you to commit to multiple services.

While the promo or introductory prices may look attractive, they will go up when the initial period ends, so think long and hard about the potential consequences, especially if you have to sign a contract.

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Grant Sabatier

Creator of Millennial Money and Author of Financial Freedom (Penguin Random House). Dubbed "The Millennial Millionaire" by CNBC, Grant went from $2.26 to over $1 million in 5 years, reaching financial independence at age 30. Grant has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, NPR, Money Magazine and many others. He uses Personal Capital to manage his money in 10 minutes a month.

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