Making the switch from cable to streaming could feel confusing or like a chore, but it might be exactly what you’re looking for. As TV costs increase, there are plenty of alternatives you can consider, such as live TV streaming services and affordable skinny bundles. Cord-free live services come with perks like a broad mix of channels, DVR and no long-term commitments. You can stream sports and more, and these services offer wider channel options than antennas but also let you watch on your laptop or phone.
Choosing a service can be tricky because of pricing and regional sports networks, but there are six main platforms to consider (we’re not including smaller ones): Sling TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Fubo and Philo.
It really boils down to the channels, right? We’ve looked at who carries the top 100 channels in their main lineups to help you decide which one could be the best for your household.
Read more: Best Sports Streaming Service for 2025
The Big Chart: Top 100 channels compared (updated June 2025)
The main difference between the services is their channel selection. All of them offer different lineups of channels for various prices.
Below, you’ll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all six services. Note that not every service has a worthy 100. There are actually seven listed because Sling TV has two “base” tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you’re wondering, I chose which “top” channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD.
DirecTV cut “Stream” from its name, but its streaming offerings remain. Its basic plan starts at $87 a month, while YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo and Hulu Plus Live TV’s plans all cost more now, affecting the value of these services based on their channel lineups. Don’t forget Fubo’s big loss of Warner Bros. Discovery channels such as Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Magnolia Network OWN and TLC, which may make it less appealing.
However, there are numerous live TV streaming choices available. Sling TV’s basic monthly packages are $46 in most cities and Philo offers a small roster but packages AMC Plus access with it. But costs continue to go up and those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.
Some more stuff to know about the chart:
Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service’s name.No = The channel isn’t available at all on that service. $ = The channel is available for an extra fee, either a la carte or as part of a more expensive package or add-on.Regional sports networks — local channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams — are not listed. DirecTV Stream’s $130 tier has the most RSNs by far but a few are available on other services. You can also check out its MySports package for $70 and Xfinity’s sports and news offering.Local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city. Because the availability of these channels varies, you’ll want to check the service’s website to verify that it carries your local network.Local PBS stations are only currently available on DirecTV Stream, Hulu Live and YouTube TV. Again, you’ll want to check local availability.Sling Blue subscribers in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City must now pay $51 per month, but have access to local ABC, Fox and NBC channels. Customers in Houston, Fresno, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina, now have ABC and Fox on their Blue or Orange-and-Blue subscriptions at no extra charge. This is not reflected in the chart. Check Sling’s site to see which local channels are available in your area.Fubo subscribers may find that the ACC Network and SEC Network are included with their package at no extra cost. Check availability for your state.The chart columns are arranged in order of price, so if you can’t see everything you want, try scrolling right.Overwhelmed? An easier-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.
Philo vs. Sling TV vs. Fubo vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV vs. Hulu: Top 100 channels compared
Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Total channels: 42243578754655ABC NoNoNoYesYesYesYesCBS NoNoNoYesYesYesYesFox NoNoYesYesYesYesYesNBC NoNoYesYesYesYesYesPBS NoNoNoYesYesNoYesCW NoNoNoYesYesYesYes (limited)MyNetworkTV NoNoNoYesYesNoYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)A&E YesYesYesNoYesNo$ACC Network No$NoYesYesYes$Accuweather YesNoNoNoNoYesYesAMC YesYesYesYesNoNoYesAnimal Planet YesNoNoYesYesNoYesBBC America YesYesYesYesNoNoYesBBC World News Yes$$YesNoNo$BET YesYesYesYesYesYesYesBig Ten Network NoNo$YesYesYes$Bloomberg TV NoYesYesNoYesYesYesBoomerang No$$No$NoYesBravo NoNoYesYesYesYesYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Cartoon Network NoYesYesYesYesNoYesCBS Sports Network NoNoNoYesYesYes$Cheddar YesNoNoYesYesYesYesCinemax NoNoNo$$No$CMT Yes$$YesYesYesYesCNBC NoNo$YesYesYesYesCNN NoYesYesYesYesNoYesComedy Central YesYesYesYesYesYesYesCooking Channel Yes$$No$$$Destination America Yes$$No$$$Discovery Channel YesNoYesYesYesNoYesDisney Channel NoYesNoYesYesYesYesDisney Junior No$NoYesYesYesYesDisney XD No$NoYesYesYesYesE! NoNoYesYesYesYesYesESPN NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPN 2 NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPNEWS No$NoYesYes$$ESPNU No$NoYesYes$$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Food Network YesYesYesYesYesNoYesFox Business NoNo$YesYesYesYesFox News NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS1 NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS2 NoNo$YesYesYes$Freeform NoYesNoYesYesYesYesFX NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFX Movies NoNo$YesYes$$FXX NoNo$YesYesYesYesFYI Yes$$NoYesNo$Golf Channel NoNo$YesYesYes$Hallmark Yes$$YesYesYesYesHBO/Max NoNoNo$$No$HGTV YesYesYesYesYesNoYesHistory YesYesYesNoYesNo$HLN No$YesYesYesNoYesIFC YesYesYesYesNoNoYesInvestigation Discovery YesYesYesYesYesNoYesLifetime YesYesYesNoYesNo$Lifetime Movie Network Yes$$NoYesNo$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87)Magnolia Network Yes$$YesYesNo$MGM+ $$$$NoNo$MLB Network No$$NoYes$$Motor Trend YesYesNoYesYesNoYesMSNBC NoNoYesYesYesYesYesMTV Yes$$YesYesYesYesMTV2 Yes$$Yes$$YesNational Geographic NoNoYesYesYesYesNoNat Geo Wild NoNo$YesYes$$NBA TV No$$YesNo$$NFL Network NoNoYesYesYesYes$NFL Red Zone NoNo$$$$NoNHL Network No$$NoNo$$Nickelodeon YesNoNoYesYesYesYesNick Jr. YesYesYesYesYesYes$Nicktoons Yes$$Yes$$$OWN YesNoNoYesYesNo$Oxygen NoNo$YesYesYes$Paramount Network Yes$$YesYesYesYesScience Yes$$No$$$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87)SEC Network No$NoYesYes$$Showtime No$$$$$$Smithsonian YesNoNoYesYesYes$Starz $$$$$$$Sundance TV Yes$$YesNoNoYesSyfy NoNoYesYesYesYesYesTastemade Yes$$YesNoYes$TBS NoYesYesYesYesNoYesTCM No$$YesYesNo$TeenNick Yes$$Yes$$YesTelemundo NoNoNoYesYesYes$Tennis Channel No$$NoNo$$TLC YesNoYesYesYesNoYesTNT NoYesYesYesYesNoYesTravel Channel YesYesYesYesYesNo$TruTV No$YesYesYesNo$TV Land Yes$$YesYesYesYesUSA Network NoNoYesYesYesYesYesVH1 Yes$$YesYesYesYesVice YesYesYesNoYesNo$WE tv Yes$$YesNoNoYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87) James Martin/CNET
Hulu Plus Live TV, which includes access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, now costs $83 a month for its base package. Its channel selection isn’t as robust as YouTube TV, yet Hulu’s significant catalog of on-demand content sets it apart. Exclusive titles such as Shōgun, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building give it a content advantage no other service can match.
Live TV subscribers also receive unlimited DVR that includes fast-forwarding and on-demand playback — at no additional cost. It’s a move that has aligned Hulu with its competitors in terms of features, but the channel lineup may still be a deciding factor. It’s the same price as YouTube TV, which has more channels, but the access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus may make it a more appealing choice for you. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.
James Martin/CNET
With an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $83 per month YouTube TV is one of the best cable TV replacements. It offers a 4K upgrade add-on for an additional price, but the downside is there isn’t much to watch at present unless you watch select channels. If you don’t mind paying a bit more than the Sling TVs of the world, or want to watch live NBA games, YouTube TV offers a high standard of live TV streaming. Read our YouTube TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you want to save a little money and don’t mind missing out on local channels, Sling TV is the best of the budget services. Its Orange and Blue packages start at $46 per month, and you can combine them for a monthly rate of $61 ($66 in some regions). The Orange option nets you one stream, while Blue gives you three. It’s not as comprehensive or as easy to navigate as YouTube, but with a bit of work, including adding an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it’s an unbeatable value. We’ll also add that the service offers local channels such as ABC and CBS in some regions where the monthly rate is $51. Read our Sling TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
DirecTV’s base streaming package costs more than all the other platforms on this list and its stiffest competition is still Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTube TV. With its channel selection, it’s ideal for sports fans who want to watch local or national games.
The service does have its pluses, though — for example, it includes the flipper-friendly ability to swipe left and right to change channels. Additionally, it includes some channels some other services can’t, including nearly 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $87 Entertainment with sports package may suit your needs with its 75-plus channels. But for cord-cutters who want to follow their local NBA or MLB team, DirecTV Stream’s $115 Choice package is a more robust live TV streaming pick because it has access to more regional sports networks than the competition. Nonetheless, you’ll want to make sure your channel is included here, and not available on one of our preferred picks, before you pony up. Read our DirecTV streaming service review.
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
There’s a lot to like about Fubo — it offers a wide selection of channels and its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans or NBA, NHL and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of Fubo’s RSNs. It’s also a great choice for NFL fans because it’s one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that offer NFL Network and optional RedZone. As of February 2025, Fubo is charging more for its service and access to Bally Sports RSNs. The biggest hole in Fubo’s lineup is the lack of Warner Bros. Discovery networks, including Cartoon Network, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, TBS and TNT — especially as the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular MLB, NBA and NHL. Those missing channels, and the $85 price tag for the base plan, make it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers. Read our Fubo review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Philo raised its price from $25 to $28 for new subscribers and added an AMC Plus bundle, and it’s still a cheap live TV streaming service with a variety of channels. But it lacks sports channels, local stations and big-name news networks — although BBC news and Cheddar are available. Philo offers bread-and-butter cable staples like Comedy Channel, Magnolia Network and Nickelodeon and specializes in lifestyle and reality programming. It’s also one of the cheapest live services that streams Paramount, home of Yellowstone, and it includes a cloud DVR and optional add-ons from Epix and Starz. We think most people are better off paying a few bucks more for Sling TV’s superior service, but if Philo has every channel you want, it’s a decent deal. Read our Philo review.
