Overview
Best for binge-watch-worthy series
Max
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Best for Disney fanatics
Disney+
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Best for documentary lovers
CuriosityStream
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Best for more than just live TV
Hulu
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Best for live TV streaming and recording
YouTube TV
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Table of Contents
For anyone out there who might be thinking that their cable provider isn’t that bad, let’s play a little game to put things into perspective. Would you rather date someone who's clingy, makes you spend a ton of money on them, and bosses you around? Or someone who's super chill, lets you do your own thing, and always makes sure you're happy?
We’re guessing you’d probably opt for the latter.
Well, get this: The first relationship is the one you’re stuck in with your cable company right now. And the second relationship? That’s a cool collection of carefully curated streaming services, babe.
If you haven’t yet picked up what we’re putting down, we're talking about cord-cutting — a favorite term of the past few years that basically means breaking up with your cable company and only paying for the content you want without messing around with a cable box or satellite. After all, life is just too short to be tied down to an overpriced contract that doesn't even include all the stuff you actually want to watch.
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From Netflix to HBO Max to Disney+: The best streaming sites for moviesWhat to consider when choosing a streaming service
We're sure you already have Netflix for binge-watching movies and some TV shows, and it's an amazing service for that purpose, but that's obviously not a complete replacement for cable and live television. The reality is that you might have to get more than one service to cover all of your needs. Then again, having every single streaming service isn't doable for everyone. After cutting the cord, there's no sense in loading yourself up with streaming subscriptions that total up to more than your cable bill ever was. So, you'll want to be very deliberate about which ones you end up subscribing to.
The streaming service market has grown exponentially over the past few years with almost too many plans and channel options to pick from, and you're probably panicking and wondering which streaming service is right for you. As per usual, the answer to that is entirely dependent on what you're looking for in your streaming service, what your TV-watching habits are, and your content preferences.
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Here's what you'll want to take into account when browsing the vast buffet of streaming services you can choose from today:
Your watching habits and tastes: It's a simple question. What do you like to watch, and how often? If you're into prestige television and film and nothing else, you'll want to look to services like Netflix and Max. More into sports and live events? Check out live TV streaming services like Sling or YouTube TV to stay in the loop. Our best advice is to incorporate a mix of the two so you get the best of both worlds, but that might not be sustainable for everyone.
Your budget: How much are you able and willing to spend on entertainment? Once you arrive at your number, it's actually pretty easy to figure out which service (or services) you'll want to pick up. Fortunately, streaming services are way more upfront about pricing than cable companies have ever been, so you won't have to deal with hidden fees or anything like that.
Device compatibility: Not every streaming service works on every device or smart TV immediately after its launch. For example, when Max first dropped (then called HBO Max), there was a period where the streaming app wasn't available for Fire TV and Roku streaming devices, and the workarounds ranged from frustrating to downright impossible. Eventually, it all got sorted out, but you’ll still want to heed the warning and make sure any streaming app you might want is compatible with your streaming device before you pony up the cash.
Screen and profile limits: How many people are going to be using your streaming service or services? Just yourself? A whole family? Some platforms have a limit on how many screens or profiles can be connected to one account at the same time, so check that before you go giving everyone your login info.
Cloud DVR options: Not all live TV streaming platforms have cloud DVR, but it's worth checking because having the ability to record and store live events and programming to watch later is a total game-changer in the cord-cutting landscape.
What are the best TV streaming services?
Because it can be overwhelming to pick from all the options out there, we're breaking down the benefits of all the best TV streaming services right here. Whether you're looking for live TV streaming or the latest trending original series that's exclusive to a big-name streaming service, this quick-reference guide should steer you toward the best ones to help you cut the cord with your cable company for good.
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Best for binge-watch-worthy series
Max (formerly known as HBO Max) includes an extensive catalog of must-see content, including legacy HBO programming and current TV shows — like The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Succession — plus every DC superhero movie you could want, an array of Studio Ghibli films, and other hit blockbusters from yesterday and today. Not only does it house all of the content that you'd find with a traditional cable signup for this premium channel, but it also has a growing number of exclusive Max Originals you won't find anyplace else.
Max is right up there with Netflix for exclusive content, so if you like to keep up with the series everyone will be talking about, you should definitely add it to your rotation. A subscription nets you up to four simultaneous streams (depending on the tier you choose), and the ultimate ad-free plan allows you to stream movies in 4K as well as download content to watch offline.
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Best for Disney fanatics
Disney+ is meant to be a one-stop shop for all things Disney, of course, but that goes far beyond just kids' movies and princesses. Alongside all the vault classics and Pixar films, the platform also features content from other Disney properties, including National Geographic and all of the Marvel and Star Wars films. Disney+ subscribers are treated to four concurrent streams at a time, and can download movies and series for offline viewing, too.
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Best for documentary lovers
CuriosityStream — or as we’ve called it before, "the Netflix of non-fiction" — is a unique streaming service that helps viewers explore their universe through non-fiction documentaries that wouldn't be found via more popular channels.
The streamer offers over 1,500 science, history, and technology documentaries for your brain-boosting edu-tainment, with topics including famous assassinations, nature, evolution, and a whole lot of space stuff. It's like your own personal museum, but you don't have to blow all your money on a bunch of different tickets. Or, you know, even leave your couch, for that matter.
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Best for more than just live TV
Hulu is the one-and-only home to buzzed-about originals like Nine Perfect Strangers and the award-winning The Handmaid's Tale, and FX on Hulu exclusives including American Horror Stories and Mrs. America. Plus, they have all seasons of favorite series, such as Rick and Morty, and next-day streams of current hits like Grey's Anatomy.
But, if all of that epicness doesn't do it for you on its own, you can opt for the Hulu + Live TV package to also get access to 75+ live and on-demand channels — including local channels, CNN, ESPN, and more — where you can enjoy live sports, breaking news, and TV shows as they air. It'll also allow you to record up to 50 hours of live TV to watch later (and fast-forward through commercials), but you can increase your DVR storage with an add-on if that’s not enough.
Whichever Hulu plan you choose, you'll be able to watch on two screens simultaneously and have the option to sign up for premium channels like HBO Max and Showtime, too. Or, opt for the Disney bundle to maximize your entertainment value.
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Best for live TV streaming and recording
YouTube TV is arguably the best premium live TV streaming service out there. They boast 85+ live channels — including your local broadcast networks and favorites like ESPN, AMC, and HGTV — plus the option to add on more as you see fit (for a fee, of course).
For the same price as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV nets you about ten more live channels (including AMC and MLB Network), though you don't get all the exclusive and on-demand content that you'd get with Hulu. So that's a choice for you to consider based on your viewing preferences.
That said, the service requires no annual contract, has zero hidden fees, can hold up to six accounts and three concurrent streams, and includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost (unlike Hulu). So to us, YouTube TV is the closest thing to a good cable-like experience without the astronomical prices and ridiculous contracts. Plus, you can get it at a discounted rate for your first three months.
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Best for Prime perks
If your movie nights consist of renting the most recent releases that probably won't come to Netflix or Hulu for at least a few months, then you already know about Amazon Prime Video. But while you have to shell out a few bucks (at least) to rent the latest blockbusters, the price of a Prime Video subscription already includes plenty of movies at no extra cost. It's also home to every episode of a growing number of beloved television series — like Downton Abbey and How I Met Your Mother — as well as their own binge-worthy Amazon Originals, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Boys, and Fleabag.
It's more than enough content to keep you satisfied, but you can also add premium channels like Showtime and AMC+ for an additional price. Plus, you can stream content on as many as three devices at a time, and you'll get a 30-day free trial whether you choose to subscribe to just Prime Video or a full-fledged Amazon Prime membership with extra perks like fast, free shipping.
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Best affordable live TV streaming service
SlingTV has been a huge player in the cord cutting game as it boasts one of the more affordable monthly options out there for watching live sports, news, and loads of other entertainment that you used to only be able to access with a cable box and an expensive contract. But don’t be fooled — the low price range doesn't mean the channel lineup sucks. Even a basic Sling TV plan offers your favorite channels, including HGTV, Comedy Central, ESPN, CNN, Disney, and BBCAmerica (and the ability to record up to 50 hours of live TV for no additional fee).
However, our favorite part about Sling is how you can tweak channel options. Aside from the main plans, Sling lets users pick and choose extra channels to add on for a nominal fee without having to upgrade to the next level. And, depending on your plan, you can stream on up to four devices at once.
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Best for more than just CBS
Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) is a clutch streaming service to have if you really like current hits such as The Good Doctor and Criminal Minds since you can catch them streaming the next day. You can also watch live sports like NFL on CBS and Champions League soccer, and have access to 24/7 news on CBSN. But, let's be real, most people have been paying for this streamer specifically for its abundance of Star Trek movies and shows — both classic and new — like the Paramount exclusive series Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
That said, this service is no longer just about CBS, and gives subscribers access to shows from other ViacomCBS properties like Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon, and a wide selection of movies from Paramount, Miramax, and MGM. It boasts over 10,000 episodes of classic shows and binge-worthy Paramount Originals like Evil, The Good Fight, new seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and more.
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Best for exclusive movies and shows
At this point, Netflix is synonymous with the word "streaming service." After all, it's the platform that made streaming services as popular as they are, and its ever-growing catalog of top acquisitions and their own originals is just as strong today as it's ever been. Their exclusive movies and shows have gone on to score nominations (and wins!) at the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards.
You can catch hit scripted shows like Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, Ozark, Dead to Me, The Crown, Cobra Kai, Black Mirror, and You, plus endless true crime docuseries like Making a Murderer and Wild Wild Country. Basically, if everyone's talking about a binge-worthy series, it's probably on Netflix. And depending on your plan, it can all be watched on up to four different devices at a time.
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Best deal on lifestyle channels
Need we do more than point out that Philo provides 60+ channels and unlimited DVR storage for all subscribers? We've yet to find a streaming service that offers that much for such a low price.
The caveat is that the channel lineup isn’t news- or sports-oriented, so you'll want to look elsewhere if those are non-negotiables. But if you don't care about that content, the variety is pretty legit: AMC, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount, Discovery, Food Network, TLC, and loads more. Plus, you can stream content on as many as three devices at once, and you can choose to add EPIX or STARZ for additional fees. There's a seven-day free trial that you can give a spin, but there's no contract so you can cancel or restart your subscription at any time.
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Best for sports fanatics
If the usual ESPN isn't doing it for you, Fubo TV is your ticket to a constant drip-feed of live sports from around the world, even when you didn't know there was a game on. You'll get access to both popular and obscure sports channels that you don't see often, including The Big Ten Network, beIN Sports, the Olympics channel, and Fox Sports. Looking for European soccer? Sure. NBA? Yup. Motorcycle racing? You got it. There's no NHL channel, but the majority of hockey games are broadcast on NBC and NBCSN anyway, so you should still be covered there thanks to Fubo TV delivering your local channels as well.
Overall, you'll be treated to a three-digit channel lineup that goes beyond just sports — including MSNBC, HGTV, The Hallmark Channel, SYFY, and National Geographic — so everyone in the house can find something to watch. And that's particularly great because Fubo TV allows for three concurrent streams and up to 250 hours of cloud DVR storage to record your favorites. You can pay to upgrade both of those, however, and opt for premium add-ons like Showtime and EPIX as well.
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Best for anime lovers
In a nutshell, Crunchyroll is like Netflix for anime — and it's seriously awesome. With a premium account, you'll get access to over 900 anime shows! You’ll find old favorites like One Piece and new releases straight from Japan, as well as a wide selection of manga and even a number of live-action J-dramas. If you're an anime newbie, check out Mashable's full rundown on Crunchyroll and our resident anime expert's suggestions on the best shows to watch.
Depending on your plan, you can stream on up to six devices at once and download your favorite anime to watch on-the-go, even when there’s no WiFi. Best of all, you can give it a spin with a two-week free trial.
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Best for binge-watching 'The Office'
NBCUniversal's streaming service became the exclusive home to everyone’s favorite workplace comedy, The Office, in 2021 — sorry, Netflix. That’s arguably Peacock’s biggest selling point, but on the off-chance that "Dinner Party" and "Fun Run" ever get old, your membership also includes tons of other NBC series (see: 30 Rock, Law & Order, and Dick Wolf’s full “One Chicago” lineup) along with late-night talk shows, live sports, news broadcasts, Peacock Originals, and the hit Kevin Costner drama Yellowstone. (It’s also home to a bunch of hit movies.)
(Check out Mashable's official Peacock guide for more info.)
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Best for big stars
While it may not have a ton of content to its name, Apple TV+ definitely makes up for it with undeniable star power. In a true show of quality over quantity, the streaming service is home to a growing list of exclusive Apple Originals, including (but definitely not limited to) Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Severance.
It certainly won't help you cut the cord with your cable company, but it's definitely a nice supplement, even if just for a month or so at a time. Plus, you get a seven-day free trial, and you can stream in stellar 4K quality on as many as six streaming devices at once.
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Best for lifestyle on-demand
Combining all of your favorite content from the likes of HGTV, TLC, Food Network, Animal Planet, Lifetime, and more, Discovery+ is a great choice for the do-it-yourself lifestyle set. While you won't have access to live content on these channels (such as with Philo, for example), you will be treated to more than 55,000 on-demand episodes from top series like Property Brothers, 90-Day Fiance, and Chopped, as well as exclusive originals, including Magnolia Table and Fixer Upper: Welcome Home from Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network.
Subscribers can stream on up to four streaming devices at once, and benefit from a seven-day free trial to check things out before committing the cash.
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Best for 'The Walking Dead' fans
Why pay for a bunch of separate services when you could get them all rolled into one with AMC+? As the name implies, the streaming service is home to more than just AMC's new and old hit series, like Kevin Can F**k Himself, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and the entire Walking Dead Universe. Beyond that, it also boasts all of the combined content that you'd get with separate subscriptions to Sundance Now, Shudder, and IFC Films Unlimited, plus top content from BBC America, too. This ups the entertainment ante with even more hit shows and docuseries like Creepshow, Channel Zero, A Discovery of Witches, and No One Saw a Thing.
For fans of horror, true crime, and edgy dramas, AMC+ is a clear winner, but you can still give it a spin first with a seven-day free trial.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Allow us to go a little more in-depth about why we can definitively say that moving to literally any streaming service from cable is one of the best things you can do for yourself (Unless, of course, you have really bad internet service in your area, which may be the one and only case to be made for sticking with cable.)
The first thing that would probably deter you from cutting the cord right now is live events. You might think that you'll be missing out on a lot, like award shows, news events, sports, and more. But today, that's just not true at all. In fact, pretty much all of the big live events can be streamed and you can root for your favorite teams from anywhere — you just need to know where to look.
Another area of contention is that of choice. While many cable packages offer the mere illusion of choice with their advertised 100-plus channels and whatnot, you'll find that these choices aren't really ones you'd ever want to make. When cable, movie, and TV choices are random, and you basically have to schedule your TV consumption time around when they're being shown, lest you catch just the very end of that movie you’ve been meaning to check out. And that's assuming you can even find something you're in the mood to watch after scanning the vast list of "meh" content. And when it comes to network television, the bar is pretty much in Hell at this point anyway; all the good stuff is on streaming services.
Plus, you can't really binge-watch stuff on cable like you can on streaming platforms, where an entire season is often released in one fell swoop. However, some streaming services have begun to employ more traditional weekly episode drops, just in case you find yourself missing those watercooler conversations about what happened on your favorite program that week. It should also not be overlooked that streaming services — even the ones that aren’t ad-free — subject us to fewer commercials.
Finally — perhaps the most important aspect of all — the price. The bottom line is that the price-to-value ratio for sticking with cable is abysmal. It's way more expensive than any given streaming service, and can potentially reach into $100-plus-per-month territory faster than you can find something to watch.
Here’s some food for thought: You can subscribe to Netflix, Max, Disney+, and Hulu at the same time and still pay less per month than most cable companies will charge you. Cable companies also tend to sneak in hidden fees that aren't included in the initial advertised price, including broadcast fees, DVR fees, and remote fees. (Yes, you have to pay monthly to use the remote.) You'll almost always pay more than the advertised price, and in many cases, that price increases after your first contract expires. Apparently, cable appreciates in value over time — who knew?
We've dropped the phrase on you a couple times now, but we want to make sure that you're clued into what it is exactly because it's actually quite different from the most popular streaming sites that first come to mind.
While a streaming service like Netflix or Max allows you access to lots of great on-demand content, none of it is airing live. Like, you can't just flick open one of these streaming apps and start watching TV like you can with your traditional cable setup. (And you certainly can’t watch any live sports.) Instead, you have to consciously pick something to watch, find it in a list, and then hit "play."
Live TV streaming services, on the other hand, work a lot more like traditional cable — namely YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and a few others. The available channel lineup will vary a little from one to the next, but they all allow you to watch live content at the very same moment as anyone else watching live TV.
For example, let's say your neighbor with a regular ol' cable setup wants to watch the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy as it airs. They'd turn on the TV when the show is ready to start, turn the channel to ABC, and watch it in real-time, right? Well, you can do the exact same thing with a live TV streaming service — as long as it offers ABC, of course. (And most, if not all, will include your local channels.) The only difference is that you'll open up your live TV streaming app of choice and select the channel from there, and instead of pointing your remote to an overpriced cable box, you'll point it toward your sleek little streaming device instead.
Best of all, many live TV streaming services include cloud DVR storage as well. So even though you have the benefit of being able to watch TV live, you don't always have to watch TV live. You can record favorites for later, whether that's 20 minutes later so you can fast-forward through the live commercials, or a month later when you have a free afternoon for some binge-watching. The choice is yours.
So while services like Netflix are a great supplement to live TV, they can't completely replace your cable setup, at least not in the same way. It all depends on how important certain content or TV channels are to you, and if you care about watching stuff live.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [emailprotected].
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