Streaming services have become a common medium to watch live TV. Several reasons account for this shift. Live TV streaming services offer plenty of apps that give you access to a greater variety of such content. At the same time, they don’t restrict you to a contract.
As a cord cutter, you can decide whether you want to continue or not. Live TV apps offered by streaming services are highly customizable. It means that you can tailor and view content according to your preferences. Moreover, they give you a strong selection of channels. It makes them the preferred choice.
Have you ditched the cable? You must be on the hunt for some good live TV apps. If yes, this article is for you. Keep reading as we give you a rundown of the best ones available.
YouTube TV (Best Channel Selection)
YouTube TV is one of the top live TV apps for cord-cutters. The major reason is the sheer number of channels it offers. It’s primarily because of this that even though it increased its price, its value hasn’t come down.
YouTube TV offers more than 70 of the top 100 networks. This includes all four local networks (CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox). The app provides you with the best of both worlds. You can access live channels along with on-demand content. Moreover, it’s the only app offering NFL Sunday tickets. Football fans cannot ask for anything more than that!
YouTube TV works with almost every major streaming device. You can get the app and watch live TV on Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and several other smart TVs. The multiview feature allows you to watch up to four channels at once. If you ignore the price, YouTube TV is perhaps one of the best live TV apps out there.
Pros
- User-friendly interface on most mobile devices and TVs.
- Enormous selection of channels
- A 4K Plus add-on offers an unlimited number of simultaneous streams
- The app’s cloud DVR comes with unlimited storage
- Contract-free
Cons
- A $73 subscription is costly for many.
Sling (Best Budget Live TV)
Do you have a tight budget yet want to enjoy live TV? Sling TV will be a great choice. It offers three packages, and all of them are cheaper than other streaming apps. The three packages are Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue. The first two cost $40/month. But they come with different channel selections. The Sling Orange plan offers 31 channels. These include CNN, AMC, and Comedy Central, among others. Sling Blue offers 42 channels. These include FOX News, Discovery, and other channels according to your local media market.
If you like both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, you can buy a combination package, which is Sling Orange + Blue. It costs $55/month and offers 48 channels. New users qualify for a discount.
If you want an even greater selection of channels, purchase an add-on package. These packages have similar channels grouped together by genre. Sling is available on Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and the Xbox. It is also available on iOS and Android.
Pros
- It provides an option to rent movies in SD or HD resolutions
- Offers a completely free tier, with on-demand and live content from its available channels.
- 50 hours of free DVR storage
- Highly affordable compared to other paid live TV apps.
Cons
- Not an ideal sports streaming app. Both of its packages miss out on some important channels like ESPN.
- The ability to stream on multiple devices isn’t available with the Sling Orange plan.
Hulu Plus Live TV (Best Selection of TV Shows)
Hulu Plus Live TV gives you access to an extensive lineup of over 90 live channels. Local networks of most areas where the service is available are included. This ensures you don’t miss out on local news, sports, or entertainment broadcasts.
Hulu Plus Live TV offers two plans. The first is Hulu + Live TV for $77/month. With this, you get access to almost 100 channels. This plan features a cloud DVR with unlimited storage. It also gives you access to Hulu’s on-demand library. The second plan is Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV. Available at $90/month, it includes everything in the first plan but without the ads.
The app’s interface is easy to navigate. It has several filters that make content discovery easier and quicker. Both plans include ESPN+ and Disney+ subscriptions. This enhances the content variety further, giving you greater value for your money. Hulu Plus Live TV is available on smart TVs, streaming sticks, smartphones, and gaming consoles.
Pros
- Offers extensive sports coverage from channels like NBA, MLB, NCAA, and more.
- It offers 4K videos for its selected movies and original series.
- A recent addition of a sports package that includes the popular NFL RedZone Channel.
Cons
- Simultaneous streams (more than two) are available at a cost.
- Useful add-ons and extras are all paid.
- Recording menus are convoluted.
Tubi (Best Free Live TV App)
We end our list with Tubi, a free service whose content library can rival paid services like Netflix! It offers over 200 live TV channels across multiple genres. These include news, sports, entertainment, and more. Besides, Tubi’s extensive lineup of movies and TV shows is hard to beat.
Tubi has started producing original content, too. The app is available on most common platforms. These include mobile devices, streaming devices, and even web browsers. You can start enjoying live content without registering on Tubi. However, creating one gives you more advantages. These include adding titles to the personal queue, parental controls, and more.
Tubi has a sleek interface. Using a few navigation buttons, you can access your choice of content quickly. The app supports closed captions on most of the live content. You can also customize subtitles from the player. Overall, Tubi manages to impress one with its deep well of free content.
Pros
- Big selection of live content for free.
- User-friendly interface
- Parental controls and kids section
Cons
- Dated content
- Content can be streamed in only 720p resolution
- Ad-breaks during all content
Summing up
The days of traditional cable have long gone. Live TV apps are both cost-friendly, user-friendly, and content-friendly. Through them, you can enjoy a wider variety of live shows anytime, anywhere. These apps will surely give you a reason to be happy with your decision to cut the cord completely!