How to Watch Cable TV Channels Without Cable & Livestream for Free

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Cable is dying, but it’s a slow death. And — worse — it’s making things very confusing for customers. While streaming services now carry the bulk of buzzy series and movies, some content is still only available on traditional cable channels. That means some content, like certain sports, live events, and series, is unavailable to cord-cutters.

Luckily, if you’ve cut the cord on cable, there are plenty of live TV streaming services that let you, well, watch cable without cable. Best of all, many of these services now offer flexible packages depending on which channels you want (and how much you want to pay for them). Here’s a quick rundown of how to watch cable channels without cable, including ways to watch cable for free and the hardware you’ll need.

How to Watch Cable Channels Without Cable

If you want to watch cable channels without cable, the answer is a live TV streaming service. There are now several good options to choose from, but most are quite different from each other. Here’s a brief guide to our favorite live TV streaming services:

Our favorite way to watch cable without cable is DirecTV. The company has successfully modernized with a great lineup of streaming packages, including robust plans with up to 185+ channels and more affordable Genre Packs. Their plans start at just $39.99 a month and carry every major cable channel. Best of all, you get a five-day free trial to test out any package.

In terms of sheer number of channels, Fubo gets top marks. The streamer carries up to 300+ channels, including sports, entertainment, and news cable channels. Package start at $55.99 a month, but Fubo almost always offers steep introductory discounts, and you can get a five-day free trial.

If you’re just looking to watch entertainment channels like AMC, MTV, TLC, and HGTV, Philo is a great option. For just $33 a month, you get access to more than 70 channels — plus HBO Max, AMC+, and Discovery+ are all included. Get a seven-day free trial to check it out.

Streaming is getting expensive, but some services still offer great value. Sling is one of them, offering monthly live TV streaming packages starting at just $45.99. We also love Sling’s new short-term passes, which get you access to cable TV for a day ($4.99), a weekend ($9.99), or a week ($14.99) at a time. It’s a great way to check out individual games or events, and they carry most big channels.

ESPN recently launched an upgraded streaming service, ESPN Unlimited. The service delivers livestreams of every ESPN channel and gets you access to content on ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+). Considering how much you get, it’s well-priced at $29.99 a month.

Another one of the best ways to watch cable without cable is Hulu + Live TV. The service carries 95+ channels, including almost every major cable channel and broadcast network, but you also get ESPN, Disney+, and Hulu’s on-demand library included in your subscription. Get a three-day free trial to check it out first.

How to Stream Cable for Free

Because services like DirecTV, Fubo, Philo, and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials, it’s fairly easy to watch cable for free online right now. Of course, you’ll only get free cable for a limited time, but it’s a great option for individual live events or sports.

What Hardware Do You Need for Live TV Streaming?

Although live TV streaming is the “hardware-free” option, you’ll likely need some hardware, like a smart TV or (better) a device with streaming capabilities. If you don’t have one, the best option is a dedicated streaming device. The biggest players are Roku, Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Roku is our favorite brand thanks to its great interface, remotes, and loading speeds.