Save money on cable TV - cut the cord.
The average American household spends $120 per month on their cable bill. There are cheaper options that you can consider to get access to your favorite shows for less, and you can even consider “cutting the cord” and replacing it with a streaming service.
Below are some on-demand, streaming and live subscription services that will reduce your cable bill by up 90% and help you to save money. A summary is also at the bottom. Unlike traditional TV cable, these services have no commitments or contracts, no home installations or hidden costs and fees.
Netflix: Offers a 30-day trial membership to first-time users for this streaming service . After that, the basic plan starts at $9.99 to $11.99 per month. Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services today for those who cancel their existing cable service plan. For $9.99, members get access to TV shows, original programming, movies and documentaries on any devices.
Members also enjoy a commercial and ad-free experience without interruptions. There are ZERO commercials! Videos, movies, and shows are downloadable and can be watched offline, which is perfect for long trips.
Amazon Prime Video: If you are an Amazon Prime member, this video subscription is automatically added in your membership. Otherwise, the cost for the video service alone is $15 per month. As we noted, there is also a low cost Prime service for low income families.
If you are a member of Prime, you not only get the Video but of course all the other benefits of this Amazon service including streaming music, free shipping for items you buy, discounts, free coupons, and more. All of those benefits save families a lot of money.
AT&T Now - Direct TV Now: They are now owned by AT&T, and their plans are always changing. Three different pricing schemes are offered, with the maximum price of $70 to $105 per month. That will still save you on your cable bill as it is cheaper than a regular package.
Hulu: Offers Live TV for $69.99 to $75 per month or $8 subscription plans, which is a fraction of what Cable TV cots. However there will be some commercials with Hulu streaming service. The cost for first time members is $8.99 per month and $9.99 per month after one year. With Hulu, you can watch thousands of movies, episodes, and classics. The company offers a month of a free trial before purchase.
SlingTV: Originally launched in 2015 by DirectTV, SlingTV is an internet TV service that cost $35 to $50per month for over 40 + channels, including Cartoon Network, Food Network, Travel Channel, ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC family, and other basic channels. Consumers who do cut the cord to their current provider can also select higher tier packages for more money, which gives them more channels. There is an extra add-on fee of $5 for a more personalized viewing experience based on channels of interest.
Google and YouTube TV: Yes, google offers a TV package too! The total monthly rate is $50 to $60, and over 70 cable channels are offered as a streaming service for those who cut the cord. This streaming service is still being rolled out nationwide. Publications, including CNET and Consumer Reports, say this is the most advanced service when it comes to DVR, ease of use, and more.
Millions of Americans are saving money on their Cable TV bills by looking at alternatives. This usually involves canceling their cable TV service, often called cutting the cord. If you are considering that option for saving money, the services mentioned above may be good alternatives for you to consider. Even find how to watch Streaming TV shows for free.
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Hulu with Live TV
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YouTube TV
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Sling TV
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aT&T - Direct TV Now
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Base price
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$70 to 80/month for 70+ channels
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$50 to $60/month for 60+ channels
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$35 to $50/month for 30+ channels
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$70 to $105/month for 60+ channels
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Free trial
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Availability
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Nationwide
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Nationwide
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Nationwide
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Nationwide
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Live local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC channels
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Select cities only
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All four available in most of the 99 markets
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FOX and NBC only in select cities, ABC for an extra $5/month
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Select cities only
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Video on demand from local channels
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No
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Step-up packages
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No
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No
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PLUS $5/month each (5 or more Sports, LifeStyle, Movie, News, etc. channels per package)
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$70/month for 120+ channels
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Simultaneous streams per account
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2
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3
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1 or 3
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2
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Family member/user profiles
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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No
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Pause, rewind, fast-forward
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Yes
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Yes
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Only select channels
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Yes (not Roku)
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Record shows for later (cloud DVR)
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Yes
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Yes (keep for 9 months)
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Yes ($5 per month, only Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV)
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Yes (20GB, keep for 30 days)
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Video on demand/3-day replay
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Select channels and shows
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Select channels and shows
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Select channels and shows
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Select channels and shows
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Parental controls
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Bandwidth limiter
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No
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No
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Yes
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No
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