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YouTube TV’s main plan is $82.99 a month for 100+ channels, discounted to $59.99 for the first three months. The Sports Plan is $64.99.
That is roughly $996 a year, which is more than most people paid for cable before they cut the cord.
YouTube TV prices were read from its own page on 14 September 2026. The other services restrict access outside the US, so we describe what each covers rather than quoting a figure we could not verify.
The best YouTube TV alternatives at a glance
One you build channel by channel, one aimed at people who mostly watch entertainment, and one for live sport.
Sling TV
Pick your channel bundle
Tiered bundles, add-on packsPhilo
Cheapest for entertainment
Single low-cost tierFubo
Built for live sport
Tiered, sport-heavySling TV
Build it yourself
The most flexible option, and the cheapest route for anyone who watches a handful of channels. You choose between two base bundles with different networks, then add small themed packs for sport, news, kids or lifestyle. Local channels are patchy depending on your market, and the interface is the weakest here. Worth it if your must-have list is short and specific.
Free tier: Free tier: partly. Sling Freestream offers free ad-supported channels with no account; the live bundles are paid.
Philo
Entertainment only, and cheap
Deliberately excludes sport and most local channels, which is how it is so much cheaper. What you get is a large bundle of entertainment and lifestyle networks plus unlimited DVR. If your household watches reality, drama, documentaries and home improvement rather than live games, this is the biggest saving available against YouTube TV by a wide margin.
Free tier: Free tier: no, trial only. One tier, priced well below the full-service providers.
Fubo
For sport first
Started as a soccer service and kept that focus: the broadest set of sport networks, including international football, plus 4K coverage of selected events. Regional sports network availability is the thing to check before subscribing, because it varies by market and is the usual reason people are disappointed. Entertainment channels are present but not the draw.
Free tier: Free tier: no, trial only. Tiers differ by channel count and simultaneous streams.
Hulu + Live TV
Live TV plus two catalogues
The closest to YouTube TV on channel count, and the best value if you would otherwise buy Disney+ separately, because the subscription bundles Hulu on-demand, Disney+ and ESPN with the live channels. That bundling is the entire argument for it. As a pure live-TV product it is comparable rather than better, and the apps are more fragmented.
Free tier: Free tier: no. Priced as a bundle that includes Disney+ and ESPN alongside live channels.
DirecTV Stream
Most complete channel list
The option that most resembles traditional cable, with the strongest local station and regional sports coverage of anything here, which matters if you want your city news and your local team. Priced accordingly at the upper end. Choose it when a specific regional sports network is non-negotiable and nothing else carries it.
Free tier: Free tier: no, trial only. Tiers step up by channel count; no annual contract on the streaming plans.
Frndly TV
Very cheap, very specific
A small bundle built around Hallmark, A&E, History, the Weather Channel and similar family and lifestyle networks, at a price closer to a single streaming subscription than to a cable replacement. No sport and no local stations. For an older household watching a predictable set of channels, it is the cheapest legitimate live TV in the US.
Free tier: Free tier: no, trial only. The lowest-priced live service here by a wide margin.
| # | Tool | Best for | Free tier | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sling TV | Build it yourself | Free ad-supported content available | Tiered bundles plus optional add-on packs |
| 02 | Philo | Entertainment only, and cheap | Trial only | A single low-cost tier |
| 03 | Fubo | For sport first | Trial only | Tiered, with sport-heavy channel lists |
| 04 | Hulu + Live TV | Live TV plus two catalogues | No free tier | Tiered, bundled with Disney+ and ESPN |
| 05 | DirecTV Stream | Most complete channel list | Trial only | Tiered, with the widest local coverage |
| 06 | Frndly TV | Very cheap, very specific | Trial only | A small number of low-cost tiers |
Cord cutting stopped being cheaper
YouTube TV’s main plan is $82.99 a month, read from its own page on 14 September 2026, with a promotional $59.99 for the first three months. The Sports Plan is $64.99, promoted at $44.99 for six months.
At the standard rate that is about $996 a year for live television, before any streaming subscriptions on top. The original promise of cutting the cord was that it would cost less than cable. For the full-service providers, that is no longer true.
What you get for it is genuinely good: unlimited DVR, six household accounts, three simultaneous streams, and a reliable app on every device. The question is whether you need 100-plus channels to watch the eight you actually watch.
YouTube TV alternatives compared
What each service covers and what the free options include, checked on 14 September 2026.
Write down your channels first
This is the step that saves real money, and almost nobody does it.
Spend a week noting every channel you actually watch. Most households end up with between five and ten, and they fall into obvious groups.
No live sport, no local news. Philo or Frndly TV. You will pay a fraction of $82.99 and lose nothing you watch.
A specific set of channels. Sling, choosing the base bundle that has most of them and adding one themed pack. This beats a big bundle almost every time when the list is short.
Live sport, especially a local team. Fubo or DirecTV Stream, and check the regional sports network for your city by name before you subscribe. This is the single most common cause of disappointment in this category.
Local news and network shows. Check which local affiliates each service carries in your postcode. Coverage varies market by market and the marketing pages will not tell you.
The free options worth knowing
Two routes cost nothing and cover more than people expect.
An antenna. In most US metropolitan areas, an indoor aerial receives the major networks free, in better quality than any stream, with no subscription and no buffering. It is a one-off purchase of a few dollars. For a household that mainly watches network television and local news, this replaces a large part of a live TV bill permanently.
Free ad-supported streaming. Sling Freestream, Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex all offer free live channels and on-demand catalogues with adverts and no account. They will not carry your local affiliates or live sport, but they cover a great deal of casual viewing.
Combining an antenna with one cheap service is the cheapest realistic setup, and it is what a lot of people end up on after paying $82.99 for a year.
Before you cancel, check two things
Your DVR recordings. Cloud DVR libraries do not transfer between services and are usually deleted shortly after you cancel. If there is anything you want to keep, watch it first.
What you are actually using it for. If the honest answer is one sport season, every service here lets you subscribe for those months and cancel afterwards. Paying twelve months for a four-month season is the most common overspend in live TV, and the promotional pricing is designed to make the annual commitment feel obvious.
How we test and price these tools
YouTube TV prices on this page were read from its own page in a browser on 14 September 2026. The other services on this list restrict access to visitors inside the United States, so we could not read their pricing pages directly, and we have described what each service covers rather than quoting figures we could not verify. Check the current price on the provider’s own site before subscribing.
What we do compare is stable: which services carry sport, which carry local affiliates, how flexible the bundles are, and whether a free tier exists. Those determine the shortlist. Channel availability varies by market in ways no round-up can capture, so always check your own postcode.
We read current Reddit threads for each service, so the views here are from this year. No service pays for a place on this list.
01 How much does YouTube TV cost now?
The main plan is $82.99 a month for 100-plus channels, with a promotional $59.99 for the first three months. The Sports Plan is $64.99, promoted at $44.99 for six months. At the standard rate the main plan is roughly $996 a year.
02 What is the cheapest YouTube TV alternative?
Frndly TV for a small family and lifestyle bundle, and Philo for a larger entertainment bundle without sport or local channels. Both cost a fraction of $82.99. Sling is cheapest if your must-have list is short and you add only the packs you need.
03 Which alternative is best for live sport?
Fubo for breadth, including international football and some 4K coverage, or DirecTV Stream if a specific regional sports network is essential. Check that network by name for your city before subscribing, because regional availability is the usual cause of disappointment.
04 Can I get local channels without paying for live TV?
Usually yes, with an indoor antenna. In most US metropolitan areas that receives the major networks free, in better quality than any stream, for a one-off purchase of a few dollars. For households watching mainly network television and local news it removes most of the need for a subscription.
05 Are there free live TV services?
Yes. Sling Freestream, Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex all offer free ad-supported live channels and on-demand catalogues without an account. They do not carry local affiliates or live sport, but they cover a lot of casual viewing at no cost.
06 Will I lose my DVR recordings if I switch?
Yes. Cloud DVR libraries do not transfer between services and are typically deleted a short time after you cancel. Watch anything you want to keep before you switch, and do not assume a grace period.
07 Is it cheaper to subscribe only during the season?
Almost always. Every service here can be cancelled and restarted, so paying for four months of a sport season instead of twelve is the single biggest saving available. Promotional first-months pricing is designed to make an annual commitment feel like the default.
Browse every alternatives guide, or start with the media category.