Last updated on February 4th, 2021 at 06:23 pm

What is Live streaming Services?

We are all obsessed with online services offering plenty of content and entertainment on the go. Livestreaming TV services offer a bunch of TV channels that you can watch online without requiring any equipment such as satellite or cable.

The channel grids resemble that of a satellite or cable TV, but live streaming TV allows you to watch through an app on a streaming device such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV. Instead of having any DVR box or receiver, you can watch everything on the go without paying for the equipment charges. Apart from a few local TV channels, there are no channel numbers when it comes to Live TV Stream. People often love to stream their favorites using apps such as OBS Stream. Learn more about it from Hosted Virtual Desktop providers.

Live streaming Service VS Cable TV

Livestreaming Service offers you plenty of channels including Fox, NBC, ESPN, and many more. You don’t require to have a set-top box. Just a high-speed internet will allow you to watch whatever you want, whether it be a soccer World Cup or local NBC matches. Plus you don’t need to pay any hidden charges, sign for long term contracts, or pay equipment rentals. The cost is charged upfront for every month. Watch as you pay and quit whenever you like to. There are no limitations.

When it comes to cable TV, you have plenty of choices, but with added costs. For instance, you need to pay for equipment every month and installation charges, sign a contract and often face a surge in prices every year or two. Moreover, you can also select from different packages offering plenty of perks including HD channels, local programming, and premium networks like HBO, Starz, Redzone, and NFL. If you are looking for cable TV that offers everything discussed above, you can subscribe to Optimum TV packages with free installation and prices as low as $84.99 per month.

Overall, there are some limitations when we compare live streaming service VS cable TV. However, some of the positive aspects may override other depending on your needs and requirements. But if you are looking for an affordable option, there is no better choice than Livestreaming services while for large households with 8-10 family members may opt for cable TV.

We have carefully examined the differences between live streaming and cable TV. Now it’s time to reveal some of the best streaming services for live TV. Stay tuned and let’s get started.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is undoubtedly the best overall live streaming service offering plenty of live cable channels in just $55 per month. The availability of channels depends on the area you live in. When it comes to cable TV, you will find plenty of channels like Discovery, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Animal Planet, AMC, and VH1. But Hulu + Live TV does not offer these channels, and you cannot expect from any other live streaming services as well.

If you are a sports lover, you will be able to watch NBC Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, TNT, TBS, FS1, and FS2. In addition, Hulu + Live TV also brings several regional sports networks along with a bunch of college sports channels. But keep in mind that you won’t be able to watch channels like NBA, NHL Pro Sports, MLB, and NFL. Hulu Plus Live TV is compatible with Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Xbox, Roku, and Android TV.

Hulu + Live TV also offers cloud DVR services that allow you to record 50 hours of content, which is not plenty, but still useful. However, the biggest drawback is that you cannot record a single episode; instead, you need to record the entire series.

Sling TV

Sling TV is another popular streaming service for live TV that offers channel options and interface similar to Hulu. The basic plans are quite affordable but confusing. However, unlike Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV offers plenty of customization options and add-on packages.

You can choose from two plans such as Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Sling Orange offers 30 channels at price $30 per month. While Sling Blue brings 40 channels for $30 per month. The pricing plan is quite confusing, but one thing is for sure that it is not a bad deal for casual TV watchers.

Sling Blue and Orange packages are pretty similar and offer major sports networks along with regional and college sports channels. Another great thing about Sling is that you can watch NFL network and add on some extra channels such as RedZone, NBA TV, and NFL with an additional cost of $10 per month.

Overall, the Sling TV channel lineup is enticing as it is owned by DISH. However, if you don’t take care of the additional cost, you might get out of budget. For instance, you need to pay an extra $5 every month for add-on channels like Paramount Network and MTV. Some of the downsides of Sling TV include lacking channels that might be available with other providers or at least on cable TV. Sling TV is compatible with Xiaomi, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Air TV Player, Apple TV, and Android TV.

Philo

When comparing streaming service for live TV, Philo is undoubtedly the cheapest of all. If you are not fond of sports and have no interest in local channels, then Philo is surely going to satisfy your needs. It offers only one package that costs $20 per month and includes 58 channels including Food Network, HGTV, BBC America, Discovery, Hallmark, AMC, Comedy Central, and many more.

One of the reasons for Philo being so cheap is that it does not provide streaming to local and sports channels. It largely focuses on entertainment and lifestyle channels. But if you are a sports lover, we would recommend you not to consider Philo at all. It is also not customizable, unlike other streaming services. However, for merely $20 per month, Philo is surely going to give you plenty of entertainment. Philo is compatible with popular devices including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV.