Around five years ago, we decided to cut the cord. We have never watched a lot of TV, but we researched some alternatives to cable TV anyway. With cable alternatives, we knew we could still watch our favorite shows if we wanted to while saving money.
Like many people who are looking for alternatives to cable TV, we decided to go with Netflix. Now that we travel full-time, we often cancel and restart our subscription depending on whether or not we’ll have reliable internet.
Also because we travel full-time, we have met many, many people over the years who go to great lengths to keep their cable/satellite channels. Luckily, in today’s world, there are so many great alternatives to cable TV.
There are options for people who love sports, people who want lots of movies, people who want to watch current seasons of shows, and more.
We cut the cord and got rid of cable, and we haven’t missed it one bit. Seriously, we haven’t even thought about it!
Out of all of the ways you can watch TV shows and movies, cable is definitely the most expensive option out there. And, according to USA Today, the average monthly cable bill in 2017 was $100.98.
If you have cable right now, then you are likely spending around $1,200 a year on cable alone.
I know of many people who spend even more on cable TV, many over $150 a month, and I even had someone tell me that they spend over $300 a MONTH on their cable bill. While that may seem crazy to you, I know there are many people who spend that much on cable TV.
If you are paying for cable TV, just think of what else you could do with that money if you found one of the many great alternatives to cable TV!
By learning how to cut the cord and get rid of cable, you can learn how to save money (a lot, in fact!) over your lifetime. That money could be better spent on retirement, traveling, family, and more.
Even though getting rid of cable seems like an obvious way to save some money, it can still be hard for many people.
But today, I’m going to help you cut the cord and finally get rid of cable so you can start saving money immediately.
Here are 16 alternatives to cable TV.
1. Cutting cable is easy with a digital antenna.
When you think about antennas, you probably think about the classic rabbit ears that are big and ugly. You probably also think about how the picture is never perfect and how channels can get blurry and almost completely fade away.
These days, antennas are all digital, and that means they are sleek and allow you to watch your favorite TV shows with crystal clear reception.
This is one of the least expensive alternatives to cable TV because there is no monthly cost – just a small upfront cost to buy the antenna. You pay for the antenna once and then watch local channels as much as you want.
Before we sold our house and started traveling full-time, we bought a digital antenna, like this one. It’s an indoor one that sat behind our TV, it wasn’t ugly, and we sometimes forgot that it was there. Now, that is an affiliate link, but I didn’t even find out that I could be an affiliate until after we had bought and started using the antenna.
For around $20 (just a one-time fee!), you can get all of the local channels plus some extras you didn’t know existed, and they all come in with great picture quality.
We no longer have the antenna, as we now have a smart TV that has an antenna built in and finds local channels for us – at picture perfect quality, for no additional cost.
2. Netflix
Netflix is what we’ve been using to watch TV mostly, and it’s one of my favorite alternatives to cable TV on this list. That’s because Netflix has some of our favorite TV shows that we could watch over and over again.
Netflix has been putting a lot of money into creating their own content, including popular favorites like Stranger Things, Black Mirror, Orange Is the New Black, House of Cards, Arrested Development, and more.
They constantly adds more titles too, which keeps this alternative feeling fresh. It’s also very good at learning the types of shows you watch and making recommendations.
There are three different Netflix plans:
- Basic $8.99/month- You can watch unlimited movies and shows on one device only.
- Standard $12.99/month- Same as Basic, with HD level picture quality, and you can watch on up to two screens at a time.
- Premium $15.99/month- This has HD and Ultra HD and you can watch unlimited Netflix on up to four devices at a time.
Netflix also offers your first month free.
3. Hulu
If you want to watch the current season of your favorite network shows, Hulu is one of the best alternatives to cable TV for you. Plus, Hulu has been releasing their own content with Hulu Original series like The Path, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Casual. They also has a growing movie library that they change pretty regularly.
And, while some streaming services are starting to increase their monthly costs, Hulu has actually lowered the cost of their lowest level of service from $7.99/month to $5.99/month.
Here are Hulu’s plan options and pricing:
- Hulu $5.99/month- You can stream over 85,000 episode of your favorite shows, movies, and Hulu Originals.
- Hulu (No Ads) $11.99/month- Same as the above, but you get a completely ad-free experience.
- Hulu + Live TV $44.99/month- You get access to everything in Hulu’s library and streaming live TV.
- Hulu Premium Networks $8.99-$14.99/month- You can pay for premium cable channels when you want them, including HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz.
Hulu also lets you customize your plan even more with add-ons like unlimited screens, enhanced cloud DVR, Espanol add-on, and more.
Hulu gives new users a 30-day free trial.
4. Sling TV
The way Sling works is by giving you access to shows on some of the most popular networks, including live TV. On Sling, you can watch Disney, AMC, TNT, TBS, Comedy Central, and more.
And, I have been hearing more and more people talking about Sling TV as one of the best alternatives to cable TV for sports lovers because Sling has ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, NFL Network, and add-ons like SEC Network, NHL Network, and NBA TV.
Sling also regularly runs promotions for free streaming devices when you sign up and pay for a couple of months of service.
Sling has three plan levels:
- Sling Orange $25/month (first month is $15) comes with channels like Disney, Food Network, Comedy Central, and more.
- Sling Blue $25/month (first month is $15) comes with channels like Bravo, E!, TLC, and more.
- Sling Blue and Orange $40/month (first month is $25) comes with all the channels in Blue and Orange.
If you have Sling and are looking for Sling TV alternatives, below is a good, low cost option.
5. Philo
Philo offers simple pricing and gives you access to over 50 channels for live and on-demand TV, unlimited recording, and there is a Philo app to watch it on any of your devices. And, it has some of the most popular channels, like AMC, TLC, Nickelodeon, Food Network, and more.
Philo is only $20 a month. There is a 7-day free trial, and you don’t have to enter any billing information for the first 48 hours of your free trial.
6. Amazon Prime Video
If you currently have an Amazon Prime subscription, then you already have access to Amazon Prime Video. This makes watching through Amazon Prime Video a good way to reduce your number of monthly subscriptions.
Amazon Prime Video has new releases and classics of your favorite movies and shows, and they continue building their own collection of Amazon Original Series.
Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime Subscription, which is $119 per year or $8.99 per month. There are also premium channel add-ons like HBO, Showtime, and more.
7. HBO Now
HBO Now is available through many other streaming services, like Hulu and Amazon Prime, but HBO Now is available on its own if you only want to pay for HBO shows and movies. The cost is the same whether you purchase it as an add-on or on it’s own, and there is a student discount available:
- HBO Now is $14.99 per month.
- Comes with a 7-day free trial.
- You can cancel and restart whenever you want.
- HBO Now can be streamed on multiple devices.
8. YouTube
One of the ways Wes and I watch TV is by going to YouTube and watching sailing or traveling videos. We always end up watching funny, random ones too. And even though you may have to watch ads now and then, those ads keep YouTube free.
YouTube has a wide variety of content, and you can find things from your favorite YouTubers, web only content from your favorite TV channels, and clips from comedy series (like SNL) and interviews.
9. YouTube TV
YouTube now has their own live TV service, and you can watch shows from 70+ different networks – including ESPN, Bravo, Animal Planet, TLC, National Geographic, FX, and more.
YouTube TV costs $49.99 a month, and there are some add-ons available, like:
- Showtime $7 month
- Fox Soccer Plus $15 month
- AMC $5 a month
- Starz $9 a month
- NBA League Pass $40 a month
While YouTube TV alone is nearly half the cost of the average cable bill, adding too many extras on can easily make this alternative cost almost the same as cable.
10. The library
The library is my favorite on this list of alternatives to cable TV because it’s completely free! Libraries have a huge selection of movies (even new releases), complete series of TV shows, and more. Many libraries have partnerships with other libraries in the area, so if you can’t find what you want to watch at one library, it’s probably available at another.
Many libraries now give you digital access with your library card to TV and movies through free services like:
- Kanopy
- Hoopla
There may be some restrictions on how many shows and movies you can watch a month, but free is a great thing if you’re cutting the cord to save money.
11. ESPN+
Here is another alternative for sports lovers – ESPN+ is one of the lowest cost alternatives to cable TV. It’s $4.99 per month and you can watch live sporting events and ESPN+ Originals.
There is also a 7-day free trial so you can try it out.
12. fuboTV
fuboTV looks very similar to traditional cable with a heavy focus on sports. You get access to live sports and top TV channels, cloud DVR, and can share your account across multiple devices.
fuboTV has four different plans:
- fubo Standard $54.99/month. 90+ channels, 30 hours of cloud DVR, sharing on two devices.
- fubo Family $59.99/month. 90+ channels, 500 hours of cloud DVR, sharing on three devices.
- fubo Family Deluxe $64.99/month. 132 channels, 35 more entertainment channels, 500 hours of cloud DVR, sharing on three devices.
- fubo Ultra $79.99/month. 165 channels, fubo Extra, Showtime, Sports Plus, 500 hours of cloud DVR, and sharing on three devices.
13. Playstation VUE
Playstation VUE is very similar to fuboTV, and surprisingly, you don’t need a Playstation to watch Playstation VUE. Like all of the alternatives to cable TV, you can access it through your smart TV, streaming device, or on your laptop, through an app, and more.
Playstation VUE offers the following plans:
- Access $49.99/month. Live TV on some of the most popular channels.
- Core $54.99/month. Live TV and a sports package.
- Elite $64.99/month. Live TV, sports package, and top movie channels.
- Ultra $84.99/month. Live TV, sports package, top movie channels, and premium channels.
14. Disney+
Disney+ is a brand new streaming service – it is actually set to launch in November 2019. It will offer classic Disney movies, original series, short-form content, and documentaries. Because Disney owns a number of franchises and networks, you’ll be able to watch the following things on Disney Plus:
- Pixar
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- National Geographic
- Fox classics like the Sound of Music and 30 seasons of the Simpsons
This will be a great option for families and the cost is relatively low – Disney+ will be $6.99 a month and includes unlimited downloads, access across devices, and more.
Disney also owns Hulu and ESPN, and it was recently released that there will be a discounted bundle package including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ that runs $12.99 per month. You can expect that when Disney+ launches in November 2019.
15. Go straight to the source.
For some cable and network channels, you can go straight to their website online and watch their TV shows right there for free. So, all you need is internet in order to do this! Depending on the channel, you might only be able to watch the most recent episodes or ones that are a little older.
16. Do anything else!
This might be the best alternative to cable TV, but that’s just my opinion.
And here’s why, the average person watches over 30 hours of TV a week. If you used just half of those hours finding things to do instead of watching TV, you could probably accomplish something great!
Now, I’m not completely hating on TV.
I have my favorite TV shows and can sit in front of a TV for hours on end.
However, for the most part, the average person probably spends way too much time just flipping through channels or watching something that they probably don’t even like.
If you feel like you aren’t accomplishing your goals in life or that you are always pressed for time, then you should first analyze how much time you’re wasting each day, especially when it comes to how much TV you watch.
You may not even realize how much time you spend in front of the TV!
Once you realize how much time you are probably wasting in front of the TV, I want you to start taking back some of that time, stop watching as much TV, and put your time to better use by finding things to do instead of watching TV!
Other things you could do with your time that are alternatives to cable TV include:
- Read a book, blog, etc.
- Get a book from the library.
- Go to a museum.
- Do yoga.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Go for a walk.
- Play with your pet.
- Go for a swim.
- Look at the stars.
- Go fishing.
- Go camping.
- Find free attractions in your city.
- Train for a marathon.
- Start a garden. Fresh food is the best!
- Find a way to make extra money.
Read further at 59 Things To Do Instead of Watching TV So That You Can Take Your Life Back.
How much money are we saving by cutting cable TV?
Like many people, when we had cable, we weren’t watching enough TV enough to get our money’s worth. So, that money was just being wasted. It was actually rare for us to watch something that wasn’t on a local channel or Netflix. This was the main reason for why we decided to cut the cord, and I can’t imagine that we will ever pay for cable again.
The other thing about paying for cable is that our cable company seemed to have a $10 to $20 increase multiple times throughout the year – that’s just insane! I used to have to talk to our cable company once every six months so that I could negotiate our cable bill down. If we would have never negotiated, I’m sure our monthly cable bill would have been well over $100 and near the $200 range.
Now that we have cut the cord and only have Netflix, we are saving over $1,200 per year.
All we pay for now is $12.99 to Netflix each month, and we often turn that off when we feel like there’s nothing good to watch (which is often, haha!).
I can’t believe we ever paid that much for TV!
Why getting rid of cable will change your life.
As you can see, there are tons of tv options other than cable! There are options like going to the library and watching series straight from the source that are completely free. You can also find less expensive options like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ and still have on-demand access to the shows you want.
That means that if you want to get rid of cable to save money, it’s very easy to do. No more excuses! There are dozens of channels and hundreds of movies you can save money on.
Paying for one year of cable can easily cost $1,200 or more – this is so much money!
You can find an alternative and use your savings to put towards debt, invest it for retirement, or it can be used to pursue your passions. Putting your money towards these things can cause less stress, and that’s something we all need to reduce.
Or, if you really want to change your life, what if you got rid of TV altogether?
You can spend more time outside, visit more with friends and family, get more sleep at night, and live healthier both mind and body.
Now, you can still rent a movie or pay for a month of Hulu here and there, but living without TV for longer periods is something you can try if you want to find a way to change your life.
Are you thinking about getting rid of cable? What alternatives to cable TV do you have?
The post 16 Alternatives To Cable TV That WILL Save You Money appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.