This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
It amazes me that even with the technology we have at our fingertips, there are still so many people afraid to cut the cable cord.
While I understand the fear behind losing access to your absolute favorite shows, that’s a lot of money you’re spending for the sake of entertainment!
We used to pay almost $720 per year for cable TV because I didn’t want to lose channels like HGTV, HLN, and Hallmark. Looking back though, it pains me how much we could have saved if we had only done without. We finally decided to let cable go over a year ago, and have never looked back. Not because we don’t miss it, but rather because we have alternatives that work just as well, if not better, for us!
With streaming sites, subscription services, and special bundles are popping up all over the place, it’s easier than ever to say goodbye to cable. These 9 awesome alternatives will keep more money in your pocket, and give you even greater entertainment options than you could ever ask for. It’s all part of knowing how to manage money better!
Yep, for real.
1. Channel Websites and Apps
Many popular channels (NBC, FOX, PBS, The CW etc) offer series episodes for free on their respective websites or apps, usually the day after they air. The catch? They limit their selection to only show the last 5 episodes. This is really useful though if you only watch a few shows and actively keep up after each release. Of course, that is assuming the network does indeed upload each episode to their site after airing. Some do not.
Note: The ABC app used to be free, but now you need a cable subscription to access it. Bummer!
Cost: FREE
Gear You Need: Computer/tablet/phone (with an HDMI cable with an adapter if you want to stream directly to your TV). Google “HDMI adapter for ____ (ex. iPad) to find the one you need.
Savings: $720/year
2. Netflix
Netflix is a streaming service that really trumps the competition when it comes to original content, movies, kid-friendly TV, and ad-free episodes. However, even though they have an extensive library of past seasons, they usually don’t air episodes until the entire season is complete. Kind of a pain if you want to keep up with your favorite shows, but from what I hear, the movie selection is top-notch.
Cost: $13.99/month
Gear You Need: Computer/tablet/phone to stream from the internet or an app, Smart TV, HDMI Cable with adapter, or streaming device to connect to your TV (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or Apple TV)
Savings: $552/year
3. Hulu
Hulu is similar to Netflix in that they both stream TV shows and movies. However, while Netflix waits until a season is over before airing, Hulu features all shows the day after they go live. Most past seasons are available in the archives, but occasionally a channel (ex: The CW) will have a separate contract and give them access only to the last 5 episodes.
Hulu does feature some ads, but that’s one of the reasons why they’ve been able to keep costs so low and air next day shows. However, they do not carry ALL shows (ex. The Good Wife), so make sure to look on Hulu’s website to see what they have before committing.
Note: The basic version of Hulu is the cheapest, but it comes with lots of ads, only the last 5 episodes of most channels, and no streaming on the go. They also have a smaller movie selection.
The Hulu Live TV is a great option for families! With 65+ live channels and the entire Hulu streaming library (all for $64.99/month), this can be an economical way to enjoy a lot of variety.
Cost: starting at $5.99/month
Gear You Need: Computer/tablet/phone to stream from the internet or an app, Smart TV, HDMI Cable with adaptor, or streaming device to connect to your TV (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or Apple TV)
Savings: $648/year
4. Sling TV
If you want to cut your cable but still watch Hallmark or Hallmark movies, then say hello to Sling TV. Sling streams through Dish Network, and carries live channels such as, HGTV, ESPN, Food Network, Travel, DIY Network and many others. And yes, it has Hallmark!
Not only can you stream live, you can also go back and start the current episode over, or watch any episode on that channel within the last 24 hours (for most, not ALL). Pair with an antennae, and you could have both basic and premium channels for less than a typical cable subscription!
Note: You can watch Sling on your tablet or smartphone, but it can only stream through one device at a time — so everyone in the family needs to be watching the same show on the same device, not separately.
Cost: $20/month (Some Channels, like Hallmark, may add a little cost to the subscription fee)
Gear You Need: Tablet to stream from the app, or streaming device to connect to your TV (You can use Roku, Amazon Fire TV as well as a few other devices)
Savings: $480/year
5. Amazon Prime + Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Prime isn’t just for two-day shipping, it also features hundreds of movies and shows that you can watch for free online with your subscription (just be sure to check the Prime option!). From my experience with Prime, I didn’t find the selection to be awesome for adults, but they do have a lot of kid-friendly options.
If you want to get even more out of Amazon Prime, definitely invest in Amazon Fire TV. This device connects to your TV so you can watch all your Amazon Prime episodes there within minutes (no messing with cables), and includes the option for Netflix, Hulu, HBO streaming, and connects with Sling TV. Plus, the voice search is very kid-friendly if you don’t want your child pushing all the buttons on the remote!
Psst…Amazon also has al la carte subscription options. You can choose from the Lifetime Movie Network, UP channel, and even Showtime or Starz. Sign up for a free 7-day trial HERE.
Cost: $119/year or $12.99/month
Gear You Need: Computer or tablet (with an HDMI cable and adaptor if you want to stream directly to your TV), Amazon Fire TV Device, or smart device for streaming using the app
Savings: $621/year
6. Roku
The Roku is a streaming device/stick that also lets you access the standard Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Sling TV subscriptions, but also has over a thousand extra channels that are unique and completely free. Selections include a channel devote to TED Talks, PBS, YouTube, and all sorts of travel, kid-friendly, and fitness topics. Plus, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get access to all those channels too!
Cost: $89.99 one-time cost + any subscriptions
Gear You Need: Roku Device (there are a few different ones)
Savings: $624/year (with Hulu subscription)
7. Apple TV
For die-hard Apple users, Apple TV might be the way to go. This is a small device that connects to your TV, and allows you to stream music, videos, and TV shows from your iTunes Library. You can buy each TV episode for about $2.99, or a season pass which includes all current and future episodes ($29.99-$39.99). Personally, I’m not sure that’s worth it, especially since Apple TV does stream Hulu and Netflix.
Other channels on Apple TV require additional subscriptions as well (ABC, Fox, ESPN, HBO, etc), or you need to verify that you get the channels through a cable or satellite provider. Select A&E, Lifetime, History, PBS, and other channels are available for free, some are live streaming, and of course, you can always watch YouTube. Here’s a complete list of channels provided.
Cost: $69 one-time cost for device + any subscriptions
Gear You Need: Apple TV Device, HDMI Cable with adapter
Savings: $624/year (with Hulu subscription)
8. Chromecast
The cheapest of all streaming devices, Chromecast allows you to stream Netflix and Hulu from your TV, including the Chrome browser (which means you can watch videos on your TV set without using an HDMI cable to connect it).
It also features Google Play, which is Google’s version of iTunes. You can purchase full seasons through Google Play (around $16.99), or pay $1.99 per episode, which may or may not be worth it depending on how much TV you actually watch.
Cost: $35 one-time cost for device + any subscriptions
Gear You Need: Chromecast Device
Savings: $624/year (with Hulu subscription)
9. Smart TV
If you don’t want the hassle of different devices, a Smart TV might be another option. Not only does it have the very popular Netflix and Hulu subscription channels, you can also access the internet straight from your device and watch shows from each channel’s specific website or YouTube. The only downside is the technology may become outdated and it’s easier to update a small streaming device than invest in a brand new TV.
Cost: $299+ one-time cost + subscriptions
Gear You Need: Smart TV
Savings: $624/year (with Hulu subscription)
10. Paramount (formerly CBS All Access)
CBS All Access used to be free, but now shows on this network are packaged together in Paramount. If you want to watch sports live, stay informed with breaking news, and enjoy the extras like your favorite shows and all your kids’ favorites on Nickoledeon, this could be a good fit for you! Try it for a month for FREE here.
Cost: starting at $5.99/month
Gear You Need: Computer/tablet/phone (with an HDMI cable with an adapter if you want to stream directly to your TV) or Roku or Smart TV or Firestick
Savings: $648/year
– – – – –
We actually used to go the channel website and apps route, and it saved us a ton of money! But as we found ourselves watching more and more shows, it just wasn’t possible to keep up with them all when you only have the last 5 episodes to watch.
Now we use an antennae for basic channels, Sling TV, and a Hulu subscription. With all three, we’ve never had to miss a favorite show, and I love that I can watch HGTV or Food Network episodes any time I want! Our savings average out to approximately $387 per year over a regular cable subscription, and I couldn’t be any happier with the variety of entertainment we have at our fingertips.
I know all these alternatives to cable might seem overwhelming, but try to pick and choose based on your personal preferences.
If you have kids, you might want to go with Amazon Prime. If you’re a movie junkie, Netflix is probably your cup of tea. Love to binge-watch TV episodes? Hulu is where it’s at. But if you’re an HGTV addict, you’ll definitely want to invest in Sling.
Pick and choose a combo that works best for you, then make that call to your cable company and finally cut the cord. You can totally do it!
Do you still pay for cable?
Have you tried any of these alternatives?
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.
celeste says
I read these in hopes that there’s something new out…since we’re been streaming our TV for over 3 years now. One thing I do want to try that you didn’t mention is Mohu Leaf Paper – Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna. I keep putting of the purchase because I’m afraid to get sucked in wasting more time…but ti’s an option that a few of my friends seem to love.
Kalyn Brooke says
Thanks so much for mentioning this one! I had not heard of it before, but sounds like it’s something worthwhile to look into for sure.
nancy says
I have the leaf hooked to 2 tv’s. I bought it from Sams Club and it had 2 in a package for about 50$. It works great. I probably get about 30 or so channels. I also do netflix
carlos goodwin says
What is the leaf?
Kalyn Brooke says
It looks like this is the Leaf: Mohu MH-110583 Leaf Paper Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna with Premium Cables, Premium Connectors
I’ve never tried it but after reading the reviews and the comments here I may look into it. Our current antenna is giving us some trouble.
Maureen Butcher says
Have enjoyed watching what we want through roku, netflix and amazon for over 2 years now. And for the most part, the best thing, is it is commercial free. We pay like $40.00 for internet connection and with all that mentioned above we do not miss expensive cable bills any longer.
Linda LeCompte says
Did any of these offer hallmark channel?
Kalyn Brooke says
Unfortunately, no. I’m looking forward to the day when Hallmark is offered on Hulu or Netflix, or part of a different package!
Dee says
same frustration;
I don’t understand why Hallmark Ch seems to be the only hold out from usual favorites, but now that I know HGTV, etc is available on Sling –guess I’ll just write to Hallmark & let them know that in spite of being a daily fan -they are the ONLY holdout and not worth cable for just one channel —
* * * Maybe we could start a petition to let them know how many loyal viewers they’ve lost??? * * *
Kalyn Brooke says
I’d sign that! 🙂 I miss Hallmark… but not enough to pay an arm and a leg to get it and 100 other channels I don’t miss.
Katie says
They just added Hallmark and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries to Sling if you do the lifestyles add on package for $5. I don’t really care about anything else on there as I like my Netflix and Hulu just fine. But I might do it for the month of December so I can see all the Christmas movies!
Kalyn Brooke says
This is fantastic news!
Eva says
Have you checked Sony PlayStation vue? They offer a subscription service for watching over a 100 channels for about 45 a month and you download the app onto a kindle fire tv and other devices. Not sure they have hallmark but thought I seen something. Worth checking out
Kalyn Brooke says
I hadn’t checked that out yet. I just took a quick look and it doesn’t look like they have Hallmark but they do have several sports channels for those who are looking to cut the cord but have people in their home who need their sports fix.
Joselyn says
Me too! I am missing Hallmark?
Jeff says
I was just looking up Hallmark Channel for my sister-in law, and it is offered on Hulu now according to the Hulu add.
Kalyn Brooke says
I have Hulu and have not seen it yet. It doesn’t appear that Hulu has it. Maybe they are offering some specific Hallmark content?
Jarymud says
“Feeln” is the Hallmark channel but it doesn’t have much variety-lots of old movies.
Cheryl says
What is the best choice for my husband to still be able to watch sports games live (football, hockey, basketball etc)? We get the premium sports network through regular cable which is only like $8/ month but all the cable companies require you to upgrade your cable package in order to add on the sports package. Other than sports, we don’t really watch tv and my kids watch DVDs and shows on demand so I would love to ditch cable!
Becky says
I would also like to know this. While my husband and I do have our selection of shows we enjoy and keep up with, and I do have the option of visiting my parents to catch the one show I like to keep up with that costs almost as much as buying the dvds to stream without cable (a BBC America one), my husband loves hockey and loathes our most local team. So the traditional answers of “go to a sports bar or a friend’s house” won’t work for him, nor does he want to resort to that since we have a baby on the way. So this is pretty much THE thing I’d really like to figure out for him before we try cutting cable.
Heidi says
I’m also interested in the answer as sports is the major reason we keep DirecTv.
Kalyn Brooke says
ESPN and ESPN 2 are both offered through Sling TV, {and when it came to March Madness, TBS also carried the games as well}, but you won’t get any non-ESPN sports shows. You do have the option though to grab MLB .TV, NBA League Pass, and MSL Live as a la carte options. You pay for these by season.
Jennifer says
Do any of these carry the NFL network channel? We’re a huge sports family, as well, and my husband watches a lot of this channel.
Kalyn Brooke says
Not that I have seen. 🙁 That’s the one major drawback to cutting cable! Sling TV does fill in the gaps for some sports watchers, but if someone is really into a specific sport, it can be a little more difficult to find an alternative.
Sue says
Playstation view has the NFL network included in it’s middle and top package.
Keren says
My husband got this streaming box called Stroom box, at first he got it because it included a sports package but in the long run we use it for everything, we can any movie that we want, any tv show, we can also watch older seasons everything is commercial free too, which was exciting bc I got to watch old big Brother episodes. We have saved a lot of money, we still kept basic cable but canceled HBO and Showtime. And no more Netflix. My husband loves the sports package deal, he can watch any game any time, any team. we got ours on Stroombox.com
Kalyn Brooke says
I’m going to have to look into this, Keren! Thanks for the information.
Therese Kossuth says
I just went to the website and asked a couple of pointed questions regarding streaming Live Sports. I have the A-Box(android TV) unit I bought in February and finally cut the cord to my cable company few months later. My one issue is streaming live sports and specifically the teams I follow= Gators and Rays. The last several weeks I can not stream my football games. Stroombox admits the units shine for TV shows and movies but the sports streaming is poor picture quality(not HD) and there are issues obtaining specific teams. So I am not purchasing this box. Let me know if you learn anything different.
STEVE MANWARING says
you are making the right choice to NOT buy this hunk of junk. i can’t get any normal quality movies, let alone HD, and tonight i can’t get to the movies. this thing is trash.
Angel says
My big question with Stroombox is can I get Disney Jr and Nick Jr? And if I can, is it only a few episode of a few select shows? Or is it all, and more importantly the most current, episodes?
And does it provide local channels or will I need an antenna?
Kalyn Brooke says
I’m not sure. I still haven’t had a lot of time to look into Stroombox. Anyone else have an answer to this?
STEVE MANWARING says
YEAH I HAVE AN ANSWER, don’t waste your time and money with stroombox, we are SO disappointed in this stupid thing
onefeather says
That is what I am buying, cutting the high cable bill. I have read that this is one of the best.
Kalyn Brooke says
Please feel free to come back and let me know how it works for you!
Fran Robinson says
There’s also Jetflicks. We’ve had them for over 4 years. They upload episodes within an hour or 2 from airtime. It’s 9.99 a month or they give you a price break if you pay in chunks. I think half off highly pay for the year. Not bad at all. And they have so many shows. Regular network, reality cable shows, regular cable shows, and the Showtime/HBO stuff. My referral code is 26733 if anyone wants to check it out. We’ve been so happy cordless. We have Jetflicks, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. I had the Amazon for other reasons so the tv was a total bonus.
Bryn says
$720 a year? How about $1440.00 a year? I tried saving w/a satellite dish but couldn’t because I live in an apartment. Going to have to cut the cable cord but I think we will be okay.
Kalyn Brooke says
Wow! Prices definitely vary from region to region, that’s for sure. On the bright side, cutting the cable cord would result in even bigger and better savings for you! 🙂
Brian says
The problem with most, if not all, of these alteratives, Kalyn, is that they require an unlimited broadband internet connection of some sort, and in my town, that’s the cable company or DSL. Either way, that connection costs about the same as cable alone, so that leaves us back where we started.
That said, I’ve never had cable anyway. As busy as my family is, all of that is just TMI, and a distraction from our real lives.
We do have a Chromecast that we can access using our phones as a hotspot, but we use it rarely, in part because the hotspot data limit is pretty low, and that’s ok. All that stuff is a treat for us, not a staple, and we seem to do okay anyway.
Kerin M Schiesser says
What you should try is Jetflicks.mobi This site works great from a phone or tablet (in fact, by preference – you have to diddle about a bit to watch it on some desktops, depending on what browser you use).
This site has multiple channels, including some things from subscription channels, like True Blood or Game of Thrones. The best thing is that they keep all the seasons available, whenever possible, but BEST OF ALL – they update the most CURRENT episode within a day or so. It has a VERY reasonable monthly subscription, but you can save even more paying by the 6mo or year plans.
You can also choose the less expensive subscription for just scripted shows – OR pay just a little bit more for the “reality shows.” It’s only a few dollars more, and worth it to me as I like SyFy’s Face Off and some of the cooking shows. But if you don’t care about those shows, it’s even cheaper than getting both.
Generally, it’s $9.99 / month and adding reelflix (the “reality show” package) is $4.99/month If you want to add HD, that’s another $1.99/month – though I’ve never needed it for watching on my phone or tablet or desktop computer.
You save a VERY big chunk just paying for the year. Instead of a about $180 (FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, mind you!) that you would pay over 12 months, getting BOTH, if you pay the $49.99 + $59.88 price for both, it comes to about 109.87 … for an entire YEAR of television. That’s about what cable costs me per month, and I get to watch whatever I want, whenever I want.
And here’s the BEST part- NO ADS. None. I don’t know if they’ll be able to keep that up, but so far they have and I LOVE it. I know they used to have some technology problems, but they’ve recently revamped everything, and they are serious about their customer support these days. I suggest going to their Facebook page if you have jetflicks and are still facing issues. I’ve never had any problems, but some Mac people with older browsers (cough cough my parents cough) could play the shows, but had trouble seeing the icons for some of the seasons. That’s the only problem I’ve ever seen in person.
I’d just like to say one more thing. I don’t work for Jetflicks.mobi, I get no advantage for recommending them, they have no connection to me aside from the fact that I think they’re the best thing since sliced microchips. I heartily recommend this service. Go ahead and try it for the free month and I think you’ll be hooked.
One usage note. When you log in, click on the magnifying glass to find an alphabet. Click the letter of the show you’re looking for, and scroll down. Click the show tile, pick a season tile, scroll to the episode you want to watch and click. that’s all there is to it.
Also – some things have a slightly different FULL name than you might think – check a few different letters as the show you are looking for might be there under a different first letter than you thought.
Enjoy!
michelle says
An old time method of cutting cable costs was to tape the show as it aired on tv. You can use a converter box for your antenna to pick up free tv on the network channels and your DVR to record it. All you have to do is program it and set it up with a dvd-r. Then your good to go.
Rene says
So we have slow dsl where I live. Cable isn’t offered out in the boonies! I would much like to drop the satellite company but basically one thing holding us back. My husband and daughter love The Walking Dead! Last time I checked, I couldn’t find a streaming service that had any AMC programs. Does anyone know of any that do?
Kalyn Brooke says
Yes! Sling TV has AMC: https://www.sling.com/programming/entertainment The only thing that could potentially be a problem is the speed of your internet since it works off wifi, but it’s definitely worth looking into.
Karla says
We don’t watch any TV, but have Netflix streaming both for movies/tv shows and educational programs since I homeschool. The limits are kind of annoying (they don’t seem to have recent releases and they have a lot of sequels but not the first movie, stuff like that). One of our favorite resources is our local library, which we use almost every week anyway – you can request any movie from the database online and have it sent to your library if it’s not already there Sure, you might not be able to watch it the second you want, but that’s alright.
Kalyn Brooke says
That’s really neat that the library will order movies for you! And that’s one of the reasons we decided not to go with Netflix and chose Hulu instead, but having programs for homeschooling is a really great benefit too. I can’t say for sure that Hulu would have those, though it might be worth checking!
Nikki @ Growing Up Mom says
I love my roku and don’t know what I would do without it. My favorite channels, PBS & PBS Kids, plus Plex, PlayOn, Crackle, okay there are just too many to list them all but you get the gist. Roku is awesome. Also, I am a bigger fan of Netflix content over HuluPlus or Amazon Prime. With my PlayOn lifetime membership ($80.00 period), I can watch all free Hulu (original Hulu) shows, and so much more which trumps HuluPlus if you ask me. Also, for movies I find Netflix better than Amazon Prime (plus I can watch friends, not that I don’t already own every season).
Kalyn Brooke says
I had never heard of the PlayOn membership — going to look into that!
Christy says
We just started streaming US TV now. It has all the major networks and lots of others. We stream through our roku. It’s 20 or 25 I can’t remember. But also has ESPN.
Debra B says
I don’t miss TV at all … what a waste of money. I own a Roku and watch most of the shows I would watch on cable TV for the one-time cost of the Roku unit. One alternative you don’t mention is reading! I often read and never turn on my TV. Many popular books are available in audio from your local library or through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. Best of all, I feel I am enjoying better, more intelligent entertainment than just watching the typical boob-tube offering from cable tv.
Kalyn Brooke says
Agreed — reading is such a great {and even better} alternative!
Heather says
I didn’t read all the comments but my family primarily uses Jetflicks. We absolutely love it! It’s an annual subscription (pretty comparable to Netflix except it is paid in a lump sum). There are two purchase sections “reality” and regular TV, I guess. We buy both bcs there are a few reality shows we like. Anyway, it’s $100 for 12 months ($50 for each section). Shows are general published within a day or two of the air date and commercial free.
We also use Netflix for the kiddos. We’ve found that Netflix pretty much stinks for anything current so we use it pretty much just for kid stuff.
Kalyn Brooke says
That’s not bad! I’m going to have to look into Jetflicks.
Kerin M Schiesser says
i ADORE jetflicks.mobi A couple of extra perks that make ALL the difference:
A) NO ADS! Not ANY, not even on the mobi site itself
B) Multiple devices can watch different shows at the same time. I don’t know how many before they object, but definitely two members of your family can watch different shows at the same time
C) works very well on tablets and phones – no more boredom in the waiting room!
D) Did I mention NO ADS, NONE AT ALL?
You can pay a couple of dollars a month extra for HD, esp if you are watching on a big screen, but I’ve never needed it.
Theresa says
We have satellite TV and would like to cancel our subscription but before we do, are you aware if NASCAR races can be streamed or available via other options? We reside in Canada.
Kalyn Brooke says
Right now, I don’t know of any that do — I’m sorry!
Juliana says
The problem is that when you drop cable, the price of Internet goes way up. That’s what we’ve been struggling with…
Kim L. says
This is such an informative post, thank you! I do have a few questions for anyone that might know.
My soon to be husband Just got cable for the first time and he is way too attached to it for the price that it is. He mostly watches the Cartoon network and anything science or syfy he can come across. We are both Walking Dead and FearThe Dead fans. Is there a way I can convconvince him to a cheaper solution? It just seems like so much to pay for so little content.
Kalyn Brooke says
I know that you can access Walking Dead on Sling, but I’m not exactly sure about the Cartoon Network. Hopefully that is something they will add in the future!
Kerin M Schiesser says
I think most of that is on jetflicks.mobi – and as a bonus, with NO ads. Check it out for a month free, and you will see what all they have. I know they have a whole kids section with lots of cartoons, including ALL the back seasons, too (usually).
and no, i’m not connected with the company in any way. I’m just sick and tired of cable and LOVE jetflicks.mobi
Shelly says
IF you don’t have a Smart TV. A Blu-Ray DVD player will turn a TV into one. and not very expensive
Kalyn Brooke says
Thanks, Shelly! I didn’t know that. Joseph has been itching to get a Blu-Ray player so I’m sure he’ll add this to the list of “pros” if he hasn’t already. 🙂
Linda says
Netflix and Hulu also offer free trials.
John Graham says
Big thing for is is recording shows. Options you recommend that allow one to easily set up to record to a server? Not all shows are later available on demand or maybe I am missing something?
I appreciate the article
Kalyn Brooke says
You’re right, John. The lack of DVR is one of the toughest parts of cutting cable. We have our shows listed by network and most of the networks let you watch their shows via their app up to a few weeks after air time. We have several shows we watch from CBS which is a little more difficult as we have to wait 2 to 3 weeks before it becomes generally available on their app {they offer it to their all access subscribers right away}. It takes a little bit of work on our end but it made a huge difference in our budget. Cable networks like HBO and Showtime are different but I think you may be able subscribe to them separately now via their apps, but I’m not sure.
fishpotpete says
We just got a Tablo about a month ago. You plug your antenna into the Tablo device and the Tablo device goes into your home network. You get the Tablo channel for your Roku (or whatever) and then you can watch shows live or recorded on any TV that has the Roku type device. They have a 2 tuner for around $200 and a 4 tuner for $300 – you still need to provide your own hard drive. One thing it does that cable doesn’t do is that since it’s getting the local over the air channels, it’s also getting the “alternate” channels. So if you get ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. then each one of them will have alternate programming (movies, old TV series, etc.). I would suggest people check into that for another option. You can use it totally free after you buy it, but if you pay $5 a month (or 50/year, 150/lifetime) you get the program grid (like cable) and can see what’s coming up for the next two weeks or whatever – than makes it easier to schedule your recordings.
Kalyn Brooke says
That is a really neat option! Being able to DVR your over the air signal is a great improvement and I really like that they have the lifetime option so that if you want your not locked into another monthly subscription.
Kerin M Schiesser says
What you should try is Jetflicks.mobi This site works great from a phone or tablet (in fact, by preference – you have to diddle about a bit to watch it on some desktops, depending on what browser you use).
This site has multiple channels, including some things from subscription channels, like True Blood or Game of Thrones. The best thing is that they keep all the seasons available, whenever possible, but BEST OF ALL – they update the most CURRENT episode within a day or so. It has a VERY reasonable monthly subscription, but you can save even more paying by the 6mo or year plans.
You can also choose the less expensive subscription for just scripted shows – OR pay just a little bit more for the “reality shows.” It’s only a few dollars more, and worth it to me as I like SyFy’s Face Off and some of the cooking shows. But if you don’t care about those shows, it’s even cheaper than getting both.
Generally, it’s $9.99 / month and adding reelflix (the “reality show” package) is $4.99/month If you want to add HD, that’s another $1.99/month – though I’ve never needed it for watching on my phone or tablet or desktop computer.
You save a VERY big chunk just paying for the year. Instead of a about $180 (FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, mind you!) that you would pay over 12 months, getting BOTH, if you pay the $49.99 + $59.88 price for both, it comes to about 109.87 … for an entire YEAR of television. That’s about what cable costs me per month, and I get to watch whatever I want, whenever I want.
And here’s the BEST part- NO ADS. None. I don’t know if they’ll be able to keep that up, but so far they have and I LOVE it. I know they used to have some technology problems, but they’ve recently revamped everything, and they are serious about their customer support these days. I suggest going to their Facebook page if you have jetflicks and are still facing issues. I’ve never had any problems, but some Mac people with older browsers (cough cough my parents cough) could play the shows, but had trouble seeing the icons for some of the seasons. That’s the only problem I’ve ever seen in person.
I’d just like to say one more thing. I don’t work for Jetflicks.mobi, I get no advantage for recommending them, they have no connection to me aside from the fact that I think they’re the best thing since sliced microchips. I heartily recommend this service. Go ahead and try it for the free month and I think you’ll be hooked.
One usage note. When you log in, click on the magnifying glass to find an alphabet. Click the letter of the show you’re looking for, and scroll down. Click the show tile, pick a season tile, scroll to the episode you want to watch and click. that’s all there is to it.
Also – some things have a slightly different FULL name than you might think – check a few different letters as the show you are looking for might be there under a different first letter than you thought.
Enjoy!
Sonja says
Don’t you need internet connection with all these though? Unfortunately I have to rely on Mifi and limited data, so not sure this would be an option for me? Suggestions?
Kalyn Brooke says
If you currently have cable, does your cable provider offer an internet plan? If so, it is probably cheaper to get just the internet plan through the cable company, and then pair it with one of these options. If you don’t have cable now, then you’re already saving money! 🙂
S says
I’d like to add that if you have a Bing rewards account you can get hulu plus for free! It takes 680 credits to get 1 month of hulu free and you can get around 900 in a month (15 credits per day for desktop searches, 10 credits per day for mobile searches, and various daily tasks). This might help save y’all some money as well 🙂
Kalyn Brooke says
That’s a great way to pay for your entertainment!
mona says
i have netflix now, but im looking for something not so dark more for childern i have a 8 year old, i have notice the shows are changing, i love HGTV, educational shows netflick just discontinued property brothers and fixer uppered whats the best for moms and daughters
Kalyn Brooke says
No way—Netflix discontinued Fixer Upper? That makes me so sad. 🙁
Have you ever watched Heartland? There are 10 seasons and I believe the first 9 are on Netflix. I love this show, and it really is for the whole family. There’s clean humor, horses, and just a really neat storyline that I think your 8 year old might find enjoyable. It’s worth a shot!
Wendy says
So we have Philo which is an app based TV that is better than sling IMO and cheaper. It does has Hallmark as well and is $21 a month. Also has recording capability included. The reason it is affordable is that it doesn’t offer any locals or sports channels (which we don’t need). I’ve never had a buffering issue like I did with Sling though and it’s cheaper.
Kalyn Brooke says
Philo is a good option!