If YouTube TV’s upcoming price increase seems like a game-changer, you’re not alone.

Over the last week, I’ve heard from some people that the rate hike – from $73 per month to $83 per month starting January 13, 2025 – is the final straw. You are now looking for alternatives to YouTube TV that offer comparable channel coverage at a cheaper price.

Unfortunately, this type of simple escape hatch does not exist. Like every other live TV service (including satellite and cable), YouTube TV keeps raising prices because TV programmers demand more and more money for their channels. Unless the entire industry adopts cheaper and more flexible packages, the costs of all of these services will continue to rise.

This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services.

The only alternative is to forego your large pay TV package altogether. Although this approach involves sacrifices, the savings can be significant. Here are your options:

Consider an antenna

With an inexpensive wireless antenna and good enough reception, you can watch the four major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as PBS and a few subchannels that focus on reruns, for free. An antenna won’t completely replace a larger bundle, but it will give you a big head start. You can even set up an over-the-air DVR to record shows for later.

Antennas don’t work for everyone. Roughly speaking, to use an indoor antenna you should be within 30 miles of local broadcast stations, and for an outdoor model you should be within 60 miles. Even then, obstacles and topography can affect the signal. Check Antenna’s website for nearby stations to find out what you need and be prepared to do some trial and error. If you’re feeling adventurous, we have a list of the best indoor and outdoor antennas available.

Stream (some) local channels

If an antenna isn’t possible, you can stream some local channels instead, but that will cost you:

• Paramount+ with Showtime ($13 per month) includes a live feed of the nearest CBS station, including NFL coverage, as well as on-demand access to primetime CBS shows. The cheaper Paramount+ Essential tier with commercials ($8 per month) doesn’t include CBS but does offer the NFL games. You can often get Paramount+ for free in one-month increments.
• Peacock Premium Plus ($14 per month) includes a feed of the nearest NBC station, including Sunday Night Football, as well as on-demand access to primetime NBC shows. The cheaper Premium tier with ads ($8 per month) doesn’t include a local NBC feed but does offer NFL games.
• The PBS app includes free live feeds of local PBS stations as well as on-demand PBS programming. An optional “Passport” donation of $5 per month unlocks additional content.

You can also use the free NBC and ABC apps to watch some network TV shows without a subscription, while the Paramount+ app also offers some CBS programming for free.

Unfortunately, live feeds from ABC and Fox aren’t available without a major pay-TV package, but you can watch primetime shows from both networks on Hulu, which starts at $10 per month.

Search for live news

The major cable news networks – CNN, Fox News and MSNBC – are unavailable without a major pay TV package, but you can access some of their content in alternative ways:

• Max offers an alternative CNN live feed with mostly the same programming, but not in the same order as CNN itself.
• MSNBC’s website and mobile app offer free live audio from the cable network.
• Some primetime Fox News programs are available on-demand through Fox Nation, but there is no live feed.

Instead of cable news channels, consider the many free options for streaming the news instead:

• Local News: Many local stations offer their newscasts for free if you know where to look. Check out NewsOn, Zeam, Local Now, Haystack News or your local station’s website. You can also find local news on Tubi, the Roku Channel, Amazon’s Fire TV News app, and the free channels on Google TV devices.
• National and international news: Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Xumo, and Sling TV Freestream all offer 24/7 streaming news channels, even from major networks like CBS and NBC. That could scratch that background TV itch you’d otherwise feel with cable news.

Find your favorite shows elsewhere

Aside from news and sports, it’s rare for cable channels to carry exclusive new shows that aren’t available on standalone streaming services. If there’s a show on YouTube TV (or cable TV) that you like, sites like Reelgood or MyBundle can tell you where else you can find it.

And if a show happens to only be on cable TV Yellowstonewhose final season aired exclusively on Paramount Network – you can always purchase this show individually through stores like Amazon Video, Fandango or Apple TV.

Sort through sports streaming options

When it comes to sports, it will be difficult to replace a service like YouTube TV.

There is currently no way to watch ABC or Fox without a large TV package or antenna. ESPN also isn’t available on a standalone basis — although that will change in 2025 — nor are FS1, FS2 or college conference channels like SEC Network and Big Ten Network.

So what can you get without a service like YouTube TV? Some options:

• As I mentioned, the ad-free tiers of Paramount+ and Peacock include live feeds from CBS and NBC, respectively, including all sports coverage.
• Max streams all sports coverage from TNT, TBS and TruTV. This will ultimately cost an additional $10 per month on top of a standard Max subscription, but is included at no additional cost for now.
• Many regional sports networks are now available independently. I’ve put together the options for NBA and NHL teams.
• MLB TV and NBA League Pass offer games that are not broadcast in your local market. ESPN+ offers the same service for NHL games.
• NFL+ offers local and nationally televised football games, but only on a phone or tablet.
• Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and even Netflix are also picking up more sports programming, but their offerings are pretty scattered.

I’ve also put together some additional tools to help you navigate sports streaming options, especially if you’re trying to follow a specific team or league.

Not ready to unbundle? Some other options:

Currently, Sling TV is the most comprehensive live TV streaming service that is significantly cheaper than YouTube TV. It offers a smaller package of pay TV channels but still carries major sports channels with three basic packages available:

• Sling TV Orange ($46 per month) is currently the cheapest way to access ESPN and other ESPN-owned channels like SEC Network.
• Sling TV Blue ($46 per month) is the cheapest way to access FS1 and FS2. Additionally, it includes live access to NBC and ABC in some markets, as well as on-demand programming from all three channels everywhere.
• Sling Orange + Blue ($61 per month) combines both packages above.

Unfortunately, Sling’s local channel coverage is lacking, with ABC, Fox, and NBC only available in select markets, and CBS not available anywhere. For this reason, it is best combined with an over-the-air antenna.

Hulu + Live TV is also worth a look. While it’s no cheaper than what YouTube TV will soon cost at $83 per month, it does include the full Disney bundle (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu’s on-demand catalog) at no extra charge. If you subscribe to either of these services individually, you’ll save money by switching from YouTube TV to Hulu + Live TV instead.

Finally, you could look at some TV packages that don’t include sports or local channels. Because they leave out the most expensive content on cable TV, their prices are significantly lower:

• Frndly TV ($7 per month) offers Hallmark Channel and a few other mostly rerun-focused channels.
• Philo ($28 per month) offers entertainment channels with a large emphasis on reality TV, but no sports, broadcast, or major cable news networks.
• Comcast’s NowTV is a package of entertainment channels and Peacock for $20 per month, with the option to add Netflix (with ads) and Apple TV+ for an additional $10 per month. It’s available to customers with Xfinity home internet or Comcast’s cheaper Now Internet plans.
• Spectrum TV Stream is a $40 package of entertainment channels that also includes CNN and Fox News and is available to Spectrum home internet customers.

Just let go

If you’re thinking that the cost of a la carte streaming is higher than YouTube TV or even cable, then you’re right. This has been the case for years, is not an original idea and completely misses the point.

Unbundling your TV options doesn’t automatically save you money, but it does give you the power to decide what’s really worth the price. For this reason, standalone services also have a high incentive to offer seasonal specials, comeback offers, and other discounts. This can significantly reduce the cost of providing a number of services at the same time.

When you give up a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, you adopt a different mindset where you come to terms with not having it all. The sooner you realize that you wouldn’t be looking at everything anyway, the easier unbundling will be.

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