Existing YouTube TV subscribers will see a $10 increase on their next bill, as the platform’s price hike goes into effect on Monday, January 13.
“We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we realize this impacts our members,” YouTube TV said in a statement to subscribers when addressing the price hike. With a new monthly rate of $82.99 per month, YouTube TV still remains cheaper than the average $147 monthly price of cable.
As a last-ditch effort, current YouTube TV subscribers can take advantage of their save offer, which will lock in the $72.99 rate for six more months. However, many existing subscribers who are unhappy with the recent changes, are trying to figure out how to cancel YouTube TV today.
Since there are no annual contracts or hidden fees, switching to a more affordable service is just a few clicks away. In today’s digital market, viewers can get their TV streaming fix in a few different ways:
- Free: FAST TV & Antenna
- Budget: Slim Live TV Lineups
- Premium: Comprehensive TV Offerings
- On-Demand: Large Library + Some Live TV
If you’re a current YouTube TV subscriber or just weighing your options, several excellent alternatives offer a wide range of channels, features, and pricing to suit different needs and budgets. Let’s dive into some of the best live TV streaming services you can consider as alternatives to YouTube TV.
Watch for Free With An Antenna & Go the FAST Route
Free ad-supported television (FAST) combined with an antenna provides hours of live entertainment, news, and sports without a monthly subscription.
Take your live TV spending from $82.99 per month down to zero by switching to FAST service and using an antenna to watch your favorite shows, movies, sports, news, and more. As more and more cord cutters switch to free TV instead of monthly subscriptions, FAST viewership is on the rise.
FAST platforms don’t require any type of payment information and most require an email or a login and it’s that simple to stream live content. Plex, Tubi, Pluto, MyFree DIRECTV, FreeVee, and Sling Freestream are a few of the most popular free ad-supported live TV streaming platforms out there. Some even offer DVR, so you can record shows and movies and watch them at your convenience. Philo‘s free service, allows you to record and store select titles for up to 30 days. Plus, they are always updating their content, so it’s easy to find something new to watch.
Streamers to Try: Plex, Tubi, Philo, Pluto, Sling Freestream, MyFree DIRECTV, FreeVee
Budget-Friendly Options Provide Value Without Breaking the Bank
Budget streamers provide live TV, DVR, and other features with a slimmer lineup of channels at a low price.
Another great alternative to YouTube TV is budget-friendly streaming services. These platforms offer a full range of features such as DVR, live TV, on-demand content, and more but are far below the $82.99 per month price of YouTube TV. Combined with FAST and an antenna, these platforms provide a solid robust range of entertainment. Three of the most popular budget-streamers are Frndly TV, Philo, and Sling TV.
Frndly TV
Frndly TV starts at $6.99 per month and gives you access to more than 50 channels with on-demand and live content. Vice, History Channel, A&E, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, Game Show Network, and The Weather Channel are just a few of the notable channels found in its lineup. With three plans to choose from, you can upgrade to unlimited DVR storage for 3 months with the Classic plan for $9.99 per month, or get the Premium plan for $11.99 per month and watch on up to 4 screens at once with 9 months of unlimited DVR storage. All plans include a 7-day free trial.
Philo
If your budget allows, Philo is another great budget-friendly option for only $28 per month after a 7-day free trial. Philo has a lineup of over 70 channels, including A&E, AMC, BET, Lifetime, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, TLC, LMN, MTV, and Nickelodeon, so you can find a wide range of programming for everyone. However, Philo may not be ideal for sports fans, but paired with an antenna or another service, it may suffice. Philo also includes over 100 free-ad-supported channels. Features include a library of thousands of on-demand titles, unlimited DVR storage for 12 months, and the ability to upgrade with add-on packages.
Sling
The most affordable comprehensive streaming service that offers comparable channels to YouTube TV but at nearly half the price is Sling TV. Sling has many popular channels and three plans to choose from:
- Sling Blue – $46 per month ($23 for the first month): Sling Blue is perfect for those who enjoy news and entertainment as it includes TNT, TBS, Bravo, HGTV, and CNN as part of its lineup of over 40 channels. Plus, record your favorites with 50 hours of DVR and stream on 3 devices simultaneously.
- Sling Orange – $46 per month ($23 for the first month): Sling Orange is ideal for sports and families as it includes ESPN, ESPN2, Disney, and CNN, as part of its lineup of over 30 channels. Plus, record your favorites with 50 hours of DVR and stream on 1 device.
- Sling Orange & Blue – $61 per month ($30.50 for the first month): For the best of both worlds, Sling Orange & Blue unlocks and combines the best of the other two plans. Plus, record your favorites with 50 hours of DVR and stream Sling Orange channels on 1 device and Sling Blue channels on up to 3 devices simultaneously.
Pricing does vary in some markets. Sling doesn’t offer CBS, but if needed, you can watch with an antenna or stream with Paramount+. Sling allows you to add on other networks and features as part of their Extra packages to customize your viewing experience.
Streamers to Try: Frndly TV, Philo, Sling TV
Premium Services That Offer A Comprehensive Lineup Of Channels & Features On Par With YouTube TV
These live TV streamers are the closest competitors to YouTube TV and offer similar channel lineups and features, but differ in other ways.
Cord cutters in need of the full package that YouTube TV provides but want to add more value to their streaming experience could look at DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. These three services are comparable to YouTube TV but with a few differences.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is a great choice if you’re thinking about making the switch from YouTube TV but want a deluxe lineup of channels. Its base package, the Entertainment plan, includes over 90 channels featuring the top popular news, local, sports, and lifestyle networks for $86.99 per month. Plus, with the benefit of upgrading to higher-tier packages, you can stream more of your favorite.
The Choice plan starts at $114.99 per month and includes more than 125 channels and many Regional Sports Networks, which is something YouTube TV doesn’t have many of. DIRECTV STREAM’s Ultimate plan gives you a wide selection of more than 160 channels, including top sports and movie networks for $129.99 per month. Plus, DIRECTV STREAM offers add-ons so you can customize your streaming experience. All DIRECTV STREAM plans include unlimited DVR storage and unlimited streams, and you can try DIRECTV STREAM for free for 5 days.
Fubo
Starting at $79.99 per month, Fubo is another great alternative to YouTube TV. It offers similar features like unlimited Cloud DVR space, and simultaneous stream on up to 10 screens in its base plans. Fubo, like DIRECTV STREAM, offers a wide range of Regional Sports Networks that aren’t common on YouTube TV. With over 200 channels in its base plan, Fubo gives you more content at cheaper price points than YouTube TV after its price increase. The Essential, Pro, and Elite Plans ensure that you can choose from a robust lineup of networks
Plus, Fubo does offer many add-on packages of networks, so you can customize it to fit you and your needs. However, Fubo currently doesn’t carry Warner Bros. Discovery networks like TNT, TBS, truTV, Discovery Channel, etc. but you can find much of their content on Max. Fubo also offers a Latino plan that has over 60 Spanish-language channels.
YouTube TV subscribers looking to make the jump can try Fubo for free.
Hulu + Live TV
If you want live TV, ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu’s library of content then Hulu + Live TV is an ideal YouTube TV alternative. The Disney-owned streaming platform gives you access to all the aforementioned libraries of content, live sports, and exclusives from ESPN+ and more than 95 live channels, including the top networks for only $82.99 per month. Like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer a wide range of RSNs, but it does have other similar features like unlimited cloud DVR storage space.
Hulu + Live TV has add-on packages available if you need more things to watch. Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ with Showtime, and Starz are just a few of the premium networks you can add on. If you want an ad-free Disney+ and Hulu library experience, you can upgrade to the $95.99 per month plan.
Try Hulu + Live TV for three days and decide if the service is the right fit for you.
Streamers to Try: DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV.
On-Demand Options With Some Live TV
Many streaming alternatives focus on on-demand content and some even include live TV.
Another less expensive option for YouTube TV and a great way to supplement the other alternatives on this list is by subscribing to on-demand streamers like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, Starz, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Max. And if you need sports, ESPN+ offers an enormous lineup from top major and collegiate leagues.
These platforms offer a majority of content from their parent company’s library and cost substantially less than YouTube TV. Savvy cord cutters could subscribe to multiple major streaming services, including Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and Max, totaling around $59.92 per month. Many of these platforms offer live TV, events, sports, and popular shows and movies on-demand which makes having a rotation ideal when looking for what to watch.
Streamers to Try: Hulu, ESPN+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Peacock, Starz, Disney+, and Max
How to Cancel YouTube TV
YouTube TV subscribers who are looking to move on and switch to another streaming provider, have plenty of options to choose from. If you do decide to cancel, it has been reported that YouTube TV is allowing subscribers to keep the current rate of $72.99 per month offer for six months. This temporary discount could be a tactic that will help prevent the company from seeing immediate subscriber loss and give users some relief before the price hike.
Our guide explains how to contact YouTube TV’s customer service if you have any questions about your plan and you can watch our video on how to cancel YouTube TV below: