If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. It’s 2025, and plenty of people have already cut the cable cord — but if you’re considering making the switch to streaming (or are trying to decide which subscriptions are worth your coin), there’s an ultra-competitive market out there of choices to decide from. That being said, the marketplace has changed drastically since the streaming boom of 2020, even just within the past couple years (a recent report by research firm Antenna have shown that streamer prices have risen on average more than 20% since 2023, including subscriptions with and without ads). While this surge in streaming prices could potentially be linked to broader economic inflation across the board (think groceries, gas, and other commodities), believe it or not, there are still relatively affordable options out there. Streaming services get you the same content as conventional cable, with the added convenience of taking your programming on the go — whether on your phone, tablet, or laptop. It only takes a simple app or website to connect, which means you can log in and start streaming your favorite shows and movies anywhere with a WiFi connection. But it can be hard to keep up with the price for the different streaming services, especially now that most are offering both ad-free and ad-supported tiers. We’ve reviewed seven of the most popular streaming services available right now, to help you find the one that’s best for you. We included pricing for tiers with and without ads, with many of them are currently offering free trials to help get you through any stretch of boredom. Test out each service (potentially at no cost), then find the one that’s right for you. LIVE TV STREAMING DirecTV is one of the best values in the marketplace when it comes to streaming services. Its live-TV plans let you customize what you want to watch with content-specific Genre Packs like MyEntertainment (TV shows and movies), MySports, (sports channels) MyNews (U.S. and global news) and MiEspañol (Spanish language programming), starting at just $34.99 a month. There’s no long-term contract to commit to and no hidden fees or confusing tiered pricing. There’s also the option to bundle your Genre Pack with popular streaming services like ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic and Max Basic With Ads. For their Siganture Plans, DirecTV carries up to 185+ channels, which is more than competitors such as Sling (48 channels) and Hulu + Live TV (85+). While some other live TV streaming services carry a couple of national sports channels, DirecTV carries many of the major national sports networks including ESPN, TNT, FS1, and TBS. This gets you nationally broadcast sports such as NFL games and Formula 1 races. The ENTERTAINMENT package is the most affordable way to get DIRECTV service. You’ll get both national and local channel options, including Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN, and ABC ($84.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees). CHOICE is DIRECTV’s best offering for sports fans, including the previous channels plus specialty sports networks like MLB Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, and more (you’ll also get access to regional sports channels). Normally $89.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees, the CHOICE package is currently just $79.99/month for the first 24 months. The ULTIMATE package includes everything in CHOICE, plus sports and movie channels like CBS Sports Network, Discovery Family, FX Movie Channel, NHL Network, STARZ Encore, and more. ULTIMATE is available right now for 119.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees. The PREMIER package includes everything in ULTIMATE, as well as premium networks like Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax. Right now, it’s available for $164.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees. All told, you can watch anywhere from 75+ to 185+ channels with DirecTV, depending on what package you chose. See DirecTV’s full channel lineup here. DirecTV’a Genre Packs includes a five-day free trial, then starts at $34.99 a month. We like to think of SlingTV like building the perfect bento box of content. Start with one of the company’s base subscriptions (which includes most local networks), then add whatever a la carte channels you want. The Sling Blue package starting at $23/month for your first month (typically $45.99/month) is great for sports fans, with access to Fox Sports, NFL Network, and NBC Sports, in addition to popular channels like AMC, Bravo, and FX. The Sling Orange package, meanwhile, gets you ESPN, TNT, Disney, and more also starting at $23/month for your first month (normally $45.99/month). While Sling TV, disappointingly, does not offer a free trial, this half off deal also includes a free month of AMC+. Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from location to location. A la carte options include Starz, Encore, Showtime, Epix, and dozens of other channels, all commercial-free and ready to stream. In addition to its live TV offerings, SlingTV offers more than 10,000 hours of video on demand, and you get 10 hours of cloud DVR storage for free. When you prepay for a subscription, you can also save more, getting three months of Sling Orange for $99.99 (just in time to watch the NBA Playoffs and more). We like how easy SlingTV‘s interface is to interact with and how the app pairs with virtually any device to let you watch content from phones, computers, tablets, and more. There is also the option to watch and record some TV 100% with no credit card required through Sling Freestream. Sign on to SlingTV.com and get free access to ABC News Live, a 24/7 streaming video channel for breaking news and live events, as well as programming for kids, including titles like Teen Titans Go!, DC Super Hero Girls, and LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. Get more details here. Want the full slate of channels? SlingTV is currently offering 50% off your first month. When it comes to sports fans, there are a couple solid options, and both offer different pros and cons. Things to consider: what sports you actually follow and when you like to watch (i.e. live as it happens, or via a replay you can pause and fast-forward through). It’s good to consider just how invested you are in the games too, namely whether or not you want the postgame analysis and specialty programs dedicated to your favorite team or sport. FuboTV offers more than 100 channels plus live TV starting at just $64.99/month for the first month. Each subscription lets you watch on up to three different screens or devices at once. For sports fans, the fuboTV Pro package starts at $64.99/month (typically $84.99/month) and comes with 150+ channels, including five Fox Sports channels (including FS1, FS2, and Fox Prime Ticket), CBS Sports, Golf Channel, NBA TV, NFL Network and beIn Sports, which gets you access to LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, MotoGP and more. If you’re a fan of college sports, fubo’s Pro package includes the Big Ten Network and PAC 12 Network (the FanDuel Sports Network Sun & Florida package is another option for just two regional sports channels). Catch the games live, or use fubo’s three-day replay feature to replay nearly any game, show, or movie that aired over the past three days. Next up is the fuboTV Elite plan, which gets you access to stream up to 300 channels live online. Regularly $94.99/month, get your first month for $20 off, bringing the price down to just $74.99. In addition to getting you 100 more channels than the “Pro” plan, Fubo’s “Elite” plan also allows for 4K streaming. Both of these plans includes up to an unlimited amount of Cloud DVR storage so you can record games or other TV events when you’re not home. You can also stream on up to ten screens with one subscription. The streamer also offers the fuboTV Latino subscription for $9.99/month (regularly $14.99/month). It comes with 50 channels, including ESPN HD Deportes and unlimited Cloud DVR storage. Users can also watch on up to two screens at the same time without interruption. Fubo doesn’t skimp on entertainment content either, and the Pro package includes E!, Bravo, AMC, FX, and a host of other popular channels. Right now, fuboTV is offering a 7-day free trial for new users. The latest entry to the sports streaming marketplace is ESPN+, the sports broadcaster’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. For $11.99/month, customers get access to hundreds of live MLB, MLS, and NHL games, along with UFC Fight Nights, Top Rank Boxing, and live matches from Grand Slam Tennis (i.e. the U.S. Open and Wimbledon). European soccer fans can stream Series A, FA Cup, and EFL matches live, and there’s access to other popular international sports like cricket and rugby as well. ESPN+ is also known for their solid coverage of college sports like football, men’s and women’s basketball, and lacrosse. What makes ESPN+ different from other sports streaming services is that a subscription also includes on-demand access to the archive of ESPN originals, like the popular 30 for 30, E:60 and OJ: Made in America (although it lacks most of the ESPN channel’s regular programming). While you can pay to stream those shows on sites like Amazon, they’re all available to stream here for free, at any time, from almost any device. Another bonus: Once you’re logged into ESPN+ on your device, you won’t see display ads or video ads anywhere on the ESPN platform, which means no annoying commercials to wait through when you’re checking scores and highlights on ESPN.com or on the ESPN app. Plans start at $11.99/month or $119.99/year thereafter. STREAMING Once upon a time, watching a TV show meant you actually had to sit in front of a television set and watch a series developed specifically for that set. Now, thanks to “over the top” providers like Hulu and Apple TV+, a ton of studios are developing original “television” content that you can watch on your phone, computer, or tablet (though yes, you can watch them on a traditional TV too). We like Hulu, which has held its ground against Max and Netflix thanks to critically acclaimed original shows like The Bear, Only Murders In the Building and reality TV series like The Kardashians. Hulu has also garnered attention with buzzy movies and documentaries like the Tina Turner doc, Tina, and The Dropout. Hulu also offers a ton of on-demand content (more than 85,000 episodes according to 2018 figures) that spans dramas, comedies, reality shows, and kids programming. It also has a ton of international series, in case you want to get your Love Island UK fix. In addition to its on-demand content, Hulu is a solid bet because it offers a Live TV service that lets you watch your favorite shows and channels over the air. It’s great if you follow the news and want to follow the latest happenings, and great for award shows and live sporting events too. While there were some initial questions over connectivity, Hulu says its technology and product teams have “dramatically improved” the stability and usability of its Live TV service, reducing buffering by 90 percent in the past few years. The service has also added some great new features, like their “live game start” notification, which sends an alert to your screen when a big game is about to begin. Hulu’s ad-supported plan starts at just $9.99/month (or $99.99/year), and gets you instant access to watch movies online and stream episodes demand after they air, with interstitial ads. The Hulu (Ad-Free) plan, however, is $18.99/month and lets you watch all of Hulu’s content online without commercials. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) is pricier at $82.99 per month, but you get access to more than 90 channels, access to ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu’s full on-demand library of movies, TV shows, and originals (if you just want Live TV, a plan costs $81.99/month). Right now, Hulu is offering a 7-day free trial for new users, and Hulu + Live TV offers a 3-day free trial. Paramount+ has come a long way since it re-branded as the replacement to CBS All Access, and is a solid streaming service option for lovers of Eighties and Nineties TV who want to cut the cord. You can watch shows from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and the Smithsonian channel on any of your devices. This catalogue includes series like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Laguna Beach, Survivor, Hot In Cleveland, and Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection. While not as strong as other streamers, it does include a roster of original shows includes 1833, Evil, Star Trek: Discovery, Yellowstone, and The Stand. The streamer is also the home for all Star Trek, with all previous and future Trek shows and (most) movies. The Paramount Essential tier starts at $7.99/month month, or $59.99 for an annual plan. You can also watch hit originals, movies and docs, all in one place and ad-free (except live TV and a few shows), for just $12.99/month when you sign up for the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. Paramount+’s library of TV shows is rounded out by a fairly robust sports offering. The service has the exclusive online streaming rights to UEFA and NFL games, plus world-class sports commentary thanks to CBS Sports HQ. You can get a 7-day free trial to Paramount+ here. Ever since NBC’s Peacock launched, it’s quickly raised the bar for what we expect out of an affordable streaming service. It’s the only way to stream all nine seasons of The Office, plus exclusive scenes and outtakes that’ll make your next binge-watch feel fresh. The service has also brought back shows like Saved by the Bell and Punky Brewster. If you’re a fan of wrestling, Peacock has also become a must-have streaming service. Peacock has the exclusive WWE streaming rights to all future pay-per-view fights, including Wrestlemania. Subscribers can also view 30 years of classic matches. Peacock is also the only streaming service to offer live Premier League matches. While a basic Peacock subscription is no longer free, Peacock Premium only starts at $7.99/month with ads, and still gets you 90,000+ hours of TV, movies, and live sports. Peacock Premium Plus is $13.99/month if you want to go ad free, and also lets you download and watch select titles offline (along with your local NBC channel, live). Peacock‘s service starts at $7.99 per month, or $13.99 for an ad-free subscription. Nearly five years after it was first announced, Max — formerly known as HBO Max, the streaming service from HBO and WarnerMedia — has a packed catalogue, with hit shows like White Lotus and Succession, and exclusive releases from Warner Bros. (think Zack Snyder’s Justice League). What makes Max standout is its massive library of exclusive catalogue titles and upcoming original shows. HBO says there are 35,000+ hours of “curated” content available to stream. Due to their partnership with WarnerMedia (who owns the rights to movies and TV shows going back 100 years), you’ll be able to stream classic shows like Friends, Rick and Morty, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, and Doctor Who. The media company also owns the rights to several blockbuster films, like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The streamer naturally includes access to the entire HBO catalog, which includes The Wire, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Game of Thrones, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Westworld. Max’s latest originals are also top-notch, from the slick The Last of Us adaptation, to the award-winning Hacks. Their ad-supported plan starts at $9.99/month, with their ad-free plan costing $16.99/month (you’ll have to pay $20.99/month for the Premium plan to watch anything in 4K) — while it’s a little pricier than other streamers, it’s cheaper than the cost of going to see several blockbusters in theaters, and you’re getting access to an enormous catalogue of content. Max plans start at $9.99/month, $16.99 for the ad-free plan, or $20.99 for the 4K streaming plan. Apple’s streaming service touts big-name stars like Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette (in Severance), Seth Rogan and Kathryn Hann (starring in The Studio) and Jason Sudekis (in Ted Lasso). Besides its star-powered shows, its picture quality also shines, promising Apple original shows and movies in pristine, 4K HDR quality. Apple TV+ may not have the breadth of content other channels do, but for just $9.99/month there’s enough here to keep you occupied whether you need a distraction while working from home, or need something substantial to binge-watch (it’s great for discovering new programs, and the few originals to pop off in the past few years have really popped off). What we like: Apple TV also has some of the best original documentaries and nonfiction programming in the market, including Oprah’s Book Club and the well-received LGBTQ doc Visible: Out on Television. You can watch across all of your screens, and your subscription can be shared with up to six family members. Get a 7-day free trial to Apple TV+ here; the service costs $9.99/month after trial period ends. You already know about Amazon Prime’s free two-day shipping (and free same-day shipping in select cities) with virtually every product category on the company’s site, but we think Amazon’s movie selection is seriously under-appreciated. For just $14.99/month, Amazon Prime members get unlimited streaming to thousands of movies that span a ton of genres, from action/adventure to romance to horror. There’s a solid selection of international films too. What we like: free streaming to buzzy films, like the critically-acclaimed Eighth Grade, Amazon Studios’ Beautiful Boy, and Cold War. Award-winning films like Lady Bird, Fences, Arrival, Manchester by the Sea, and more are all available to stream for free as well. If you want even more movie options, Amazon Prime members can add-on subscriptions to channels like Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax, which get you thousands of on-demand films and shows that you can view across any device. It’s worth noting that an Amazon Prime membership also gets you access to Amazon’s huge roster of TV shows (including critical darling The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), as well as unlimited streaming to more than 2 million songs on Amazon Music. Gamers can also take advantage of free video games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, while bibliophiles love Prime Reading, which gets you access to thousands of free books, magazines, comics, audiobooks, and more. See more hidden Amazon Prime benefits here. Right now, Amazon is offering a free 30-day Prime trial, which lets you test drive all the shopping and entertainment perks of a Prime membership. See more details here. Get the best of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and the Star Wars franchise in one place with the Disney+ subscription-streaming service. The Disney+ Basic is $9.99/month (with ads) or choose Disney+ Premium for $15.99/month with ad-free access, you’ll get thousands of movies and shows, including Disney+ originals like The Mandalorian, Andor, and more. New for 2025: original Marvel series like Daredevil Born Again, plus new episodes of Doctor Who and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Disney+ is also the only place where you can stream Disney’s animated (and live-action) classics, like Frozen, The Lion King, Aladdin, and more. But it’s more than proven recently that it can go above and beyond the kid-friendly image of the Mouse, branching out with more mature offerings and a slew of high-quality adult originals like Andor. Note: you can also get an entire year of Disney+ for free when you sign up for any Verizon Wireless unlimited plan. See more details on the free offer here.