Streaming vs. cable: Which TV service is better?

With more than 200 services currently available, we are firmly in the streaming era. Most streaming services even now offer a live TV subscription option to ensure you still get access to the sports and news, or anything else you want to watch in real-time. This has led to the phenomenon of cord-cutting, or cancelling your cable service in favor of streaming. But is streaming cheaper than cable TV? We did the research to find out.

What is the difference between cable and streaming?

Streaming providers are entirely dependent on internet connections to deliver content. Cable providers broadcast content over dedicated networks. Streaming allows you to watch its content on demand, wherever you are connected to the internet, while cable allows you to watch content as it airs. Even so, you can still access cable content on-demand but usually for an extra fee.

Cable providers usually offer more channels for a steeper price, while streaming services are cheaper for slightly less robust content lineups.

Cable vs. streaming pros and cons

Is it worth cutting your cable?

To get live TV channels, you’ll need to subscribe through an old-school cable TV provider or try a live TV streaming service like fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV. Streaming services generally position themselves as cheaper alternatives to cable. This is somewhat true.

Outside of a few “skinny bundles,” most streaming packages with live channels are just as expensive as cable TV. We still consider streaming TV a cheaper alternative in the long-term, however, since price increases tend to be less severe with streaming services than they are with cable TV. 

The main benefits of cable TV are its higher channel count and potential bundle discounts, but more and more internet providers are beginning to do away with these discounts and the channel count for streaming TV services is still quite good. 

Cable vs. live streaming

Across the board, cable TV packages offer better channel lineups than live TV streaming services. While both YouTube TV and fuboTV are missing a handful of channels in the top 25 most highly rated channels, the only ones the cable providers don’t have are HBO and SHOWTIME — premium networks that can be added on for an extra fee.

DIRECTV, on the other hand, is one of the few streaming services that offers a channel lineup competitive with cable TV.

*Excluding music radio channels. Channels vary by location.
**Second year could be increased to then-prevailing rate
Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 12/14/23.

On-demand streaming provider comparison

Netflix is one of the original on-demand streaming services and still remains one of the most popular, with about 247 million paid subscribers. Most services charge around $7 to $10 a month to view with ads, but that fee can jump considerably if you decide to watch without ads. Just keep in mind these plans do not include Live TV.

As of 12/14/23

Is it better to bundle with cable or a streaming service?

While the prices shown above are for TV only, most cable providers offer heavy discounts if you bundle with internet service. That said, there are often a number of hidden costs with cable TV that streaming services don’t have.

You can also bundle services with some internet providers and receive a free promotional period for an on-demand service. For instance, Verizon often offers a free subscription to Disney+ and some providers offer a monthly discount on YouTube TV.

*Second year could be increased to then-prevailing rate
Channels vary by location
Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 12/14/23.

Cable vs. streaming costs

Charging about $80 to $120 a month, cable TV often tacks on extra fees to that monthly cost, including equipment fees, broadcast fees and more. They are enough to run a good monthly bill up by $20 to $30 in some cases. Bundling internet and cable can save you $10 to $20/mo. with most providers, but not all. 

The cost of streaming is typically less expensive than cable. The difference between cable and streaming is that the monthly charge streaming services advertise is what you pay – there aren’t any hidden fees.

Is cable TV or streaming the better option?

If you’re looking purely at the quality of channels offered, cable provides better packages than live TV streaming services. You’ll get more channels in total and the option to save by bundling with an internet plan.

Streaming also comes with several benefits you won’t get from cable. Part of the appeal of streaming is that you don’t have to pay for a bunch of channels you never watch, so you can save money by not adding on the extra available channel packages.

Aside from DIRECTV, you’ll also never have to commit to more than a month at a time with a live TV streaming service. Most also come with plenty of DVR storage and the ability to stream on a few different devices at once.

So while streaming services might not have as strong of a channel selection as traditional TV providers, in the debate of “is streaming better than cable tv”- there’s a good chance you’ll have a better experience overall with streaming. Also, if you aren’t interested in live TV, on-demand streaming services like Netflix can save you a bundle every month and still provide you with a wide variety of movies and shows to enjoy.

Satellite TV is always an option as well, but it can be more expensive than streaming services, depending on the provider and package.

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Cable vs. streaming FAQs