Streaming Bundles That Are Alternative to Cable TV

Tue, Sep 14, 2021 10:43 PM

Streaming TV is an appealing alternative to cable TV because it has no contracts and offers simple but affordable packages with popular channels. However, the biggest feature of streaming is the ability to customize it. It allows you to customize your own streaming service packages based on your preferences while still saving money over cable.

Finding the appropriate mix of live TV, on-demand, and add-on streaming TV services, on the other hand, takes time. With this list of eight personalized streaming bundles tailored to various hobbies and lifestyles, we've done the legwork for you.

How did we come up with these streaming bundles?

We're revealing the criteria we used to come up with these streaming TV bundle recommendations so you can get a better understanding of how we came up with them—and so you can make your own.

Pricing

For the best experience, we recommend ad-free programs. They're pricier, but if you don't mind watching another Flex Seal spot to save a few bucks each month, go for it.

Netflix: $13.99/mo.
Paramount+: $9.99/mo.
Peacock Premium: $9.99/mo.
Philo TV: $25.00/mo.
Pluto TV: Free
SHOWTIME®: $10.99/mo.
Shudder: $5.99/mo. or $56.99/yr.
Sling TV (Sling Orange): $35.00/mo.
Sling TV (Sling Blue): $35.00/mo.
Sling TV (Sling Orange + Sling Blue): $50.00/mo.
Xumo: Free
YouTube TV: $64.99/mo.
Amazon Prime Video: $12.99/mo.
Apple TV+: $4.99/mo.
Criterion Channel: $10.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.
Disney+: $8.00/mo. or $80.00/yr.
ESPN+: $5.99/mo.
Fandor: $3.99/mo.*
HBO MaxTM: $14.99/mo.
Hulu: $11.99/mo.
Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle: $13.99/mo.
Hulu + Live TV/Disney+/ESPN+ bundle: $78.99/mo.

Free trials

We strongly advise you to try out several streaming TV providers. Almost all of the programs described above offer free trials, which typically last 3–7 days. You may, however, come across 14-day or 30-day trials on occasion.

Options for personalization

If one of the bundles below appears to be excessively expensive, don't worry—they're simply ideas, and you can change them to lower the price (and the content). At the end of each segment, we've offered personalization recommendations.

Resolution

Even if a standard-definition (SD) plan is available, we default to high-definition (HD) plans.

Libraries that are available on demand

Not all streaming TV services make their number of titles available public. We're not going to speculate because we don't want to go into legal trouble. But we will say this: the majority of these services have libraries that are in the four-to-five figure range.

Compatibility with several devices

Most streaming TV apps enable multiple streaming devices, but it never hurts to double-check. We've included links to our reviews of each service where applicable so you can learn more about the devices they support.

“Bundlers, let's get bundlin',” as George Clooney says in From Dusk Till Dawn.

The Best Only

Includes: YouTube TV, Netflix
Live channels: 100+
Total price: $77.98/mo.

If you don't have much time to shop for TV packages, you can skip straight to the good stuff. YouTube TV was named the greatest live TV streaming service of 202, while Netflix was named the top on-demand streamer.

YouTube includes more than 100 live channels, three simultaneous streams, six user profiles, limitless cloud DVR storage (recordings expire in nine months), and a sizable on-demand library (which they don't disclose). Netflix, as the name implies, is all about on-demand television and movies. It includes a ton of licensed and original material, two streams, and five user profiles, but no live channels or DVR. With these two services, you'll have plenty to watch for the price of a mid-tier cable or satellite TV bundle.

Make it your own.

Upgrade to Netflix Premium for two additional streams and 4K UHD support (an additional $4.00 per month).

The Combo 

Includes: YouTube TV, Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu bundle, HBO Max, Netflix, Prime Video, SHOWTIME, Apple TV+
Live channels: 100+
Total price: $136.93/mo.

Do you have the best couch potato skills? Do you get your energy from your TV's cool, blue light? You probably splurged on your cable provider's top-tier bundle before cutting the cord so you could get every channel, including the premiums. Our #9 Combo, which consists of nine services, is designed with you in mind.

We'll begin with YouTube TV, which offers 100+ live channels, three streams, and unlimited DVR (nine-month storage limit). With YouTube TVs and the other services in this bundle's on-demand library, you'll have an endless supply of excellent movies and programs to watch.

When it comes to price, the #9 Combo is comparable to the most expensive cable options. You won't have to deal with contracts, equipment rental costs, or other cable headaches. And your "bundle" will be entire of killer content, with no filler.

You don't have to utilize YouTube TV if the price is still too high. Any of the live TV streaming services will work with this bundle because they are all the same price — or less — and have no obligations. See our list of the Best Live TV Streaming Services for other alternatives to YouTube TV, and read our guide to the Best Live TV Streaming Services for more options.

Customize it

Instead of YouTube TV, try Philo, which offers 61+ live channels, three streams, and an unlimited cloud DVR with a one-year storage limit (saving $39.99 a month).

If you prefer, the Hulu + Live TV/Disney+/ESPN+ package (adds $14.00/mo.) contains 70+ channels, 2 streams, a 50-hour cloud DVR, plus a ton of on-demand material.

Students save 50% on Amazon Prime ($6.50/month) and get a free 6-month trial.

Upgrade to Netflix Premium for 4K UHD capability and two additional streams (additional $4.00 per month).

Binge it!

Includes: HBO Max, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+/ESPN+/Hulu bundle, Apple TV+, SHOWTIME
Live channels: N/A
Total price: $71.94/mo.

Do you enjoy watching movies but binge-watching TV shows like popcorn chicken? Binge-a-palooza brings together the top streaming TV providers for binge-watching. Stacks of highly rated licensed and original shows, as well as loads of movies, are available on all six sites for days when you have to, ugh, do something other than loaf around. When you consider that it only costs $72 per month, it's an absolute bargain.

Instead of the bundle, only get Disney+ (a $5.99/month savings).

Instead of the bundle, just get Hulu (you'll save $2.00 per month).

After a free 6-month trial, you can enjoy a 50% discount on Amazon Prime (saving $6.50 each month).

Add Philo for an extra $20.00 a month and receive 61+ live channels.

Add Paramount+ ($9.99/month) for access to a large on-demand library and live CBS shows.

Peacock Premium ($9.99/month) adds live NBC shows and a wider on-demand library.

Two more streams and 4K UHD support are available with Netflix Premium (an additional $4.00 per month).

To access live local channels, get an over-the-air (OTA) antenna (one-time price starts around $30.00).

The Film Festival Endlessly

Includes: HBO Max, Netflix, Prime Video, SHOWTIME, Shudder, Criterion Channel, Fandor
Live channels: 3
Total price: $73.93/mo.

Some of us would spend the entire day in a darkened theater, engrossed in silver screen magic while stuffing nachos into our mouths. I recommend The Endless Film Festival to you.

You can watch rare art-house gems, masterpieces from all eras, cult films/midnight movies, recent releases, summer blockbusters, and more with these seven services. And, similar to Binge-a-palooza, the cost is reasonable at around $70–$75 per month—but it can get even better (see below).

Choose annual memberships to save $3.00 per month on Amazon Prime, $2.66 per month on The Criterion Channel, and $1.24 per month on Shudder.

If you only want Prime Video, you can save $4.00 per month, but Amazon Prime is well worth the full price.

Students save 50% on Amazon Prime ($6.50/month) and get a 6-month free trial.

Netflix Premium provides 4K UHD functionality as well as two additional streams (for an additional $4.00 per month).

The Babysitter

Includes: Sling Orange w/ Sling Orange 4 Extras Deal add-on (incl. Kids Extra), Disney+, HBO Max
Live channels: 38+
Total price: $70.99/mo.

Do you work from home as a parent during the pandemic? Then you understand how difficult it may be to strike a balance between job and parental responsibilities. The Babysitter is dedicated to you.

Sling TV, the Best for Kids choice, is where the Babysitter begins. Baby Jr., Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Duck TV, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and TeenNick are all available with the Sling Orange subscription and its Kids Extra add-on. Yes, there is some overlap with Disney+, but the on-demand programming is why you want Disney+ in this combo.

HBO Max, on the other hand, provides a plethora of family-friendly movies and series arranged by age categories, as well as content "hubs" for networks and companies such as Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street), Cartoon Network, Studio Ghibli, and Looney Tunes. You may also establish a profile for each child, which allows you to tailor parental controls to each child's age, maturity level, and status of chore completion.

Sling TV doesn't have a lot of local broadcast affiliates, which is one disadvantage of this package. However, if you buy an OTA antenna, you can get those channels. You can acquire one for as little as $30, but if you prepay for two months of service, Sling TV will give you one for free.

Sling Blue costs the same as Orange, but it lacks Disney Channel—thankfully, you'll still get access to the massive Disney+ on-demand library. You may also add the à la carte Kids Extra pack for $5.00/mo. instead of $4.00/mo. with Sling Blue (saving $8.00/mo.).

Sling Free offers Cartoon Network, DuckTV, Kabillion, Pocketwatch, and Ryan Friends (savings of $35.00 a month).

For $13.99 a month, you can get Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu bundled (an additional $5.99 per month).

Dominance in Sports

Includes: Sling Orange + Sling Blue with both Sports Extra add-ons
Live channels: 68+
Total price: $70.00/mo.

Sling TV is the most cost-effective method to watch live sports. You can watch ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, FS1, NBC Sports, NBCSN, NFL Network, Stadium, TBS, and TNT with the Sling Orange + Sling Blue combo ($50 a month). If you pay for two months in advance, you'll also receive a free OTA antenna, allowing you to watch sports from your local broadcast affiliates.

You may stop there because there are a lot of sports balls bouncing around. Sports aficionados, on the other hand, are likely to desire both of Sling's Sports Extra Packs (one for Orange, one for Blue). Both cost $10 a month and include 20 new sports portals, including beinSPORTS, FS2, GOLF, MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, NBA TV, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, Olympic Channel, Outside TV, Pac-12, Tennis Channel, and more.

To receive beinSPORTS Xtra, Big Sky, CBS Sports HQ, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports, fubo Sports Network, NFL Channel, Major League Soccer (MLS), PGA Tour, PlutoTV Sports, UFC, and World Poker Tour, you should also download the free Pluto and Xumo applications.

Customization:

Sling Blue ($35.00/month) and its Sports Extra add-on for both NFL Network and NFL RedZone were the only options for football enthusiasts. ACCN, ACCNX, ESPNews, ESPNU, Longhorn Network, SEC, and SEC+ will be lost, but you will save $25.00 every month.

You won't get FS2, Golf Channel, NFL Network, or NFL RedZone if you just have Sling Orange ($35.00/mo.) and the Sports Extra add-on, but you'll save $25.00/mo.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, one of these streaming TV bundles offers the appropriate combination of programming for you, as well as the correct pricing. If not, you can mix and match all of the above data to create your own bespoke streaming TV service bundles. It's a fun way to save money.

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