Streaming Services: A U.S. News Guide
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.
Popular Streaming Services
Gone are the days when in-home entertainment limited your choices to an expensive cable subscription, over-the-air HD antenna, or movie rentals on DVD. With a streaming service, you can watch your favorite TV networks, blockbuster movies, local channels, and live sports. What’s more, plans with these services are often better than what you'll get with a cable provider because streaming services cost less, have no hidden fees, and don't require a contract.
Netflix
“Streaming used to be something you would use to complement your real TV service, and now it can replace it, in some cases almost completely,” says Rob Pegoraro, a veteran journalist who has covered technology for USA Today and The Washington Post.
Streaming services let you watch TV shows and movies using practically any screen in your home and a high-speed internet connection. Two main types of services are available: live TV streaming services and on-demand streaming services. A live TV streaming service is similar to having cable or satellite TV – these plans come with a group of channels and a guide interface that are comparable to traditional cable. Meanwhile, you aren't tied to a schedule with an on-demand streaming service, which lets you watch anything in its library anytime you want. Some services combine these two types of content delivery, offering live TV alongside an ever-changing library of on-demand programming.
Whether you're ready to ditch cable entirely and join the increasing ranks of cord-cutters in America or prefer instead to supplement your current entertainment bundle, our guide can help. We explain the pros and cons of each type of service and show you what you need to successfully stream. Our unbiased ratings of the Best Live TV Streaming Services and the will also help you find the right service for you.
Viewers have never had more ways to cut the cord and ditch their cable television packages for streaming services. With some services, you can build a personalized streaming content package by combining a live TV streaming service that offers broadcast and cable channels with an on-demand platform that provides streaming content to watch whenever you want.
Most streaming services let you watch TV shows and movies through your web browser, USB streaming stick, streaming box, smart TV, or smartphone. You also need high-speed internet to connect. For live TV, you have to have continuous access to the internet, even if you record shows to watch later with a cloud DVR. Many on-demand streaming services let you download your shows to watch offline.
We go into more detail on how to get started in the Tips to Cut the Cord and How to Stream sections below.
We've listed the top six live TV streaming services below. Follow the links in the companies' names to read our full reviews, and see more information about our unbiased rating of the Best Live TV Streaming Services here.
#1 YouTube TV
#2 fuboTV
#2 Hulu + Live TV
#4 Sling TV
#5 Philo
#6 AT&T TV Now
Below is a list of the top 10 on-demand video streaming services. Follow the links in the companies' names to read our full reviews, and see more information about our unbiased rating of the Best On-Demand Streaming Services here.
#1 Netflix
#2 Amazon Prime Video
#3 Disney+
#3 HBO
#3 Hulu
#6 Vudu
#7 Crunchyroll
#7 ESPN+
#7 CBS All Access
#10 Apple TV+
Here are a few points to consider as you compare the different ways to stream and the best streaming services:
- Price: If you're looking for the least expensive way to cut the cord, you should pick an on-demand streaming service. The average starting monthly cost of the on-demand services we evaluate is around $8. In comparison, you'll pay an average of about $47 month-to-month for a live TV service.
- Packages: Households that watch a wide variety of content should look for a base plan that gets you most of what you want, and then fill in any holes by adding a package. Many streaming services offer premium channel add-ons. Starz, Showtime, and Cinemax are common options. Several live TV services also offer packages that group together sports channels, kids networks, and Spanish-language networks.
- Compatible streaming devices: Don’t assume that your streaming device will work with the streaming service of your choice. See our section on media streaming devices below for a list of different devices you can use to stream videos.
- Simultaneous streams: This lets more than one person watch videos at the same time and can be an important benefit for households with numerous occupants. Note that when you download content and watch it without an internet connection, it doesn’t count as one of your simultaneous streams.
- User profiles: A user profile typically keeps track of your viewing progress for TV shows so you can quickly jump into the right episode, and lets you create a watchlist of your favorite movies and series. The ability to create different profiles is convenient for families that have a range of viewing preferences but may not be as important if everyone in your home usually watches the same types of content.
- Parental controls: With some services, parents can create kid-friendly profiles and keep youngsters from being exposed to inappropriate programming. If this is a must-have for your household, make sure the service requires a PIN to change parental controls or switch profiles, as this isn't always the case.
Below are a few pointers to break away from cable TV and switch to a streaming service.
- Decide what you want to watch. This is the most important step to make sure you will be satisfied with your new service. Before cord-cutting, decide what's on your must-watch list, which may include specific TV shows, channels, and original programming. “What's nice to have? What are channels that you don't have with your current TV provider that you might want to get?” Pegoraro tells consumers to ask themselves. “Put together that list of things that you need, and then you can plug in your ZIP code to each of these streaming services and see what's available.” Keep in mind, content libraries change frequently as licenses expire, original programming is pulled, or content moves to a different streaming service.
- Determine what equipment you have and what you’ll need. If you already have a streaming device – either a USB stick, a streaming box, or a smart TV – make sure the services you want to use are compatible.
- Cancel your current cable service. You’ll likely need to call or go online to cancel your current cable TV service. Don’t forget to return any equipment, such as set-top boxes, that you're renting from the cable provider.
Luckily, streaming video is a simple affair with most devices. Follow these steps to watch content on a streaming service.
- Pick a streaming device. We list common streaming devices below, one or more of which you may already own. Before you buy a new device, check our list to see if you have something that will work.
- Make sure your streaming device is compatible with the streaming service you want. If you already have a device (such as a smart TV), you may want to pick a service that will work with it so you don't have to buy new equipment.
- Download the streaming service app. Unless you're using a computer web browser to watch streaming service content, you'll need the streaming service app to access its library and watch videos. Usually, the quickest way to get the app is to go to your device's app store. Some streaming services also post information on their websites about how to get the app for your type of device.
- Test your broadband and Wi-Fi speeds: Make sure your internet is fast enough to handle video streaming. One option to test your download speed is to use Netflix’s Fast.com website. Download speeds of 25 Mbps (megabits per second) are the minimum for broadband internet and should allow you to stream HD video from two TVs, according to Pegoraro. For help getting faster download speeds, see our internet service provider guide and rating of the Fastest Internet Plans of 2021.
Media Streaming Devices
You can use one or more of the streaming devices below to connect with your streaming service and watch your favorite TV shows and movies. Plenty of affordable options are available. For example, Roku has a variety of boxes and streaming sticks that can plug directly into your TV. These come with a remote, and prices start around $30. Another option is Google’s Chromecast, which also costs around $30. Chromecast takes a different approach: After you connect your phone or laptop to a streaming service, use Chromecast to share both the video and audio (called casting) directly with your TV.
Note that as your streaming device ages, it may not be compatible with newer services.
The following is a list of common devices to choose from:
- Streaming media players: Examples include Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, and Google Chromecast.
- Smartphones and tablets: Apps are usually available for Android and iOS, and occasionally available for Windows devices.
- PCs and laptops: You can use a computer to watch videos by either downloading the streaming service's app or using your browser to watch directly on the service's website.
- Game consoles: Examples include Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii consoles.
- Smart TVs: These connect to the internet connection and use apps to stream video.
- Blu-ray players: Like smart TVs, many Blu-ray players can stream video using apps.
- Set-top boxes: Some set-top boxes from cable TV companies can connect with streaming services.
Experts recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your information whenever you go online. For streaming, using a VPN can also be helpful if your internet service provider throttles, or slows, your speeds to limit your data usage. However, using a VPN at home can sometimes result in problems for cord-cutters. Many streaming services try to block VPNs. This is mostly because movies and TV shows often come with licensing agreements that specify which countries can watch which videos, and a VPN can get around these agreements.
If you want to watch your streaming service and have a VPN at home (like on your router), you have a couple of options. First, pick a VPN that says it works with the streaming service of your choice. If you can't find this information in the VPN's help section, you can test it out for yourself. Almost all of the VPNs in our rating of the Best VPNs of 2021 have a money-back guarantee period, giving you time to make sure the service works for you.
Another option is to look for a VPN with split tunneling. This lets you select a specific site (such as HBO Max) that stays outside of the VPN connection while keeping the rest of your online activities protected by the VPN.
For more help, check out our VPN guide and see our unbiased rating of the Best VPNs of 2021.
Watching HD video uses about 3 GB per hour, according to Netflix, while Ultra HD video uses 7 GB. Netflix, along with some other streaming services, lets you adjust the video quality, and its lowest setting uses only 0.3 GB each hour. Other streaming services automatically adjust the video quality based on your current internet speed.
Slow internet speeds can make your video look patchy, freeze your show, or cause audio delays. You may be able to remedy this by disconnecting other devices. For more information, see our internet service provider guide and our unbiased rating of the Best Internet Service Providers of 2021.
Our 360 Methodology for Evaluating Streaming Services
We make recommendations based on an assessment of what matters to consumers and professional reviewers. We convey what’s most important about a streaming service based on an unbiased evaluation of products. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools needed to make an informed buying decision.
You can find more information about our 360 Reviews model for evaluating streaming services here.
Learn More
Get tips on cutting the cord and find the best streaming service for you with our ratings and guides:
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.