Free and low-cost cable TV options FAQ
Can I get basic cable for free?
No, basic cable isn’t free. You can get a basic cable package for anywhere from $20 to $40 per month.
What is the cheapest cable company?
Suddenlink’s Value TV + Internet 100 gives you 200+ channels and internet speeds up to 100 Mbps for $54.99 a month for the first 12 months. RCN’s Digital Basic TV + 155 Mbps Internet offers 70+ channels and speeds up to 50 Mbps starting at $29.99 a month for the first 12 months. (Prices and availability might not be available where you live.)
What is a cheap alternative to cable TV?
Pluto and Xumo both offer 100+ live and on-demand channels for free. Sling TV gives you 30–50 channels starting at $25 a month—and a ton of inexpensive add-ons.
How can I watch cable TV for free?
We don’t know of a legal way to watch cable or satellite TV for free. But you can get 100+ channels from both Pluto and Xumo for absolutely nothin’. Be advised, though, that these channels carry some of the same programming but not the same channels.
You also won’t get your local channels—but an inexpensive over-the-air (OTA) antenna like the Mohu Blade is reasonably priced (around $36), and it’ll pick up every free channel for 50 miles.
Xfinity customers should check out Xfinity Flex, the provider’s combination of a streaming device and service. Flex combines Xfinity’s on-demand library (10,000+ titles) with NBC’s Peacock service, Pluto, Xumo, Tubi, and your paid services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and HBO®. And it’s free to Xfinity internet-only customers.
What is the cheapest internet-and-cable TV bundle?
If you can get it in your area, RCN has a cheap internet-and-cable TV bundle. You can get its Digital Basic TV package (61+ channels) with high-speed internet (speeds vary with location) in a double-play deal that starts at $29.99 a month (for the first 12 months).
How can I reduce my cable bill?
To reduce your cable bill, try the following:
- Drop down to a cheaper package.
- Call your provider’s customer retention department and see if you can negotiate a discount—especially if you’ve been a good customer.
- If you can handle commercials, drop cable altogether and use only free, ad-supported services like Pluto, Xumo, Tubi, and more.
- Xfinity internet-only customers: check out Xfinity Flex, the provider’s content-rich combination streaming device and service.
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