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Which Cable Providers Let Me Stream TV Anywhere?

With smartphones and tablets as prevalent as they are and with nearly every major cable company offering an app that can stream TV, there’s no reason to miss your favorite shows anymore—no matter where you are.

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Since we’re always on the go these days, many of us don’t have a chance to watch TV at home. But with smartphones and tablets as prevalent as they are and with nearly every major cable company offering an app that can stream TV, there’s no reason to miss your favorite TV shows anymore—no matter where you are.

From established TV providers to streaming-only alternatives, there are a lot of options for watching TV on the go these days. Check them out, pick your favorite, and enjoy your TV anywhere and everywhere.

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TV provider streaming apps

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ProviderAppTV GuideRemote ControlManage DVRAverage Rating (of 5)
CoxCox ContourYesNoNoiOS:

Android:
DIRECTVDIRECTVYesYesYesiOS:

Android:
DISHDISH AnywhereYesNoYesiOS:

Android:
OptimumOptimumYesYesYesiOS:

Android:
SpectrumSpectrum TVYesYesYesiOS:

Android:
XfinityXfinity StreamYesSeparate iOS and Android appYesiOS:

Android:

Data collected 11/15/2017.

Cox Contour App Logo
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iOS:
Android:

Cox

Cox Streaming App:
Cox Contour
Available for iOS and Android
View All Cox Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Great Channel Guide—The guide has a readable, clean layout on smartphones that makes it easy to find the show you want to watch.
  • Movie Rentals—The Cox Contour app allows you to watch rented or purchased movies on your mobile device, which is great for long flights or just chilling on your back porch.
  • Customizable Guide—You can easily filter which types of programs appear in your guide, so finding what you want to watch is a piece of cake.

Cons

  • Limited On-the-Go Selection—Full-channel access requires you to be on a Cox Wi-Fi connection. Away from home, you only get a limited number of channels.
  • Poor Tablet Interface—The layout that works so well on phones works poorly on tablets. It’s readable, but there is a lot of wasted space in the design, especially when it comes to the channel guide.

Check Availability

DIRECTV app logo
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iOS:
Android:

DIRECTV

DIRECTV Streaming App:
DIRECTV
Available for iOS and Android
View All DIRECTV Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Apple Watch App—Apple Watch functionality lets you control your TV from your wrist.
  • Simple Video Transfer—Easily send video from your device to your TV so you can pick up right where you left off.
  • Premium Content—The DIRECTV app offers the latest releases from channels like HBO® and Cinemax®.

Cons

  • Slow Operation—Users have found the app to be a little sluggish during normal use.
  • Specific Equipment Requirements—To make use of the DVR streaming features, you need a specific model of Genie DVR (the internet-connected HR44 or better, to be exact). Customers with other DVRs are out of luck.
View DIRECTV Plans
My DISH App
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iOS:
Android:

DISH

DISH Streaming App:
DISH Anywhere
Available for iOS and Android
View All DISH Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Watch Offline—DISH lets you transfer DVR recordings from your Hopper DVR to your phone and watch offline.
  • Full DVR Management—You can fully control your DVR library right from the app.
  • Tablet App—DISH offers a tablet app for Android, allowing you to watch TV on a larger screen than your phone while still being portable.

Cons

  • Occasional Playback Issues—Some users have complained about poor performance and choppy playback, but it doesn’t appear to be a widespread issue.
  • Specific DVR Requirements—Like the DIRECTV app, DISH’s app requires a specific DVR model to transfer DVR recordings for offline viewing. In this case, it’s a Hopper DVR with built-in Sling TV technology.
View DISH Plans
Optimum TV app logo
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iOS:
Android:

Optimum

Optimum Streaming App:
Optimum
Available for iOS and Android
View All Optimum Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Full Parental Controls—Set up restrictions on what your kids can watch right in the app.
  • Access to On-Demand Content—Both free and premium on-demand content are available on the go.
  • Rating and Recommendation System—The Optimum app allows users to rate programs, which helps create personalized recommendations of TV shows to watch.

Cons

  • Underwhelming Interface—The app’s color schemes and overall design feel a little lacking. On phones, very little information is displayed, especially in the guide.
  • Poor Ratings and Complaints—The app has a pretty low rating on iTunes, with many of the complaints centered around freezes and inability to watch TV. Not everyone has these issues, so your mileage may vary.
View Optimum Plans
Spectrum App Logo
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iOS:
Android:

Spectrum

Spectrum Streaming App:
 Spectrum TV
Available for iOS and Android
View All Spectrum Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Tablet Compatibility—An iPad and Android tablet app make it easy to enjoy Spectrum on the go.
  • Easy Search Function—The app’s search function is easy to use and powerful, making finding your favorite show a snap.
  • Parental Controls—You can set parental controls for your DVR right from the app.

Cons

  • Poor Ratings—The Spectrum TV app is just rated low overall. Common complaints include lack of available channels and frequent downtime.
  • Incomplete Channel Lineup—Channel availability varies by market, so you might find that some of your favorite channels are missing.
Check Availability
Xfinity Stream App logo
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iOS:
Android:

Xfinity

Xfinity Streaming App:
XFINITY Stream
Available for iOS and Android
View All Xfinity Mobile Apps

Pros

  • Interface—The Xfinity Stream app has a great, easy-to-use interface.
  • Apple Watch Compatibility—You can use your watch as a remote control. This is perfect for quickly changing the channel without grabbing your phone.
  • Cloud DVR with Offline Playback—You can download your Xfinity X1 DVR recordings and watch them offline, which makes the app great for road trips or flights where you don’t want to pay for Wi-Fi.

Cons

  • Limited Channel Access on the Go—You can only access your entire channel lineup for streaming if you’re on a home Xfinity Wi-Fi connection.
  • No Built-In Remote—If you don’t have an Apple Watch, you’ll have to download the separate Xfinity TV Remote app (iOS/Android) to control playback.
Check Availability

Streaming services

There are several streaming services that offer either live TV or on-demand content for fairly low prices. Whether you want to cut the cord completely or just supplement your regular TV subscription, we’ve listed a handful of services that can deliver you quality TV anywhere you go.

Amazon Prime Video logo

Amazon Prime Video is an on-demand video streaming service that feels more like an Amazon Prime perk than a standalone streaming goliath like Netflix or Hulu. Sure it has great series and movies like The Boys and Sound of Metal, but its quantity over quality approach doesn’t quite match up with its competitors.

 Download Amazon Prime Video for iOS and Android.

Hulu + Live TV offers the best of both worlds when it comes to streaming, flexing its muscles in both on-demand video streaming and live TV streaming. But if you don’t want all the bells and whistles, you can still watch TV shows a day or two after they air with a basic Hulu subscription.

 Download Hulu for iOS and Android.

Netflix App Logo

Netflix has developed a reputation as one of the kings of streaming. Although Netflix doesn’t do live TV, it does offer several excellent original series, including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Cobra Kai. Netflix’s app is in dire need of a redesign in our opinion, but it still works.

Download Netflix for iOS and Android.

Sling T V app

Sling TV is less like Netflix and more like a regular cable subscription. It’s a good option for cord-cutters, though it’s a little redundant if you already have a cable subscription. Sling TV offers channels in smaller packages rather than requiring a full subscription to a bunch of stuff you’ll never watch. Prices are quite reasonable too.

Download Sling TV for iOS and Android.

YouTube TV logo

YouTube TV brings that familiar YouTube interface to the world of live TV streaming. If you’re a cord-cutter who wants quality channels for a reasonable price, then YouTube TV is the service for you. It even has unlimited cloud DVR storage, which is just one of the reasons why we named it the best overall live TV streaming service.

Download YouTube TV for iOS and Android.

Final take

You don’t have to be a couch potato to enjoy your cable TV service. Download your TV provider’s app onto your smartphone and catch all your favorite shows on the go.

If you’re not impressed by your TV provider’s streaming options, we can help you find other TV providers near you. Enter your zip code below to get started.

See which TV and internet providers are available in your area.

Stream TV anywhere FAQ

How can I watch TV away from home?

You can watch TV away from home by downloading your TV provider’s app onto a compatible device. Once signed in, you should have access to content such as live TV and on-demand video. If you don’t have a TV provider, you can still watch TV away from home by subscribing to a streaming service.

Can I watch my Xfinity away from home?

You can watch Xfinity on the go by downloading the Xfinity Stream app to your device. The app allows you to continue watching your favorite TV shows and movies as long as you have an internet connection.

How can I stream TV over the internet?

There are many ways you can stream live and on-demand TV over the internet. If you already have a TV provider, they likely have an app (or even a website) that allows you to watch TV anywhere. There are also several live TV streaming services you can sign up for, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and fuboTV. No matter which option you go with, you’ll need a strong internet connection and a streaming device.

What is TV Everywhere?

TV Everywhere refers to apps that allow TV subscribers to log in with their TV provider’s credentials and watch different channels’ content anywhere on-demand. DisneyNOW is an example of a TV Everywhere app, as it allows you to stream content from Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD. The only requirement is that those channels are part of your existing TV plan.

What devices do I need to stream TV?

You can stream TV from any device that has a strong internet connection and is up to date with the latest software. A mobile device or smart TV is a good place to start, but Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV make some of the best devices for streaming TV.

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