As someone who's been cord-free since 2013, I can attest to the real benefits of ditching cable: significant savings, access to higher-quality programming, and far fewer ads. That said, one common drawback is losing the effortless "recline and watch" experience—replaced by endless menus, buffering, and spotty streams.
The good news? It doesn't have to be that way. Drawing from years of testing streaming options, I've curated eight apps that recreate cable's ease, delivering continuous TV content so you can just relax.
Start with established services like Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV Now. They offer traditional channels at a fraction of cable costs—entry plans around $20/month. Pair them with a quality antenna for free local channels when you want simple, no-fuss viewing.
Available on: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, various smart TVs.
Pluto TV nails the cable vibe with a familiar visual TV guide for easy channel surfing. With 75 channels across 10 categories—News, Sports, Comedy, Geek and Games, Chill Out, Entertainment, Life and Style, Curiosity, Movies, and Music and Radio—you'll find exclusives plus staples like Bloomberg TV, NASA TV, and The Weather Channel.
Note: Currently U.S.-only for continental users.
Available on: web app, iOS, Android.
Yidio shines as a aggregator, pulling subscription VOD content and free videos. Stream via web on HDMI or mirror from your phone. Its standout feature? Custom profiles that track favorites and compile them into seamless, channel-like shows.
Available on: Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast.
Perfect for background music videos, Vevo generates personalized playlists based on your favorite artists—refreshing each time for endless variety without manual playlist building. Custom feature limited to these platforms.
Available on: Chromecast, Android.
Mobdro scans the web for free streams, organizing them for continuous playback like Pluto TV. Premium (beta) enables TV casting; otherwise, use an Android dongle.
Available on: Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, iOS, Android, various smart TVs.
FilmOn delivers 600 live channels (U.S. and U.K.) plus 90,000 VOD titles. Premium adds cloud DVR, Hollywood movies, and network shows. Roku via unofficial Plex channel; Apple TV supported. Caution: Live sports may black out.
Available on: Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android, iOS.
Soccer fans rejoice: For $9.99/month, access beIN Sports, Univision Deportes, UniMás, GolTV HD—covering La Liga, Serie A, MLS, and more. Includes series, docs, news, and club exclusives. U.S./Canada only.
Available on: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast.
This cloud app lets you aggregate favorite channels. Free tier: 5 sources; premium ($2.99/month): unlimited, including CBS, AMC, ABC, NBC.
Available on: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android, iOS.
Livestream features global live events from BBC, New York Times, TED, Spotify. Categorized into Animals, Arts & Entertainment, Business, Lifestyle, Music, News, Politics & Society, Science & Technology, Spiritual, Sports—24/7 news or event-timed broadcasts.
These eight apps make cord-cutting invisible—even to guests. For movies, check top free legal streaming sites. Share your favorites in the comments below!
