Have you found yourself in a fix and wondered what devices have local channels? Well, you are in a special place where you are sure to know that You Can watch local channels live at home using at least three streaming devices. This process includes hooking up a digital antenna, paying for a cable subscription, or signing up for a live TV streaming service.

The content you get through a digital antenna is free but limited to your local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS). Cable has historically been more expensive than live streaming services, though the gap is narrowing as nearly every streamer has raised its rates in the past year.

But unlike cable, you don’t have to enter into a contract when you sign up for Fubo, Philo, Hulu + Live TV, or any of the streaming services we cover — plus, you don’t need a cable box, just a smart TV and an internet connection.

Streaming Services with local channels

YouTube TV

With its coverage of major and minor teams, regional games, and national matchups, YouTube TV is a streaming device with local channels with a compelling option for live-streaming local channels and can compete with top sports-focused services.

The platform has many features, including easy-to-use navigation, a great search function, unlimited DVR storage, and vast network availability. However, it’s less affordable than it used to be. It recently increased its monthly price to $73, which can quickly rise if add-ons tempt you.

Nearly 50 optional extras, including 4K resolution, premium channels, and themed bundles, are available when you sign up. Although it’s simple to ignore them initially, the platform regularly persuades you to extend your subscription.

For example, you can rent or purchase movies that aren’t shown on any channel, search for a program on a network that isn’t available, and be prompted to add it. Despite their convenience, these features can potentially raise your monthly cost above the standard price by a considerable amount.

However, YouTube TV’s all-in-one entertainment strategy is intriguing. With a user experience comparable to standard YouTube, you may subscribe to most standalone networks without buying the base subscription. Its search feature, which provides precise and clear results for shows and games combined with simple options to watch or record, is quite noteworthy.

When you sign up, you can choose your preferred networks, teams, and shows, and they will be immediately recorded and saved to your library. Content storage is easy with unlimited cloud DVR capacity (recordings are kept for nine months). Furthermore, YouTube TV is the only provider that lets you turn off the autoplay feature for the last-watched program in the settings.

Locating and documenting forthcoming events is simple. Even though individual games are kept in the “Events” section instead of “Sports,” playback is flawless. “Watch Key Plays,” which gathers 12 to 20 highlight clips for events like NBA or MLS matches and concentrates on significant moments, is a noteworthy tool.

However, only major in-season American leagues have this functionality.

The multiview feature, which lets you watch up to four stations at once—sports, news, or weather—will undoubtedly be appreciated by sports enthusiasts. It’s a convenient solution for people who switch between games regularly.

With parental controls, a statistics panel for buffer health and connection speeds, and the ability to reduce playback quality for sluggish connections, YouTube TV shines in the in-app settings. Additionally, the technology effortlessly combines on-demand and live content. A red badge, for instance, identifies a live show during searches to create a sense of shared viewing with other users.

In conclusion, YouTube TV offers a strong and intuitive streaming experience, especially for sports fans. However, if you’re prone to subscription upgrades, consider its prices.

PROS

• Intuitive and smooth interface

• Accurate search functions

• Cool multiview feature

• Good coverage of sports, news, and linear programming networks

CONS

• Very easy to overspend on extras

• The price keeps going up

$73 at YouTube TV

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Fubo

Best live TV streaming service for sports

Fubo

Fubo is a great option for streaming devices with local channels, especially if you value live sports. When you sign up, you can choose teams from different leagues, and Fubo will automatically record every game your selected teams play as long as it airs on a channel that supports it. Thanks to Fubo’s comprehensive sports coverage, fans will never miss a moment.

The $110/month Deluxe plan that I tried included 118 sports networks. The MGM+ and International Sports add-ons are not included in the marginally less expensive Elite plan ($100 monthly). Fubo provides international leagues, adventure sports, poker, racing, and more, in addition to popular networks like ESPN, Fox, NBC, and CBS.

Add-ons like MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and NFL Red Zone increased in popularity. For $17 a month, you can also get an NBA League Pass to watch the whole NBA season. Even its own sports channels are available on Fubo.

It’s easy to find and record games. Fubo’s search and DVR features make finding upcoming games or browsing through recorded footage simple. The unique FanView function, which showed live statistics and other games, was especially helpful in the area next to the main screen. Reintroducing this functionality would be a significant enhancement, though, as it is now inaccessible.

PROS

• Best coverage of sports networks

• Automatically records your favorite teams

• Informative FanView feature

• Uncluttered live TV interface

CONS

• DVR and VOD experience is inferior to the live component

Hulu

Best live TV streaming service for Disney+ or Hulu subscribers

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV followed suit, raising its monthly fee to $77 after YouTube TV raised it to $73. Hulu + Live TV, on the other hand, provides superior value if you already have a subscription to Hulu or intend to combine it with Disney+. You won’t find this combo anywhere else.

The membership includes live TV and entertainment from Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney. Remember that Hulu and Disney+ have ad-free versions at $90 monthly, whereas the $77 plan has advertisements.

Major cable stations and local affiliates are accessible with Hulu + Live TV. ESPN (all versions), FS1, FS2, TBS, USA, NBC Golf, the NFL Network, and TNT are available to sports enthusiasts. Additionally, Hulu is the only service that bundles Disney+ at no additional cost, and you can add premium channels like Max and Showtime.

The biggest flaw is the navigation. Compared to competing providers, Hulu’s live TV function is less user-friendly because it feels like an add-on to the main interface. Nonetheless, Hulu + Live TV might be the most sensible option for a live TV subscription for people already familiar with Hulu and Disney+ (and paying for both).

PROS

• Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ programming

CONS

• Frustrating interface

DirecTV

Best cable without a contract

DirecTV Stream

With numbered channels and the option to navigate through them in order, DirecTV Stream provides a very cable-like experience. In contrast to traditional cable, it offers flexible cancellation without long-term commitments. Nearly all of the major cable networks are included in the subscription, along with exclusive access to Peacock and extra add-ons like Showtime, Starz, AMC+, Discovery+, and Max.

Some people may find it annoying as the autoplay option plays the last network they viewed when loading it and keeps playing while navigating the menu. Although the search feature works well, the navigation may appear disorganized and less user-friendly because of overlapping menus and many browsing alternatives.

Furthermore, the app does not allow for the addition of new channels or bundles, which may limit convenience or make decisions more manageable for the user.

PROS

• Cable-like experience without a contract

• Broad channel coverage

CONS

• Somewhat complicated interface

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Sling TV

Best customizable live TV streaming service

Sling TV

Sling TV is the best alternative for streaming devices with local channels, especially for consumers who want customized channel selections without paying for needless extras. It provides two basic plans: Orange ($40/month), which concentrates on ESPN and ESPN2, and Blue ($45/month), which gives a broader selection of networks. Sports, leisure, children’s channels, and premium choices like Showtime and Starz have add-ons ranging from $6 to $11 monthly.

In addition, Sling provides promos, such as a free HD antenna for local channels in non-covered areas and pay-per-view films.

In roughly 20 significant markets, Sling Blue offers local ABC, Fox, and NBC stations. Some places also offer 4K coverage of select sports at no additional cost. Although the design is easy to use and emphasizes tailored suggestions, testing revealed that the software frequently crashes.

Although recordings don’t expire, DVR storage is limited to 50 hours, and upgrades can be purchased if necessary.

Sling TV is a versatile but sometimes annoying option for people looking for a personalized streaming experience because of quirky offers like Elvis TV, Bob Ross TV, and Dog TV, which provide distinctive appeal.

PROS

• More affordable than most live services

• The Orange plan is the cheapest way to get ESPN

• Highly customizable packages

CONS

• Only 50 hours of DVR allowance

• Local channels only in major metro areas

Tubi

Best free live TV streaming service for VOD

Tubi

Tubi is a streaming device with local channels that delivers free live TV access and a vast library of on-demand entertainment without requiring user registration. It provides local ABC and Fox stations and live news channels in many places, including NBC News Now, Fox Live Now, and ABC News Live. Fox Sports, Fox Soul, and several regional Fox networks are all part of this Fox-owned service.

With over 200 live options and channels categorized by category, the live TV interface is easily navigable through the Home menu. Despite this, Tubi’s strength is its on-demand collection, which includes a large selection of films, television series, and specialized genres, including “shonen anime,” “vampire romance,” and “black independent cinema.”

Although surfing is quick and orderly, navigation may be hampered by the live TV guide’s automatic closure after ten seconds of inactivity. Tubi is a tremendous free VOD service with live TV as a bonus rather than the primary attraction.

PROS

• Free with no sign-in required

• Shows some local Fox and ABC stations

• Appealing on-demand content

• Highly detailed categories sections for VOD

CONS

• Channel guide disappears after 10 seconds

• The current show continues playing as you browse

Amazon

Best free live TV streaming service for original content

Amazon Freebie

Freeview, Amazon’s rebranded free streaming service (formerly IMDbTV), offers a variety of live and on-demand content at no cost. While similar to the Live TV area within the Prime Video app, Freevee’s design is less organized, presenting networks in a single, long list. By contrast, Prime’s version allows for category-based browsing and is faster to explore.

In addition to a variety of reality shows, true crime series, and classic TV shows like Saved by the Bell, Sailor Moon, and Murder, She Wrote, Freevee offers access to approximately 400 channels, including live news networks like ABC News Live, Fox Live Now, and NBC News Now, as well as sports channels like the MLB Channel, NBC Sports, and Fubo Sports.

Freevee also offers original content like Jury Duty and a few episodes of Prime exclusives like Fallout and Outer Range.

Although Freevee offers a wealth of regional news coverage, its lack of a search tool and category organization might make it difficult to locate particular local channels. Freevee’s free business strategy makes it a formidable competitor for viewers on a tight budget looking for various entertainment options, even with these navigational challenges.

PROS

• Lets you watch a selection of Prime Video content

• Lots of regional stations

CONS

• Hardly any organization to the channels

Pluto TV

Best free live TV streaming service for original content – runner-up

Pluto TV

Owned by Paramount, Pluto TV is an option for streaming devices with local channels. It provides a wide range of well-structured, free live programming in about two dozen genres, including history/science, local news, kids, sports, and anime. Pluto Sports, Pluto News, Pluto True Crime, and Pluto Star Trek are among its exclusive stations. Paramount’s ownership ensures access to original material from CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and Star Trek properties.

Although Pluto only offers a dozen or so CBS stations for regional news, it makes up for this with a substantial selection of live-stream news channels, such as NBC News Live, BBC Headlines, Bloomberg Television, and Cheddar News. Although there aren’t many live games, Pluto offers league-specific NFL, MLB, golf channel programming, Fox Sports material, and CBS Sports HQ.

There is no way to turn off the platform’s interface, which permits continual playback while perusing the guide. For those who find this distracting, muffle the sound. Notwithstanding this minor drawback, Pluto TV is an appealing option for inexpensive entertainment due to its wide selection and free business approach.

PROS

• Highly organized guide

• Lots of Paramount-owned content

CONS

• Your current show plays under the guide

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How to stream live TV

Live TV streaming devices with local channels are similar to Netflix. The broadcast comes via the internet, and you may access it via apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming device. You will often have a better experience with a quicker and more reliable connection. The majority of live TV apps demand web browser registration and payment. The app can then be activated on all of your devices.

Monthly Price

The pricing differential between live TV and a typical video streaming app caught my attention when I experimented with various cord-cutting options. While the latter range from $5 to $20 per month, most live TV services start at $80 and can reach $200 with extra benefits, channel bundles, and premium extras. The cost of offering several networks, primarily local and sports stations, is the leading cause of the higher starting price. Additionally, all services except Sling have increased base plan rates in the last year or two.

How do we test live TV streaming services?

While you are undoubtedly familiar with the services on this list, it does not fully reflect all streaming devices with local channels available. There are many options for free TV, although OTA (over the air) is also accessible if you hang an antenna. As we studied various streaming services, we considered a few things when testing.

Design (easiness of use and layout), features (such as 4K HDR, DVR, and the number of multiple streams), content (number of channels, sports offerings, add-on packages, and the quality of originals and catalogs), and value (price about these other factors) are the factors that I used to determine each streaming service’s numerical value in their review, which is how this list is arranged.

All live TV streaming services we’ve tested:

• Sling

• YouTube TV

• Hulu + Live TV

• DirecTV Stream

• FuboTV

• Freevee

• Tubi

• PlutoTV

• Sling Freestream

FINAL THOUGHTS

Every streaming device with local channels has its benefits and drawbacks. YouTube TV and Fubo might be the best options for sports fans. For content bundles, Hulu + Live TV is enticing. Sling TV and Tubi are reasonably priced options if money is an issue.

Share Your Thoughts

Streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast often provide access to local channels through supported apps such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV. Many Smart TVs also offer integrated apps that let you stream local networks. Pairing these devices with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna can further enhance your access to local programming. Which streaming device do you rely on to stay connected to local news, sports, and events? Share your experience and recommendations!