We’re all feeling the rising costs of food, clothing, and bills. It’s daunting and wages aren’t rising with it. So where can we cut costs? Naturally most look to monthly bills we can count on. TV is one of them.
If you’re looking for a cheaper TV option, you likely have options. First check to see if your provider has a cheaper tier available to switch to. If not, there may be other TV providers like DISH TV, with cheaper service in your area. We’ve done the research and we’ve found providers with service as little as $20 a month. Let’s dive into what options you may have and where they’re generally available.
Cable TV Options
Cheaper cable TV is out there, but is it available in your area? Unfortunately with cable, you’re bound to what’s physically available. Here’s the cable providers we’ve found that are significantly cheaper than the rest.
| Provider | Plans | Price | Channel Count | Availability |
| Comcast Xfinity | Choice TV | $20/month | 10+ Channels | Coverage in 41 states with the most coverage in DC, Maryland and Massachusetts. |
| Optimum | Basic TV | $40/month | 220+ Channels | Coverage is within 21 states with the largest coverage area within New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. |
| Sparklight | Economy Cable | $42/month | Up To Channels | Coverage in 23 states with the majority of the coverage residing in Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and Texas |
| Cox Communications | Starter TV | $61/month | 75 Channels | Coverage in 19 states with most of their coverage being within Arizona, Rhode Island, and Nevada. |
| Charter Spectrum | TV Select Signature | $64/month | 150 Channels | Nearly nationwide |
Streaming Options
Streaming services are available everywhere nationwide as long as you have high speed internet. Starting as low as $5.99 a month is the lowest available today. If you’re lucky, you may already have a streaming service included with your cell phone plan. Here’s the most popular streaming services organized by price.
| Provider | Plans | Price | Details |
| Paramount+ | Paramount+ Essential | $5.99/month | Nickelodeon CartoonsComedy Central, BET & MTV Content |
| Netflix | Standard With Ads | $6.99/month | On demand content only6,500+ movies, TV shows and specials |
| Hulu | With Ads | $7.99/month | On demand contentLive content costs extra3,000+ movies, TV shows and specials |
| Disney+ | Disney+ Basic | $7.99/month | Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar & Nat Geo |
| Max | With Ads | $9.99/month | Blockbuster hits, original series, live sports and more |
| Sling | Sling Orange | $40/month | 32 ChannelsESPN 1-3, Disney Channel, Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, Food Channel & More |
Internet Is Required For Streaming
While streaming certainly costs less than the cheapest cable TV package, it does require the internet to work. You have a few options for this; use home internet, use the hotspot on your phone or beam from your phone to the TV. For the best experience for everyone in your household, we highly recommend that you have home internet if you decide to opt for a streaming service.
Get Low Cost Internet With The Affordable Connectivity Program
Typical home internet plans cost around $50 a month. However, you may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program offers low cost and even free internet in some cases as long as you’re eligible. You may qualify by your household income, if you participate in government assistance or if anyone in your home already receives the Lifeline benefit. Unfortunately, there is no such program for TV service.
