🔌 10 Best YouTube TV Alternatives in 2025 (Free & Cheaper)
YouTube TV costs $72.99/month — that's $876/year! Here are 10 alternatives that give you live TV for free or much cheaper.
YouTube TV vs Alternatives — Price Comparison
| Service | Monthly Cost | Live Channels | DVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | 100+ | Unlimited |
| Global Free TV | FREE | 4,000+ | No |
| Pluto TV | FREE | 250+ | No |
| Tubi | FREE | On-demand | No |
| Sling Freestream | FREE | 400+ | No |
| Sling TV (paid) | $40 | 30-50 | 50 hours |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 | 95+ | Unlimited |
| Fubo | $79.99 | 180+ | 1000 hours |
| Antenna | FREE* | 20-50 local | With device |
*Antenna: one-time purchase $20-50
Top 10 YouTube TV Alternatives (Ranked)
Global Free TV
⭐ Best Free Option4,000+ free live channels from 150+ countries. Sports, news, movies, entertainment — all free, no signup.
Pluto TV
📺 Most Like Cable250+ free live channels. Feels like cable TV, owned by Paramount. Great for entertainment and news.
Sling Freestream
⚽ Best Free Sports400+ free channels and 41,000+ on-demand titles. Good sports coverage.
Tubi
🎬 Best Movies50,000+ free movies & shows on-demand. Owned by FOX. Best movie library.
Digital Antenna
One-time $20-50 purchase for free local channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX) in HD. Best picture quality.
From $40/month. Cheapest paid live TV with ESPN, CNN, Disney. Save $33/month vs YouTube TV.
Free live TV and on-demand. Works in any browser, no Roku device needed.
300+ free channels from Comcast. Growing content library.
200+ free channels. Also works on web, not just Samsung TVs.
NBC's free tier. Some live channels, next-day NBC shows, select movies.
More Alternatives
Free Sports Channels (No YouTube TV Needed)
Discovering free channels for you...
YouTube TV Alternatives FAQ
What is the best free alternative to YouTube TV?
Global Free TV offers 4,000+ free live channels including news, sports, entertainment, and movies. Pluto TV and Tubi are also excellent free options. All are ad-supported but completely free.
Can I watch live sports without YouTube TV?
Yes! Many sports channels are available free on Global Free TV, Pluto TV, and Tubi. Major events on NBC, CBS, and FOX are free over-the-air with an antenna.
Why is YouTube TV so expensive?
YouTube TV costs $72.99/month because it includes 100+ cable channels. But many people only watch a handful of channels. Free alternatives like Global Free TV give you thousands of channels at $0.
Do free alternatives have DVR?
Most free streaming services don't include DVR, but many offer on-demand replays. The trade-off is saving $73+/month.
Save $876/Year — Watch Free TV Now!
4,000+ channels, $0/month. Why pay for YouTube TV?
YouTube TV Alternatives: Complete Guide for 2025
YouTube TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services, but at $72.99/month it's not cheap. That's $876 per year — more than many cable packages. If you're looking for cheaper or free YouTube TV alternatives, you have plenty of options.
The Rise of Free Live TV
FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channels have exploded in popularity. Services like Pluto TV, Global Free TV, and Sling Freestream offer hundreds of live channels at no cost. While you won't get every ESPN or HBO channel, you'll find more content than you can watch.
The Smart Cord-Cutting Strategy
The best approach for most people: combine a digital antenna (free local channels in HD) with a free streaming service like Global Free TV (4,000+ international channels). Add a paid service only if you need specific content like ESPN or HBO.