Best Affordable Streaming Services of December 2024
Updated December 27, 2024 at 3:07 am
After a long, hard day at work, the last thing you want to deal with is a streaming service that’s expensive, chock-full of ads or is limited in its channel selection. Instead, you need a range of affordable streaming services to choose from, allowing you to build out your dream budget setup.
Our experts have compiled the best deals online at the time of this publication, giving you the bird’s-eye-view insight you need to make the best possible decision. We’ve also rounded up the pros and cons, providing you with an unbiased view of your projected customer experience, courtesy of expert knowledge, extensive research, and hundreds of customer reviews. Read on to learn more about the best affordable streaming services on the market and what to look for as you narrow down the best options for your needs.
Our Methodology Our research is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of services and products that best suit your needs. To help you in the decision-making process, our expert contributors compare common preferences and potential pain points, such as affordability, accessibility, and credibility.
Our Picks for the Best Affordable Streaming Services
Best Overall
Sling TV
Best For People With An Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon Prime Video
4 Best Affordable Streaming Services of 2024
Streaming shouldn’t be stress-inducing. Our experts have rounded up the best affordable streaming services in the market, highlighting the pros and cons of each. Our goal is to make your decision-making process as smooth as possible, connecting you to entertainment you can count on.
Best Overall
Sling TV
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
While Sling might not be the most affordable on this list. However, it’s uncommon to find an affordable streaming service that offers competitive sports coverage, customization and streaming on 1-3 devices at a time. Also, our experts appreciate the depth that Sling TV’s Sports Extra add-on offers sports fans if you’re looking for the best affordable streaming service with sports coverage.
Pros and Cons
- Modular setup allows for personalization
- Rolling incentivization and discounts observed by our experts
- Local channels can be made available via an over-the-air (OTA) antenna
- Complicated membership tiers
- Interface isn’t as user-friendly compared to competitors
- Users report intermittent quality issues
Additional Information
- Discounted sports coverage when adding to existing Sling Blue or Sling Orange Plan
- Sports Extra provides 10+ channels, like Big Ten Network and FS2
- Streaming across 1-3 devices depending on plan selection
- Hassle-free cancellation if service is no longer needed
- For an additional fee, you can expand your DVR space to 200 hours
Best for NBC and Bravo Fans
Peacock
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Why We Chose It
Peacock is largely regarded as one of the most affordable streaming services on the market for its value and content. Users can enjoy instant access to some of the most popular NBC and Bravo titles (such as The Office, Real Housewives and This Is Us) plus 50+ live TV channels. They’re also one of the most constantly-refreshed platforms on the market, often updating their 80,000+ hour streaming base with new movies and shows on a weekly basis. Despite the perks, there is no free trial—so we recommend researching their catalog to ensure that they have what you’re looking for before you sign on.
Pros and Cons
- Flexible, two-tap cancellation process
- Live Sports included in base plan
- Prices go as low as $1.99 per month for students
- No free trial
- No 24/7 customer service
- No DVR feature, unlike other competitors
Additional Information
- Competitive channel and movie selection
- Upgrade option to remove ads for just $13.99 per month
- 50+ live TV channels included in base plan
- Compatible across all smart devices; hosts up to six profiles
Best For People With An Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon Prime Video
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Prime Video is our expert’s pick for the best affordable streaming service for those who have an Amazon Prime membership, as it is free to members and stands at just $8.99+* for non-members. The site offers an extensive library of Originals, as well as content from STARZ, HBO and SHOWTIME. Stream across hundreds of smart device types and enjoy a few-click launch process every time you want to watch a show.
Pros and Cons
- Compatible across hundreds of smart devices
- Ad-free option available for a higher degree of customization
- X-ray functionality provides information alongside your showing
- No DVR support available
- Users report intermittent stream quality issues
- Paid content and mixed content are presented together, possibly confusing some viewers
Additional Information
- Streamlined interface offers little to no learning curve
- Extensive on-demand and original content library compared to competitors
- Access to STARZ, SHOWTIME and HBO-affiliated shows
- Modular channel add-ons available for a personalized TV experience
Best Free Option
Tubi
Vault Verified
Why We Chose It
Tubi is one of the best free affordable streaming services, despite its ticket-based customer service, which relies on email and overall lack of ads-free options. The service is incredibly easy to use, requiring no help for most—and it has one of the most extensive catalogs out of all of the best streaming services that are completely free.
Pros and Cons
- Legal assurances allow you to stream with peace of mind
- Synced lists promote effortless streaming experiences
- Registration process takes less than a minute to complete
- Ticket-based customer support structure
- Ad frequency (about one ad every 15 minutes) may be excessive for some
- No ads-free option available at the time of this publication
Additional Information
- Despite ad breaks, offers fewer ads than cable on average
- Available across most popular smart devices
- Offers thousands of titles from top studios (such as Paramount and Lionsgate)
- No credit card or cable login required
Vault’s Viewpoint: Compare the Best Affordable Streaming Services of October 2024
| Starting Monthly Price | Unlimited DVR | Ad-Free Option | 24/7 Customer Service | Free Trial | |
| Peacock | $7.99 | ✔ | |||
| Prime Video | $8.99 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Tubi | $0 | ||||
| Sling TV | $40 | 50 hours of DVR space free, 200 hours for additional cost | ✔ |
Learn More About Affordable Streaming Services
Before we explore the highest-quality, affordable streaming services, we should examine their core characteristics and functions. That way, you have a 360-degree view of the choice you’re investing in and how you can benefit from it.
Our experts have summarized everything you need to know about the best affordable streaming services below.
What Are Streaming Services?
Streaming services provide shows, media and other visual entertainment to a viewer, similar to what you’d expect from a cable provider. However, they’re not available through a wired system or a coaxial cable. They come directly to you from your internet service provider through your mobile device, computer or cast TV screen.
How Do Streaming Services Work?
Streaming services may sound more complex than cable or wire-based solutions. However, they are fairly simple. First, the provider disseminates the show or media’s data into “packets” of sorts. These packets are responsible for carrying key parts of the show’s data in a synchronized, coordinated way to the streaming platform and subsequent device of choice.
When a viewer decides to stream a television show, the packets are sent to the device, where they are interpreted as video or audio components when a connection is established. After the initial connection, playback begins, and the data is displayed as it would otherwise be through a wired connection. Users can then typically start, stop, or otherwise interact with streamed media on their smart device through their platform of choice.
Who Are Streaming Services Best For?
Streaming services generally have an extensive enough content library to appeal to viewers of all ages. Plenty can reap the benefits, including:
- College and high school students: Younger people may find that they have different tastes in shows compared to their parents or guardians. Rather than fight for the TV remote at home, they can easily stream content they prefer to their smart devices—often at a discounted rate.
- Cord cutters (all age groups): Those who choose to walk away from cable TV are typically known as “cord cutters.” While there are plenty of reasons why some might choose to forego traditional TV options, those who do might still want entertainment from time to time—which is where affordable streaming services can help. Especially sports fans looking for ways to watch their favorite teams.
- Value-seekers: Many sources report that streaming costs less than cable, on average—so we believe that those who align with the “value-seeker” consumer persona would definitely benefit from our comprehensive list of the best affordable streaming services.
Types of Streaming Services
There are two primary types of streaming services to consider as you search: on-demand streaming services and live streaming services. While some services might have exclusive plans that offer one or the other, many offer a hybrid approach—much like we see with Amazon Prime Video.
Our experts have summarized both types below:
- On-demand streaming services: These types of affordable streaming services offer media content on demand from an extensive base library, access to which is usually provided to a person on a subscription basis. This type of streaming service can also elevate its service options using a pay-per-view tier, in which a platform might provide premium content.
- Live streaming services: This model is different from on-demand, as it typically allows viewers to watch channel-based content in real-time just as they would on TV. This type of offer typically covers a range of event-based media, such as gaming and sporting events, local news and comedy presentations.
How To Choose a Streaming Service
If you’re on the hunt for the best affordable streaming services, you’re in good company. About 75% of TV viewers are expected to “cut the cord” by 2025, and many are looking to find the best possible value for their dollar.
Here are a few considerations from our experts to help you make the best decision possible when it comes to choosing the most competitive and affordable streaming services.
Pricing
If you’re on the hunt for the best affordable streaming services, chances are you’ll want to get the best value for your dollar. So, as you search, consider services that can sustainably fit into your budget. While this may look like free streaming services for some or easily scalable options (such as Peacock or Sling) for others, you’ll ultimately have to determine what value means in your specific context.
Channel And Content Selection
As you search, you’ll want to look for a service that has the channels and content you’re the most interested in. Some shows might stream with a single service, while other content types might be available more broadly. Consider exploring the content library as deeply as you can to ensure you’re making the right choice or reaching out to a client services representative for any specific content-related questions.
Free Trial
Checking to see if your affordable streaming service has a free trial allows you to get a true “taste” of what you’ll get for your investment. Many of the services on this list offer a free trial or trial periods available at a discounted rate. If your service of choice doesn’t offer a free trial, consider opting for another for now and monitoring it for any future incentive programs.
Other Streaming Service Alternatives
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is one of the best affordable streaming services available, as it is completely free to use and doesn’t require any form of registration, cable login or credit card information. Viewers can stream both live and on-demand content, which can be easily searched using Pluto’s user-friendly interface.
While many appreciate the accessibility that Pluto TV has to offer, others might find that the service has a limited catalog compared to other low-cost and free options. Additionally, viewers might not appreciate the frequent ad breaks that the service relies on to help pay for content coverage.
However, if you don’t mind intermittent ads and reruns, Pluto TV is a competitive and affordable streaming service to consider in your search for the right fit.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is Apple’s proprietary streaming service, launched in 2019. The service offers an extensive catalog of on-demand favorites and Apple Originals, which are refreshed every month. You can stream your favorites across a range of smart devices and enjoy a seven-day free trial to truly experience the service before you buy. After that, you can view for just $9.99 per month, or you can purchase an Apple device and enjoy three free months of the service at the time of this publication.
While the service refreshes its offerings on a monthly basis, users report a lack of substantive content compared to competing affordable streaming services, as well as frequent price changes that might not allow it to remain on this list for long.
Our experts recommend taking a look at the service to evaluate if it’s a sustainable choice for your budget—and to determine if there’s enough high-quality content to make it worthwhile in your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Most Inexpensive Streaming Service?
There are plenty of free streaming services out there, including Pluto TV and Freevee. However, if you’re looking for the most inexpensive paid streaming service available, our experts point to Peacock. Users can sign on for just $7.99 per month (at publishing) to stream thousands of titles with ads, and they can simply cancel at any time. The highest-paid tier currently sits at $13.99 per month, offering ad-free service and a range of other perks.
How Much Is Roku per Month?
It is completely free to create a Roku account. However, you will need to pay a $29.99 charge for your Roku streaming player (and the cost of a Roku-friendly TV if you don’t already have one). Beyond these setup fees, all you need to stream via Roku is a WiFi router and a stable connection, which varies in cost from service to service.
Does Streaming Cost Less Than Cable?
Many authoritative sources find that streaming costs less, on average, than cable. You might also find that they offer a more personalized approach to entertainment, as they’re typically modular in nature. Plenty of affordable streaming services offer add-ons, such as Sling TV’s Blue and Orange plans.
Editorial Disclosure: We may receive a commission from affiliate partner links included on our site. However, this does not impact our staffs’ opinions or assessments.
