It's a new year, and you're probably looking to trim costs. If you're thinking about cutting the cord or you prefer a traditional TV plan, you have plenty of options to choose from. However, live TV streaming services allow you to avoid those annoying contracts. They also offer a variety of channels, DVR and the ability to stream sports and other content. Plus, most services let you watch on your laptop or phone.
Monthly pricing and regional sports networks can make it a challenge when choosing a live TV streamer, but here are six main services to consider (we're not including smaller ones): Fubo, Philo, Sling TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV.
It really boils down to the channels, right? We've examined which platforms feature the most top 100 channels in their main lineups to help you determine which one is best for your household.
The Big Chart: Top 100 channels compared (updated Jan. 2026)
The main difference between the services lies in their channel selection. All of them offer different lineups of channels for various prices.
Below, you'll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all six services. Note that not every service has a worthy 100. There are actually seven listed because Sling TV has two "base" tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you're wondering, I chose which "top" channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD.
Fubo and NBCUniversal have still not resolved their carriage dispute, resulting in a gap in the channel lineup on Fubo. DirecTV offers signature streaming packages, and its basic plan starts at $90 per month, plus fees (excluding promotional rates). YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo and Hulu Plus Live TV's plans all cost more, affecting the value of these services based on their channel lineups. With channel losses and price hikes, some of services may seem less appealing.
However, there are numerous live TV streaming choices available. Sling TV's basic monthly packages are $46 in most cities and Philo offers a small roster but packages HBO Max and AMC Plus access with it. But costs continue to go up and those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.
Some more stuff to know about the chart:
Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service's name.
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