What Hardware Do You Need for Free Cable?

If you don’t have internet service or a compatible device, there are still some good free cable solutions out there. We’ve covered a few below. ..

Cable providers are already offering free or discounted services to customers who subscribe to their networks through various devices. This includes streaming live TV, watching shows and movies on your computer or phone, and using the internet to access content.

Add a Free-To-Air HDTV Antenna to Your Setup

Traditional network television is cable. It doesn’t have to use a cable to be counted! You can add broadcast television using other mediums, including radio waves transmitted freely over the air (OTA). ..

TV antennas are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it’s important to find one that will fit your specific needs. If your TV doesn’t have a digital tuner, you can buy a digital receiver box to convert the signal into HDMI and use it with any compatible TV.

An indoor antenna will give you local channels, while an outdoor antenna will give you access to broadcast towers further away, meaning you can receive more channels. ..

The FCC has a Digital TV broadcast map site that can help you find out what local broadcasts are available. You can enter your address and see what networks are broadcasting in your area. ABC still broadcasts OTA in some regions, so you’ll need to put in your address and check the site for information. ..

Stream Cable TV Online Directly

Cable TV providers are aware that people are moving to streaming platforms. Most streaming platforms are paid, with some being free. For example, Paramount+ requires a paid subscription, but that’s not universally true for all platforms. Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, has a free tier with a heap of cable content.

Look for Cable-like Streaming Options

  • Hulu with Live TV: Hulu offers live streaming of local channels, as well as cable networks like ESPN and TNT. You can also watch shows on-demand after they air. There is a limited commercial-free option for $39 per month.
  • Sling TV: Sling TV is a live streaming service that offers a variety of channels, including cable networks like AMC, ESPN, and TNT. You can also watch shows on-demand after they air. There is no commercial-free option, but you can pay $20 per month for the “Sling Orange” package that includes all the channels except ESPN and TNT.
  • DirecTV Now: DirecTV Now is a live streaming service that offers a variety of channels, including cable networks like AMC, ESPN, and TNT. You can also watch shows on-demand after they air. There is no commercial-free option but you can pay $35 per month for the “Just Right” package that includes all the channels except ESPN and TNT. ..

Tubi TV

Tubi TV offers both live TV and on-demand streaming content. The service is ad-supported but claims to have fewer ads than cable TV. The live content includes a long list of news channels and live sports, which are limited to the United States. However, if you live outside of the US, there’s still a ton of content on Tubi in the on-demand section, so it’s still worth checking out.

Plex

Plexis is a company that specializes in providing free live and on-demand content from its servers. Recently, they’ve started offering this service to customers who have an account with them.

If you head over to the live TV segment of the site (or through one of the Plex apps), you’ll find a wealth of live TV options. Including Bloomberg TV, USA Today, and various sports streaming channels.

Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a new streaming service that only offers a cut-down version of its content in the USA.

There are over 250 live TV channels available to watch in the United States, but some of the more notable ones include CBS News, the NFL channel, and Star Trek. Star Trek is a popular show and is definitely worth watching. ..

Crackle

Crackle, a streaming service that has been around for years, was recently acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. ..

You can find a lot of free content here, including content from cable providers like CBS, Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers, and more. However, the advertising can be a little excessive.

IMDb TV

If you’re a fan of movies or TV shows, then you should definitely check out IMDb.com. It’s a great place to find out who was in your favorite show or movie, and it’s also a great place to get free video streaming in the form of IMDB TV.

FREECABLE TV

This service offers a direct cable replacement that is limited to the Google Play or App Store apps. This service is the most direct free cable replacement you can find in the USA.

If you’re in the USA, it’s worth looking at content from three-letter companies. ..

Find Full Episodes on the Network Website

If you’re looking to watch free cable content without paying for cable, you should visit the network’s website for streams or even the website of the specific show you want to watch. Surprisingly, many cable sites offer full free episodes of TV shows that have already aired. For example, if you visit the Adult Swim website, you’ll find full episodes of Rick and Morty, among other titles. ..

There is a lot of variability in how well this type of service works. For example, some official sites only offer the most recent episodes or lock specific episodes behind a cable subscription. Still, it only takes a few seconds to search for your favorite shows with the keyword “full episodes” to see if anything legal is available. ..

Use a Shared Cable Account

Many cable providers now offer a streaming service that subscribers can use on their mobile phones and other internet-connected devices. ..

This has led to people sharing passwords with friends and family members so they can watch cable content through the cable app. This is “free” because you’re not paying for it directly. For example, someone with an HBO cable subscription usually gets free access to the HBO Max. ..

Some cable providers frown upon the practice of sharing streaming content with other family members, while others offer it as a perk. You may be eligible for a family-sharing plan with streaming access if you check with the cable provider’s policy on sharing. ..

Free Trials

Cable providers offer a variety of services, including cable access, that can be used for a variety of purposes. Some services are only available for a certain length of time, while others are available in multiple packages. If you only need cable access for a particular piece of content that will only be on for a short time, you may want to consider using a free trial.

If you don’t have a free trial, you may be able to take advantage of special deals, coupon codes, or other indirect ways to access those services for a while without paying monthly fees.

Your Current Subscription Might Include Live TV

Hulu is a service that mainly offers on-demand content. You may already be paying for a subscription that includes some cable-like live TV. If not, those channels might be available for a low add-on fee, but since we’re looking for free options here, that’s off the menu.

Before you start looking for free cable replacements, make sure that any streaming services you subscribe to include cable content. One good example is HGTV, which is often included with streaming services. If you don’t have it already, be sure to check your subscription list. ..

Many free cable streaming sources are only licensed to show content within the USA or whichever region they operate within. While it’s pretty simple to use a VPN that circumvents this geo-blocking practice, it’s usually not legal.

When using a VPN to watch content licensed for a reason other than your own, you’re effectively pirating the content.

The stream’s main license holder is not marketing themselves to you. The content license holder in your region is denied the ad revenue or subscription fee that those rights should provide.

We say using a VPN probably isn’t legal because content licensing laws differ from country to country or state to state. Hence, there are probably parts of the world where it’s a grey area or not prohibited, but there’s no way to do a global law review within the scope of this article.