The Complete Cord-Cutting Guide for 2026
Replace your cable package without losing channels. A step-by-step guide covering live TV streaming, antenna setup, sports coverage, and total cost comparison.
TL;DR
Cable costs $125+/month on average. A cord-cutting setup with 2 streaming anchors + an antenna + a live TV service runs $50-70/month. You keep 90%+ of your content at roughly half the cost. The key is matching your sports and local news needs to the right services.
Cable vs Streaming: True Cost Comparison
The average cable TV package costs $125+ per month before internet. Add internet ($50-70/month) and the total reaches $175-195/month. A well-optimized cord-cutting setup runs significantly less:
| Setup | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cable TV + Internet | $175-195 | $2,100-2,340 |
| Budget cord-cutting (2 services + antenna) | $75-85 | $900-1,020 |
| Mid-range (3 services + live TV) | $110-130 | $1,320-1,560 |
| Rotation strategy + internet | $80-100 | $960-1,200 |
The cord-cutting advantage is flexibility. You can cancel streaming services instantly with no contracts, no equipment rental fees, no hidden charges. Free services like Tubi and Pluto TV add significant content at zero cost. The key trade-off is sports — live sports remains the hardest content category to replace affordably.
The Cable Replacement Strategy
Replacing cable requires covering four content categories: on-demand entertainment, live TV, sports, and local channels. The strategy:
- On-demand entertainment: Netflix + one rotating service covers 90%+ of scripted content. Amazon Prime Video adds breadth. Total: $20-35/month.
- Live TV (optional): YouTube TV ($82.99/month) or Hulu + Live TV ($82.99/month) replaces cable's live channel lineup. Only subscribe if you genuinely watch live TV daily. Many cord-cutters discover they don't need it.
- Sports: Match your sports to the right service. NFL: Peacock + Amazon Prime. NBA: ESPN/ABC through YouTube TV. Premier League: Peacock. MLB: ESPN+. See the sports section below.
- Local channels: A $20-40 digital antenna picks up ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS in HD for free. This covers local news, live sports on broadcast networks, and PBS Kids.
Live TV Streaming Services
If you need live TV channels, these services replace cable's channel lineup:
| Service | Price/Month | Channels | DVR | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | 100+ | Unlimited | Sports, best DVR |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | 95+ | Unlimited | On-demand + live combo |
| Sling TV | $40-55 | 30-50 | 50 hrs | Budget option |
| Fubo | $79.99 | 180+ | 1,000 hrs | International sports |
YouTube TV is the best all-around replacement — unlimited cloud DVR, excellent interface, and the broadest sports coverage including NFL Sunday Ticket ($276-480/season add-on). Sling TV is the budget option at $40-55/month but lacks local channels in many markets. Fubo is the sports specialist with 180+ channels but costs nearly as much as cable.
Sports Without Cable
Sports is the #1 reason people keep cable. Here's how to cover each major league:
- NFL: Peacock (Sunday Night Football, $10.99/month), Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night Football, included with Prime), YouTube TV or ESPN+ (Monday Night Football), Netflix (Christmas games). NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV ($276-480/season) for out-of-market games.
- NBA: ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video split coverage under the new $76 billion deal. NBA League Pass ($149.99-199.99/year) for out-of-market games, though 30-40% of local team games are blacked out.
- Premier League: Peacock at $10.99/month carries all 380 matches with no blackouts — the best value in English-language markets.
- MLB: ESPN+ for out-of-market games. Local RSN apps or YouTube TV for in-market games.
- F1: Apple TV became the exclusive US home at $12.99/month in 2026.
The total sports streaming cost ($30-80/month) is comparable to cable's sports tier, but you pay only during the seasons you watch.
Getting Local Channels
A digital antenna ($20-40 one-time cost) picks up ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, and often 15-30+ additional subchannels in HD for free — no subscription required. Signal quality depends on your distance from broadcast towers.
Check antennaweb.org or the FCC's DTV reception maps to see which channels you can receive and what antenna type you need. Most urban and suburban households can use a flat indoor antenna. Rural areas may need a rooftop or attic-mounted antenna.
Alternatives if an antenna doesn't work: YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV both include local channels. Locast, which offered free local channel streaming, was shut down after a court ruling in 2021.
For local news specifically: most local TV stations stream their newscasts free on their websites and apps. NewsON aggregates local news from 275+ stations across the US at no cost.
Step-by-Step Cord-Cutting Checklist
- Audit your current viewing. For one month, track what you actually watch on cable. Most households use fewer than 17 of their 200+ channels.
- Check your internet plan. You need 50+ Mbps for reliable 4K streaming. Internet-only plans typically run $50-70/month.
- Get a digital antenna. Test local channel reception with a $25 indoor antenna before buying anything expensive.
- Choose your streaming anchors. Netflix + Amazon Prime Video covers the broadest base for $23-40/month.
- Match your sports needs. Identify which services carry your must-watch sports and plan subscriptions around seasons.
- Set up a streaming device. A Roku Streaming Stick 4K ($35) or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K ($35) turns any TV into a smart TV.
- Call your cable company. Cancel TV service but negotiate to keep internet. Threatening to switch to a competitor often unlocks retention pricing.
- Set up free services. Install Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel for additional free content.