Not a vague "you'll save money" promise. Here's what cable actually costs, what every major streaming replacement costs, and the honest tradeoffs, all dated so you know what might have moved since we checked.
Average U.S. cable bill estimates vary by source: roughly $90-$110/mo for the base package before fees, $115-$150/mo once broadcast-TV surcharges, equipment rental, and franchise fees are added. One tracker puts the blended 2026 average as high as $147-$157/mo including fees. Price is by far the top reason people cut cable:87% of people who cut the cord cite price as the reason, well ahead of content availability or any other factor.
Sources: CableCompare (U.S. Cable TV Subscribers 2026, Key Cord-Cutting Statistics 2026), FETV Cord-Cutting Cost Guide, Adwave Q1 2026 cord-cutting tracker. Compiled 2026-07-19. These are industry-blog/aggregator figures, not a single audited source; ranges are wide because methodologies differ (base package vs all-in bill).
| Service | Price/mo | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Philo | $25.00 | Cheapest live-TV bundle; entertainment/lifestyle only, no sports, no news, no locals. |
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | Cheapest way to get ESPN; single stream, thin local coverage. |
| Sling Blue | $45.99 | Fox News + NFL Network + USA/Bravo/FX; no ESPN. |
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | Broadest single-tier lineup; locals in most markets. |
| DirecTV Stream | $82.99 | Cable-replacement tiering; base tier comparable to YouTube TV. |
| Fubo | $85.00 | Sports-first lineup, locals in many markets, regional sports fees included in price. |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 | Entertainment tier; locals in most markets, bundles Disney+/ESPN+. |
Prices as of 2026-07-19. Every provider's own pricing page is the authority; these move.
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The honest starting point isn't "everyone should get YouTube TV" or "everyone should cut the cord entirely." It's: list the channels your household would actually miss, check each one on the channel finder, and see which single service (or antenna + one cheap service combo) covers all of them for the least money. A household that only watches lifestyle channels and locals might land on Philo ($25/mo) plus a one-time antenna. A household that needs ESPN and Fox News both needs the Sling Orange & Blue combo ($60.99-$65.99/mo) or one of the broader all-in-one services.
A commonly cited rule of thumb: a well-planned streaming setup runs roughly $50-$80/mo for most households, saving $900-$1,200/year versus a traditional cable bundle. That range assumes you're not paying for overlapping services you don't need. Checking specific channels first is how you avoid exactly that.
Streaming prices rise too. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and the other services here have all raised prices before and will again; this isn't a permanent fix, it's a cheaper starting point with more control over what you're paying for. Re-check the numbers on this page against the providers' own pricing before you commit, especially if it's been a few months since 2026-07-19.