The way people watch television has changed over the years. It is no longer a necessity for you to have a cable subscription to access your favorite shows and series. With the advent of the internet, nothing ties you to cable, and you can always ditch it, given the superfluity of streaming apps currently available in the market.
Whether free or paid, there are numerous apps you can use to catch live streams of your favorite shows and other TV content, and all you have to do is choose the ones that may appeal the most to you. To help you out, here is a brief look at some of the most popular apps for watching on demand and live streaming in the USA – both free and paid.
1. Netflix
You have probably heard about Netflix, and there is no denying that it is one of the most popular streaming services and apps in the United States. It is known to be the best place to head over to if you want to binge on a show for hours.
Though it doesn’t come with a live TV, it has an incredible stockpile of TV shows and movies, which you can binge-watch. Its database contains both current shows and past shows, including anime. At just $7.99/ month, you will have more entertainment than you need with Netflix.
2. Hulu (Live TV)
Very few streaming apps rival Hulu when it comes to the depth of content it offers. It has plenty of shows and movies, and it is particularly a great choice if you want to catch up with older seasons of past television shows or movies.
In 2017, it started offering live TV, and this made it like a cross between services such as Sling TV and Netflix. To access Hulu Live TV, you can go for the $7.99/month choice that comes with limited ads or the $11.99 package that comes with no ads.
For the live TV package, you will have to part with $40 per month, and this will give you access to over 50 channels. If you so wish, you can include add-ons for HBO, Showtime, and others.
3. HBO Max
This is a standalone TV streaming app from HBO, and it bears a close resemblance to HBO Go, except that you can choose to pay for it separately and independently of other HBO packages.
With it, you get unmitigated access to HBO’s content, including hit series such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, among others. The app supports Chromecast and offers a very good quality streaming experience.
Though the $10.99/month price point may seem high to some, if you are a fan of HBO shows, you will find it very convenient.
4. YouTube TV (Live TV)
YouTube is already a popular streaming platform for lots of media houses and television channels. Currently, it offers multiple packages at $54.99 per month that give access to over 60 channels, including popular TV channels and local sports.
Though subscription-based services are not yet available everywhere, the free app is available to anyone who wants to catch up on their favorite shows from services that already upload their content to YouTube.
5. DirecTV Now (Live TV)
DirecTV Now (Live TV) tops the list of the most popular streaming apps in the United States. It is a subscription-based app with the lowest tier boasting of a total of 60 channels and the highest tier having over 120 channels of live television.
Already, DirecTV is a huge pay TV service, and if you already have an account with them, you can download the app for free and use it to access your favorite content on the go. It does have some bugs, but still, you will have a very decent streaming experience with it.
6. Crackle
Crackle app is a product by Sony, and it is one of the best free live streaming apps you will find in the United States today. It has an awesome collection of TV shows and movies that users can stream for absolutely free.
One thing you will find admirable with the app is that unlike similar apps in its caliber, you will access all the content without necessarily creating an account. However, it is always a good idea to sign up so that you can have more control over the content, and achieve some customization on how you choose to consume the free content.
Again, using the app doesn’t come with a lot of annoying ads, though you may find some videos containing a few ads.
7. TubiTV
This is another free video streaming app loved by millions of Americans. It offers an incredible selection of TV shows and movies across well-categorized genres, so you can quickly and easily find what you want to watch. It is beautifully designed, easy to use, has high-quality videos, and you don’t have to sign up for an account to access all the content.
8. Popcornflix
If you still want to binge but don’t want to pay for a Netflix subscription, then Popcornflix is a free alternative you may consider. It is a free streaming app dedicated to movies and television shows, available without signing up for an account, though it is recommended to have an account for a better experience.
9. Viewster
Viewster is a free and legal streaming app that can be used to access different kinds of movies and television shows. Its library may not be as extensive as the rest, but if you enjoy documentaries, cartoons, news, and funny clips, then you will find it to be very useful. Again, if you love anime and Phantom, this is the best free streaming app you will ever find for such content.
10. PlayStation Vue (Live TV)
PlayStation Vue cannot be ignored when talking about live streaming today, and its app also happens to be one of the most popular streaming apps in the US. It is a subscription-based service by Sony and has various packages for the subscribers, with the cheapest one being and the most expensive packages being $24.99 and $64.99 respectively. It is a decent app, with a plethora of channels, including movie channels, live sports channels, and popular TV channels.
