The best cheap cable TV service in the US is Xfinity, for its bargain basement pricing on its first tier package. The service got only moderate scores on value, though, because of high pricing on higher tiers. For great value, our expert team recommends Optimum if you live in parts of the Midwest or East Coast, Verizon Fios if you can get fiber internet to go with your TV service, or DIRECTV satellite if you want a ton of popular channels and don't mind a two-year contract.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
To determine the best cheap cable TV providers, we considered a few factors. We looked first at the lowest monthly prices and price per channel. Then, we checked how each provider scored on the Value criteria in our expert star rankings, and rounded out the research with data about availability, fees, bundling options, and overall quality of service.
Xfinity TV offers one of the cheapest prices we found anywhere for traditional TV, and you get a nice selection of local channels and sports for a monthly starting price of $20. If you bump up to the mid-tier plan, you also get a nice selection of channels (125+ for $50 per month). The service is widely available, so we're confident in recommending it if you’re shopping for TV service on a budget.
If you ever decide to upgrade, there are many options for premium add-ons and a fantastic assortment of content, but you’ll pay more per channel than you would with some competing services. Our expert team gives Xfinity an overall value score of 3.5 stars, which reflects a balance of cheap prices on the low end but higher prices for premium packages.
That said, Xfinity’s equipment is great—the X1 DVR system is among the best in the business. Finally, Xfinity's internet service is excellent, so if you’re looking to bundle, you’re in luck. You can get a suitable 300 Mbps plan for about $50 per month (and even less with certain promotions).
Our biggest complaint with Xfinity is a relatively high number of fees, which do bring the final price up a bit.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
If you happen to live in New York, New Jersey, or a handful of towns in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, you can get super reliable fiber internet from Optimum, plus the excellent TV service that goes with it. This is an extremely competitive option in both the TV and internet spaces, with tons of channels and fast speeds for a low price.
If you live in other states where Optimum has coverage, you'll get cable internet and cable TV, but the prices and channels are similarly fantastic.
Whether your connection type with Optimum is cable or fiber, you’ll benefit from TV packages starting at just $30 per month (with more than 50 channels at the lowest tier). If you average channel cost across all plans, you’ll pay some of the lowest prices per channel as well. Better yet, you get a great selection of channels you actually want to watch—not just filler music and shopping. Our expert team gives Optimum a perfect 5 out of 5 score on Value.
There are some nice perks, too. Optimum includes a voice-activated remote and certain shows and games in 4K, or you can use an Apple TV.
Just be aware Optimum internet is required to get TV services, so be sure to budget for a bundle deal if this is your provider of choice.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Verizon Fios TV takes the #3 spot, and it’s a pretty close race. The most affordable plan, Your Fios TV, is unique in that the channel selection is customized to your tastes. So, while you get the same number of channels as with the mid-tier Xfinity package, you’re more likely to get more channels that you actually like with Verizon.
There’s a nice overall channel selection and price per selection, too. Our experts give Verizon Fios TV a perfect 5 out of 5 score on value, and its per-channel price averaged across all plans is even lower than what you would pay with Optimum.
Compared to Xfinity, Verizon’s prices are a bit higher, though this is offset by lower fees. It’s available to only about 34 million people in states along the East Coast, which is about a third the reach of Xfinity. These two factors keep it from being in the top two—but it’s pretty close.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
DIRECTV is well known as a premium TV provider and we love that it’s available anywhere in the US (as long as you can mount a satellite dish on your property). We knew DIRECTV offers a ton of channels—including almost all the most popular ones—but admit we were a little surprised to find that DIRECTV also competes on price per channel across its package tiers.
DIRECTV also earned a solid 4.5/5 on Value, taking into account its pricing, channel availability, and channel popularity across tiers. Just watch out for prices that may go up after your contract runs out in two years. If you end up canceling during that time, you’ll also be on the hook for an early cancelation fee of $20 per month remaining on your contract.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
When considering a cheap TV service, package price is the most obvious consideration. However, channel selection makes a big difference in which plans are worthwhile, and the high fees of some providers can negate the low price of service. Thinking about bundle pricing can also help you decide, especially with traditional cable providers. Keep all these things in mind when shopping for a cheap TV plan.
Be careful that you don’t confuse cheap with high value. The most affordable packages from providers around the US are often not the most economical. For that reason, it’s important to know why you’re looking for a cheap TV provider.
If you’re only after the lowest-cost TV package you can get and don’t care much about what you’re getting, you’ll evaluate plans differently than someone interested in getting the most bang for their buck. Often, the middle-tier plans tend to offer the most for your money.
A fairly consistent way to determine the value of a given package is to break down its cost per channel. Let’s say you’re comparing Verizon Fios TV with Xfinity TV. Verizon’s most affordable plan is Your Fios TV. Your Fios TV offers 125+ channels for $70 per month, which is $0.56 per channel. Xfinity’s mid-tier plan, Popular TV, is 125+ channels for $50 per month, which is $0.40 per channel—significantly less.
This is even more useful when comparing packages with different providers. For example, Xfinity’s Ultimate TV plan is $68.50 per month for 185+ channels, which works out to $0.26 per channel. In this case, even though the Popular TV plan is less expensive, you’re paying less per channel with Ultimate TV.
Cost per channel isn’t the only thing to consider when comparing television packages—channel selection is just as important (if not more). There’s not much sense in paying for a bunch of content you’ll never watch, no matter how good of a deal it is.
Most major providers offer most of the popular channels. The differences are generally fairly small and come down to personal preference regarding what you like to watch.
For example, some providers don’t offer much in the way of sports content without paying for top-tier packages or extra add-ons, while others include tons of sports even in the lower-priced plans. However, not everyone cares enough about sports for this to be a problem.
To help you choose, we included information about content category types in each of our TV reviews and calculated what we found to come up with final Value ratings.
You might also want to check with individual providers, since channel lineup can vary geographically. Here are the channel lineups for some of the top providers:
Bundling internet and TV service together with one provider is usually a smart move. It minimizes the number of bills you have to pay, and there are typically perks or discounts involved that let you save money compared to buying services separately.
However, for the budget-minded, that means you’ll need to consider the cost of extra services in addition to standalone TV service. For the most part, the best TV providers are also the best internet providers. This is good news because it means you don’t need to worry about compromising one for the other.
The only compromise you might have to make is balancing channel count and internet speed to stay on budget when choosing a package. Providers will sometimes offer multiple options at the same price point, but with different internet speeds and channel packages.
When it comes to the cost of television service, your package price is only part of the story. You also need to consider equipment fees, service charges, and other factors that can cause your bill to increase. It’s also important to remember that many providers increase the price of plans after a certain amount of time has passed, so what you’re paying now may not be what you’ll pay next year.
DVR and set-top box rentals can add up quickly. Many providers charge more if you need more DVR storage, so you’ll need to consider how much recording you do. If you bundle internet service, you may also have fees for modem and router rentals—when you add it all up, you could easily pay as much in fees as you do for service!
Some providers are definitely worse than others when it comes to fees. Xfinity, for example, has a strong budget package, but a slew of fees, including charges for the DVR, set-top box, extra DVR storage, a regional sports fee, and a broadcast fee. While most of these are common to all providers, Xfinity takes it just a little further.
Verizon Fios, on the other hand, charges almost no fees—the first set-top box is free, the DVR fee can be waived or discounted if you upgrade to a higher-tier package, and there are no regional sports or broadcast fees. Those two alone can be over $30 per month, so this is a big deal.
If you're moving to a new area, it's nice to compare providers. Our direct comparison tool lets you see pricing, ratings and real user reviews side by side.
Click the links below to compare cheap internet options. Then, add and delete up to three providers by clicking on the boxes to the right.
If you want cheap TV and are open to the idea of cutting the cord, it’s possible to get a lot of content for (potentially) less money by going with a streaming service or two. Now, as the prices of streaming services rise and content becomes more exclusive to certain platforms, this has become less of a cost-saving measure. However, it’s still a very viable option.
Streaming services come in two basic types: on-demand and live streaming. On-demand streaming includes things like Apple TV+, Netflix, and Peacock. Hulu + Live TV is an example of live streaming. It’s still possible to subscribe to several on-demand services for around what you’ll pay for even the cheapest cable subscription.
See our picks for the best cheap live TV streaming services, best streaming services for news, and best streaming services for kids and families.
TV service can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are numerous providers that offer affordable services for both live TV and internet. Xfinity is our pick for the best cheap TV, with the cheapest package out there, sweet bundle options, and great mid-tier pricing. Optimum is a close second, with many of the same positives as Xfinity, with a slightly higher price and less availability. Verizon Fios and DIRECTV offer great prices per channel along with a ton of the popular channels you crave. Spectrum is a compelling option if you don’t have Xfinity or Verizon Fios available.
If these providers are still too pricey, check out our guide to getting free TV.
Rebecca Palmer has been writing about tech and consumer finance since 2010. Her work has been featured in the Deseret News, Idaho Business Review, TopTenReviews.com, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and lives in Salt Lake City with her exceptionally delightful pup, Nymeria.
Dave Schafer is a freelance writer with a passion for making technical concepts easy for anyone to understand. He’s been covering the world of gadgets, tech, and the internet for over 8 years, with a particular focus on TV and internet service providers. When he’s not writing, Dave can be found playing guitar or camping with his family and golden retriever, Rosie.
Bri Field has a background in academia, research writing, and brand marketing. She has edited scientific publications, conference papers, digital content, and technical communications. As Assigning Editor, she enjoys ensuring all content is accurate, clear, and helpful. In her free time, you can find her in the kitchen trying a new recipe, out on a hike, or working through her massive TBR list.
Michal directs the Switchful content strategy and leads the editorial team. With a bachelor’s degree in Communications, she has more than a decade of experience in the world of marketing communications. Her diverse career has included public relations, brand development, digital strategies, and more; her key skillset has always been centered around strategic efforts for consumer-focused initiatives. In her free time, you can find her camping with friends, chasing waterfalls on her kayak, or searching for the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.