Best cheap TV provider of 2023
Methodology
To determine the best cheap cable TV providers, we considered a few factors. Cost of service was important, but we also looked at the number of channels you get for that cost, availability, fees, quality of bundling options, and overall quality of service offered.
Best cheap TV providers
- Plans starting at $19.99 - $600.00
- 10+ channels
- 20+ DVR storage hours
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
- Plans starting at $49.99 - $110.00
- 425+ channels
- 50+ DVR storage hours
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
- Plans starting at $19.99 - $169.97
- 140+ channels
- n/a DVR storage hours
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
- Plans starting at $15.00 - $195.00
- 420+ channels
- 150 DVR storage hours
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Editor's choice: Xfinity TV
- Extensive availability
- Reasonable pricing
- Good bundle options
- Premium entertainment costs extra
- Lots of fees
- Low channel count on cheapest tier
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, visit the provider's website.
Xfinity offers a sweet sports lineup at a low starting price
We think Xfinity TV is the best cheap TV provider for most people. The initial package price is low, and the channel selection you get is quite good (125+ channels). There’s also plenty of sports available, even on the more affordable Popular TV package. The service is widely available, so we're confident in recommending it.
If you ever decide to upgrade, there are many options for premium add-ons, and the Ultimate package has a fantastic assortment of content. Xfinity’s equipment is also 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. It offers speeds up to 2,000 Mbps with unlimited data.
Our biggest complaint with Xfinity is a relatively high number of fees, which do bring the final price up a bit. However, considering the quality of service, we can overlook these (somewhat).
#2: Verizon Fios TV
- No contracts
- Personalized channel lineup
- Excellent fiber internet bundles
- Limited availability
- Pricey DVR storage
- For TV-only customers, a Verizon router is still required
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
Verizon offers customized channel selection at inexpensive rates
Verizon Fios TV takes the #2 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 base Xfinity package, you’re more likely to get more channels that you actually like with Verizon.
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 in states along the East Coast, which is about a third the reach of Xfinity. These two factors keep it from being number one—but it’s pretty close.
#3: Spectrum TV
- Simple package options
- No contract to join
- Up to $500 contract buyout if you switch
- Second-year price hikes
- High broadcast fee
- No DVR with basic receiver
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Spectrum offers cheap cable TV and nice bundling options
If Xfinity and Verizon Fios aren't available in your area, Spectrum may make a good substitute. The channel selection and pricing are similar to Xfinity’s, although there are only two tiers available (plus a third for Spanish speakers). Spectrum also offers speedy internet service and is very widely available, with service in more than 40 states.
The main drawback of Spectrum is the lackluster DVR system. It lacks storage and the advanced features that Xfinity and Verizon offer, though we like that you can buy an Apple TV and cloud DVR instead of renting their equipment (you have to pay for cloud DVR either way).
You can save by bundling with internet, but the speed caps out at 1 Gbps.
#4: Optimum TV
- No contracts
- High channel count
- Excellent value
- Some areas can't get fiber internet
- High fees
- Second-year price hikes
Offer details: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Optimum is a great fiber provider with a large cable footprint
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, and 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.
Optimum offers more than 50 channels at it's lowest tier and includes a voice-activated remote and certain shows and games in 4K. Just be aware internet is required to get TV services, so be sure to budget for a bundle deal if this is your provider of choice.
Compare top cheap internet providers head-to-head
If you're moving to a new area, it's nice to compare providers. Our direct comparison tool lets you verified user reviews, pricing, and ratings 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.
- Xfinity TV vs. Verizon Fios TV
- Xfinity vs. Spectrum TV
- Xfinity vs. Optimum TV
- Verizon Fios TV vs. Spectrum TV vs. Optimum TV
What to consider when looking for a cheap TV provider
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. Keep all these things in mind when shopping for a cheap TV plan.
Overall value
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 that is interested in getting the most bang for their buck—these plans are often not the cheapest ones offered by a provider. More often, the middle-tier plans tend to offer the most for your money.
Cost per channel
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 $70.00 per month, which is $0.56 per channel. Xfinity’s cheapest plan, Popular TV, is 125+ channels for $49.99 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 $59.99 per month for 185+ channels, which works out to $0.32 per channel. In this case, even though the Popular TV plan is less expensive, you’re paying less per channel with Ultimate TV.
Channel selection
Cost per channel isn’t the only thing to consider when comparing television packages—channel selection is just as important. 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 give you a better idea, here are the channel lineups for some of the top providers:
- Xfinity Channel Lineup
- Verizon Fios Channel Lineup
- Spectrum Channel Lineup
- Cox Channel Lineup
- Optimum Channel Lineup
- Mediacom Channel Lineup
Bundle options
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 save money compared to separate services.
However, for the budget-minded, that means you’ll need to consider the cost of bundles 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.
Fees and other costs
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.
Consider streaming
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.
Catch your favorite shows and movies for less
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 a good channel selection, speedy internet bundles, and a great price. Verizon Fios is a close second, with many of the same positives as Xfinity, with a slightly higher price and less availability. Spectrum and Optimum are compelling options 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.