Best TV Streaming Apps for Cable Cutters 2021

After researching and downloading the most popular streaming TV apps, I got to work on the difficult task before me: watching television. This testing period involved less of a specific procedure than some other app categories and more just trying out all the features to see if it offered a comfortable and enjoyable viewing experience. 

The apps fell into two broad categories: on-demand and live (with some offering both). For the on-demand apps, I looked at the size and diversity of their content libraries and checked out the video quality, how easy it was to watch in landscape mode, and how user-friendly the browsing experience was. For live TV, I noted how many channels were available, how they were displayed for browsing, how easy it was to “change channels,” how the video quality was, and if the service offered recording, how well that worked.

Because I was interested specifically in the app, rather than the associated service, some favorites did not make the list. I was looking for user-friendly apps with great video quality, and I also thought about what kind of content people might want to access on mobile devices: live sports and news, stuff for kids, shorter form content, and video that is not that visually complicated or demanding of your attention. 

Netflix, for example, does not have a great app, and their original programming tends to be worth looking at and paying attention to — which is why you should watch it on your television. But let’s be honest: you already subscribe to Netflix, which means the app is free. And if you want to download it so you can watch Stranger Things on a plane, go for it. The apps I selected offer the best app experience, and if you are looking for a new streaming app with an excellent associated app, these are all worth considering. At the end of the day, however, the best value for a TV streaming app is whatever you already subscribe to.

More than any other service, YouTube is what got us watching videos on our phones every minute of the day, so perhaps it’s no surprise that the YouTube TV app was the most user-friendly and watchable of the apps I tested. But I actually was surprised. When popular free services introduce a paid version. I’m generally skeptical. 

But YouTube TV really isn’t a paid version of YouTube; it’s a comparably priced or cheaper version of cable with TiVo. At $64.99 per month, the subscription is likely to seem reasonable if you currently pay for cable and ridiculously expensive if (like me) you just pay for streaming services, which generally come in under $10 a month. But if you subscribe to the service (and after using the free trial, I’m now thinking of it), you should definitely download the app. And if you’re considering ditching cable for one of the new live TV alternatives and want one with a good associated app, YouTube TV might be the choice for you.

When you open the app, a series of videos (without audio) of what is currently playing on TV occupy the top of the screen. If you see something you want to watch, you can tap and then turn your phone to watch in landscape mode. If nothing appeals, you can scroll down to find on-demand shows, including sports and news. The home screen also features special collections, which currently include programming about racial injustice, and some YouTube originals, including a series of videos about books. The site has news clips, as well as full-length news broadcasts, a more digestible format for mobile. 

You can also browse the live TV guide, which includes almost 90 channels. Watch now, or set the app to record for later. Trivia nerd that I am, I asked the app to record Jeopardy everyday. I didn’t have to watch it on my phone (the app syncs up with YouTube TV on smart TV devices), but the game show is actually perfect for mobile viewing. And other shows would be too: talk and news shows, home improvement, and cooking shows, and that episode of Friends you’ve seen a thousand times. Most major network and cable news channels are available, as are HGTV, The Food Network, and TBS, so you can get all that fare from YouTube TV. Or just find something you want to see and record it for later, right from your phone.

Out of all the apps I tested, YouTube TV was the most conducive to mobile browsing. It takes into consideration the way people actually use their phones, as opposed to simply making a mobile version of their TV offering. For those considering cutting the cord and looking for an alternative with a great app, YouTube TV is an excellent choice both at home and on the go.

For many people, YouTube TV's $64.99 monthly price tag may be a sticking point. Although the service has a lot to offer, folks on a budget or those that don't watch a lot of TV may want to stick to the cheaper on-demand streaming services. 

YouTube TV also has many add-on packages of premium cable channels and extra sports channels. While it's nice to have these options, they can add up quickly, bringing your monthly bill to $100 or more. If this is in your budget and entertainment is important to you, YouTube TV is likely to meet your needs and provide an excellent user experience. For others, the price tag might just be too steep.

Also, while the ability to record live TV provides a sort of DIY on-demand experience, I wished that YouTube TV had a more extensive permanent on-demand collection. However, the app provides tons of content and a great user experience. Even with a few small drawbacks, it was my number one pick.

At first glance, Disney seems like a terrible fit for a phone app. From Marvel to Star Wars to Pixar, the company's properties are visually stunning affairs designed for the big screen. It seems like they would suffer a little even viewed on TV, much less on a tiny rectangle. And I am not suggesting that you watch Avatar on your cell phone. But the Disney Plus app looks great, and the content library includes many good options for on-the-go viewing, especially for kids.

At $6.99 a month (or $12.99 in a bundle with Hulu and ESPN -- for a savings of $5.83 per month), Disney Plus is a great deal for the amount of content it offers. And that includes lots of premium video that works just fine on the small(est) screen. For instance, the new Taylor Swift studio special, which was released as a Disney Plus exclusive, doesn’t rely on visual effects, and as a quarantine version of a concert film, doesn’t have a narrative, so you can watch it in bits and pieces. Other pocket-friendly content includes all the episodes of The Simpsons, a roundtable discussion with the cast of Hamilton, and a Disney Holiday Singalong. And much more.

If you have kids, the app could be a lifesaver. With full-length classic and contemporary Disney movies, the new Muppets series as well as all the movies, and a Disney Junior series, passing this app to a bored and fussy child could help you all get through a long car ride or frustrating wait. And with content like family singalong videos, Disney Plus offers ways for the whole family to bond.

I know I said you shouldn’t watch Avatar on your phone. And I stand by that. But the video quality here is excellent. While the experience of these blockbusters would certainly be diminished on a phone, they look as good as they possibly could. All in all, the Disney Plus app offers hours of high-quality video entertainment for the whole family. 

Pluto is not as good as the other live TV apps I tested. You can’t record shows, the on-demand library is small, and it has tons of ads. But those other apps range from $5.99 a month to $65 a month, and Pluto is free. That’s a savings of up to $65 -- by far the best deal on our list for budgeters. Pluto is free, and it works just fine.

Of course, if you’re really looking for a cable alternative, are a frequent TV watcher either on your phone or at home, it would be worth it to pay the monthly subscription fees for one of the other services. But if you just want something to watch occasionally, for those times when the DMV wait is way longer than expected, or your child’s sports practice is running long, Pluto is more than adequate.

Pluto has an impressive 250 channels, divided into categories including kids, Latino, local, live sports, comedy, reality, news and opinion, and more. You’ll find many of your favorite channels among these offerings. Your kids can enjoy many different Nickelodeon channels while you kick back with classic sitcoms or MTV. The interface is easy to browse, and selecting a show to watch is a breeze. You can scroll through all the channels or select a category to limit your search. When you see something you like, just tap and then flip your phone to switch to a landscape view.

The app also has an on-demand library, which appears to rotate content. Current offerings include the entire library of James Bond films, lots of sit-coms and drama series, and Christmas movies and specials. While the library is smaller than Netflix, Hulu, or Prime, it’s substantial, and, I cannot say this often enough, it is free. If you have minimal TV needs and simply want to occasionally watch live TV or select something to watch from a smallish library, Pluto is what you’re looking for.

It’s been a long time since I’ve watched cable. I subscribe to lots of on-demand services, and that gives me pretty much all of the movies and TV shows I want. But whenever I’m in a hotel room, I love to channel surf and watch whatever happens to be on TV. Sling gave me this experience, right in the comfort of my living room. Because Sling is really just cable, and for a base price of only $30 per month, you really can’t beat the value.

While Sling has lots of available packages, the basic package includes 30 channels, including AMC, TBS, Comedy Central, HGTV, and several ESPN channels. The service also comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR so you can record all your favorites to watch later. Since Sling includes many movie channels, I’ve spent some time browsing their offerings on the app, setting them to record, and then watching later on my TV.

For app users, the live sports may be Sling’s best feature. Having access to your favorite games anywhere is a major perk, and if you have to miss a game, just hit record. The basic package has many sports channels, and you can add-on additional packages to follow your favorite teams, regions, and sports.

The app is straightforward and easy to use. Scroll the guide to see what’s on and what’s coming up, then tap to record, watch live, or start over from the beginning. The video quality is crisp and clear, and it’s easy to navigate between live TV, your recorded library, and the service’s on-demand offerings. 

I do not know how to fully assess the value of Amazon Prime. At $119 per year (a little less than $10/month, although if you pay monthly instead of annually, the cost is $12.99/month). It’s comparable to Netflix or Hulu for a similar content library and not as much original programming. But if you order lots of packages and depend on Prime’s free, 2-day shipping, you may make the subscription cost back in a year, which means you get 1,981 shows, 18,405 movies, and, as of recently, live sports for free.

If you’re one of the 112 million people who already subscribe to Prime, you’ve already made that calculation (or just succumbed to Amazon’s dominance and pay the yearly fee without really thinking about it. Just me?) You can also subscribe to Prime Video alone, but at $8.99 per month, the cost is quite similar, so subscribing to the whole service will be a better value for most people.

There’s lots of mobile-friendly content on here, especially for kids. While Amazon’s original series for adults are slimmer pickings than Netflix or Hulu, they have tons of original programming for kids, including animated fare like Clifford the Big Red Dog that would make for good mobile viewing. They have popular shows from other networks as well, including Daniel the Tiger (which my friends with young children say is essential viewing) and Dora the Explorer. One nice thing about the Prime Video app is that you can download content, so if you want to access your content but don’t have internet access, you can do so.

As someone who misses those Blockbuster days, I appreciate Amazon’s a la carte options. When I can’t find something on Prime or on one of the too-many other streaming services I subscribe to, it’s usually available to buy or rent from Amazon. Is it a little bit absurd to pay an additional $3.99 for the movie you actually want to see because it’s not available on any of the services you pay ~$10 a month for? Yes. But it’s also nice to have the option. Amazon Prime also has lots of premium channels that are available as add ons. These can add up, but they do allow you to create a custom on-demand premium package. As with the rest of the apps, many of these will be better for big screen viewing, but there are plenty of mobile-friendly options. 

Obviously, Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services. And if you’re already a subscriber and want to watch The Queen’s Gambit or Stranger Things on your phone, then this is the app for you. But it’s not that user-friendly compared to our top picks, and the video quality is not great.

As with Netflix, Hulu has a great content library and some strong original programming, as well as TV shows available on-demand the day after they air live. It also has lots of premium add-ons and even a live TV option. But the app is clunky, so I'd recommend watching The Handmaid's Tale and other Hulu content on your TV or computer.

A great a la carte option for those who don’t want to pay a subscription fee. Vudu has a large content library, particularly for movies, and you can rent or buy whatever you want. (There are some free options, too.)In fact, given that there's no subscription fee, there's no reason not to have the app in case you want something that's not available on another service. 

The AT&T TV app is basically just cable on your phone. The app is a good add-on if you are already using AT&T for your TV. Clean, easy to navigate, good video quality, and lots of programming options. It’s very expensive, however, if you don't already use the service.

Fubo has tons of live sports, as well as a solid selection of TV shows and movies. It has live TV that you can record for later. And the app is clean and easy to use. You can't really go wrong here -- but it is comparable to Sling, and we liked that one a little better.