Cord-cutters have dozens of streaming services to choose from. But it’s not necessarily obvious which one you should use; it depends on what you’re planning to watch.
To help you sort through the various options, we’ve rounded up some of the best streaming services across a number of categories.
Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
- Best Streaming Service for Movies and TV Shows
- Best Live TV Streaming Service
- Best Streaming Service for Sports
- Best Music Streaming Service
- Which is the Best Streaming Service?
Best Streaming Service for Movies and TV Shows
If you want to look beyond the mainstream options like Netflix and Disney+, it’s best to turn towards apps and sites.
The best app for streaming movies is arguably Popcorn Time. It is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, and provides real-time streaming of HD movie torrent files.
If you’d prefer to watch online, some of the best movie and TV show streaming sites include Flixtor, 5Movies, and MoviesJoy. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, there are plenty of Flixtor alternatives worth checking out.
Keep in mind that movie streaming sites like MoviesJoy might be unsafe unless you take precautions.
(Note: If you’re looking for some viewing recommendations, have a look at our list of the best movies and TV shows to watch during the lockdown.)
Best Live TV Streaming Service
The best mainstream service for live TV streaming is either Hulu or Sling. Both offer access to a wide range of popular US TV channels, including FOX Sports, ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC, TNT, NBC, and many more. Neither, however, are suitable for UK viewers.
If you’re in the UK, you could use iPlayer or ITV Hub. If you pay for Sky, you get access to Sky Go as part of your subscription. Non-UK readers can access geo-blocked content by using a VPN.
Alternatively, some websites offer live TV streaming. In the US, one of the most popular is USTVGO. It broadcasts all the big channels as well as many smaller ones and is entirely free to use.
And make sure you also check out some of the best live TV streaming apps. The most well-known is arguably Mobdro, but there are a few Mobdro alternatives on a Fire Stick and live TV apps for Android that you should also consider. (Read our guide on how to install Modbro on a Fire Stick if you’re stuck.) You can even use free M3U IPTV playlists.
Lastly, consider subscribing to a paid IPTV service. Have a look at our round-up of the best IPTV services available today if you’d like some recommendations on the best options.
Best Streaming Service for Sports
If you’re willing to pay a monthly subscription, the top streaming service for sports is FuboTV. It holds the rights to NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, the Premier League, international soccer, boxing, cycling, rugby, and much more.
To stream UK sports, Sky Sports and BT Sports are the networks to keep an eye on. Sadly, both require a subscription (though Now TV lets you watch Sky Sports for less money than a full Sky TV plan).
Thankfully, it’s possible to watch Sky Sports for free using a few clever workarounds. In the worst case, there are many alternatives to cable and Sky that’ll allow you to tune in.
Best Music Streaming Service
Unlike live TV and Video on Demand (VOD), music streaming is much less restricted by international boundaries. There are very few countries in which the leading music streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music, do not work.
There’s also no shortage of free music streaming apps that are entirely legal; you won’t need to venture into grey-area content. For example, Spotify has a free tier, Soundcloud is free, and you can listen to millions of songs on YouTube.
The best legally questionable app for streaming music is Fildo. It is only available on Android, and you’ll need to sideload the APK manually. You can use Fildo to both stream and download music.
Which Is the Best Streaming Service?
If you could only choose one service, we’d go with an IPTV service that includes a sizable VOD catalog.
Make sure you let us know which is your favorite streaming service in the comments below.
