Streaming has opened new domains of viewing content, giving viewers more access to channels that they can’t get with cable. According to the estimates, 99% of families in the US have access to one or more streaming services. In comparison, cable TV users are decreasing in numbers, with estimates showing that the figure will go down to 56.6 million by 2024.
In other words, we can say that streaming services now take the lead in terms of offering more entertainment choices. However, when it comes to finding sports and live TV, you will find cable TV more dependable.
Streaming vs. Cable – Pros and Cons Overview
| Streaming | Cable | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| No contractsAccess to a wider content categoryFree trialsHD contentCustomizable optionsAffordable plans to begin with | Limited in terms of categoriesNo or limited sports coverage | Access to Premium channelsLive sports coverageOn-demand showsHD or above quality | ContractsMay not have the desired channels in the lineupLimited to content available on the channelsLimited availability |
Costing
In terms of cost, we find streaming services to be more affordable than cable TV. An overview by CNET shows that subscribing to streaming services without live TV is more affordable than buying the basic cable TV package.
Streaming Services
| Basic with ads | Premium/ad-free | |
| Max | $9.99/mo | $15.99, $19.99/mo |
| Netflix | $6.99/mo | $15.49, $22.99/mo |
| Hulu | $7.99/mo | $17.99/mo |
| Disney Plus | $7.99/mo | $13.99/mo |
Cable TV Service (6 US States)
| Internet only | Basic TV + internet | Premium TV + internet | |
| Grantville, Kansas (Cox) | $50 | $159 | $219 |
| Atlanta (AT&T/DirecTV) | $60 | $145 | $270 |
| Houston (Xfinity) | $76 | $134 | $194 |
| Staten Island, New York (Fios) | $60 | $155 | $200 |
| Kalamazoo, Michigan (Spectrum) | $85 | $125 | $206 |
| Service | Avg. Monthly Cost |
| Basic cable TV and internet | $144 |
| Premium cable TV and internet | $217 |
| Service | Avg. Monthly Cost |
| Basic streaming with ads (no internet) | $33 |
| Premium streaming without ads (no internet) | $71 |
| Live TV streaming and internet | $135 |
Cut to the chase, we can see that streaming, even with a premium package and live TV option, ends up being cheaper than cable TV service.
Winner: Streaming
Channel Options
When it comes to offering a variety of channels and access to content, cable takes the lead by offering access to a vast number of channels. For example, if you look at the channel lineup for Spectrum Cable, you’ll find more than 150 channels for one plan.
On the other hand, streaming only offers limited access to entertainment choices. There aren’t any dedicated channels for events such as UFC, NFL, etc., and you need to subscribe to live TV services in addition to the streaming service to watch these sports events.
Let’s take a look at some of the channel counts offered by cable TV providers in the US:
| Provider | Channel Count | Starting Price |
| Xfinity | 10+ | $20/mo. |
| Spectrum | 150+ | $64.99/mo.* For 12 mos*. Availability varies by location. |
| Cox | 75+ | $61/mo.* Everyday low price. No annual contract. |
| Directv | 75+ | $69.99/mo. for 24 months plus taxes and fees |
| YouTube TV | 100+ | $72.99/mo. |
| fuboTV | 260+ | $79.99 |
| Sling TV | 32+ | $40/mo. |
Whereas, the following is the content catalog for popular streaming platforms:
| Platform | Number of Titles (Shows + Movies) | Starting Price |
| Netflix | Over 18,000 | $6.99/mo. |
| Hulu | Over 7,000 | $7.99/mo. |
| Disney+ | Over 15,000 | $7.99/mo. |
| HBO Max | Over 4300 | $9.99/mo. |
| Amazon Prime | Over 26,000 | $14.99/mo. |
A cable TV subscription can help find the right channels for your entertainment needs. However, with a streaming subscription, you’d need to buy a live TV subscription to access the TV channels. Even though the cost can be less compared to a standalone cable TV plan, it’s a hassle to handle multiple billings.
Winner: Cable TV
Bundling Flexibility
When it comes to bundling services with other options, cable TV takes the lead. Most internet companies offer several bundles that users can choose to get further discounts. Check out some of the bundling options below:
| Provider | Number of Channels | Internet Speed (Mbps) | Starting Price* |
| Xfinity | 125+ | 500 | $85/mo |
| Cox | 75+ | 100 | $111/mo |
| Spectrum | 150+ | 300 | $114.98/mo. |
| Mediacom | 170+ | 500 | $129.99/mo.* *Advertised price does not include local broadcast station surcharge ranging from $24.82 to $33.95, regional sports surcharge ranging from $4.60 to $16.57, activation, installation, modem rental, taxes & fees. Price includes a $10/mo credit for autopay & paperless billing. Offer Details |
| Optimum | 220+ | 300 | $135/month for 12 months |
In addition, providers such as Xfinity have also announced that Xfinity bundle users can access Apple TV, Netflix, and Peacock at reduced rates, resulting in an overall 35% discount. Disney and WBD also announced a similar bundle offer, allowing customers to access Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max at discounted rates.
Winner: Cable TV
Contract Flexibility
When we talk about the flexibility of subscription contracts, streaming takes the lead since you can easily subscribe or unsubscribe to the service. There’s no restriction on subscribing to multiple streaming platforms at a time. For example, you can watch Avatar on Netflix while downloading the latest season of The Boys on Amazon Prime.
Unfortunately, this flexibility isn’t available with cable TV subscriptions. For starters, most providers only allow access to cable TV plans when you subscribe to their internet services first.
You can install TV and internet service from different providers but it’s a hassle to install the setup and manage bills.
Hence, in terms of flexibility, you can surely depend on any streaming services and enjoy content from various platforms in your budget.
Winner: Streaming
Video Quality
There’s no point in watching your favorite show in SD quality. Therefore, subscribing to a streaming service is a better option than buying a high-tier TV plan when considering video quality.
You can save more by buying an Ultra-high definition resolution(UHD) subscription to any streaming platform rather than subscribing to a high-tier cable TV plan.
| Basic with ads | Premium/ad-free | |
| Max | $10 | $15.50 / $23 |
| Netflix | $7 | $15.50 / $23 |
| Hulu | $8 | $18 |
| Disney Plus | $8 | $14 |
While Cable TV provider rates are expensive compared to streaming rates:
| Provider | Number of Channels | Internet Speed (Mbps) | Starting Price* |
| Xfinity | 185+ | 800 | $110/mo. |
| Cox | 250+ | 500 | $236/mo. |
| Spectrum | 150+ | 300 | $114.98/mo. |
| Mediacom | 170+ | 500 | $134.99/mo. |
| Optimum | 420+ | 940 | $215/mo. |
Hence, finding a UHD option with a streaming service is far cheaper than subscribing to any cable TV service, unless you’re looking for an internet service too.
Winner: Streaming
What to Choose between Streaming and Cable TV?
When deciding between streaming and cable TV, your choice ultimately depends on your personal preference
You can consider going with a streaming service since it offers the flexibility of a subscription, saves money, and gives better video quality. However, if you’re looking for live TV, sports, or news channels, then getting a cable TV plan is your go-to option.
FAQs
Is it better to have cable or streaming?
You can have cable for live TV and add your favorite channels to your lineup. However, in terms of money, a streaming service saves more. It all depends upon your preferences.
Are streaming services better than TV?
Streaming services are better at saving money by giving access to the latest TV shows and movies. However, for an extended channel lineup, you should subscribe to a cable TV package.
