How to Cut the Cord: Switching From Cable to Streaming and Internet-Only TV

What "cutting the cord" means and what you need to replace it

Cutting the cord means canceling your cable or satellite TV subscription and watching shows and sports through streaming services and internet instead. You keep your internet service but drop the TV bundle. What you replace it with depends on what you watch: some people use three or four streaming services, others use one service plus a live TV streaming option, and some use a combination of both.

The main trade-off is cost versus convenience. Cable bundles often cost $100 to $200 a month for TV, internet, and phone. Streaming services run $7 to $20 each per month, and a live TV streaming service (which carries cable channels as they air) costs $55 to $75 monthly. If you watch a lot of live sports or news, you may end up spending nearly as much as before. If you watch mostly on-demand shows and movies, you'll likely save money.

Before you cancel, you need to know: what channels and shows do you actually watch, how much live TV do you need, and do you have internet fast enough to stream without buffering. Internet speed matters more than most people realize — streaming one show in 4K requires about 25 Mbps, and if multiple people in your house stream at once, you need more.

Key Takeaways

• Cutting the cord means canceling cable TV but keeping internet service, and replacing TV with streaming services and live TV apps.
• The cost savings depend entirely on what you watch — streaming services alone cost $7 to $20 each monthly, while live TV streaming services cost $55 to $75 monthly.
• You need internet speed of at least 25 Mbps for smooth 4K streaming, and faster if multiple people stream at the same time.
• Live sports, news, and premium channels are the hardest things to replace with streaming, and may require a live TV streaming service or cable alternative.
• Most cable companies offer internet-only plans, but you may pay more per month for internet alone than you did as part of a bundle.

Figuring out what you actually watch

Start by listing the channels and shows you watch regularly. This is the most important step because it determines whether you can actually cut the cord or whether you'll end up paying almost as much to replace what you lose.

For shows and movies, check which streaming service carries them. Most major shows are on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, but some are exclusive to one service. Sports are the hardest category: if you watch NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB regularly, you'll need either a live TV streaming service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, or FuboTV) or a cable alternative. Local news and weather are also difficult — many people end up keeping cable just for these, or they switch to a live TV streaming service.

Once you know what you need, add up the monthly cost of the streaming services that carry it. If that total is close to what you pay now for cable, cutting the cord saves you little or nothing. If it's significantly less, you have a real savings opportunity.

Checking your internet speed and upgrading if needed

Streaming video requires a certain amount of internet speed, and if you don't have enough, you'll see buffering, pixelation, or the video dropping to lower quality. The speed you need depends on what quality you want and how many people are streaming at once.

Netflix recommends 5.5 Mbps for HD streaming on one device, and 25 Mbps for 4K on one device. If two people in your house stream at the same time, add their speeds together — so two people streaming HD need about 11 Mbps. If you have kids, a partner, or roommates who stream while you do, you need more speed than you think.

Check your current internet speed at speedtest.net. If your speed is below what you need, contact your internet provider and ask about upgrading. Internet-only plans from cable companies often cost $50 to $80 per month depending on speed, which is less than a TV bundle but more than internet alone used to cost when bundled. Some areas have other internet providers (fiber, fixed wireless, or satellite) that may be cheaper or faster — check what's available at your address before you commit to your cable company's internet plan.

Choosing between streaming services and live TV streaming

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video carry shows and movies on demand — you watch what you want when you want it. Live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV carry cable channels as they air, so you can watch live sports, news, and events. Most people use a combination: one or two on-demand services plus a live TV service if they need it.

On-demand services cost $7 to $20 per month each. Live TV streaming services cost $55 to $75 per month and usually include some on-demand content too. If you only watch a few shows and don't care about live TV, you might spend $20 to $40 monthly on two or three on-demand services. If you watch a lot of live sports or news, you'll probably need a live TV service, which brings your total closer to $75 to $100 monthly.

Many live TV services offer a free trial week or month — use it to test whether the channel lineup and picture quality work for you before you commit. Picture quality and channel availability vary between services, and what matters most depends on what you watch.

Canceling your cable subscription and avoiding early termination fees

Before you call to cancel, check your cable contract for an early termination fee. If you're in a contract and cancel before it ends, you may owe $100 to $300 depending on how much time is left. If you're past the contract end date or month-to-month, there's no fee.

Call your cable company's customer service number (on your bill) and tell them you want to cancel TV service. They will likely offer you a discount to keep you — this is normal, and you can negotiate. If the discount doesn't make the service worth keeping, decline it and proceed with cancellation. Ask them to confirm the cancellation date and whether any early termination fees apply. Get the name of the person you spoke with and the confirmation number.

You'll need to return any equipment you rented from them — cable boxes, remote controls, modems. Ask where to return it and whether you'll be charged for unreturned equipment. Some companies charge $5 to $15 per item. Return everything within the timeframe they give you, and keep your receipt.

Setting up your streaming services and devices

Once you've decided which services you need, create accounts and set up payment. Most services let you create a profile for each person in your household so everyone has their own watch list and recommendations. Download the apps on the devices you'll use to watch — smart TV, phone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or Chromecast.

Test everything before your cable cancellation date so you know it works. Make sure your internet speed is actually fast enough by streaming something in the quality you want while someone else uses the internet for something else. If you see buffering or quality drops, you may need faster internet before you cancel cable.

If you're using a live TV streaming service, set up your DVR or on-demand library so you know how to record shows or watch them later. Most live TV services include cloud DVR storage, but the amount of storage and how long recordings are kept varies.

Managing costs and avoiding subscription creep

Streaming services add up quickly. One person might start with Netflix, add Disney+ for Marvel shows, add Hulu for network TV, add HBO Max for movies, and suddenly they're paying $60 a month. Some services offer bundles that save money — Disney offers a bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for less than the three services cost separately.

Track which services you actually use. If you haven't watched anything on a service in two months, cancel it. You can always resubscribe later. Some people rotate services — they subscribe to one for a month, watch what they want, cancel, then subscribe to another. This works if you don't mind waiting to watch something new, but it requires discipline.

Watch for price increases. Streaming services raise their prices regularly, and they often announce increases to existing subscribers before they take effect. When a service raises its price, decide whether you still want it or whether you'd rather cancel and use that money for something else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my local channels if I cut the cord?

It depends on your location and what you subscribe to. If you use a live TV streaming service, you'll get most local channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox). If you use only on-demand services, you won't get local channels, but you can often watch local news and weather through the station's own app or website. Some areas have better local channel coverage than others — check what your local stations offer before you cancel cable.

Can I watch sports without cable?

Yes, but it depends on the sport and the team. Most live TV streaming services carry ESPN, Fox Sports, and regional sports networks, so you can watch many games. Some sports leagues also have their own streaming services — the NFL has NFL+, MLB has MLB.TV, and the NBA has NBA League Pass. If you want to watch every game of your local team, you may need both a live TV service and a league-specific service.

What if my internet goes out?

Streaming services require internet to work, so if your internet is down, you can't watch anything. Cable TV works even if internet is down because it uses a separate signal. If internet reliability is important to you, check your provider's outage history in your area before you cut the cord. Some areas have frequent outages, and others rarely do.

Can I use a VPN or free streaming site instead of paying for services?

Free streaming sites that don't have permission from the content creators are illegal to use in most places, and they often have viruses, malware, or ads that slow down your device. Paid streaming services are inexpensive enough that most people find them worth the cost. VPNs can let you access services in other countries, but using them to bypass geographic restrictions violates the service's terms of service and can get your account canceled.

What happens to my cable modem if I cancel TV?

If you own your modem, you keep it and use it for internet. If you rented it from your cable company, you need to return it when you cancel TV service. Your internet service will continue to work on the same modem — canceling TV doesn't affect internet. Ask your cable company whether you own or rent your modem before you cancel, so you know what to expect.