Cutting The Cable Cord
Why Canadians are streaming
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re fed up with the exorbitant costs and restrictive contracts that come with a cable subscription and ready to try something new.
Cable TV is a dying industry. People who have cut their cable subscription years ago and haven’t looked back. There are so many alternatives to cable out there that are cheaper, and are more niche specific that there’s no need to even have cable subscription anymore. However most people don’t know so many of these options exist!
Cable alternatives have exploded in recent years, and with so much to choose from it can be hard to decide which option(s) to choose.
The good news is we’ve done most of the work for you and compiled a long list of the best cable alternative currently out there. Now all you need to do is decide what content is most important to you and how much you want to spend!
Making the Decision to Cut the Cable Cord
Making the decision to cut the cable subscription cord was a long time coming. When you consider most of us ever watch anything on cable TV except local news. Is it worth one hundred dollars a month to watch two shows and occasionally have some background noise? I don’t think it is.
How Much Can You Save?
Before we get into streaming devices and services, let’s talk about how much you can actually save by ditching cable. While your specific savings will depend on how much you’re currently paying for cable and how many streaming options you choose, I guarantee it will be less.
Cancellation Fee
Of course, nothing is ever free. Apparently, if you have entered into a two-year agreement with Cable Provider, you may not be able to just cancel. Some have to pay a $150 cancellation fee. If you do the math, and as it turns out, $150 is much cheaper than $100 per month for 12 months So, although you may not be a fan of paying stupid cancellation fees, you may have to suck this one up and pay.
What Will We Do Now?
Most have had some type of cable subscription for their entire life. They’ve never envisioned life without it. That’s why, although they rarely use it, they struggled with the decision to cut the cord for good. The biggest worry is finding a way to watch their favourite shows. Everything you have on Cable is available on Streaming and so much more. There are so many alternatives to cable subscription available!.
What Device Do I Need Start Streaming?
The device that acts as a cable subscription alternative is an Android TV Box or Android Stick. All you have to do is plug it into your TV’s HDMI port. A Media Box or Stick provides access to thousands of channels and streaming services. Even though you still have to pay for your subscription services, an Android TV Box is a great option for those who want to cut the cord.
What are the Best Streaming Services?
There are a few services that everyone has heard of by now, and for good reason. They have tons of content and are reasonably priced. The question becomes: Which one should you get? Or should you get them all?
1. Netflix
Netflix has ruled the streaming service industry despite new companies, like Disney+, joining the on-demand streaming game.
Netflix’s on-demand library holds the most content with 100,000 fantastic originals along with some of the best TV shows and movies.
Ways to Watch
Netflix makes it incredibly easy to watch, so platforms include desktop and laptop computers, PlayStation, Xbox, smart TVs, Chromecast, Blu-ray players, Wii, Android, iOS, Apple TV, and more.
Pricing
The Basic Plan is $9.99 a month, perfect for the money-savers, but you won’t get to watch Money Heist in high definition (HD). And it’s also a plan made for one since you can only stream one device at a time.
If you want HD and plan to share an account with your roommate or your significant other, then the Standard plan at $14.99 a month is the way to go.
But if the whole family wants to watch their own Netflix movie or show on their device, then the Premium Plan for $18.99 a month will have your family set.
Also, your Netflix account allows you to create five profiles. So you won’t have to worry about getting your child’s suggestions of The Croods or Flash getting in the way of your browsing experience.
Top Shows and Content
There is a ton of exclusive original content on Netflix, including the ever-popular shows:
- Stranger Things
- Orange Is the New Black
- Ozark
- Altered Carbon
- El Camino (a movie spin-off of Breaking Bad)
- Mindhunter
- Black Mirror
And so much more. In fact, a good portion of the content on Netflix is original stuff that you won’t find elsewhere.
2. Disney+
Soon this will be the only place to go for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox – that is a lot of quality programming. As well as classics from the vault, like competitors Netflix, they are investing a lot in new programs developed exclusively for the service.
Completely ad-free, you can have up to seven profiles per subscription and can stream on up to four different devices at the same time with the app installed on up to ten different devices. 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR are available on selected content, and you can download and watch offline when needed.
Ways to Watch
You can watch from just about any platform, including computers, Android and iOS devices, smart TVs, Amazon FireTV, Roku, Xbox One, and more.
Pricing
$8.99 monthly, or save a few dollars and pay $89.99 for an annual subscription.
Top Shows and Content
Disney+ is great for adults as much as it is for kids and families. Here are some of the most popular titles:
- Star Wars
- The Muppets
- The Mandalorian
- Togo
- The World According to Jeff Goldblum
- Iron Man
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- The Simpsons
3. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video has TV shows like Mr. Robot, Hollywood blockbusters like The Godfather trilogy, and original content from Amazon that’s not available anywhere else. If you download the Prime Video app, you can also download movies and shows to your mobile device to watch offline.
Ways to Watch
You can watch from just about any platform, including computers,TV Box, Android and iOS devices, smart TVs, Amazon FireTV and more.
Pricing
Amazon Prime costs $7.99 a month, and that gets you access to the video streaming service on three devices at a time, free shipping, same-day delivery (in some cities), Prime Music, and all the other advantages that come with membership.
Top Shows and Content
Prime Video has a whole host of movies and TV shows, as well as some Amazon original content, like:
- Jack Ryan
- Hunters
- Fleabag
- The Man in the High Castle
- Good Omens
- The Grand Tour
- The Boys
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Sneaky Pete
4. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium gives you access to all the same great content that’s available on YouTube, but with some additional perks. For one thing, you get an ad-free experience when you watch videos and listen to music.
Another benefit is that you can actually watch or listen while using other apps. You can also download videos to watch later, and you get access to YouTube’s new music app, YouTube Music Premium. Finally, Canadian subscribers also get free access to Google Music.
Ways to Watch
You can use it the same way you would watch YouTube regularly: on your PC or Mac, through some set-top boxes like Amazon Firestick, on a smart TV, or through the app on your smartphone or tablet.
Pricing
$11.99 per month, but there’s also a $6.99 per month rate for students, and a family plan that’s available for $17.99 per month so you can share your membership with up to 5 other members of your household.
Top Shows and Content
YouTube is a trove of original content from people around the world, and there are billions of videos on the video-sharing platform. Some of the most popular are videos about crafting, product reviews, how-to guides, music, and vlogs.
5. fuboTV
This streaming service is for the die-hard sports fans out there. fuboTV started out dedicated wholly to soccer, but since then they’ve branched out to include most sports, such as hockey, football, cycling, and baseball.
While live TV is their major offering, you can also watch sports news, shows, and movies, and they recently added some network TV shows and movies that aren’t sports related. Plus, each membership comes with 30 hours of Cloud DVR, so you can record the games you can’t catch live.
Ways to Watch
You can watch on your computer, or you can download the app for iOS and Android devices, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, FireTV, and Chromecast.
Pricing
$15.99 a month, and that allows you to stream live on 2 devices at a time. You can also add streaming for a third device for an additional $5.99 a month.
Top Shows and Content
With fuboTV in Canada, you can watch several beIN Sports channels, BenficaTV, Fight Network, Paramount Network, GameTV, and fuboTV Network.
6. Apple TV+
Newly released Apple TV Plus hasn’t exactly taken the market by storm, but it is a respectable offering that is sure to grow into a contender.
The service launched in November 2019 and has built up a respectable offering of new shows, including Amazing Stories, Home Before Dark, Home, and Defending Jacob. Their list of upcoming content for 2021 is enticing. Their approach has been to partner with big-name A-List actors to help them deliver pet projects, hoping that this will attract audiences.
Ways to Watch
It is available on iOS devices, including Apple TVs, but you can also watch it using the Apple TV app on your PC, and on other smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, and more.
Pricing
It is one of the cheaper on-demand streaming services out there at $5.99 a month, or you can get a free year of Apple TV+ if you purchase an Apple TV. With the cost of subscription, you can share your account with up to five family members.
Top Shows and Content
Some of the great content available through this service right now includes titles like:
- See
- Oprah’s Book Club
- The Morning Show
- Amazing Stories
- Home Before Dark
- Little America
7. Hayu
Hayu is NBC’s foray into the world of on-demand streaming, and this service is dedicated to reality TV. On hayu, you’ll find anything from true crime to cooking to dance competitions, and every other type of reality programming, like dating shows, home and renovation shows, lifestyle shows, and plenty more.
Because of the limited scope of hayu, there isn’t as much content here as you might find with some of the others on the list, but they still boast over 250 titles.
Ways to Watch
You can watch on Android and iOS phones, on Apple tablets, and on your computer, smart TVs, and set-top boxes.
Pricing
$5.99 a month
Top Shows and Content
All the top reality shows are on hayu, including:
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
- Top Chef
- Vanderpump Rules
- Queer Eye
- Blind Date
- 16 and Pregnant.
9. CBC Gem
As you might expect, CBC Gem is chock-full of great Canadian content, including all the shows, documentaries, movies, and newscasts that you’d see if you watched CBC TV, as well as some additional international content. There are three service levels available, and two of them are completely free.
You can access the site without logging in for the most basic access, or you can sign up for a free Gem membership to live stream CBC TV, watch past and current shows, and get ad-free access to children’s programming. Finally, you can also pay for the service for a nominal fee to watch your favourite shows ad-free.
Ways to Watch
You can watch online from your Mac or PC, or you can download the Gem app for iOS and Android devices, Fire TV, Android TV, and tvOS.
Pricing
It’s available free! Or, you can also upgrade to the paid version, which only costs $4.99 a month.
Top Shows and Content
CBC Gem has all your favourite gems from around the country, including:
- Workin’ Moms
- Schitt’s Creek
- Kim’s Convenience
- Award-winning documentaries like Equus
- CBC live TV
9. DAZN
This is another streaming service for sports fans, because DAZN is dedicated to streaming live and on-demand sports of all kinds. With this streaming service, you can watch hockey, baseball, soccer, boxing, rugby, tennis, cricket, and especially football.
When you subscribe, you can watch every football game of the season because you get access to NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone, and NFL Game Pass.
Ways to Watch
There are plenty of ways to watch your favourite matches, including:
- Through the app on your smartphone or tablet
- On the computer
- Through your game console
- With Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV
Pricing
DAZN costs $20 a month, or you can save 40% by paying for an annual subscription, which will cost $150 for the year.
Top Shows and Content
The DAZN service gives you access to all the professional sports games and matches, including:
- NFL
- UEFA Europa League
- MLB
- Bellator
- Carabao Cup
10. Britbox
Is BBC as common a word as tea, chips, and Yorkshire pudding in your house? For all the lovers of British shows and movies, here’s the streaming service for you: Britbox.
It boasts all the best English mysteries, crime shows, comedies, dramas, soap operas, and documentaries that have ever come out of the UK. If you consider Coronation Street a time of day instead of a program, then your house can’t be without Britbox.
Ways to Watch
You can watch Britbox on a web browser, through your Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast, on a smart TV, or using the app on your smartphone or tablet.
Pricing
After the 7-day free trial, it costs $8.99 a month, or the slightly cheaper $89.99 a year.
Top Shows and Content
There are way too many amazing shows and movies to list, but to give you an idea of the plethora of English goodness available on Britbox, here are a few of the most popular titles:
- Doctor Who
- Mr. Bean
- Keeping up Appearances
- Faulty Towers
- Father Brown
- Black Adder
11. CBS All Access
You might expect that CBS All Access would give you access to a lot of the great content that’s available on CBS, and you’d be right. Through their streaming service, you can watch episodes of some of your favourite shows, original content, and live TV from CBS, CBSN, CBS Sports HQ, and ET Live.
However, you won’t be able to watch everything that’s available on CBS, but there’s still a great selection of children’s programming, reality TV, dramatic series, comedies, and more.
Ways to Watch
You can watch on your smartphone, tablet, computer, smart TV, game console, or set-top box.
Pricing
Plans start at just $5.99 a month.
Top Shows and Content
Several of the network’s most popular shows are available on CBS All Access, including:
- NCIS
- Big Brother
- Picard
- Young Sheldon
12. Plex
Plex is a great option for families on a budget because it offers thousands of movies, live TV, news, web series, and shows for free. No matter what type of genre you like, including horror, Bollywood, sci-fi, romance, drama, anime, and beyond, you’re guaranteed to find some titles on Plex that float your boat.
All you have to do is put in your email address and create a password to start watching. There’s also a premium version called Plex Pass that gives you additional options like adding parental controls and a mobile sync so you can watch movies and shows offline. Just be warned that all the Plex options, even the paid account, are ad-supported.
Ways to Watch
Plex is available online on your Mac or PC, and you can also stream it on your smartphone, tablet, or smart TV.
Pricing
Plex is available completely free, and you get access to their full catalogue of titles just by signing up. You can also upgrade to the Plex Pass for $6.49 a month, $49.99 a year, or $159.99 for a lifetime membership.
Top Shows and Content
It doesn’t matter if you love anything from the 70s to current movies and shows: you’ll definitely find something on Plex to keep you busy, like:
- Rain Man
- Thelma and Louise
- Escape from New York
- Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey
- Leaving Las Vegas
13. Crave
Crave is Bell Media’s streaming service, and the basic package will get you Crave original series, Showtime content, and some classic HBO series. While the basic package has plenty of content to keep you busy, you’ll have to upgrade if you want access to movies and some newer shows.
Crave has add-ons that let you watch movies, new HBO shows, content from Starz, and French movies and shows.
Ways to Watch
It is available on your computer, smartphone, tablet, game consoles and set-top boxes
Pricing
Basic costs $9.99 a month. You can add movies and new HBO for an additional $9.99 a month, Starz for $5.99 per month, and Super Écran (French content) for $9.99.
Top Shows and Content
Depending on which add-ons you opt for, Crave can give you access to incredible shows like:
- Westworld
- The Big Bang Theory
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Homeland
- Letterkenny
- Aquaman
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Crazy Rich Asians
- The Big Lebowski
14. Shudder
Do scary stories make you giggle with delight? Do you love feeling scared enough to sleep with the lights on? If that sounds like you, then you’ve met your match. Shudder is another streaming service from AMC, but this one is dedicated entirely to horrors, thrillers, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense stories.
A subscription will get you access to movies, shows, Shudder TV, podcasts, live streaming events, and even Shudder originals.
Ways to Watch
It is available through the same platforms as most other streaming services, including set-top boxes, Apple and Android devices, and game consoles.
Pricing
Monthly subscriptions start at $5.99 USD a month, or $56.99 USD for the year.
Top Shows and Content
The horror catalogue on Shudder is extensive, and you’ll find:
- Child’s Play
- It Follows
- 3 From Hell
- Greg Nicotero’s Creepshow
- Daniel Isn’t Real
- The Wrath
- Belzebuth
Crunchyroll is your one-stop streaming service for all things manga, anime, and Japanese drama. Beyond that, there are also simulcasts available directly from Japan, so you can keep up with all your favourite episodes as they’re available. They have tons of free teasers on the site, but you’ll have to sign up and pay for a premium account for access to full shows and series.
Ways to Watch
This streaming service has fewer platform options than some of the others on the list, but you can still watch on your TV, mobile devices, and directly on your computer.
Pricing
$7.99 a month, $22.99 for three months, or $69.99 for a year.
Top Shows and Content
You’ll find thousands upon thousands of manga and anime episodes on Crunchyroll, including popular titles like:
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Naruto Shippuden
- Attack on Titan
- One Punch Man
- One Piece
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February 19, 2021
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