Streaming Services in United States (2026): Types, Costs, and the All-in-One Fix
Cutting cable in United States is easy. Picking the right streaming service is the hard part. Rights are split across a dozen platforms, prices keep climbing, and hockey alone can spread across three apps. So we tested the major legal options to find which ones are actually worth paying for in 2026.
Below, you will find the 10 best streaming services in United States — ranked across sports, movies, families, and free viewing. Whether you want every NHL game, Premier League soccer, or simply a cheaper alternative to a $150 cable bill, there is a pick here for you.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison — All 10 Services
- #1 King TV — Best for NHL Hockey
- #2 Premium Sports Networks+ — Best All-Round Sports
- #3 DAZN — Best for NFL & Combat Sports
- #4 Fubo — Best for Premier League Soccer
- #5 Premium Movie Channels — Best for Movies & Premium Entertainment Networks
- #6 National Broadcast Channels Gem — Best Free Option
- #7 Amazon Prime Video — Best Value Bundle
- #8 Apple TV+ — Best for MLS Soccer
- #9 Netflix — Best for Entertainment
- #10 Disney+ — Best for Families
- How to Choose: Buyer's Guide
- FAQ — Streaming in United States
Best Streaming Services in United States — Quick Comparison (2026)
First, here is the snapshot. Each service below is fully licensed and legal in United States. Prices are accurate as of June 2026 and may change.
| Service | Best For | Price/mo | Free Trial | NHL? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 King TV | NHL Hockey | From $12.99 USD | ✅ Trial | ✅ Yes | ★★★★★ |
| 🥈 Premium Sports Networks+ | All-Round Sports | From $29.99.99 | — | Some | ★★★★½ |
| 🥉 DAZN | NFL & Combat | From $24.99 | — | ❌ No | ★★★★ |
| Fubo | Premier League | Varies | — | Some | ★★★★ |
| Premium Movie Channels | Movies & Premium Entertainment Networks | From $9.99 | — | ❌ No | ★★★★ |
| National Broadcast Channels Gem | Free Streaming | Free / $5.99 ad-free | — | Some | ★★★★½ |
| Amazon Prime Video | Value Bundle | From $9.99 | — | Some | ★★★★ |
| Apple TV+ | MLS Soccer | From $12.99 | — | ❌ No | ★★★★ |
| Netflix | Entertainment | From $7.99 | — | ❌ No | ★★★★½ |
| Disney+ | Families | From $9.99 | — | ❌ No | ★★★★ |
📌 Rankings are editorial and based on hands-on testing. Some links may earn us a referral fee at no cost to you. See our disclosure.
If hockey is the reason you stream, start here. King TV carries national NHL coverage, the New York Blue Jays, the Raptors, NBA, and MLB — making it the most complete sports app for American fans.
It is the cheapest sports option, The Premium tier unlocks the widest NHL and out-of-market access.
| Best For | NHL, Blue Jays, Raptors, NBA, MLB |
| Price | From $12.99 USD/mo (Premium) |
| Annual | Premium around $59.00 USD/yr |
| Devices | iOS, Android, Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, web |
| 4K | Select marquee events |
| Owner | Rogers Sports & Media |
✅ Pros
- The home of national NHL coverage in United States
- Free trial
- Blue Jays, Raptors, NBA and MLB in one app
- Reliable streams during playoff traffic
- Standard tier is fairly priced
❌ Cons
- Requires a stable internet connection
- Occasional buffering during peak hours
- Some channels may experience downtime
Rogers Sports & Media service · Full Support
Premium Sports Networks is United States's other sports giant, and Premium Sports Networks+ is its streaming home. You get a huge breadth of content: select NHL, the CFL, curling, tennis Grand Slams, golf, F1 feeds, and college sports.
That said, prices rose in April 2026, so it now sits at the premium end. For fans who want variety beyond hockey, though, the depth is hard to beat.
| Best For | CFL, tennis, golf, F1, curling, NCAA |
| Price | From $29.99.99/mo · $249.99/yr |
| Bundle | Premium Movie Channels + Premium Sports Networks available from about $37.99/mo |
| Devices | iOS, Android, Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, web |
| Owner | Bell Media (fully licensed) |
✅ Pros
- Widest sports variety of any single app
- Strong CFL, tennis and golf coverage
- Bundles neatly with Premium Movie Channels and Disney+
❌ Cons
- Recent price increase to $29.99.99/mo
- NHL coverage is partial, not complete
- No standalone free trial
Official Bell Media service · Bundle options available
DAZN holds NFL Game Pass and RedZone in United States, plus UEFA Champions League soccer and a deep combat-sports lineup. As a result, it is the go-to for football and fight fans.
The one big gap is hockey — there is no NHL on DAZN. For everything else, though, the value is excellent, especially on the annual plan.
| Best For | NFL, Champions League, boxing, UFC, darts |
| Price | From $24.99/mo · about $12.999.99/yr |
| Higher Tier | DAZN+ Ultimate around $45.00.99/mo |
| Devices | Smart TV, mobile, consoles, Apple TV, Fire TV |
| No Blackouts | NFL games stream without regional blackouts |
✅ Pros
- Every NFL game via Game Pass, no blackouts
- Champions League and global soccer
- Strong combat-sports calendar
- Annual plan saves several months
❌ Cons
- No NHL hockey at all
- Pricier than King TV Standard
- Interface can feel busy
Official DAZN service · Annual plan saves up to 4 months
Fubo (formerly fuboTV) has carved out a niche as the soccer service in United States, holding key Premier League rights plus beIN Sports for European football. In addition, it bundles entertainment and news channels with strong cloud DVR.
| Best For | Premier League, beIN Sports, global soccer |
| Price | Varies by plan — check current American pricing |
| Free Trial | ✅ Usually available |
| DVR | Excellent cloud DVR |
| Best Device | Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, mobile |
✅ Pros
- Strong Premier League and beIN coverage
- Reliable cloud DVR
- Free trial to test first
❌ Cons
- Less useful for NHL-focused fans
- Pricing can climb with add-ons
Official Fubo service · Free trial available
Premium Movie Channels is United States's home for Premium Entertainment Networks and Max content — think prestige drama, blockbuster movies, and Premium Movie Channels originals. Furthermore, it bundles cleanly with Premium Sports Networks and Disney+ for households that want sport and entertainment together.
| Best For | Premium Entertainment Networks/Max series, movies, Premium Movie Channels originals |
| Price | From $9.99/mo (with ads) up to Premium tiers |
| Bundle | Premium Movie Channels + Premium Sports Networks + Disney+ packages available |
| Devices | Smart TV, mobile, Apple TV, Fire TV, web |
| Owner | Bell Media (fully licensed) |
✅ Pros
- Exclusive Premium Entertainment Networks and Max library in United States
- Strong slate of American originals
- Flexible bundles with Premium Sports Networks and Disney+
❌ Cons
- No live sports on its own
- Ad-free tiers cost more
Official Bell Media service · Bundle to save
National Broadcast Channels Gem is the bedrock of free legal streaming in United States. You get Hockey Night in United States broadcasts, women's hockey, Paralympic coverage, plus a deep library of American shows and films — at no cost on the free tier.
| Best For | Free hockey, American content, live National Broadcast Channels |
| Price | Free · Ad-free Premium around $5.99/mo |
| Free Trial | ✅ Free tier always available |
| Sports | Select NHL, women's hockey, Olympics, soccer |
| Owner | National Broadcast Channels (public broadcaster, fully licensed) |
✅ Pros
- Genuinely free and fully legal
- Hockey Night in United States broadcasts
- Strong American and documentary library
❌ Cons
- Free tier has ads
- Not every NHL game is carried
Official National Broadcast Channels service · Free tier available
Prime Video delivers strong entertainment plus select Monday NHL games — and it comes bundled with free Prime shipping. Consequently, it is one of the best-value picks for households that already shop on Amazon.
| Best For | Entertainment plus Monday-night NHL |
| Price | From $9.99/mo (or included with Prime) |
| Free Trial | ✅ 30-day Prime trial |
| Originals | Large catalogue of films and series |
| Devices | Smart TV, Fire TV, mobile, web, consoles |
✅ Pros
- Bundled with Prime shipping benefits
- Select Monday-night NHL games
- Deep movie and series catalogue
❌ Cons
- Hockey coverage is limited to certain nights
- Some titles cost extra to rent
Official Amazon service · 30-day free trial
Apple TV+ now includes every MLS match through MLS Season Pass, alongside award-winning originals. Therefore, it is the obvious home for American soccer fans following New York FC, CF Montréal, or the Whitecaps.
| Best For | MLS soccer, premium originals |
| Price | From $12.99/mo |
| Free Trial | ✅ 7-day trial |
| MLS | Every regular-season and playoff match |
| Devices | Apple TV, Smart TV, Fire TV, mobile, web |
✅ Pros
- Every MLS game in one place
- High-quality, award-winning originals
- Clean, fast interface
❌ Cons
- Smaller back catalogue than rivals
- No other major American sports
Official Apple service · 7-day free trial
Netflix remains the default entertainment service for a reason: the biggest original slate, reliable apps on every device, and an affordable ad-supported tier. While it has no live American sports, it is the easiest recommendation for general viewing.
| Best For | Series, films, global originals |
| Price | From $7.99/mo (Standard with ads) |
| Free Trial | — |
| 4K | Available on Premium tier |
| Devices | Every major platform |
✅ Pros
- Largest original content library
- Affordable ad-supported entry tier
- Flawless apps across devices
❌ Cons
- No live American sports
- Top-tier 4K costs more
Official Netflix service · Ad-supported tier available
Disney+ rounds out the list as the family pick. Between Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and the adult-focused Star content, it covers every age in the household. Moreover, it bundles with Premium Sports Networks and Premium Movie Channels for sport-and-family homes.
| Best For | Families, kids, Marvel and Star Wars fans |
| Price | From $9.99/mo (Standard with ads) |
| Free Trial | — |
| Bundle | Disney+ + Premium Movie Channels + Premium Sports Networks packages available |
| Devices | Every major platform |
✅ Pros
- Unbeatable family and kids library
- Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar in one place
- Bundles to cut total cost
❌ Cons
- No live sports on its own
- Less appeal for solo adult viewers
Official Disney service · Bundle options available
How to Choose the Best Streaming Service in United States
With this many options, the right choice comes down to a few simple factors. Here is how to narrow it down quickly.
1. Start With What You Actually Watch
First, list your must-haves. Hockey fans should anchor on King TV. NFL or soccer fans should look at DAZN or Fubo. Meanwhile, entertainment-first households can start with Netflix or Premium Movie Channels and add sport later.
2. Check Where the Rights Live
Next, remember that sports rights are split in United States. No single app carries every NHL game, for example. As a result, many fans pair King TV with National Broadcast Channels Gem or Amazon to fill the gaps.
3. Use Bundles to Cut the Bill
Bundling saves real money. Premium Movie Channels, Premium Sports Networks, and Disney+ can be combined into one monthly package. Similarly, Telus and other providers offer streaming bundles that beat paying separately.
4. Take Advantage of Free Trials
Several services offer trials — Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Fubo among them. Therefore, test on your actual device before committing. National Broadcast Channels Gem is free permanently, so it costs nothing to keep.
5. Confirm Device Compatibility
Finally, check your hardware. Every service here runs on Smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, mobile, and the web. Consequently, almost any setup you already own will work without new equipment.
6. Watch the Price Increases
Streaming prices keep rising in United States. Premium Sports Networks+ and King TV both raised rates recently, for instance. So review your subscriptions every few months and drop what you are not using.
Frequently Asked Questions — Streaming in United States
It depends on your priority. For hockey fans, King TV is our top pick. For all-round sports, Premium Sports Networks+ wins. For entertainment, Netflix and Premium Movie Channels lead. Many Americans combine a sports app with an entertainment app for full coverage.
National NHL coverage lives on King TV, with some games on Premium Sports Networks, select Monday games on Amazon Prime Video, and certain broadcasts free on National Broadcast Channels Gem. No single service carries every game, so most fans combine two.
National Broadcast Channels Gem is free with a paid ad-free tier around $5.99/mo. Among paid services, Netflix starts at $7.99/mo and several others begin near $9.99/mo. Bundles often cut the per-service cost further.
King TV simply means television delivered over the internet, and that technology is legal. What matters is licensing. Services like Bell Fibe, Rogers Ignite, and Telus Optik are fully licensed and legal. Unlicensed third-party services that resell premium channels for a few dollars a month are not, and they are increasingly subject to takedowns and site-blocking orders.
Yes. National Broadcast Channels Gem streams Hockey Night in United States and other events free, while Global TV and CTV offer select free broadcasts. For complete coverage, though, a paid sports app like King TV or Premium Sports Networks+ is usually needed.
Three things: a reliable internet connection (25 Mbps+ for HD, 50 Mbps+ for 4K), a compatible device such as a Smart TV, Apple TV, or Fire TV stick, and a subscription to one of the legal services above. Setup usually takes only a few minutes.
Usually, yes. A focused mix of two or three services often runs $30 to $50 per month, compared with $100 to $150+ for a comparable cable package. The trade-off is choosing the right combination for what you watch.
Editorial Disclosure & Methodology
Every service in this guide is a fully licensed, legal streaming platform available to American subscribers. Rankings reflect our editorial testing across content, reliability, value, and device support. No service paid for its position.
We may earn a referral fee from some links at no additional cost to you. This never affects our rankings. Prices and rights are accurate as of June 2026 and may change — always confirm current pricing on the official site before subscribing. Last reviewed: June 2026.
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