How to Cut the Cable Cord and Still Watch TV in 2021

It’s 2021, and streaming video is king. For those of you who have already cut the cord to your cable or satellite, we salute you. But for anyone looking at alternatives to cable TV and wondering if cutting the cord is worth it, we’re here to help.

We get it, cable TV seems like a simple option. You pay a monthly bill to get all your channels in one place. The problem is the price—which keeps getting more bloated year after year. According to Doxo’s U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report 2021, 82 percent of American households with a Cable & Internet bill spend $116 per month, or $1,392 per year, or $1,141 per year when averaging across all U.S. households. And for many, it’s costing a whole lot more.

As a Decider reader, you’re already hip to all the amazing content available out there, from popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime—which are either built right into your smart TV or accessed from streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast. And now, you have even more options to get rid of cable and still watch TV, with live television streaming services like Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV.

We understand that even the thought of getting rid of your trusty cable box may feel confusing or downright oppressive, especially with so many different options available. But don’t freak out. Because there has never been a better time to cut the cable cord and still get all the shows and movies you love. We’ll help you figure out what streaming services are worth having, the equipment you need to cut the cord, and give you tips on how you can still watch TV.

Here are the best cord cutting options of 2021.

What Does Cutting the Cord Mean?

Cutting the cord is a euphemism for getting rid of whatever bundle of channels you subscribe to from a cable, satellite or broadband provider, from big names like Spectrum, DISH, Verizon, et al. For a long time, this was the only way you could get premium channels like HBO as well as specialized basic cable channels, like MTV, The Food Network and Nickelodeon.

But with the advent of streaming services and the rise of Netflix and its streaming ilk, cable companies started making it even harder to get all the channels you want at a viable price. Even the most basic channels are now being corralled into even more specialized bundles—meaning if you want Bravo for Real Housewives fans, Fox Sports for baseball fans and Sprout for the little ones, you may have to upgrade to a more expensive package. And don’t get us started on HBO, which now isn’t included in most premium cable packages—so yes, you have to pay more to get channels like STARZ and Showtime, but then you’ll have to add the monthly HBO subscription on top of that.

So, what was once easy is now not so simple. And though the idea of canceling your simply organized entertainment options may feel scary, especially if you’re not tech savvy, it can mostly be replaced by cobbling together a litany of streaming services, including those premiums like HBO Max and Epix, and perhaps a TV antenna, for much less.

Is Cutting the Cord Worth It?

The first thing to consider is whether your current cable deal is super amazingly cheap. If, by some miracle, you’re paying less than $116 per month for everything you want, it may be worth sticking with your current plan. Chances are, since you’re reading this piece at this very second, you are not—especially when you factor in those nasty hidden cable costs for things like equipment, broadcast fees, and regional sports fees. In this case, cutting the cord will most probably save you cash.

You’ll still need a home Internet connection, which may now be part of the cable bundle, so figuring out how much it will cost as a standalone service is also important. Many times, the broadband Internet service is at least half of what you’re paying for cable as a whole—so let’s say you’re paying $120 per month, it may be just $60, and you can spend the rest of those savings on the specific streaming TV services you want. You can also shop around for other broadband deals—but make sure to check if you’re under contract for your current plan before you do so.

Lastly, you’ll need to figure out which channels and TV shows you simply must have. If most of your favorite shows are available on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, and you don’t mind waiting to get the most current season, cutting the cord should be a no-brainer. However, if there are still series you want to see the minute they are released, or live entertainment you can’t do without, you’ll need to consider adding a more comprehensive alternative to cable TV, like Philo or Sling TV.

What Equipment Do I Need to Cut the Cord?

In addition to a WiFi router, like this Linksys dual-band router ($73.90) or a pricier, future-proof WiFi 6 router like the TP-Link Archer tri-band router ($397.98), here is what is needed to cut the cable cord.

Photo: TP Link

If you want to get rid of cable and still watch live TV, you’ll need to consider going back to the basics and investing in an HD antenna. This will allow you to watch local, over-the-air programming from channels like CBS, NBC and Fox. There are a plethora of hardware options to choose from, like this basic, low cost 1byone Indoor Antenna ($24) or the pricier Mohu Leaf+ ($60) multidirectional antenna with a USB-powered amplifier, which must be mounted outside.

Before you purchase an antenna, you should also check which local channels are available. You can plug in your zip code at Antennaweb to get a full list of stations in your hood and even a free TV guide listing all the channels available with an antenna at your address.

If you want to record those live broadcast channels to watch in the future, you should consider upgrading to an antenna DVR. We like the Amazon Fire TV Recast ($230 for two tuners and $280 for four tuners) which will also let you stream your programming on other Fire TV devices. The Nuvyyo Tablo Quad DVR ($200) comes with four tuners for less.

Photo: Amazon

And lastly, cutting the cable cord requires a streaming device. If you have a smart TV, and let’s face it, most of us do, you’ll have to check to see what streaming apps it offers. In the same vein, you can also use a gaming console, like Xbox or PlayStation, to stream your content. Or, you can simply add a standalone streaming device to your TV, like the Decider favorite Chromecast with Google TV ($50), Roku Express 4K+ ($40), Apple TV 4K with the nifty new remote ($179) or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K ($40).

What is the Best Alternative to Cable TV?

To truly untether and break free from the cable cords which bind you, you’ll have to consider going beyond the individual streaming subscription services like Netflix and Disney+ and purchase a cable-replacement service like Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.

Here you’ll be able to find all those familiar channels you don’t want to give up, and, depending on your location, even some local stations. Each service will let you search for what is available on its website, but if you take our advice and buy that antenna, you can easily subsidize any local broadcast channel that might be missing.

READ THE REST OF DECIDER’S CORD-CUTTING GUIDES:

This post first appeared on Nypost.com