Quick answer: A typical cable or satellite bill runs about $1,500 a year. Live TV streaming apps cost roughly $550 to $1,080 a year at base price. A single-screen IPTV plan from LoftyTV costs $119 for 12 months, or $199 for 24 months. All three need home internet, so that cost is the same in every column.
“Is it actually cheaper?” is the first question anyone asks before cutting the cord. The honest answer depends on what you compare and which costs you count. Here’s the full picture with real 2026 numbers, including the fees cable companies don’t put in the headline price.
What cable really costs in 2026
According to the 2026 doxo U.S. Cable & Satellite Report, the median American household pays about $125 a month for cable or satellite TV. That’s roughly $1,500 a year, close to what many households pay for electricity.
The advertised package price is usually lower than what you pay, because bills add:
- Box rental for each TV, plus DVR fees
- Broadcast TV and regional sports fees, which many providers list separately from the package price
- Price increases when your promotional rate ends, often after 12 months
- Taxes and franchise fees
Pull your last bill and look for those lines. The gap between the advertised price and the total is often the easiest money to save.
Live TV streaming apps: cheaper, but not cheap
Streaming services that carry live channels have crept up in price every year. Base prices as of fall 2026:
| Service | Base price per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | About $90 | About $1,080 |
| DirecTV Stream (entry plan) | About $87 to $90 | About $1,040 to $1,080 |
| YouTube TV | About $83 | About $996 |
| Fubo (entry plan) | About $74 to $85 | About $890 to $1,020 |
| Sling Orange or Blue | About $46 | About $552 |
Prices change often, and premium add-ons such as sports packages, extra screens, and premium movie channels cost more on top. Check each service’s site for today’s price before deciding.
IPTV: what LoftyTV costs
| Term (1 screen) | Total | Works out to |
|---|---|---|
| Month to month | $15 | $15.00/month |
| 3 months | $39 | $13.00/month |
| 6 months | $72 | $12.00/month |
| 12 months | $119 | $9.92/month |
| 24 months | $199 | $8.29/month |
Need more screens playing at once? Each extra device is $5 a month, on any term. There are no contracts, no box rentals, and no add-on fees for the movie and series library. See current plans in our pricing section.
The yearly comparison
| Option | Approximate cost per year | Savings vs. cable |
|---|---|---|
| Cable / satellite (median) | $1,500 | — |
| YouTube TV | $996 | About $500 |
| Sling (one base plan) | $552 | About $950 |
| LoftyTV, 12-month plan | $119 | About $1,380 |
| LoftyTV, 24-month plan | $99.50 (per year) | About $1,400 |
The costs people forget
Internet
Every option except satellite assumes home internet, so it’s a wash in the comparison. But cutting cable is a good moment to look at your internet bill too. If your TV and internet were bundled, ask what internet costs alone before you cancel TV. Sometimes the “bundle discount” disappears and the internet price jumps. See How to Cut the Cord in 2026 for how to handle that call.
A streaming device
If your TV doesn’t run the apps you need, a Fire TV Stick or onn 4K Pro is a one-time purchase, usually under $60 and often much less on sale. Compare that with a cable box rental you pay every month. Our guide Which Fire TV Stick Should You Buy for IPTV? helps you pick.
Your time
IPTV takes a one-time setup of about five minutes per device. That’s real, if small, and we help when you get stuck.
Where the pricier options earn their money
To be fair to the competition, here’s what the big streaming apps and cable do that might matter to you:
- Official apps on almost every device, including Roku and most smart TVs, with no setup beyond signing in.
- Unlimited cloud DVR on several streaming services.
- Large customer service operations with phone support.
If those features matter more to you than saving over $1,000 a year, a streaming app may suit you better. If you mostly want lots of channels and a big on-demand library for the least money, IPTV is hard to beat.
How to find out for yourself
Numbers on a page only go so far. The real test is whether IPTV looks good on your TV, on your internet, during the shows you actually watch. LoftyTV’s 24-hour free trial needs no payment details, so you can compare it side by side with what you have now before you change anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is IPTV cheaper than YouTube TV?
Yes, by a wide margin. YouTube TV’s base plan is about $83 a month. LoftyTV is $15 month to month and as low as $8.29 a month on a 24-month plan.
Are there hidden fees with LoftyTV?
No. The price you see is the price you pay for the term you choose. There’s no equipment rental, and extra screens are a flat $5 a month each.
Do I still need internet if I switch to IPTV?
Yes. IPTV streams over your internet connection, the same as YouTube TV or Netflix.
What happens to my cable box when I cancel?
You’ll need to return it, usually to a store or by mail. Get a receipt. Unreturned equipment fees are a common surprise on final bills.
Questions? Email Support@LoftyTV.com or text (312) 248-4858 (text only, no calls).
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