Streaming Savings Calculator
Note: This interactive tool is part of my Complete Guide to Cord Cutting, available with no ads or sponsors under a pay-what-you-can honor system. If someone shared this page with you, please consider purchasing a copy to support the work that went into creating this resource.
Use this tool to see how much money you can save by cutting cable or satellite TV. Just enter your total TV bill and the channels you want, and I’ll find cheaper options that match.
How to use this tool
- Enter the amount your currently paying for TV: This allows me to show how much you can save each month. To get an accurate comparison, make sure to include any streaming services you’re already paying for.
- Enter your list of must-have channels: Type them into the box one at a time, or hit “Choose from a list” to browse in alphabetical order. You may also enter streaming services in this box as well.
- Select your streaming services: For services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, you can select them from a list instead of typing them into the search box. This allows for easy toggling between ad-supported and ad-free plans.
- (Optional) Use an antenna: By checking this box, the tool will assume you can get ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS for free with an antenna, and will factor that into its recommendations. Use the AntennaWeb website to check antenna coverage in your area.
- (Optional) No combos: By default, the tool will suggest combinations of services if they’re cheaper than one big bundle. Check the “All channels in one service” box if you’d rather deal with as few apps as possible, even if it costs more.
Reading the results
As you add channels and services, you’ll see a list of “Complete Matches” with everything you’ve selected, sorted by total price. The total cost and savings over your current TV bill appears at the top of each recommendation. In cases where the tool recommends a combination of services, you’ll see an itemized list of these services and their individual prices. You can also view the full channel lists for each recommendation and get links to sign up.
The tool will also suggest “Near Matches” and “Partial Matches” that are cheaper than getting everything on your list. These options are worth considering, for instance, if you’d have to pay an extra $20 per month just to get one cable channel. Use the “Show more” buttons to see more options from each category.
Disclaimers
- Local and regional sports coverage varies by location: If you include local or regional sports channels in your list, this tool will assume that you are in the market that is eligible to receive them. Before signing up for anything, check your zip code on each provider’s website to confirm channel availability. This tool does not currently cover out-of-market options, such as MLB TV for baseball or NBA League Pass for basketball.
- Limited NBA or NHL coverage: Many teams are still working out their coverage plans for 2026-2027 following the collapse of FanDuel Sports Network. I will update this guide once we have complete information.
- A word about NFL coverage: This tool does not currently support typing the name of an NFL team into the search box. I will consider this for a future update. For now, assume that complete in-market NFL coverage will require a combination of CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. Out-of-market coverage requires NFL Sunday Ticket and is not included in this tool.
Next up: Choose a streaming device
Once you’ve picked your streaming services, the last step is to figure out how you’ll access them. Head to the next section to consider your streaming device and smart TV options.