Cord-Cutting Savings Calculator
Enter your current cable or satellite bill, then pick the channels you actually watch. We'll find the exact streaming combination that covers everything for less — and show your monthly and annual savings.
What is your current monthly cable or satellite bill?
Include TV only — not internet. Check your last bill for the total before any promotional discounts.
Which channels do you actually watch?
Select every channel you need — we'll find the cheapest plan that covers them all
Hidden Costs That Inflate Your Cable Bill
The advertised cable price is rarely what you pay. These four charges are why cable bills average $120–$160/month in 2026 despite the base package being listed at $50–$70.
Even if you never watch a single game, cable companies charge a Regional Sports Fee on almost every package. This covers local RSN rights and has increased every year since 2015. It's mandatory, buried in the itemised bill, and completely unavoidable with cable.
Cable companies charge you separately to retransmit the free over-the-air channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) that you can receive with a $15 antenna. This fee didn't exist before 2012. It has increased every year and is now one of the largest line items on cable bills.
A charge for receiving channels in high definition — which has been the standard for 15 years. Most cable companies still list this as a separate line item rather than including it in the base price.
The cable box and remote control you were handed on installation day. Streaming services don't require rented equipment — a $30–$50 Fire Stick or Roku you buy once replaces this fee entirely. You own it instead of paying forever.
What You Actually Need After Cutting Cable
Cord-cutting doesn't mean giving up TV — it means paying for TV differently. Here's the typical setup most households land on.
The Most Common Cord-Cutting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Most people who "tried streaming and went back to cable" made one of three mistakes. Knowing them in advance saves the frustration.
Mistake #2: Forgetting the internet price will change. Cable companies offer promotional internet-only rates for 12–24 months. When the promotion expires, the price jumps $20–$40/mo. Build the post-promotion price into your savings calculation, not the introductory rate.
Mistake #3: Not checking local channel coverage before cancelling. Hulu Live, FuboTV, and YouTube TV carry local ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox in 98% of markets — but not every market. Check your ZIP code on the service's website before cancelling cable. If locals aren't covered, a $20 antenna solves it permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Every live TV streaming service — Philo, Sling, FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV — is completely month-to-month with no contract. You can cancel any time and your access continues until the end of your paid period. This is one of the biggest advantages over cable, which typically locks you in for 12–24 months with early termination fees.
You can keep your internet service when cancelling TV. Call your cable company and tell them you want to keep internet only. Your bill will likely drop significantly (you lose the TV portion), though your internet price may increase slightly since you're no longer bundled. Ask if there is an internet-only promotional rate. You're generally not required to return equipment beyond the cable box — your modem and router stay.
Yes, with the right service. FuboTV ($80/mo) is the most complete sports option and includes ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, Golf Channel, and most major sports networks. Sling Blue + Orange ($60/mo combined) covers ESPN plus Fox Sports. For local team games on ABC, NBC, CBS or Fox, both services include local affiliates in most markets. The gap is regional sports networks (RSNs) — your local team's dedicated channel (Bally Sports, NESN, YES Network) which most streaming services dropped.
Yes — streaming services have raised prices every 1–2 years, though they remain significantly cheaper than cable. Hulu Live TV has increased from $65 in 2022 to $83 in 2026. YouTube TV went from $50 to $73. The key difference is you can cancel instantly any time without a fee, switch to a cheaper service if the price feels too high, or use free trials to evaluate alternatives. You have control that cable contracts don't allow.
Yes. Most live TV streaming services allow 2–3 simultaneous streams. Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV allow 3 streams. Sling Blue allows 3 streams. Sling Orange allows 1 stream on the base plan (4 screens with the Multi-Stream add-on at $6/mo). FuboTV allows 2 streams on the base plan. All services allow you to add more streams for $5–$10/mo extra if your household needs more simultaneous viewing.
