Google’s Chromecast devices are powerful tools for streaming fans. Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra are small HDMI dongles that transform your TV into a remote screen for a wide range of Chromecast-enabled devices and streaming apps. There are a lot of things to watch on a Chromecast, and we’re going to show you how to watch live TV on Chromecast devices.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to stream live TV on Chromecast:
| Price | Channels | Free Trial | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#1
 |
$25 | 60+ | 7 days | |
|
#2
 |
$5.99 – $85.96 | 68 – 88 | 7 or 30 days | |
|
#3
 |
$64.99 – $79.99 | 220+ | 7 days | |
|
#4
 |
$35 – $50 | 30+ – 130+ | 3 days | |
|
#5
 |
$6.99 – $13.99 | N/A | None | |
|
#6
 |
$4.99 – $99.99 | N/A | 7 days | |
Below, we’ll explain how to watch live TV using a streaming service instead of cable or satellite. With that out of the way, we’ll list a bunch of options for Chromecast owners. Let’s dive in!
How to Watch Live TV on Chromecast Online Without Cable
You want to watch live TV on Chromecast, but how do you do it? Simple: Just turn to a live TV streaming service, also called a “skinny bundle.”
Live TV streaming services get their “skinny bundle” nickname from their tendency to slim down the bulky bundles you’re used to from cable and satellite. With the “skinnier” services, you’ll get only the channels you’ll actually watch and less of the stuff you’d rather not pay for. The bigger deal, though, is that live TV streaming services are streaming services, which means you can watch them on all sorts of streaming devices and use all sorts of streaming technologies with them, including Chromecast.
There are tons of great skinny bundles that work well with Chromecast devices, and we’ll list a few we recommend below. We’ll also touch on channel-specific services, solutions that make use of free over-the-air TV, and league streaming services, among other options.
Are you ready? Here’s how to watch live TV on Chromecast.
Philo cuts out the most expensive sports and news channels in favor of channels such as AMC, Comedy Central, and HGTV. That allows Philo to remain the cheapest skinny bundle on the market, with more than 60 live channels for $25 a month. Philo also now works with Chromecast, although you’ll need to use it with an Android device. Our Philo review has more info on the ins and outs of the service.
With Hulu + Live TV, you’ll get both a solid selection of live network channels and access to all of Hulu’s on-demand stuff. You can also add some premium channels as extras. If you want more information before you decide, then our Hulu + Live TV review is a great place to start.
fuboTV has greatly improved its channel lineup in recent years. The solid fuboTV channel selection makes this service a great option for watching live TV on Chromecast. Read our fuboTV review to learn more.
Sling TV‘s claim to fame is its clever pricing structure, which makes it easier to get exactly the channels that you want in your skinny bundle. Sling TV has two base packages, but they're not the only bundles on offer. It's the “Extras” — small add-on bundles that offer premium channels, groups of similar channels, or both — that really make Sling TV special. The Extras are (usually) only available with a base package. Whatever sort of channel bundle you want to build, you can get started by clicking on the link above. For more on Sling TV on Chromecast and other devices, check out our Sling TV review.
ESPN Plus made its debut in 2018, and it has been building its fan base ever since. ESPN Plus includes both on-demand content and live sports broadcasts. Among other notable events, you’ll catch a lot of live Major League Soccer because the league’s streaming service, MLS Live, has been rolled into ESPN Plus. The service is also expanding its selection of NHL games in the coming years.
Paramount Plus lets you watch live TV on Chromecast — but what exactly is Paramount Plus? It debuted in early 2021 (with less-than-stellar brand awareness) as a replacement for CBS All Access. It has expanded upon the previous service and offers viewers even more. You can head to our Paramount Plus review to find out how good we think it is.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is Google’s skinny bundle, and it offers a strong selection of channels, a great and convenient app, and some of the best content-discovery features around. Read our review of YouTube TV to learn more about the service.
MLB.TV
Your local MLB team plays on a regional sports network you may be able to access with a skinny bundle, but what about the other teams? Well, you can watch their local broadcasts using MLB.TV, a streaming service that will hook you up with live feeds of every game not being televised in your area. We gave MLB.TV good marks in our review.
NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass works a lot like MLB.TV: If the game isn’t on pay TV stations in your area, then you’ll be able to watch it on NBA League Pass. That makes NBA League Pass a great way to watch live NBA basketball games on your Chromecast device.
NHL.TV
NHL.TV is the last of the three big league streaming services we’ll talk about. It works much like MLB.TV and NBA League Pass; an NHL.TV subscription will give you access to live coverage of every NHL game other than those airing on pay TV channels in your region.
Switched from cable to DirecTV Now. The deciding factor was the number of channels and at the time they gave me an $180 Apple TV box for free if I paid for three months upfront ($105 then). No lose deal. Even if I canceled it meant I only paid $105 for a latest generation Apple TV box. I compared PlayStation Vue and Sling TV to DirecTV Now and it was closest to having the networks I watched when I had cable, and the cheapest for the number of channels.
What wasn’t referenced here is that there are also a number of TV brands with Chromecast already built into their devices – like Sony, Vizio, and Toshiba. That was one of the deciding factors why I bought a Sony television, as I liked the built in Chromecast. Very handy.