9 Best Services to Watch CNN Without Cable in 2023

cord-cutting › cnn • March 31, 2023 • Staff

Never miss the latest breaking story with CNN, including news commentary and investigative reports in the fields of business, culture and much more.

The Cable News Network launched on June 1, 1980 with a news broadcast from husband and wife David Walker and Lois Hart. 15 seconds into the broadcast, Hart firmly announces "now, here is the news" (you can watch the full video on Youtube). Since then, CNN has kept their focus on doing just that, delivering the news.

Earlier in 2022, CNN launched their own streaming service CNN+ but closed it less than a month later on April 28, 2022. This is why the best way to watch CNN in 2023 is to get a subscription to what's called a cord-cutting service, an alternative to traditional cable.

You can watch CNN without cable on Sling TV Blue, Sling TV Orange, Sling TV Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV, Spectrum TV Choice, Squid TV, or Pluto TV Live.

Below, we list their prices, channel line-ups, and trial offerings to help you choose the best one for your needs.

CNN on Sling Orange

As Sling’s most bare-bones live TV package, Sling TV Orange still provides a pretty sweet deal. For $40 a month you get more than 30 channels, 50 hours of DVR storage, and the option to customize your channel lineup with “Extras,” additional channel packages catered to your specific interests.

Go to Sling Orange

Price: $40/month

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, Bloomberg Television, Cartoon Network, Cheddar, Cheddar Big News, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Freeform, Fuse, HGTV, History, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Newsy, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Tribeca Shortlist, Viceland

CNN on Sling Blue

Sling TV Blue lets you be in control of your TV. With a base package of more than 40 channels, you can stream their live and on-demand content whenever you’d like for just $40 a month. Plus, you have the option to customize your package and subscribe to curated add-on channel bundles if the baseline isn’t cutting it.

Go to Sling Blue

Price: $40/month

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, Android, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Cheddar, Cheddar Big News, CNN, Comedy Central, Cox, Discovery Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, Food Network, Fox News, Fox Sports 1, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Lifetime, Mi Box, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC, NBC Sports Network, Newsy, NFL Network, Nick Jr., SYFY, TBS, TiVo, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, Tribeca Shortlist, truTV, USA

CNN on Sling Orange + Blue

When you combine Sling’s two basic packages, you get the perks of both. The $55 a month price tag gets you 51 channels, 50 hours of DVR storage, and simultaneous use on up to three screens. You don’t have to make any sacrifices on which channels you receive, and you’re still paying less than you would be for cable.

Go to Sling Orange + Blue

Price: $55/month

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Vizio Smart TV, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Xbox One

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Cheddar, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MotorTrend, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC, NBCSN, Newsy, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Stadium, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA, Vice

CNN on Hulu with Live TV

Hulu with Live TV ties up its subscribers’ streaming needs in one tidy bow. You get access to all the movies and shows in Hulu’s library, plus over 75 local, regional, and national live channels for $65 a month. Since several other streamers offer add-on premium content packages for a fee, with this plan you cut out the middleman and have everything under one roof.

Go to Hulu with Live TV

Price: $75/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV, Vizio Smart TV, Xbox

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Big Ten Network, Bloomberg, Boomerang, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, CBSN, Cheddar, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN College Extra, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, HLN, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, MotorTrend, MSNBC, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Olympic Channel, Oxygen, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, SYFY, TBS, TCM, Telemundo, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Universal Kids, USA, Vice, WGN America

CNN on DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is the level-up Live TV streaming platform designed to substitute traditional cable and satellite services. With $69.99 a month, you can access live feeds of the most popular channels and with $120 a month, you get a box along with a custom remote for the service. Access at least 65 channels from its robust lineup that allows you to stream up to 20 devices from your home and up to 3 devices when you’re on the go. Plus, you get unlimited cloud DVR so you can watch your favorite shows whenever you want.

Go to DirecTV Stream

Price: $69.99/month

Free Trial: 5 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, Animal Planet, AXS TV, Baby First TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Boomerang, Bravo, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney Channel, Disney Jr, Disney XD, E! Entertainment, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FX, FXX, Galavision, Gem Shopping Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, HGTV, History, HLN, Home Shopping Network, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, One America News, Ovation, Paramount Network, QVC, QVC2, ReelzChannel, REVOLT, RFD-TV, SundanceTV, SYFY, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, TLC, TNT, truTV, TV Land, Univision East, USA Network, VH1, Vice, WE tv

CNN on YouTube TV

YouTube TV is the most extensive live TV streamer available today. 85 channels, multiple simultaneous streams, and unlimited DVR storage, all for $65 a month. You don’t have to sacrifice live sports or local channels either, as is the case with some other live streamers. Basically, it’s cable without the hassle of cable.

Go to YouTube TV

Price: $64.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sharp, Vizio, Xbox

Channel lineup: ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, Big Ten Network, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar, CMT, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Golf Channel, HGTV, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Local Now, MLB Network, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV Classic, MTV2, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBA TV, NBC, NBC News Now, NBC Universo, NBCLX, NBCSN, News Nation, Newsy, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Olympic Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, PBS, PBS Kids, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBS, TCM, Teen Nick, Telemundo, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, TV Land, TYT Network, Universal Kids, Universo, USA, VH1, WE tv

CNN on Squid TV

Squid TV is a content aggregator that broadcasts from around the world. It has a simple and straightforward design that categorizes both free and premium TV channels and leads you to their respective sites with ease. Carrying a hundred local channels in the US alone and more than 1,000 from around the world, Squid TV's coverage is extensive. Couple this breadth with its free access, and you have an indispensable streaming service that doubles as a guide.

Go to Squid TV

Price: free for 45 channels available

Device availability: Android, Chromecast, iOS, Website

Channel lineup: ABC News Live, BabyFirst, BizTV, Bloomberg Quicktake, Bloomberg TV, CBN, CBS News, CGTN America, Cheddar, CNBC, CNN, Court TV, DC Kids, Democracy Now!, Disney Junior, Ditty TV, EarthxTV, FOX SOUL, Free Speech TV, LiveNOW from FOX, Mixible, MSNBC, NASA TV, NBC News Now, New York Times, Newsmax TV, NewsNet, PAW Patrol, PeopleTV, Real America’s Voice, Scripps News, Sesame Street, StockCharts TV, Tastemade, tastytrade, The First, TODAY All Day, Toon Goggles, TWiT.tv, UN Web TV, USA Today, Very Local, Voice of America, WB Kids, White House

CNN on Spectrum TV Choice

If you’re a Spectrum internet customer, Spectrum offers a unique deal with its TV Choice package. You take your pick of 15 must-haves from a list of 65 channels, completely customizing your own mini live TV lineup. It’s $30 a month with no cable box and no annual contract, so if you have very streamlined TV interests, it’s a cost-effective move.

Go to Spectrum TV Choice

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

CNN on Pluto TV Live

Streaming services do not come cheap. But what if you can access live TV streaming services for free? Enter Pluto TV Live, a free live TV streaming service that lets you watch around 250 different live TV channels without even needing you to sign up. This Viacom-owned live TV service may not have as nearly as the popular cables you’re used to, but it’s enough to serve as a supplement to your needs for news, sports, and entertainment without spending a dime.

Go to Pluto TV Live

Price: free for 29 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Virgin Media, Vizio SmartCast, webOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Channel lineup: BBC Food, BBC Home, Bein Sports XTRA, Bloomberg Television, CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, Check with Pluto TV for the full channel lineup, Cheddar News, CNN, ET Live, Food TV, Fox Sports, Major League Soccer, MLB, NBC News Now, Newsmax, NFL Channel, Nosey, People TV, PGA Tour, Pluto Channels, Sky News, Smithsonian Channel, Stories AMC, TBN, Today, TV Land Drama, WeatherNation, WPT

What is the cheapest way to watch CNN?

The most cost-efficient way to watch CNN content is to get a subscription to Pluto TV Live for free.

Is it possible to watch CNN for free?

You can get a limited time free trial to CNN by subscribing to YouTube TV (7 days), DirecTV Stream (5 days), or Hulu with Live TV (7 days).

How to get a CNN live stream?

The platforms that will get you a CNN live stream are Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch CNN on Roku?

You can watch CNN on your Roku device by subscribing to Pluto TV Live, Spectrum TV Choice, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch CNN on an Amazon Fire TV?

CNN can be accessed on an Amazon Fire TV device by subscribing to Pluto TV Live, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch CNN on iOS (iPhone or iPad)?

You can watch CNN on an iPhone or iPad by subscribing to Pluto TV Live, Squid TV, Spectrum TV Choice, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch CNN on an Android phone?

You can watch CNN on an Android device such as Samsung or Google Pixel by subscribing to Pluto TV Live, Squid TV, Spectrum TV Choice, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch CNN on an Android TV?

You can watch CNN on a Smart TV that runs on Android by getting a subscription to Pluto TV Live, Spectrum TV Choice, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch CNN on an Xbox?

You can watch CNN on an Xbox console through Spectrum TV Choice, Sling Blue, Sling Orange, Sling Orange + Blue, YouTube TV, or Hulu with Live TV.