After years of paying for cable TV, I finally cut the cord. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do, but one deal in particular motivated me to act and if you’re looking to tighten your budget — that deal is still available and I whole heartedly recommend it.
For a limited time, you can get a 10-day YouTube TV trial for free. Additionally, you’ll pay just $49.99/month for your first two months of service. Once your two months are over, you’ll pay the regular price of $82.99/month. That’s much cheaper than the $120/month I was paying for Verizon FiOS. YouTube TV on its own is great, but it’s wasn’t till I paired it with the Roku Ultra ($96 at Amazon) that I really kicked FiOS to the curb.
A near-perfect alternative to cable TV
YouTube TV holds the top spot in our guide to the best live TV streaming services and after three weeks of using it I know why. It offers over 100 channels, unlimited cloud DVR, and up to three simultaneous streams. It’s as close to cable TV as you can get, minus the high price tag.
Are there cheaper services out there, absolutely. Sling TV (from $25/month at Sling) is an option that always caught my attention and we even named it one of the best streaming services you can get. However, it lacks my local Univision and Telemundo channels, which are my go-to for soccer coverage. YouTube TV includes both channels and others like Food Network, FX, Unimás, HGTV, Discovery, BBC America, and more.
YouTube TV isn’t perfect. It sometimes logs me out if I don’t interact with my TV and I find the homepage a bit cluttered, but I do like that the Live TV channel guide can be fully customized however you like. Picture and sound quality are also great with the base plans. I didn’t opt for the 4K add-on because there’s simply not enough content I watch in 4K to justify it. (Check out our YouTube TV review for more thoughts on the service).
The ultimate streaming machine
When it comes to streaming, Roku is my favorite operating system. I’ve owned Roku streaming sticks and even have a 32-inch Roku TV in my bedroom. However, it’s the Roku Ultra that I recommend if you want to take your streaming to the next level.
The Roku Ultra is noticeably faster than the Roku 4K Streaming Stick, thanks to its more powerful processor. That means apps like Prime Video will launch faster and navigating through movie/show previews is buttery smooth. The processor also helps the Roku Ultra deliver crisp, 4K HDR video.
I also love the included backlit, rechargeable remote. I find it especially helpful since I like to watch TV late at night. In my opinion, those features alone are worth upgrading from the Roku Stick to the Ultra. (Check out our Roku Ultra review for more thoughts on the device).
Three weeks in and my verdict is…
It’s been about three weeks since I ditched cable and I can honestly say I don’t miss it. The majority of the time I’m streaming something on Netflix or Prime Video. For those times I want to watch local TV, I fire up YouTube TV and have dozens of channels to choose from.
If you have a smart TV, you don’t need a Roku Ultra to ditch cable, but since I stream so much (and I dislike my LG TV’s OS) the Roku Ultra makes everything so much more seamless.
