The short version: if you only watch on-demand movies, streaming apps are fine. If you want live TV plus sports plus on-demand without stacking bills, IPTV wins on price by a wide margin.
"Just cut cable" is easy advice and hard to act on. Here is an honest comparison of your three real options in 2026.
The comparison at a glance
| Cable | Streaming apps | IPTV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $95-$147 | ~$69 (4 apps) | From $20 |
| Live sports & PPV | Yes | Extra cost | Included |
| On-demand library | Limited | Large | Very large |
| Apps / bills | 1 (plus fees) | 4+ | 1 |
| Works on your devices | Box only | Yes | Yes |
Cable
Around $95-$147/month. Everything in one place and reliable live sports, but expensive, locked to a rented box, and padded with fees and channels you never watch.
Streaming apps
Around $69/month for four apps (Deloitte, 2026), and climbing. Great on-demand libraries, but content is scattered across services, live sports costs extra, and you juggle multiple logins and bills.
IPTV
From $20/month for one service. Live channels, a huge VOD library, and sports and PPV in a single app on any device. You give up the polished big-brand app UI, but you get everything in one place for far less.
✓ The math: a cable-plus-one-sports-app setup can top $180/month. One IPTV plan replaces most of it from $20, and you can test it free before switching.
Try the cheapest option free
Stream live channels, movies & series, and sports & PPV in up to 4K. No contract, cancel anytime.
Start your free 24-hour trialWhich should you pick?
Mostly on-demand movies and shows? Streaming apps are enough
Want live TV, sports and PPV in one place? IPTV wins on price
Value a big-brand app above all and cost is no object? Cable still does that
Not sure? Start a free IPTV trial and compare on your own TV
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