Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Deputy President John Kodera recently announced in a blog post that PlayStation Vue will be shutting down on January 30, 2020. Citing the “highly competitive Pay TV industry”, he went on to state that movie and TV content will still be accessible via the PS4’s PlayStation Store.
Fortunately, there are plenty of PlayStation Vue alternatives available, making it easy for you to continue watching your favorite live TV and on-demand content. Like PlayStation Vue, all of these services are region-locked which means they’re only available in certain countries. However, you can get around geographic restrictions with the help of a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
So how does a VPN work? It encrypts your device’s internet traffic and routes it to one of its servers in a location of your choosing. Most of the best free and paid alternatives to PlayStation Vue are available in the US. As such, you should connect to an American server in order to obtain a US IP address. This will make it appear as if you’re browsing from the US, allowing you to unblock region-locked PlayStation Vue alternatives abroad.
Best free and paid alternatives to PlayStation Vue
Note that no single service offers all of the same channels as PlayStation Vue (but some do come close). Furthermore, while most alternatives offer live TV, some of the free options only offer on-demand content. With this in mind, here’s our list of the best PlayStation Vue alternatives:
1. AT&T TV
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TV offers packages from $59.99 USD per month. The base “Entertainment” package lets you watch the likes of A&E, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and MTV both live and on-demand. However, sports fans may wish to opt for the Xtra or Ultimate package (priced at $74.99 and $74.99 per month respectively) which include NBA TV, and NHL Network. An AT&T TV subscription lets you stream content on two devices simultaneously.
See also: Best VPNs for AT&T
2. BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is a British streaming service offered by the BBC. It’s well known for its high-quality original programming which includes Doctor Who, Line of Duty, and Peaky Blinders. Although you can watch for free, this service requires you to sign up for an account (you’ll be asked to provide a UK postcode but any UK postal code is accepted). Once registered, you’ll be able to watch several channels live (including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News, and CBeebies). Better still, there’s a huge library of on-demand content available.
See also: Best VPNs for BBC iPlayer
3. Crackle
With Sony Crackle, you can stream a variety of popular movies and TV shows for free. Available titles include Zodiac and The Ides of March. What’s more, Crackle’s library also includes some of its own original content such as Chosen and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. While Sony Crackle is available for free, you can expect to see some commercials. Furthermore, there’s no option to watch live TV.
See also: Best VPNs for Crackle
4. FuboTV
If you’re looking to live stream sports, FuboTV is well worth your consideration. Packages start at $54.99 per month and include the likes of Fox Sports 1, NFL Network, NBA TV, and beIN Sports. However, it’s not just sports; there are also various entertainment channels such as AMC, FX, and USA Network. FuboTV can be used on two devices simultaneously though the “Family Share” option lets you add an additional device for $5.99 monthly.
See also: Best VPNs for FuboTV
5. Hulu
For $44.99 per month, you can watch live TV online with Hulu. Hulu + Live TV comes with a one-week free trial and includes channels such as ABC, ESPN, FX, and Fox Sports 1 and 2. Another advantage of Hulu + Live TV is that it includes access to the entire Hulu streaming library for watching shows such as Rick and Morty, This is Us, and Hulu original series such as The Handmaid’s Tale on-demand. If you’d prefer to watch only on-demand, you can do so without live TV for $5.99 per month.
See also: Best VPNs for Hulu
6. Philo
Philo offers some 58 channels for just $20 per month. This includes A&E, AMC, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. However, one of the reasons for the lower price is that there’s little choice when it comes to sports. On the plus side, while many streaming services only let you watch on two devices at once, Philo allows three simultaneous connections.
7. Pluto TV
Arguably one of the better free options available, Pluto TV is an American streaming service. Owned by Viacom, it has partnered with dozens of content providers. Pluto TV offers live content from networks such as MTV, the NFL, and Sky. At the time of writing, on-demand movies on Pluto TV include Bronson, Chef, and The Machinist. Some of the available TV shows are Dog the Bounty Hunter, Hell’s Kitchen, and Robin Hood.
See also: Best VPNs for Pluto TV
8. Sling TV
Some of the channels you can live stream with Sling TV are ESPN, USA Network, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network. Available packages are Sling Orange ($25 monthly), Sling Blue (also $25 per month), and the combined option of both Orange and Blue ($40 per month). Sling also offers a free Roku Express or AirTV Mini when you subscribe and pre-pay for two months.
See also: Best VPNs for Sling TV
9. Tubi TV
While there isn’t an option to watch live TV on Tubi TV, this service lets you stream plenty of TV shows and movies on-demand for free. You’ll be able to watch movies such as How to Train Your Dragon, No Country for Old Men, and Scary Movie, and TV shows such as Dog the Bounty Hunter and Hell’s Kitchen. Better still, there’s no need to register for an account to watch content. As a free service, Tubi TV is supported by ads.
See also: Best VPNs for Tubi TV
10. TVPlayer
While most of the options on this list are US-based, TVPlayer is a UK TV subscription service. It offers both free and paid live TV streams. Free channels include BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and Channel 4, while premium channels include Discovery and History HD. The first month of premium is free and costs £6.99 thereafter, providing access to over two dozen channels, live and without adverts.
11. USTVNow
With USTVNow, American expats and members of the armed forces can stream a huge range of channels including ABC, CBS, CW, and PBS while outside of the US. Plans begin at $19 USD per month although there’s also a $29 plan that offers DVR functionality as well. While this is a good choice for TV shows, it’s not your best bet if you’re looking for sports content. With USTVNow, you can watch via three devices at once.
Bear in mind that USTVNow is not commercial-free due to the fact that it streams the original channel broadcasts. The channel plan with DVR lets you save recordings for up to two weeks.
12. YouTube TV
There are over 70 live TV channels available on YouTube TV. This includes Cartoon Network, ESPN, NBA TV, and TBS. Some networks such as Showtime and Starz are available for an additional fee. Aside from having a healthy selection of channels, YouTube TV lets you stream on up to three devices simultaneously. What’s more, it includes unlimited storage space with recordings remaining available for up to nine months.
See also: How to watch YouTube TV from anywhere
