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.
What’s particularly impressive about AT&T TV is that a subscription includes 500 hours of Cloud DVR storage. AT&T TV can be accessed on a wide range of devices with apps for Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and more. While this streaming service doesn’t include a free trial, it offers a smaller bundle service called WatchTV. This consists of 35 channels, includes a 7-day free trial, and is available for just $15 per month.
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.
While this service is only available in the UK, you can unblock it by connecting to one of your VPN’s British servers. Unfortunately, there’s no option to watch in 4K, unlike some of the paid streaming services on the market. BBC iPlayer can be accessed on a wide range of devices such as Android, iOS, Amazon Fire Stick, and Smart TVs.
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.
You can watch Crackle via your browser or across most of your devices (apps are available for Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Smart TVs). Note that this is a region-locked service; in order to watch Sony Crackle, you’ll need to be located in the US or connected to a US server via a VPN.
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.
There are several ways in which you can live stream FuboTV on your TV. Apps are available on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV, as well as Android and iOS. While FuboTV is also available in Canada and Spain, programming is different in these countries. As such, you’ll probably want to connect to a server in the US if you’re watching from abroad. FuboTV includes a 7-day free trial. However, a FuboTV account only allows you 30 hours of Cloud DVR space which is less than some rival streaming services.
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.
Premium networks such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz can all be added to Hulu + Live TV packages, albeit at an additional cost. You can also watch on two screens simultaneously and record up to 50 hours of content on Cloud DVR. Hulu + Live TV is available via apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Hulu is geo-blocked outside the US so a VPN is required for watching abroad.
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.
Philo lets you save your favorite TV shows to watch for up to 30 days after airing. You can try Philo risk-free thanks to the 7-day free trial; this only requires you to enter your mobile number (no billing information is required at this stage). Aside from being able to watch via web browser on Windows and Mac, you can stream Philo via Android and iOS, Android TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
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.
No sign-in is required to watch Pluto TV content though you’ll want to connect to a VPN server in the US to watch abroad. As expected from a free service, Pluto TV is supported by ads. Pluto TV can be accessed via a web browser as well as apps for Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Android, iOS, and PlayStation 4. While Pluto TV is also available in other countries (such as Canada), programming varies due to streaming rights restrictions.
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.
While Sling TV is available in a number of countries, the best content is available in the US. By connecting to a VPN’s US server, you can live stream Sling TV abroad. There are a number of ways to watch Sling TV. Apps are available for Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, and LG Smart TVs. The number of simultaneous connections varies by package but is up to four devices at once in the case of the pricier Orange and Blue package.
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.
Tubi TV is available in the US, Canada, and Australia. As of May 2018, it’s no longer available in Europe, though Tubi will be launching its UK streaming service in early 2020. Any geographic restrictions are easily bypassed with the help of a VPN. You can watch Tubi TV on many different devices. This includes Amazon Fire TV, Android and iOS mobile devices, and Samsung and Sony Smart TVs.
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.
There are many ways to watch TVPlayer. Aside from on desktop (PC and Mac), apps are available for Android and iOS devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. While TVPlayer is only available in the UK, UK customers can watch premium channels from anywhere in the EU. Besides, a VPN and UK IP address helps unblock TVPlayer from anywhere in the world.
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.
Despite being a paid service, you can expect to see ads on YouTube TV, depending on the network you’re watching. YouTube TV is available on most devices such as Apple TV, Roku, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. YouTube TV is available in the US which means you’ll need a VPN and US IP address to watch it abroad. At the time of writing, YouTube is offering a two-week free trial.
See also: How to watch YouTube TV from anywhere
PlayStation vue needs to come back!!