9 Best Services to Watch CNN Live Without Cable

cord-cutting › cnn • November 14, 2024 • The Staff

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

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

The cheapest option to watch CNN is Max for $9.99/month. Unfortunately, you cannot watch CNN with Philo, and Fubo.

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

Our top three ways to watch CNN:

Sling Orange $20 off your first month.	~~$40~~ $20	Watch

DirecTV Stream 5-day free trial.	$86.99/month	Watch

Sling Blue $20 off your first month.	~~$40~~ $20	Watch

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.

You can also combine Sling Orange with NFL Season Pass for $160 when you prepay for 4 months.

Go to Sling Orange

Price: ~~$40~~ $20

Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Disney Channel, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Freeform, Fuse, HGTV, History, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MotorTrend, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Vice

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

CNN on DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream differentiates itself from other cable-streaming hybrids like Hulu + Live and Sling in two key ways: it carries more regional sports networks than any other streaming service, and it has unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage. You also have the choice to receive the DirecTV Stream device (called Gemini Air), or continue using your own.

Go to DirecTV Stream

Price: $86.99/month

Free Trial: 5 days

Channel lineup: ABC, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, AMC, Anger Management, Animal Planet, Are We There Yet?, Ax Men, AXS TV, Baby First, BabyTV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV, Bob Ross, Boomerang, Bravo, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, Cheddar News, Cleo TV, CMT, C NBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy Dynamics, Court TV, Crime 360, CW, Daystar HD, Declassified, Discovery, Duck Dynasty, E! Entertainment, EarthxTV, Ebony TV, El Rey Rebel, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, FMC, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Weather, Freeform, FUEL TV, Fuse Music, FX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HerSphere, HGTV, HLN, Home Shopping Network, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, ion Television, Jewelry Television, MotorTrend, MovieSphere, MSNBC, MTV Classic, MTV2, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, News Nation, Nick Jr., One America News, Ovation, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount Network, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, Poker GO, Pursuit Channel, QVC, QVC2, QVC3, Racing America, REELZ, REVOLT, RFD-TV, RSNs, Scientology Network, Shop LC, Somos Novelas, SportsGrid, Start TV, SundanceTV, SYFY, Tastemade Home, Tastemade Travel, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, Telemundo local channels, The First, theGrio, TLC, TNT, truTV, TV Land, TV One, Univision, Up TV, USA Network, VH1, WE tv, Women’s Sports Network

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

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.

You can also combine Sling Blue with NFL Season Pass for $160 when you prepay for 4 months.

Go to Sling Blue

Price: ~~$40~~ $20

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, Food Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, FS1 4K, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MSNBC, National Geographic, NFL Network, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA Network, Vice

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

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.

You can also combine Sling Blue with NFL Season Pass for $199 when you prepay for 4 months.

Go to Sling Orange + Blue

Price: ~~$60~~ $40

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FS1 4K, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MotorTrend, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC local channels, NFL Network, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA Network, Vice

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

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 $75 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: $82.99/month

Free Trial: 3 days

Channel lineup: A&E, ABC, ABC Localish, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BET, Big Ten Network, Bloomberg TV+, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS News, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar News, CMT, C NBC, CNN, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN College Extra, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Freeform, FS1, FS2, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Golf Channel, Hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, History, HLN, ID, Justice Central TV, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, Localish, Military History Channel, Motor Trend, MSNBC, MTV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBCLX, NBCSN, News Nation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, SYFY, TBS, Telemundo, The Grio, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, TVLand, Universal Kids, USA Network, VH1, Vice, Weather Channel

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

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 $73 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: $72.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Channel lineup: ABC, ABC News, ACCN, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, Big Ten Network, Bounce, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports Network, Charge!, Cheddar, Cheddar News, CMT, C NBC, C NBC World, CNN, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, Dabl, Discovery, Disney, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Docurama, Dove Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN U, ESPN2, ESPNews, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Galavision, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, HLN, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, ION, Justice Central TV, LAFC Channel, Law & Crime, Live Now, Local Now, Localish, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, My TV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBC Universo, NBCLX, NBCSN, NECN, Neon, News Nation, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Orlando City Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, PC Mag, Pop, QVC, Recipe.TV, Scripps News, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SNY, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBD, TBS, Teen Nick, TeleHit, Telemundo local channels, Tennis 2, The CW, The Great Courses, The Walking Dead Universe, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, Tru TV, Turner Classic Movies, TV Land, TYT, Unimas, Unimas local channels, Universal Kids, Univision, Univision local channels, USA, VH1, WE tv, YouTube Originals

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

CNN on Max

Formerly HBO Max, Max is a subscription-based on-demand platform that is only available in the US. New subscribers can choose from three monthly tiers ranging from $9.99 (with ads) to $16.99 (no ads) to $20.99 (no ads, plus more concurrent streams, downloads, and 4K streaming). An annual subscription option is also available. When you subscribe, you'll get HBO’s world-class exclusives, such as The Wire and Game of Thrones but Max also functions as a bundle: you'll get content from Discovery, DC, Criterion Collection, Looney Tunes, Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, and Crunchyroll. And as of September 2023, you will also get a live stream of CNN. Most mobile devices that can stream video support Max, although there is yet no app for Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.

Go to Max

Price: $9.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

CNN on Spectrum TV Choice

If you’re a Spectrum internet customer, Spectrum offers a unique deal with its TV Choice package, now with ESPN back after the dispute has been resolved. You take your pick of 15 must-haves from a list of 65 channels, completely customizing your own mini live TV lineup. It’s around $53 a month with no cable box and no annual contract, so if you have very streamlined TV interests, it’s a cost-effective move. Most of the price goes to local channels, which it also comes with.

Go to Spectrum TV Choice

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

CNN on Spectrum TV Stream

This newcomer to cord-cutting quietly launched in April 2024. It's about 90 channels for $39.99, without any additional fees like a local channels surcharge, because there are simply no local channels. What you won't find either are sports channels. And some of the channels are Spectrum channels like Spectrum Originals and Spectrum News.

With Philo having a similar channel lineup but costing $15 less, you probably need a very good reason to go for Spectrum TV Stream. But, it's always nice to have another option.

Go to Spectrum TV Stream

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

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Let's recap the streaming services that allow you to watch CNN without cable.

What is the cheapest way to watch CNN?

The most cost-efficient way to watch CNN content is to get a subscription to Max for $9.99/month.

How to get a free trial to CNN?

You can get a limited time free trial to CNN by subscribing to DirecTV Stream, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch CNN for free?

Unfortunately there are no streaming services that offer CNN completely for free. That said, as we mentioned above you can get it for free for a limited time by subscribing to a service with a free trial. Here they are, this time ranked by which one offers the longest free trial:

How to get a CNN live stream?

The platforms that will get you a CNN live stream are:

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How to watch CNN on Roku?

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

How to watch CNN on an Amazon Fire TV?

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

How to watch CNN on an Apple TV device?

The streaming services that include CNN and are available on Apple TV are Sling Orange, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Max, and Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch CNN on a computer?

On a web browser head to the websites of Sling Orange, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Max, or Spectrum TV Choice to start watching CNN.

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

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

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 Sling Orange, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, or Spectrum TV Choice.

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 Sling Orange, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Max, or Spectrum TV Choice.

How to watch CNN on an Xbox?

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

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How to pay for a CNN subscription with Paypal?

The services that accept Paypal and carry CNN are: Sling Orange, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Max, Spectrum TV Choice, and Spectrum TV Stream.

How to pay for a CNN subscription with Apple Pay?

The services that accept Paypal and carry CNN are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue.

How to pay for a CNN subscription with Google Pay?

The services that accept Paypal and carry CNN are: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Sling Orange + Blue, and YouTube TV.