Mental Floss

How Much Money Will Cutting the Cord on Your Cable Service Really Save You?

Michele Debczak|
Cutting the cord and making the switch to streaming can lead to big savings.
Cutting the cord and making the switch to streaming can lead to big savings. | simpson33/iStock via Getty Images Plus

If you're thinking about cutting the cord on pay TV this year, you're in good company: it's estimated that about a quarter of all Americans could do away with traditional cable by 2022. But just how much money can you save by changing your TV-watching habits? Reviewed recently broke it down.

The average cable or satellite user spends a little over $100 a month on their TV bill, which means canceling their service could save them over $1200 annually. But many pay TV defectors will likely be looking for an alternative way to watch their favorite programs. Assuming you're one of the 83 percent of consumers who pays for both TV and internet, switching to a web-based service shouldn't be too expensive. An Amazon Prime plan costs $119 a year, a standard Netflix subscription (HD and two screens at once) costs $156, and a basic Hulu plan costs $72. Even if you spring for all three choices, you'll still only be paying $347 annually, saving you about $853 if you're a former cable subscriber.

Web-based streaming isn't the only option cord-cutters have. If you can't part with your favorite network programs, you can purchase an OTA antenna for about $50. Watching cable shows without dealing with a cable company is also a possibility. Sling TV offers a Blue service, which includes access to live channels like FX, Comedy Central, HGTV, Food Network, and Bravo through a cloud-based DVR for just $30 month. If you wanted to try all the options above, it would still only cost you about $757 a year, which is $443 less than cable or satellite alone.

No matter what you're looking for, there's likely a service or device out there that complements your viewing tastes. Here are even more cable alternatives to get you started.

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