Short answer: An IPTV service is a subscription that streams live TV channels over your internet connection, and in the US the licensed ones (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV, Sling, Philo) now cost roughly $25 to $100 a month. The channel count on the sign-up page is the least useful number: what decides whether a service works for you is local stations, sports fees, DVR rules and how many screens you can use at once.
At a glance
An IPTV service, in brief
| What you pay for | Live channels, cloud DVR, apps, screens |
| Price range | About $25-$100 a month before fees |
| Contract | None at the major services |
| Hidden cost | Regional sports fees, add-ons, taxes |
| First check | Your ZIP code on the service's site |
What an IPTV service actually sells
Strip away the marketing and every legitimate IPTV service sells the same five things: a line-up of live channels licensed from the networks, an on-demand library that comes with those channels, a cloud DVR, apps for the devices you already own, and a limit on how many of those devices can watch at once.
The services differ in how they weigh those five, and that is where the real choice lies. If you want the underlying technology explained first, our guide to how IPTV works covers it. This article is about the service layer: what you get for the money and where the small print sits.
The main US services side by side
Figures are list prices and published features as of September 2026. They exclude taxes and regional sports fees, and they change several times a year.
| Service | Entry price | Local channels | Cloud DVR | Screens at once |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99 (genre plans from $54.99) | Yes, most markets | Unlimited, kept 9 months | 3 (more with 4K Plus at home) |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 with ads | Yes, most markets | Unlimited, kept 9 months | 2 (upgrade available) |
| Fubo Pro | Roughly $74-$89, varies by source | Yes, most markets | Large or unlimited cloud DVR | Up to 10 at home |
| DirecTV (streaming) | $89.99 Entertainment | Yes | Unlimited, kept 9 months | Varies by plan |
| Sling Orange or Blue | $45.99 | Limited, Blue only in some cities | 50 hours included | 1 (Orange) or 3 (Blue) |
| Philo | $25-$33 | No | Unlimited, kept 1 year | 3 |
Where sources disagreed on a figure, particularly Fubo's price after its mid-2026 changes, we give a range. Always confirm on the service's own sign-up page with your ZIP code entered.
Local channels are the first filter
ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox carry most live NFL games, network news and big entertainment events. Whether a service includes your local affiliates depends on deals signed market by market, and it can change when a carriage dispute breaks out.
Full bundles (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV) carry locals in most markets. Sling carries a few only in larger cities, and Philo carries none.
If a service leaves out your locals, an indoor antenna usually fills the gap for a one-off cost. See local channels without cable for the options.
Fees that are not in the headline price
Regional sports fees. Where a service carries a regional sports network for your area, it may add a monthly surcharge. Fubo's, for example, ranges from a few dollars to around $17 depending on location.
Add-ons. 4K, extra screens, more DVR space, Spanish-language packs and premium channels all cost extra. YouTube TV's 4K Plus is $9.99 a month; Sling's larger DVR is about $5.
Taxes. Some states and cities tax streaming TV, so the final bill can be several dollars more than advertised.
Introductory prices. A cheaper first month is common. Note the date it ends.
DVR, screens and the fine print
DVR retention matters more than capacity. "Unlimited" usually means unlimited space, with each recording deleted after a set period, nine months at several services. Some keep on-demand versions of recorded shows that force adverts you could otherwise skip.
Screens are counted per household. Services check that devices are regularly used at your home address. Travelling devices are fine for a while; permanently using an account in two homes is usually against the terms.
What happens when you cancel. At YouTube TV, for example, you keep access until the end of the billing period, and recordings disappear 21 days later. Ask the same question of any service before you rely on its DVR.
For how the main services count and police screens, see simultaneous streams explained.
How to recognise a legitimate service
A licensed IPTV service leaves a clear trail. It names the company behind it, lists the networks it carries, publishes terms and a privacy policy, takes payment through a card processor or app store, and has its app in the Roku, Amazon, Google, Apple and Samsung stores.
Warning signs are just as consistent: thousands of channels including premium sports for $10-$20 a month, payment only by cryptocurrency or gift card, sales through messaging apps, and "reseller" or "panel" language. Those are the hallmarks of unlicensed services, which enforcement agencies in the US and Europe have been shutting down, leaving subscribers with nothing.
Using your own playlist in a player app is a different matter: the app is just a player, and the legality depends on where the playlist comes from.
Matching a service to a household
| If you mostly want | Start by looking at |
|---|---|
| Everything cable had, including locals and sport | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV |
| Entertainment and lifestyle channels, no sport | Philo, or a YouTube TV genre plan |
| ESPN and a few cable networks on a budget | Sling Orange |
| News and entertainment for several people | Sling Blue |
| Local channels only | An antenna plus free streaming apps |
Take a free trial where one is offered, test it on a busy evening, and keep billing monthly so you can move with the sports calendar.
Quick answers
What is an IPTV service? A subscription that streams live TV channels over the internet to apps on your TV, streaming device, phone or computer, instead of through a cable box or satellite dish.
How much does an IPTV service cost in the US? In September 2026, full live-TV bundles list at about $83 to $100 a month, while slimmer services such as Sling and Philo cost roughly $25 to $61, before taxes and regional sports fees.
Do IPTV services include local channels? The full bundles, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV, include local stations in most markets. Sling carries them only in some cities and Philo does not carry them.
Do I need a contract? No. The major licensed services bill monthly and can be cancelled at any time, usually keeping access until the end of the paid period.
How many TVs can I use at once? It depends on the service and plan. Base plans typically allow one to three streams at once, with upgrades or at-home allowances for more.
Is a cheap IPTV service with thousands of channels legal? Almost never. Premium sport and film channels cost far more to license than those services charge, which is why they are regularly shut down and subscribers lose what they paid.
What happens to my recordings if I cancel? They are usually deleted after a short grace period. YouTube TV, for example, removes recordings 21 days after access ends.
Prices, fees, DVR rules and local channel deals change often and vary by ZIP code; confirm on each service's sign-up page. Checked September 2026.