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How to Watch Lifetime Without Cable, And As Cheap As Possible

John Finn Avatar
watch Lifetime

Lifetime is currently available to watch through a variety of streaming services but Frndly TV is the cheapest live TV service overall. Before discussing live TV options, it is worth taking a moment to consider Lifetime Movie Club, as you might not need a live TV plan at all.

As Lifetime Movie Club is a standalone streaming service, it is a great option to stream hundreds of Lifetime movies, including beloved classics and hidden gems, without having to pay for content from other networks. What’s more, Lifetime Movie Club costs just $4.99 a month, making it a cheaper alternative to a live TV subscription.


Lifetime Movies Club Logo on black background.

$5 a month

  • Lifetime movies
  • Ad-Free
  • 7-Day Free Trial

For those that do specifically want access to the live Lifetime channel, the price of a live TV streaming plan ranges from $7.99 to $108.99 a month.

Live TV Services With Lifetime

While Lifetime is commonly available through many popular live TV streaming services, there are some exceptions, with YouTube TV the most notable one. In spite of being the most popular live TV streaming service in the U.S., YouTube TV does not include Lifetime in its base package, and doesn’t offer the option to add the channel through a paid add-on.

Fubo also isn’t going to be an option for fans of Lifetime. While Fubo previously provided included Lifetime in its channel lineup, the network was dropped in 2021 when a bunch of A&E Networks channels were removed from the live TV streaming service.

Cheapest Way To Watch Lifetime

Frndly TV is designed to be a highly affordable option, and with plans starting at just $7.99 a month, it is a great way to save on the cost of a live TV package that includes the Lifetime linear channel. In addition to Lifetime, Frndly TV also offers access to all three Hallmark channels as well.


Frndly TV logo

$8-$12/mo

  • 50+ channels
  • 1-4 streams
  • Limited DVR

Deal: Save more with an annual plan.


All in all, a subscription to the cheapest Basic plan unlocks more than 50 channels. While upgrading to either the Classic or Premium plan won’t improve the channel lineup, it will unlock access to a DVR, making it possible to record Lifetime (and Hallmark) content.

With the Premium package priced at $11.99 a month, even the most expensive Frndly TV plan is still much cheaper than other live TV services.



Other Ways To Watch Lifetime

Another good choice for those looking for a low-cost way to watch Lifetime is Philo. Priced at $28 a month, a Philo subscription unlocks access to more than 70 paid channels, including both Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. Subscribers also get access to an additional 70+ free channels as well as an unlimited DVR.


$28/mo

  • 70+ channels
  • AMC+
  • Unlimited DVR

The next best option for Lifetime is Sling TV. This live TV service offers two different base packages to choose from, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, with the channel lineups dependent on the plan chosen. For those specifically interested in Lifetime, the Sling Blue package costs a minimum of $40 a month.


Updated Sling TV logo with emphasis on TV

$46-61/mo

  • 35+ channels
  • 1-3 streams
  • 50-Hour DVR

Deal: First month starting at $23.


Moving up the price ladder is Hulu Live TV. At $76.99 a month, Hulu Live TV is significantly more expensive than the previous live TV services but it does unlock access to more than 95 live TV channels. Subscribers also get access to Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.


Hulu logo

$83/mo

  • 95+ channels
  • Basic Hulu
  • Disney+
  • ESPN+

Finally, there’s DirecTV Stream. While DirecTV Stream’s packages start at $79.99 a month, Choice is the minimum package that includes Lifetime. With Choice priced at $108.99 a month, it is a fairly expensive option for those mainly interested in watching the main Lifetime linear channel.


Directv stream logo brand

$80-165/mo

  • 90-185 channels
  • Unlimited streams
  • Unlimited DVR

Deal: Save up to $60 on 3 months.


Lifetime And TV Everywhere

Thanks to TV Everywhere support, Lifetime offers the option to watch the live channel, as well as stream on-demand programming, directly through the Lifetime website and apps. However, TV Everywhere stills require a paid subscription to a live TV plan.

Essentially, TV Everywhere allows live TV subscribers to use their live TV login details to authenticate their subscription and confirm they pay for the network. After authenticating access, live TV subscribers gain the option to watch the Lifetime live channel and on-demand library through the Lifetime website and apps.

Not all live TV services currently offer TV Everywhere support for Lifetime, so this might be something to keep in mind when choosing a live TV provider. For example, while Frndly TV is the cheapest live TV service that includes Lifetime, TV Everywhere support for Lifetime is currently unavailable through Frndly TV.

John Finn

Comments

1 response

  1. Philo dropped both Lifetimes and ID

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