Best Cable Stream Apps

247+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

3.8 avg rating

20 free apps

Updated September 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good cable stream apps. We benchmark 247+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Cable Stream Apps (September 2026)

#	App	Price	Rating	Ads	In-App Purchases	Updated
1	Xfinity Stream	Free	4.6★ (260K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
2	YouTube TV	Free	3.6★ (60K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
3	Sling: Live TV, Sports & News	Free	4.6★ (248K)	Yes	Yes	Sep 2026
4	Cable M3U	Free	5.0★ (2)	No	No	May 2026
5	TV Guide: Streaming & Live TV	Free	4.3★ (114K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
6	SE Stream	Free	3.3★ (9)	No	No	Jun 2026
7	MCTV Stream	Free	2.1★ (18)	No	No	May 2026
8	Spectrum TV	Free	4.7★ (566K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026

Top Picks for Cable Stream

Xfinity Stream by Comcast

Live TV, On Demand, & DVR

Editor's Choice

🎬 Entertainment

4.6😞(260K ratings)

FreeAds

Stream live TV channels, On Demand content, and DVR recordings from your Xfinity or NOW TV service. Watch thousands of shows and movies, download content for offline viewing, and schedule recordings remotely.

What We Love

🚀 Convenient to watch on the go
👍 Ability to watch live TV and recordings
🚀 Useful for traveling and watching on mobile devices

Room to Improve

🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
🐛 Unreliable streaming and connectivity issues
🐛 Inconsistent performance across devices
🐛 Confusing user interface and navigation
🐛 Unauthorized device access and login issues

YouTube TV by Google

Watch & DVR Live TV

Strong Contender

🎬 Entertainment

3.6😐(60K ratings)

FreeAds

#25in Entertainment

Stream live TV from over 100 networks without a cable box. Record your favorite shows with unlimited cloud DVR storage and share accounts with family. Cancel your monthly membership anytime.

What We Love

🚀 Great alternative to cable
👍 Lots of channel options
👍 Sports features like key plays
👍 Ability to record shows
👍 Ability to access on the go
👍 Cheaper than cable

Room to Improve

🔍 Too many ads
🐛 Playback issues like freezing and audio problems
🐛 Difficulty finding and managing recorded shows
🐛 Inconsistent volume levels
🐛 Buggy app behavior on various devices
💰 Expensive for the value provided
🔍 Missing some popular channels

Sling: Live TV, Sports & News by Sling TV, LLC

+ Freestream

Worth Considering

🎬 Entertainment

4.6😐(248K ratings)

FreeAds

#28in Entertainment

Sling: Live TV, Sports & News screenshot 1

Sling: Live TV, Sports & News screenshot 2

Sling: Live TV, Sports & News screenshot 3

Sling: Live TV, Sports & News screenshot 4

Stream live TV, sports, news, and popular shows without cable. Customize your channel lineup with flexible subscriptions and add-ons. Enjoy hundreds of free live TV channels with no credit card required.

What We Love

🚀 Great service with affordable pricing
👍 Seamless app experience across devices
🚀 Flawless performance with no crashes

Room to Improve

🐛 Glitchy app with frequent crashes
📺 Limited channel selection compared to cable
🔍 Confusing and cluttered user interface
⏱️ Unreliable on-demand playback and controls

More Cable Stream apps to explore

Cable M3U

Your Portable M3U Cable Box

Free

This app transforms your Apple device into a portable cable box, allowing you to stream your own M3U playlists. Enjoy a simple, reliable, and distraction-free viewing experience with easy playlist import and intuitive channel controls.

M3U playlist importSimple channel controlsBig screen mode via TV connection

📷 Photo & Video

(2)

free

TV Guide: Streaming & Live TV

Best Shows & Movies to Watch

Free

Discover what to watch on live TV and streaming services. Get personalized recommendations, track your favorites, and find where to stream any show or movie. Stay updated on new releases and upcoming episodes.

Personalized WatchlistShow and movie recommendationsStreaming and live TV availability

🎬 Entertainment

(114K)

free with in-app purchases

SE Stream

Service Electric Cable TV

Free

Stream live and recorded TV content on your mobile devices without a set-top box. Enjoy high-definition channels, including sports, with cloud DVR capabilities. Additional storage and devices can be added for a fee.

Cloud DVR with 50-300 hours storageHigh-definition channel broadcastsIncludes favorite sports channels

Stream live TV content on your mobile device or smart TV without a set-top box. Enjoy a whole-home experience with features like simultaneous recording, cloud DVR, and the ability to replay or restart shows. Parental controls and high-definition streaming are also available.

Whole-home experienceSimultaneous recordingCloud DVR with 100 hours

by Charter Communications

Free

Stream live and On Demand TV content on various devices. Control your DVR, set parental controls, and personalize your viewing experience. Access thousands of shows and movies anywhere with a connection.

Stream live TV anywhereThousands of On Demand shows and moviesCast to compatible TVs

🎬 Entertainment

(566K)

free with in-app purchases

DTC Cable

by Delhi Telephone Company

Free

Stream content directly to your device with this application. Enjoy a seamless viewing experience for your favorite shows and movies.

Direct device streamingSeamless viewing experienceContent access

by Verizon Services Corporation

Free

Stream live TV channels and thousands of On Demand movies and shows from virtually anywhere with a Fios TV subscription. Manage your DVR, download content for offline viewing, and even control your TV remotely.

Live TV streamingOn Demand libraryDVR management

Provided by CoMPAS Cable

by Cable & Wireless Holdings Inc

Free

This app offers premium streaming of live sports, local TV channels, and curated movies and shows. It provides a regional catalog built for the Caribbean, accessible across mobile, web, and TV devices.

Live sports streaming (UEFA, F1, IPL, NFL)Local Caribbean TV channelsCurated movies and shows

Blue Ridge Stream+ Live TV

Free

Watch live TV and manage recordings from your TiVo-powered subscription on your phone or tablet. Discover new shows, schedule recordings remotely, and never miss your favorite programming with features like Start Over and Catch Up.

Watch live TV on mobile devicesManage Cloud DVR recordingsSchedule recordings remotely

by Service Electric Cablevision, Inc.

Free

Control your TiVo Cloud DVR, stream live TV and recordings to your mobile device, and discover new shows with personalized recommendations. Manage recordings, browse the TV guide, and even use your phone as a remote.

Stream live TV and recordingsControl TiVo Cloud DVRDiscover shows with 'What To Watch'

Stream live local and national TV channels, on-demand content, and recorded shows. Restart programs aired within the last 48 hours and record up to 50 hours of content. Create profiles for personalized recommendations and watch on multiple devices simultaneously.

Live and local channel streamingCatch Up TV for recent programsNetwork DVR with 50 hours recording

🎬 Entertainment

(11)

free

NoCable: OTA Antenna, TV Guide

Cord Cutting Toolbox

Free

This app helps you cut the cord by providing a broadcast TV listing and schedule to replace traditional cable. It assists with antenna setup, offers recommendations, and includes troubleshooting guides for free local channels.

Local TV signal finderAntenna recommendationsInstallation & troubleshooting

by Canal America Corp

by TiVo Platform Technologies LLC

Free

Stream live local, news, sports, movie, music, and weather channels instantly or on-demand. Enjoy features like cloud DVR, replay TV, and startover TV without needing a set-top box. Access premium channels and all your online subscriptions in one place.

Live local, news, sports, movie, music, weather channelsReplay TV (72 hours cloud storage)Startover TV

Stream live local and national TV channels, access Video on Demand, and catch up on missed programs. Manage recordings with an optional Network DVR and create personalized profiles for family members. Enjoy content on multiple devices simultaneously.

Live and local channel streamingVideo on DemandCatch Up TV for missed programs

🎬 Entertainment

(2)

free

Xumo Play: Stream TV & Movies

TV & Movies (on the house)

Free

Access a vast library of live TV channels, movies, and TV shows for free. Enjoy personalized recommendations and discover new content across various genres without needing a subscription or login. Stream anytime, anywhere, on any device.

350+ live channels15,000+ on-demand titlesPersonalized recommendations

🎬 Entertainment

(4.1K)

free with in-app purchases

FAQ about Cable Stream

What are the best cable stream apps for iPhone?

Xfinity Stream tops our cable stream apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.6-star average from 260K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.

Are there free cable stream apps for iPhone?

Yes — 20 of the top cable stream apps we rank are free to download, including Xfinity Stream and YouTube TV.

Does Xfinity Stream have ads or in-app purchases?

Xfinity Stream shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.

How many cable stream apps are on the App Store?

We track 247+ cable stream apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

What can I do with the Xfinity Stream app?

The Xfinity Stream app allows Xfinity and NOW TV customers to watch live TV channels, stream thousands of On Demand shows and movies, and schedule DVR recordings from any device. You can also download your recordings and movie library to watch offline.

Who can use the Xfinity Stream app?

Access to the Xfinity Stream app is included for all Xfinity and NOW TV customers. The specific features and number of channels available may vary based on your level of service.

Best Cable Stream Apps

Compare top Cable Stream Apps (September 2026)

Top Picks for Cable Stream

What We LoveHighlights summarized from real App Store user reviews

Room to ImproveCommon complaints summarized from real App Store user reviews

What We LoveHighlights summarized from real App Store user reviews

Room to ImproveCommon complaints summarized from real App Store user reviews

What We LoveHighlights summarized from real App Store user reviews

Room to ImproveCommon complaints summarized from real App Store user reviews

More Cable Stream apps to explore

FAQ about Cable Stream

What We Love

Room to Improve

What We Love

Room to Improve

What We Love

Room to Improve