How Much Money Can You Save by Cutting Cable? (2026)

The number that makes most people finally cancel cable is the one at the bottom of the bill. So let's deal in real figures. This is how much money you can actually save by cutting cable in 2026 — what the average bill really costs, where the money goes, and what a streaming setup on an Android TV costs instead.

What the average cable bill really costs

According to a CableTV.com survey of 26,500 people conducted in late 2025, the average American cable TV bill reached $147 per month. That is roughly $1,764 a year — before you factor in that the price usually climbs again after any promotional period ends.

The more revealing number is what you get for it. The same research found the average household watches just 15 of the 195 channels in a typical package. That works out to about $9.57 per month for every channel you actually watch — and roughly $1,618 a year wasted on channels you never turn on. In other words, most of a cable bill pays for a bundle you don't use.

Where the money hides

Advertised cable prices are rarely what you pay. On top of the base package, bills typically carry:

• Equipment rental — a monthly fee for each box and DVR.
• Broadcast TV and regional sports fees — surcharges that quietly rise each year.
• Taxes and administrative fees.

Industry reporting in 2026 puts these hidden fees at roughly $30–$50 per month on their own. None of them buy you extra content — they simply inflate the total.

What streaming costs instead

Here is the key point cord-cutters have to keep in mind: you still pay for internet either way, so the fair comparison is the TV portion of your bill against your streaming subscriptions.

Across 2026 cord-cutting cost analyses, a sensible streaming setup runs about $45–$65 per month. After keeping your existing internet, most people who switch save between $40 and $80 a month — roughly $480 to $960 a year. Over five years, that is easily $3,000 or more back in your pocket.

The trap that erases your savings

There is one honest catch. The fastest way to lose the savings is to subscribe to too many services at once and quietly rebuild a cable-sized bill. Four or five separate streaming apps can add up to exactly what you were trying to escape.

The fix is to be intentional: pick one service that covers most of what you actually watch, rather than stacking a new subscription for every show. This is where a single app that bundles live TV, live sports and movies keeps the math in your favour. For the full side-by-side, see Android TV vs cable.

A quick example

• Old cable bill: $147/month
• Internet (you keep this either way): unchanged
• New streaming setup: ~$55/month
• Monthly saving: ~$90 · Yearly saving: ~$1,080

Your exact numbers will vary, but the direction is the same for the large majority of households: streaming on an Android TV costs far less than a traditional cable package.

How to actually make the switch

Cutting cable is simpler than it sounds. You need an Android TV (or an Android TV device on your existing TV), a reliable internet connection, and a streaming service. Our guides walk you through it: how to watch live TV without cable and how to watch live sports. Many services, including LionTV, need no activation code — you subscribe and sign in.

Frequently asked questions

How much can you save by cutting cable?

After keeping your internet, most people save about $40–$80 a month — roughly $480–$960 a year — by replacing cable with a streaming setup.

What is the average cable bill in 2026?

A late-2025 CableTV.com survey put the average US cable TV bill at about $147 per month, with households watching only 15 of 195 channels.

Why do cord-cutters sometimes not save money?

Because they subscribe to too many services and rebuild a cable-sized bill. Choosing one service that covers most of what you watch avoids this.

Start saving today

LionTV brings live TV, live sports and movies into a single Android TV app — no rented box, no activation code, no contract. Compare the yearly and monthly plans, or browse all membership options.

Sources: Average bill and channel-usage figures from the CableTV.com 2025 channel report (survey of 26,500 respondents, Nov–Dec 2025). Savings and streaming-cost ranges reflect 2026 cord-cutting cost analyses.