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How to Watch History Channel Without Cable (Cheap as Possible)

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History Channel shows

The cheapest way to watch History Channel without cable is Frndly TV. However, there are a number of different live TV services that currently include History in their channel lineup. While others are more expensive, some individuals and households may find the overall packages they offer to be more suitable for their needs.

History Channel is a great option for anyone looking for access to history-based documentaries. In fact, the A&E owned channel has greatly expanded over the years with shows like Knightfall, Pawn Stars, and Vikings, making a History Channel subscription one that’s likely to appeal to many members of a family or household.

While History Channel is fairly commonly available through live TV streaming services, it is not available through all of them. For example, fuboTV originally carried History Channel, but that changed when the sports-focused service dropped a number of A&E networks in 2021. In addition, YouTube TV also currently doesn’t include History Channel in its lineup. That said, there are still plenty of live TV plans available to pick from, and at varying price points to suit the different needs of individuals and households.

Cheapest way to watch History Channel

Frndly TV is currently the cheapest way to watch History Channel without cable. With plans starting at just $6.99 per month, Frndly TV is a highly affordable service and a good option for A&E Networks in general. Frndly TV not only includes History Channel, but also A&E, Lifetime, and FYI.

Along with the various A&E Networks, Frndly TV subscribers gain access to more than 30 live TV channels overall, including The Weather channel, QVC and the Hallmark family of channels. For those in need of an unlimited cloud DVR for recording, or the ability to stream on multiple devices at the same time, there is the option to upgrade to either the Classic or Premium Frndly TV plans at a higher cost each month.

With prices as low as $6.99 per month, Frndly TV can be a very good option for accessing the History Channel. However, compared to the other live TV streaming services, Frndly TV offers a far more limited channel lineup, so it might not be suitable for all individuals and households. Still, with the price as low as it is, Frndly TV could be worth a subscription even if already subscribing to a live TV service that does not include the same channels.

Other ways to watch History Channel

Philo is the next cheapest way to watch History Channel without cable. Priced at just $25 per month, Philo is another price-focused service and another solid option for A&E Networks. In total, the service currently provides access to more than 60 channels, along with the ability to stream on multiple devices at the same time, and there’s even an unlimited cloud DVR included at no additional cost.

While Philo costs more than Frndly TV, the channel lineup is a lot more varied and this could make it a better option overall. However, Philo is still limited in some respects, and especially when it comes to local and sports channels. Philo offers very few upgrades, so what’s included with the base plan is largely what’s available through the service.

If Philo isn’t a good fit, then the next best and cheapest option is going to be Sling TV. Unlike Philo, Sling TV actually offers two plans to choose from, Sling Orange and Sling Blue. When it comes to the History Channel, there is no difference as both plans include the channel in their lineups. Not to mention, there is also no difference in the cost with both Sling plans priced at $35 per month.

Moving up in price and the next cheapest option for watching History Channel is going to be Vidgo. This service is a little different to the others as it places a greater focus on watching live. While there is no cloud DVR and no real on demand features, there is a catch-up service that allows subscribers to watch videos for up to twenty-four hours after they are shown. Still, at $55 per month, Vidgo provides access to a wide selection of channels, including the History Channel.

Hulu Live TV is currently one of the most popular live TV service in the US and this is another option for watching History Channel without cable. While a Hulu Live TV subscription currently costs $69.99 per month, the channel lineup and additional features may make the extra cost worth it to some subscribers. Finally, there’s DirecTV Stream. This live TV streaming service offers multiple plans to choose from and they all include History Channel. However, with the cheapest Entertainment package costing $69.99 per month, it is another expensive option.

Watch History Channel directly

In addition to watching shows and documentaries through a live TV service, many channels and networks now offer the option to watch directly through their own website and app, including History Channel. To be clear, this doesn’t make the price any cheaper as a live TV subscription is still required and used to authenticate access.

This is all made possible through TV Everywhere support. Essentially, a subscriber to a live TV service can visit the History Channel website or download the app, sign in using their live TV account details and then start streaming videos. The only problem is, not all networks and live TV streaming services have agreed a deal for TV Everywhere support. As an example, Frndly TV and Sling’s TV Everywhere support list does not include History Channel. This is in spite of the channel being included with the plans offered by both streaming services.

If wanting access to as much History content as possible then Frndly TV and Sling TV—two of the cheapest options—might not be the best choices. However, all of the other live TV services that carry History Channel also offer TV Everywhere support as well. As Philo’s TV Everywhere support includes History Channel, Philo could be considered the best cheapest option overall, thanks to the added ability to watch directly through the network’s own app and website.

Watch History Channel without cable summary

Frndly TV is the cheapest way to watch History Channel without cable. Priced as low as $6.99 per month, Frndly TV is a highly affordable option for watching A&E Networks in general. Although there are also slightly more expensive plans available (for adding a cloud DVR and additional streams), the channel selection might prove too limiting for some homes. Not to mention, Frndly TV does not include TV Everywhere support for History Channel.

Philo is the next cheapest way to watch History Channel without cable. Priced at just $25 per month, Philo provides access to more than 60 channels, an unlimited cloud DVR and the option to stream on multiple devices at the same time. At $35 per month, Sling TV is another affordable option for History Channel, but like Frndly TV, Sling’s main plans also don’t include access to TV Everywhere support.

Otherwise, consumers can subscribe to either Vidgo, Hulu Live TV or DirecTV Stream for access to the History Channel, albeit at a much higer price each month.

John Finn

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