How To

How to Watch Cartoons Without Cable – Find a Streaming Service

By Gabriela Vatu / October 5, 2018

Your children are likely always on your case about letting them watch cartoons, but what will do you once you cut the cord and take your TV watching online? Well, there are plenty of ways to watch cartoons without cable, and we're going to help you out.

So, the first thing you have to know is that there are loads of streaming services out there, over-the-top (OTT) platforms, that offer users the chance to watch cable TV without actually having a cable contract. All you have to do is subscribe to one of them and watch everything you want on your computer, smart TV, or various devices.

But what are your choices in entertaining your children and on what platforms can you find these channels? Well, let's find out.

1. fuboTV

FuboTV
Overview
Bundles fubo ($54.99/mo) + Family ($59.99/mo), Family Deluxe ($64.99/mo), and Ultra ($79.99/mo) promo packs.
Customization Channel Bundles - fubo Cycling ($11.99/mo), International Sports Plus ($5.99/mo), Sports Plus ($8.99/mo), Adventure Plus ($4.99/mo), NBA League Pass ($28.99/mo), Portuguese Plus ($14.99/mo), Latino Plus ($7.99/mo), fubo Extra ($5.99/mo) Premium Networks - Showtime ($10.99/mo), AMC Premiere ($4.99/mo), FX Plus ($5.99/mo), RAI Italia ($7.99/mo)
Device support Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, iOS, Android, Chromecast, web browser
DVR 30 hours, unlimited time storage, expandable to 500 hours via extra feature ($9.99/mo)
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit fuboTV

We're kicking off the list with fuboTV, which is a platform all sports lovers will enjoy. Thankfully, it's not just sports channels you can find here, but also family entertainment. First off, you should know that there are four bundles you can pick from - fubo, which costs $39.99 for the first month and $44.99 per month after that, fubo Extra, which is $44.99 for the first month and $49.99 per month thereafter, fubo Latino, which costs $17.99 per month, and fubo Portugues which is $19.99 per month. Let's see what channels for kids we can find here.

There's not a lot of room to pick here, but give our fuboTV review a read for more info on what the platform has to offer.

2. Sling TV

Sling TV
Overview
Bundles Sling Orange ($25/mo), Sling Blue ($25/mo), Sling Orange + Blue ($40/mo)
Customization Channel bundles - Comedy ($5/mo), Espanol ($5/mo), Heartland ($5/mo), Hollywood ($5/mo), Lifestyle ($5/mo), News ($5/mo), Kids ($5/mo), Sports ($5/mo with Orange, $10/mo with Blue or Orange + Blue), Kids + Comedy + News + Lifestyle ($10/mo)
Premium Channels - Showtime ($10/mo), STARZ ($9/mo), EPIX ($5/mo), CuriosityStream ($3/mo), Here TV ($8/mo), Grokker ($7/mo), Stingray Karaoke ($7/mo), UP Faith & Family ($5/mo), Pantaya ($6/mo), CineFest ($5/mo), Hopster ($5/mo), Comedy Dynamics ($5/mo), Dove Channel ($5/mo), DogTV ($5/mo), CONtv ($5/mo), Docurama ($5/mo), Outside TV Features ($5/mo)
NBA- League Pass ($29/mo), Team Pass ($18/mo)
Device support Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, AirTV Player, Xiaomi, LG Smart TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, iOS, Android, Fire tablets, Xbox One, Chrome web browser
DVR Up to 50 hours, unlimited storage time. Expandable by another 50 hours with extra feature
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit Sling

Next up we have Sling TV, which is a great platform, offering loads of customization options. There are three bundles you can pick from - Orange ($25/mo), Blue ($25/mo), Orange + Blue ($40/mo). There are also a lot of interest-based channel packs you can add, so we're going to go through those as well if they feature cartoon channels. Let's see what we can find and in which bundles.

Check out our Sling TV review to figure out if you love this platform or not.

3. Philo

Overview
Bundles 58 channels ($20/mo)
Customization No extra channel packages or premium channels available
Device support Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, iOS, web browser, via Chome on Android. No dedicated Android app
DVR Unlimited storage space, recordings available for 30 days
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit Philo

Another great platform on the list is Philo. This one is pretty simplistic and only has two bundles you can choose from and no customization options. The bundles are named 40 Channels and 49 Channels, which is pretty self-explanatory. The first one costs $16 per month, while the latter one costs $20 per month. Let's see what cartoon networks they feature.

Before you make a decision on what platform you want to pick, make sure to read our Philo review.

4. Hulu

Hulu
Overview
Bundles A single bundle - Hulu with Live TV - $44.99 per month
Customization Premium channels - HBO ($14.99/mo), Showtime ($10.99/mo), Cinemax ($9.99/mo), STARZ ($8.99/mo)
Channel Packs - Entertainment ($7.99/mo), Espanol ($4.99/mo)
Device support iOS, Android, FireTV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs, browsers
DVR 50 Hours Cloud DVR by default, Enhanced Cloud DVR - 200 Hours ($14.99/mo)
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit Hulu

Next up we have Hulu, which is a great platform, especially for the video-on-demand content. It also offers, however, for $39.99 per month, a lengthy list of live TV channels. There are some cartoon channels in here too, namely Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, and Universal Kids.

Check our Hulu review before making a decision so you can learn more about the perks of this platform.

5. YouTube TV

YouTube TV
Overview
Bundles A single bundle - $49.99 per month ($54.99 if billed through Apple)
Customization Premium channels - AMC Premiere ($5/mo), CuriosityStream ($3/mo), Fox Soccer Plus ($15/mo), Showtime ($7/mo), Starz ($9/mo), Shudder ($5/mo), Sundance Now ($7/mo), NBA League Pass ($40/mo or $124/year), EPIX ($6/mo)
Device support Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, Samsung and LG Smart TVs, iOS, Android
DVR Unlimited storage space, recordings saved for 9 months
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit YouTube TV

Our next platform is YouTube TV, which is a great solution to your cord cutting dreams. There's only one bundle of channels available, which goes for $40 per month. There are dozens of networks in here, including some geared for kids like Cartoon Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney XD, and Universal Kids.

Read our YouTube TV review before making a decision since we have loads of info on the platform in there.

6. DirecTV Now

Overview
Bundles Plus ($50/mo) and Max ($70/mo) Other Packages - Entertainment ($93/mo), Choice ($110/mo), Xtra ($124/mo), Ultimate ($135/mo), and Optimo Mas ($86/mo)
Customization Channel packs - AT&T TV Now Deportes ($5/mo) and AT&T TV Now Espanol ($15/mo) Premium Networks - HBO (included with Plus and Max), Cinemax ($11/mo or included with Max), Showtime ($11/mo), STARZ ($11/mo) International Bundles - Vietnamese ($20/mo), Brazilian ($30/mo), Korean ($30/mo)
Device support Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, iOS, Android, browsers
DVR Up to 20 hours, 30 days limit, no expansions
Free trial Yes, 7 days
Visit AT&T TV Now

Next up we have DirecTV Now, which is the platform with the most bundles to pick from - five of them. These are Live a Little ($40/mo), Just Right ($55/mo), Go Big ($65/mo), Gotta Have It ($75/mo), and Todo y Mas ($45/mo). Let's find out what channels geared for kids you can find in each of them.

Give our DirecTV Now review a read to find out what cool perks the platform features and how you can customize it all.

7. PlayStation Vue

Playstation Vue
Overview
Bundles Access ($49.99/mo), Core ($54.99/mo), Elite ($64.99/mo), Ultra ($84.99/mo)
Customization Channel bundles - Sports Pack ($10/mo), Espanol Pack ($4.99/mo, $3.99/mo with PlayStation Plus) Premium channels - HBO ($15/mo, or included in Ultra), Showtime ($10.99/mo, $8.99/mo with PlayStation Plus, or included in Ultra), FX+ ($5.99/mo), Epix ($3.99/mo, $2.99/mo with PlayStation Plus), Cinemax ($15/mo), Fox Soccer Plus ($14.99/mo or $12.99 with PlayStation Plus), Hi-YAH! ($2.99/mo or $1.99/mo with PlayStation Plus) Bundles - HBO + Cinemax ($21.99/mo or $19.99/mo with PlayStation Plus), Epix Hits + Showtime ($13.99/mo or $11.49/mo with PlayStation Plus)
Device support Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, Roku, PS3, PS4, browser
DVR Up to 500 programs, 28 days limit
Free trial Yes, 5 days
Visit PlayStation Vue

Sony's PlayStation Vue is up next and it's a great platform. In fact, it managed to get the biggest score in our reviews thanks to the many perks that the platform brings to the table. But enough about that. There are four bundles being offered by PlayStation Vue - Access ($44.99/mo), Core ($49.99/mo), Elite ($59.99/mo), and Ultra ($79.99/mo). Let's see what channels for kids we can find in each of them.

Read our PlayStation Vue review for more info on what the service has to offer.

8. Pluto TV

Overview
Bundles No bundles
Customization No customization available
Device support Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Vizio TVs, Chromecast, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Vizio TVs, Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
DVR No
Free trial It’s all free
Visit Pluto TV

Next, on the list, we have a free platform that features loads of cool channels, including cable networks. For kids, however, you'll only find curated content. For instance, Kids TV (Ch. 520) features full episodes of various cartoons while Classic Toons (Ch. 531) is filled with older cartoons, including The Adventures of Flash Gordon, and Superman. Check out our Pluto TV review for more info on what the platform has to offer.

9. XUMO

Another free streaming service is XUMO. This one also brings a mix of cable networks and curated content to the table. For kids, however, there are mostly curated ones available, such as Hoopla Kids, Ameba, Toon Goggles, Mr. Bean & Friends, Puddle Jumper, Battery Pop, and Zoo. Check out our XUMO review to get all the details about this service.

Final Thoughts

We hope you'll manage to pick a platform that will keep your kids entertained even after you've cut the cord.

Let us know what channels your kids love watching in the comments section below, and please share the article online so others can find it too. Don’t forget to follow TechNadu on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks! 



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