USTVGO has finally shut down after offering a way to watch free live TV online for years, and its departure has left many users yearning for a replacement.
We’ve looked into the best free and paid USTVGO alternatives. Throughout our research, we couldn’t possibly verify streams hosted by third parties that many free TV streaming sites make readily available. Streamers often get a VPN for security and to protect their personal data before accessing unsecured, free streaming sites or browsing unfamiliar domains.
If you can’t wait, browse this quick list. The link will jump to a short description of the USTVGO alternative.
Surfshark
Read on for our full list of the best USTVGO replacements!
Earlier this year, the popular live TV streaming service USTVGO vanished from the internet. Its users were left concerned that they’d lost access to their No. 1 source of free live TV channels.
Millions of people used this website to watch free TV channels online, and might now be wondering what USTVGO alternatives are available to take its place.
We’ve done some extensive research to find out the 15 best USTVGO alternatives that online TV streamers are flocking to as alternatives.
How to Safely Use USTVGO Alternatives
With the rising cost of living and expensive TV and streaming subscriptions, people around the world are turning to free TV streaming over cable. While free ITV platforms offer TV channels at no cost, they do so at the expense of online safety. Unsecured domains can be easily infiltrated by hackers, and there’s a risk of clicking malicious third-party links that could install malware on your device.
To stay safe while using USTVGO alternatives, there are two steps all online streamers should take:
- Download a VPN: A VPN swaps out your IP address for an anonymous one, cloaks your real location, and encrypts your data. It secures your internet connection to ensure that no sensitive or private data can be read by third parties.
- Get strong antivirus: Antivirus software will block suspicious connections in real time, stop malware from finding its way onto your device, or will root it out if it’s already there.
Surfshark offers undoubtedly the best package for this purpose, and it’s our first choice for streaming securely. Surfshark VPN offers excellent speeds via servers that are optimized for online streaming. Surfshark One is a paired antivirus that will keep you safe from malware.
The 15 Best USTVGO Alternatives
This list of the 15 best USTVGO alternatives contains both free and paid websites. Since USTVGO is a free live TV service specializing in US-based TV, we’ve focused on live TV services with American channels. We’ve also clearly listed any pricing.
Importance Notice:
Be aware that some USTVGO alternatives may not have permission to stream the content that they provide. Most often, these sites don’t host the content, but rather link to third-party streams. Some websites may operate illegally, depending on the laws in your country, and could be breaching copyright laws. By accessing those websites, you face risks that could include termination of your internet connection, fines, or potentially prosecution. Always understand the risks involved before you make any decision. VPNOverview does not endorse piracy or illegal activity in any form.
These are the 15 sites that online TV streamers are using to fill the void USTVGO has left behind.
1. DaddyLiveHD: Best USTVGO alternative overall
Pros
- Entirely free to use
- Over 1,000 channels available
- Channels easily accessible from homepage
- Heaps of sports content
Cons
- Unverified third-party streams
- Clunky user interface
- Lacks DVR recording features
- No 4K content
DaddyLiveHD has emerged as the No. 1 replacement for USTVGO for online TV streamers. It is a massive repository of TV shows and channels and even offers more content than USTVGO ever did. In total, there are more than 1,000 US, UK and international TV channels to pick from, and not too many advertisements to deal with. We saw streams from the likes of ESPN, FOX, CBS, Sky Sports, and streams covering PPV boxing events, Wrestlemania, Formula 1, and more popular events.
Streaming resolution varies from 720p to 1080p, with no 4K content. While there’s no DVR recording, we’re not surprised, given that DaddyLiveHD is a free streaming site. In 1080p, you’ll still be able to catch all the latest TV shows and sports events without suffering any kind of quality issues.
It’s not the best-looking website, with a very basic design, but most free streamers opt for form over function. It’s very easy to find all of the channels from the homepage, and users report no problems with streams. Of course, the site itself notes that it doesn’t host any of the content, so streams can’t be authenticated, and final domain destinations may be unsecured.
Visit: DaddyLiveHD
2. TV247: Popular USTVGO alternative
Pros
- Offers premium channels without cost
- No need to create an account
- Easy-to-navigate site layout
Cons
- Large number of adverts
- Ads seem to be baked into the user interface
- Unverified third-party streams
You’ll find around 80+ live TV channels on TV247.us, all of which are available for free. This includes top favorites, such as HBO, ESPN, and ABC. The interface is pretty basic, and there’s some ad intrusion, but it’s to be expected from a free website offering premium channels.
You’ll want to be wary of the adverts on this site. Not only were there a lot of adverts, but some opened when we simply clicked on a menu. They were also heavily focused on adult content, while others were encouraging the use of unverified, third-party browser software. Still, it’s not a big problem when you’re using a good ad-blocker.
Google Chrome’s AdBlock extension, one of our highest-rated ad-blocker extensions, took care of those aggressive ads for us. If you do choose to use TV247 and see any ads, don’t download any software offered by an advert. Users report that cable TV network channels still load and play seamlessly when employing the help of an ad-blocker. Since these streams aren’t hosted by the site, we can’t be certain of their origins and can’t verify their legitimacy.
Visit: TV247
3. Stream2Watch: Longtime USTVGO competitor
Pros
- Access to numerous international channels
- All channels displayed simply on homepage
Cons
- Adverts drag the website's UI down
- Ad blockers can block certain streams
- Lack of filtering
- Unauthenticated streams
Stream2Watch has been around the free streaming circles for some time, and is a solid source of live TV content. You’ll have to scroll down the homepage to find the list of live TV channels to stream. Though Stream2Watch primarily features sports, you’ll have plenty of other channels to choose from.
Bear in mind that this website tends to block a lot of popular ad blockers. This is a bit of a paradox because you can’t really use this website without one. Stream2Watch is so heavy on the ads, navigation becomes nearly impossible if you’re going in with just your browser. Regardless, we were able to navigate the site successfully with Adblock Plus, which is a free tool that really gets the job done.
Otherwise, there was a lot of content here. Stream2Watch provides access to loads of regional TV channel streams from around the world. We saw numerous BBC channels from the UK, Canal+, BT Sport, CBS, FOX, CNBC, and plenty more. However, most online streamers wouldn’t visit this USTVGO alternative without a VPN, antivirus and ad-blocker in tow.
Visit: Stream2Watch
4. FreeInterTV: Endless TV streaming options
Pros
- Live TV online from multiple countries
- We didn't encounter any adverts
- Good-quality streams in 1080p
Cons
- Confusing and scattered search options
- Unsecured site
FreeInterTV is a great alternative to USTVGO, offering hundreds of channels. You’ll find channels from multiple countries with sports, news, entertainment, and other TV show genres. There’s an electronic program guide that tells you what’s showing on each channel — a feature that USTVGO used to have.
On the homepage, you can filter by country of origin to track down a specific channel. There’s also a quick search menu in the website banner, which is particularly powerful and capable of quickly locating specific shows, whatever you throw at it.
Once we’d searched for a TV show we liked, we were able to quickly locate a stream offering 1080p resolution. We didn’t see a single advert while browsing the website, either. That’s impressive, considering that FreeInterTV is a free website with no subscription costs. Note that there is an “not secured” notification on most browsers — a common issue with free streaming sites — so you certainly wouldn’t want to exchange any information with the site or use it without a VPN.
Visit: FreeInterTV
5. StreamEast: USTVGO alternative for sports fans
Pros
- Offers FOX, NBC, ESPN, SKY, ABC, and CBS
- Content in 1080p resolution
- Upcoming sporting events signposted on homepage
Cons
- Tries to prevent VPN use
- Only good for sports fans and related content
- Unauthenticated third-party streams
StreamEast is a sports-focused alternative to USTVGO, offering NBA streams, NHL streams, and plenty of others for CFB, NFL, and more. This narrow focus makes it perfect for sports fans, though you won’t find any other TV shows or movie content here. Still, that makes it the ideal place to catch the biggest sporting events. It is also one of the best Vialpay alternatives for viewers in the US, UK, and Canada.
Right on the homepage, you’ve got a schedule detailing the closest upcoming matches in various sports. You can access streams from FOX, BNC, Sky, and more. However, one drawback of this website is that it tries to prevent you from using a VPN. When testing the site with Intego Privacy Protection, we were served with a landing page that told us to disable our VPN.
We wouldn’t recommend using free streaming sites without a VPN. This is especially true in the case of platforms that may not have broadcasting rights. Still, we’ve listed this USTVGO alternative so that you have as many options as possible. You can try Surfshark to access StreamEast — we were not blocked when using this premium VPN.
Visit: StreamEast
6. OKLiveTV: An OK alternative for USTVGO fans
Pros
- Installs onto a Fire TV stick or Android TV
- Easily access content from over 40 countries
- Slick user interface with quick navigation options
Cons
- The most-viewed channels are adult content
- Can't access most channels without a VPN
- Unauthenticated third-party streams
OKLiveTV is a strong source of varied content that includes news, children’s programs, news, entertainment, and sports. Aside from being accessible via your browser, you can install the OKLiveTV app on a Fire TV stick or Android TV box. People surfing for free TV channels have reported a good experience with these apps.
OKLiveTV focuses on international content, and right from the moment you land on the homepage, you’ve got access to channels across the world. Scroll down a little, and you can use custom tags to choose from live TV channels in over 40 countries. It’s a great resource for people looking to expand their borders and catch unique shows from other regions.
One unique area of OkLiveTV that people find useful is the total views filter, sorting channels based on the total number of views they’ve had. This has helped users to weed out content that’s less interesting, showing only the top fan favorites. Of course, this is another free streaming site that doesn’t host content, so third-party streams can’t be verified or authenticated.
Visit: OKLiveTV
7. Pluto TV: Totally free, legit US TV
Pros
- Use entirely for free
- No need to create an account
- Good variety of TV shows and movies by category
Cons
- Difficult to use on smaller screens
- Lacks popular cable channels
- Need a VPN to access outside US, Latin America
Pluto TV operates entirely for free and you don’t need to create an account to access the platform’s content. While you won’t find any of the big-name cable channels here, you can choose from a pretty broad variety of TV shows and movies. They’re filtered into custom Pluto TV channels, with names like Documentaries, Horror, 90s Throwback, and numerous others.
All of this makes it pretty easy to find the niche you’re into. One thing we should note is that if you’re accessing Pluto TV on a smaller screen, such as a notebook, the media player consumes most of the screen. It makes it pretty difficult to view the schedule for more than a couple of channels at once. But it won’t have an impact on your experience of the content at all.
There are hours of content you can access for free without needing an account. That makes it a great USTVGO alternative for people who want a clean, sleek interface and no headaches of unofficial streaming sites. All streams are authenticated, secure and legitimate. But you will need a VPN to use it outside the U.S.
Visit: Pluto TV
8. Plex: Completely free TV, though limited content
Pros
- Can cast to your smart home devices
- High-quality video streams with uncluttered UI
- Free media streaming feature is a unique benefit
- 80+ live TV channels
Cons
- Supported by some advertising
- Less content than some alternatives
Plex didn’t use to offer any TV or movies via its website. Instead, it would let you stream media from your own storage devices or PC directly onto your TV. But more recently, Plex has begun hosting its own TV shows and movies, as well as 80+ live channels, packed with content.
The media streaming functionality still exists, and it’s pretty flawless. Plex will take your media files and order your TV shows by name, by season, and even with descriptions of each episode. With all of this combined, you’re left with an interface that rivals premium streaming services.
As for the streaming service itself, it’s not bad, but it does lack some content when compared to other USTVGO alternatives. There are less movies and TV shows to choose from, and they tend to be older titles. But the delivery is excellent, with minimal ads. Even better, Plex detected our Google Home products, allowing us to cast directly to media devices on the same Wi-Fi network!
Visit: Plex
9. Freevee: Amazon’s free TV streaming site
Pros
- Safe, secure platform provided by Amazon
- Quick access to genres from the homepage
- Works on pretty much any device
Cons
- Supported by advertising
- Lacks newer TV shows
Freevee is Amazon’s new brainchild, launched in 2022, which seeks to compete in the free TV streaming market. It isn’t the same as Amazon Prime. While Prime is subscription-based and offers the latest shows and movies, Freevee is closer to ad-supported sites like Pluto TV in comparison.
The benefit of Amazon’s ownership is that you can use Freevee on a vast array of platforms. Aside from the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, you can use Freevee on Roku devices, Google TV, Android TV, games consoles, and more.
In terms of content, Freevee can keep you busy for a long time. Aside from the live TV channels offered, we also noted on-demand TV shows and movies. Much like with Prime, Amazon categorizes these on the homepage for quick access to specific genres.
Visit: Freevee
10. Sling TV: Top paid TV streaming alternative
Pros
- Less expensive than some USTVGO alternatives
- Tiered subscription packages to choose from
- Shows popular cable network channels
Cons
- Limited choice of local TV channels
- Need a VPN to use outside US
Like DirectTV, Sling TV offers a number of packages that give you access to premium cable channels. There’s no contract required, and you can access channels like CNN, Bravo, USA, ESPN, FOX, and more. This is one of the few USTVGO alternatives that offers cloud-based recordings, and all plans include 50 hours of DVR storage.
There’s also an option to watch live TV channels and on-demand content for free with Sling Freestream. However, you’ll notice that this is largely dated movies and limited episodes of TV shows. You’ll often be prodded to upgrade to a paid plan to get more content or live access to premium channels. Regardless, the cost for each package is significantly less than DirecTV, FuboTV, or your typical cable subscription.
Orange | Blue | Orange + Blue | |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly Price | $40 | $40 | $55 |
Channels | 31 | 40 | 46 |
Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Best for | Sports & Family | News & Entertainment | Everything |
We’ve tested SlingTV extensively with VPNs, and the service works seamlessly when you’ve connected to a US server while abroad. We were able to stream live TV and sports from India and Southeast Asia.
Visit: Sling TV
11. BBC iPlayer: Free TV alternative, just no US channels
Pros
- Can sign up with email and U.K. postcode
- Free, licensed HD streaming
- Works seamlessly with a VPN
- Tons of TV and sports programming
Cons
- No US TV channels
- Quality can be affected by fluctuations in internet speed, web traffic
BBC iPlayer lets you watch free live TV from the UK without the barrage of pop-up ads that come with unverified free streaming sites. We’ve tested it extensively outside the UK using various VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark, and it works great.
You won’t have to stress about malware, excessive tracking, or illegally hosted streams, which is always welcome. Just this year, we’ve used it to watch the Coronation of King Charles III, plenty of sports, news and even a little Eurovision.
To set up an account and use BBC iPlayer, you’ll just need to provide an email and a postcode based in the UK. If you’re using the Player outside England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland, just get a UK IP address to stream live TV or on-demand shows in HD or 4K.
What’s the downside? No US TV programming unless it came from the UK in the first place.
Visit: BBC iPlayer
12. YouTube TV: Complete US-based TV streamer
Pros
- Stream concurrently on 3 devices at once
- Vast range of news, sports, entertainment, and more
- Well-established brand with licensed content only
Cons
- Limited content access controls for parents
- Very expensive compared to other streaming platforms
When most of us think of YouTube, we probably first think about the millions of videos made and uploaded by content creators. But there’s also YouTube TV, an online TV service that could easily replace your cable TV subscription.
You’ll find over 90 channels on YouTube TV, covering sports, live news streaming, sitcoms, and more. This includes access to 4K-definition content, download support for offline watching, and unlimited use on one network. You’ll also find some premium HD movies too!
With so much content to choose from, all of which is legal and licensed, where’s the catch? YouTube TV is, of course, not a free service. Starting at $72.99 per month, it’s more expensive than the majority of streaming services you’ll find. But considering it could easily replace your cable subscription, that’s not a bad trade from where we’re sitting.
Visit: YouTube TV
13. TVPlayer: Affordable USTVGO alternative
Pros
- Fast, responsive Live TV website
- Excellent-quality streams
- No contract required
Cons
- Inconsistent pricing around paid content
- Only paying viewers can access channels
Open Netflix and TVPlayer side by side, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that this website is owned by Netflix. At least, that was our first assumption. The interface is very slick and extremely simple to use. Everything just felt familiar to us, right from the landing page down to the sign-up form.
However, for a well-established website that also has broadcasting rights, we found the messaging around content to be inconsistent. The pricing on the homepage promises more than 20 channels, but the free tour promised “less than thirty.” The FAQ section tells us it’s 40+ channels. But you do get on-demand access to a lot of movies and TV shows too. This is all charged at $9.99 a month or $99.99 on the annual plan.
The benefit of a subscription means that TVPlayer has no ads. You won’t have to worry about using an ad-blocker, and you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming on every channel.
Visit: TVPlayer
14. DirecTV Stream: Every US TV channel ready to stream
Pros
- Varied subscription plans
- Works out cheaper than average cable subscription
- Access from any country using a VPN
- Premium channels like ESPN, CNN, AMC, and many more
Cons
- No free version available
- Geo-restricted to US residents
DirecTV is a USTVOGO alternative that offers somewhere in the region of 70,000 TV shows and movies! You can also watch channels live or choose to record them, with support for up to five recordings simultaneously. In total, up to 200 hours worth of recordings can be stored in your account.
As an official streaming platform, DirecTV offers no free accounts. Instead, the website supports itself with subscription packages. We checked out their plans, and you have a few options available:
Entertainment | Choice | Ultimate | Premier | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly price | $64.99 | $84.99 | $109.99 | $154.99 |
Channels | 75+ | 105+ | 140+ | 150+ |
Local channels included | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
DVR recording service | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Regional sports networks | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Special offer for premium networks | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
Premium networks included | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
While we appreciate that USTVGO was a free service, DirecTV offers a lot of value in its subscription packages. Given that the average cable cost per month is around $217, we think that this platform represents great value, especially given the endless hours worth of content available.
Visit: DirecTV Stream
15. Hulu + Live TV: Popular choice for US streamers
Pros
- Fantastic and consistent user experience
- 85+ channels covering a variety of content
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Geo-restricted (US only)
Hulu’s been a fan-favorite among U.S. audiences for a while. It started out as a subscription-based streaming service, but now, Hulu offers live TV channels. As far as user experience goes, Hulu is one of the best streaming apps out there. It was recently optimized for pretty much every device and remains consistent across Apple TV, Android, iOS, and Chromecast.
The basic plan for Hulu + Live TV gets you over 85 channels to choose from, including Disney, ESPN, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Syfy, Fox News, Food Network, and more. In short, the platform has a little of something for everyone, making it ideal for families. Here’s a look at the other plans available from Hulu that include Live TV.
Hulu + Live TV (Ads) | Hulu + Live TV (No ads) | |
---|---|---|
Monthly Price | $69.99 | $82.99 |
Channels | 85+ | 85+ |
Like with cable, you can also expand your package with add-ons to customize your TV package:
- Español add-on: $4.99/month
- Entertainment add-on: $7.99/month
- Sports add-on: $9.99/month
- Unlimited screens add-on: $9.99/month
The drawback of Hulu is that it’s a U.S.-only platform, but that doesn’t matter when you use a VPN. To access Hulu from anywhere else in the world, you’ll need to get a U.S. IP address. Surfshark makes it extremely simple to get a US IP address in minutes.
Visit: Hulu + Live TV
What Happened to the Website USTVGO?
After becoming one of the most popular TV streaming sites in 2021, USTVGO was seemingly shut down for good. Other websites like USTVGO have found themselves suffering the same fate after being on the receiving end of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) notices. A DMCA Takedown, as it’s officially known, is initiated by the rightful owner of digital content that is being used illegally.
In short, a DMCA Takedown essentially tells website operators, “Stop what you’re doing, or there will be legal consequences.” USTVGO complied with the DMCA order, which led to the website going offline. This has left many TV fans looking for USTVGO alternatives.
Other USTVGO Alternatives Taken Offline
USTVGO alternatives come and go, and we review our recommendations on a regular basis. We’re confident that the above TV streaming websites are the best alternatives to use.
But what about other websites? USTVGO’s sudden disappearance shocked a lot of regular users. But other websites have vanished entirely too. At the time of writing, you’ll no longer be able to access these websites.
Website | What happened? |
---|---|
123 TV | In March 2023, long-time fan favorite 123 TV seemed to disappear. We now receive a message telling us that the website cannot be reached. After almost a month of silence, we suspect that this website won’t be coming back. |
TVCatchup | TVCatchup fell off our screens in April 2019. It was a shock for us, as this service had been running since 2007! Unfortunately, the European Court of Justice ordered the website to shut down after a lengthy legal battle about broadcasting rights. |
Oreo TV | Oreo TV and another popular app, Thop TV, were shut down in around 2022. While we have no concrete reports, some YouTube videos and forum posts have made claims that the website’s operator was arrested by police in Mumbai. |
Ustream | Ustream was a popular USTVGO alternative, but it’s actually been some time since the website shut down. In 2016, IBM acquired the platform and rolled it into other online video platforms. |
Conclusion: Free and Paid USTVGO Alternatives Fill the Gap
While it’s sad to see the loss of another live TV streaming service, it’s also unsurprising. Because some websites operate without broadcasting rights, we’re likely to see some options close down while others pop up.
This list of the best USTVGO alternatives should give you some great choices to turn to! Just be sure to check each of them out before deciding your risk appetite and whether you want to pay for a subscription. And remember to never download third-party software recommended by an unofficial platform or an advertisement on such a site!
Here’s that list of recommendations one more time:
- DaddyLiveHD
- TV247
- Stream2Watch
- FreeInterTV
- StreamEast
- OKLiveTV
- Pluto TV
- Plex
- Freevee
- Sling TV
- BBC iPlayer
- YouTube TV
- TVPlayer
- DirecTV Stream
- Hulu + Live TV
If you’re interested in on-demand content, you might also watch to check out our recommendations for the best free movie streaming sites!
Still have questions about the best USTVGO alternatives? Check out our frequently asked questions below for an answer.
Yes, there are many other USTVGO alternatives that will allow you to watch live TV channels online. Here’s our list of the top five sites like USTVGO:
- DaddyLiveHD
- TV247
- Stream2Watch
- FreeInterTV
- StreamEast
If you want to check out the full list and links to each alternative, we’ve written up a guide on 15 best USTVGO alternatives.
While USTVGO has shut down, there are plenty of alternatives. We’ve broken down the top 15 best USTVGO alternatives.
USTVGO was closed down after receiving a DMCA Takedown notice. This is a legal contest launched by broadcasting companies who own the licences to TV programs, movies, and other digital content. USTVGO was accused of operating illegally, and now the website is no longer available. DMCA Takedown action is common in industries like these.