How to Save Money on Cable While Getting More

The fastest ways to save money on cable are to call your provider and ask for a discount, stop renting equipment you can buy, and compare your bundle against cheaper streaming options. Together, these steps can save you hundreds to over a thousand dollars a year.

Key takeaways

Take control of your money, optimize your spending and grow your savings automatically

• Save up to $1,356 annually by replacing cable with streaming services like Netflix, Plex, or HBO Max, using one-time setup costs under $200 for media players and antennas.
• Reduce recurring bills by calling your cable provider’s retention department, asking for discounts, or combining internet, phone, and cable into one bundle, then watching for rate increases.
• Eliminate modem rental fees by purchasing your own device for around $100, and cut home phone costs using VoIP systems like Ooma Telo, recouping setup in approximately six months.

1. Triple Play

The triple play is a term referring to combining your home phone, internet and cable television to one simple payment. Combining these services will not only save you money but time as well. Now you will only have one bill to look at, and it will be easier to spot pricing changes or errors quickly. Call up your cable provider and ask them what kind of discount you can get if you add the other services and go from there.

Once you have the triple play set up you will need to make sure they do not hike the price on you. This is a common tactic deployed by many subscription service providers and you will always need to be on the lookout for strange charges and rate increases. If your rate goes up there are several ways to go about bringing it back down.

2. Call and ask

A surprisingly effective way of lowering your bill is by simply calling and asking. No excuses, threats of cancellation or stories. Just ask to be transferred to the customer retention department and ask the operator if you can have a discount. These people are constantly being yelled at so they will often be happy to help you out if you are cordial. According to Consumer Reports’ 2026 survey, only about a quarter of internet customers tried to negotiate in the past year, but three out of four who did got something, most often a lower price or a new promotional rate.

3. Use your own modem

One of the ways that cable companies get you is by renting a modem to you. These are typically not cutting edge equipment, and you are paying a premium to use it. You can buy a good modem for around $100, so why rent one for $10 a month? Rental fees are one of the hidden costs that push up the average internet bill per month.

4. Have housemate open a new account

If you have not had any success asking for a discount, another option you may want to explore is canceling your service and having your significant other or roommate open a new account. When you apply to open a new account they will offer a discount and set up an install date. Decline the installation service as you already have a working connection in the house. The only downside is that you may need to swap out cable boxes or modems if you do not own the hardware.

5. Getting rid of cable television completely

More and more people are canceling their cable television subscription each year, opting to use streaming services like Netflix, and saving lots of money in the process. The way this is done is by setting up an antenna and media players that can run internet streaming applications (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, or a smart TV) and hooking them up to televisions within your household. There is even a service called Plex which takes all of your media and organizes it, so you can pause a show on Netflix while watching it in the living room and finish it in the bedroom.

In 2013, Amadou Diallo of Forbes magazine reported saving $1,356 in recurring bills annually (this figure does not take into account the money spent on one-time costs) and could not be happier with his switch. He does note that it is more convenient to have a cable subscription but asks “Is that worth a 330% markup?” The gap is still large today: a 2026 CableTV.com survey puts the average cable bill at about $147 a month, compared with around $30 for streaming.

The upfront cost of setting this up will sting a little bit, but it is only a one-time purchase and from there on out you will be saving hundreds on autopilot.

The major players in the industry are listening to consumers. Most networks, including HBO with HBO Max, now offer their own streaming services, so you can pay only for the channels you actually watch.

One of the main concerns about getting rid of cable television stems from the lack of live sports on the various streaming sites. But that is now a thing of the past as the various sporting organizations have realized they can make decent money while providing a great service to their fans. Remember that these services are for all the games and build ups, and you would be paying extra with your cable company for the subscription regardless. Just remember that home market games may be blacked out, so make sure to double check on that for your team.

Most major leagues now sell their own streaming packages. Prices change every season, so check each league’s site before you subscribe.

MLB

MLB.TV streams out-of-market games on your computer, TV, or phone. Check current prices on MLB.com, since they change each season.

NBA

NBA League Pass streams out-of-market games, with options such as choosing the home or away broadcast. National blackouts still apply.

NHL

In the U.S., out-of-market NHL games stream through ESPN+, minus blackouts.

NFL

NFL+ streams live local and primetime games on phones and tablets, while NFL Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market Sunday games.

Cutting cable? Why stop there? Cut the home phone too!

Many people have started cutting their cable bill, but that is not the only way to save a few bucks. If you already pay for a mobile plan (here’s the average cell phone bill per month), a separate home phone line may be an expense you don’t need. There is a great product on the market called the ‘Ooma Telo’ which is a phone line that is connected through the internet. Once you have made the initial purchase of the Ooma base, the basic plan has no monthly subscription fee, though you’ll still pay monthly taxes and regulatory fees.

You can also use any phone you already have lying around, as cordless and corded phones are compatible with the Ooma system.

I know what you are thinking, ‘Free’ is another word for ‘Low Quality’, but that simply is not the case here. It also includes all the features you already know like caller ID, call waiting, caller ID blocking, one touch voicemail access, emergency services and call encryption.

Ooma also offers the option to port your phone number over for a one-time fee of $39.99. The only small problem with the Ooma option would be that you need to spend around $100 upfront for the device, but depending on the size of your bill you could recoup the cost in just a few months, and once you get in the black there is no looking back!

Featured image credit: Lifeofpix