Things sure have changed since the only way to watch TV was on your actual TV. Now, you can take your favorite shows and movies with you wherever you go on your mobile device. Pay-TV has gotten much more advanced as well; you don’t need a physical cable or satellite dish to watch top cable channels anymore, all you need is a solid internet connection.

But with added choice and flexibility also comes added confusion. It’s pretty hard to keep all the top live TV apps straight nowadays, and even harder when free streaming services that mimic pay-TV packages are also widely available. Services like Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi even employ live programming guides that emulate those once found on cable boxes and are stuffed with hundreds of free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels that can feel much like an old-school, traditional TV network.

So, what exactly are the differences between live TV streaming and FAST? We’ll explain in depth in our guide below, helping any readers who are confused about whether FAST channels or live TV streamers will have the programming they want get a straight answer.

What’s the difference between FAST and live TV streaming?

What is FAST?

As mentioned above, FAST stands for free ad-supported streaming TV. FAST programming is usually grouped into “channels” that run TV episodes, movies, or other video content around the clock, with ad breaks placed at strategic moments. FAST channels are meant to recreate the “lean-back” TV-watching experience that doesn’t force customers to choose what they’ll watch next, as the programming of the channel runs nonstop. FAST channels broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so viewers can jump in and out whenever they feel like it.

Typically, FAST channels do not have premium programming, such as live sports or original content, available. More often, they are reserved for older TV shows and movies that are widely available to stream. There are plenty of sports FAST channels as well, but (with a few exceptions), they mostly offer highlights, studio analysis, historic events, and documentaries, as opposed to live events.

In general, viewers should think of FAST channels as “light” TV channels. You’ll be able to watch a lot of the same kinds of content you can on linear TV, but for a “full-flavor” experience with more titles and features, you’ll usually have to sign up for a paid streamer. ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC all operate news FAST channels, for example, but they are not staffed by primetime anchors and are often lighter on journalistic commentary.

What is live TV streaming?

Live TV streaming is basically the cable and satellite experience that you grew up with reborn on streaming. Platforms like DIRECTV and YouTube TV carry the same channels viewers are accustomed to finding in traditional TV packages, including local broadcast channels and cable networks like AMC, BET, ESPN, Food Network, HGTV, MTV, and others, depending on the plan.

Live TV streaming services are intended to do essentially everything traditional pay-TV did without the extra equipment and long-term contracts. Instead of relying on a connected cable box that requires professional installation, live TV streaming services utilize your home internet connection to deliver the channels in your plan.

The other big upgrade live TV streaming offers over cable and satellite is the absence of long-term contracts. Every live TV streamer offers a month-to-month contract that lets viewers subscribe and cancel whenever they want, instead of being locked in for months on end. However, some will offer discounts if you sign up for annual plans, which can be a way to save money if you are confident that you are going to stick with the service.

A recent trend has arisen in the world of live TV streaming: genre packages. These plans break from the cable mold by focusing on a smaller number of channels in one particular content category, such as entertainment, sports, news, or Spanish-language programming. Several services now offer such plans, but all-in-one channel packages that include every type of network are still widely available as well.

What does live TV streaming have that FAST doesn’t?

As alluded to above, FAST channels offer a watching experience similar to that of pay TV, but without the premium, currently popular content. It’s easy to find FAST channels that play episodes of a single 30-year-old show on repeat, but not as easy to find a channel that marathons specific episodes in preparation for a new series premiere, as cable networks will.

And though you’ll find FAST channels affiliated with all the top sports leagues in the United States, it’s nearly impossible to watch live NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB games with FAST channels outside of a rare handful of promotional opportunities. Again, programmers typically save these expensive events for platforms they know will bring in a return on the expensive investment they made to get the rights.

The phrase “you get what you pay for” definitely applies to the comparison of FAST vs. live TV streaming. FAST channels can deliver a selection of content continuously, but they can’t offer the same overall level of content that live TV streamers can.

Which streamers carry only FAST channels?

There are a large number of free streaming services in the United States that carry FAST channels, but do not include the cable and broadcast networks found in live TV streaming packages. Many of these streamers also carry ad-supported on-demand titles that viewers can watch with no subscription fees.

There are several TV manufacturers that offer their own FAST services, such as Samsung TV Plus and VIZIO WatchFree+. Like other free ad-supported streamers, they do not include any live broadcast or cable channel access.

Check out details from the top publicly available platforms with FAST channels below:

Which services offer live TV streaming?

There are six major live TV streaming services in the United States: DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV all offer similar-sized channel plans that include a multitude of channel categories, while Philo and Sling TV’s plans are smaller and more targeted.

DIRECTV, Fubo, and YouTube TV have all begun selling smaller-sized genre packages as well. Check out basic details about each streamer in the table below:

Which streamers have both FAST and live TV?

Several live TV streaming services have now created FAST platforms to keep viewers engaged even if they’re not signed up to a paid subscription, including DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and Philo. MyFree DIRECTV, Philo Free, and Sling Freestream are all available to the public at large, whereas Fubo’s free tier is only accessible for ex-subscribers.

Any live TV streaming service that offers FAST channels publicly also includes them in its paid packages. This can lead to some confusion for customers; Philo, for example, advertises a channel count of 200+, which might make a viewer think all of those channels are traditional cable networks. In fact, Philo only carries around 18 of The Streamable’s top cable channels, and many of the remaining networks it touts are FAST channels. This isn’t to single Philo out, as it’s a common tactic among live TV streamers, but it’s something for audiences to keep an eye out for as they shop.

What are the pros and cons of live TV streaming and FAST?

FAST

Live TV streaming

Which should you choose?

There’s a definite use for both FAST content and live TV streaming, in our view. They each serve distinct purposes; if you just want a little background noise while you do chores, or are seeking a low-effort, lean-back TV-watching experience where the content on the screen matters less than having something playing, FAST should be your first stop.

If, on the other hand, you’re seeking a new TV show or movie premiere on a live channel, a marquee sports event, or live breaking news coverage, live TV streaming services are your best choice. These services offer basically everything you once found in a cable plan, delivered over the internet instead.

We recommend that passionate TV viewers keep both kinds of service in their arsenal, so they’re always prepared, no matter what kind of TV-watching scenario arises!