How to Watch TLC Without Cable: Your Top Options

If you like to watch TLC without cable, you can subscribe to streaming services like TVision, Philo and Sling. But it makes a difference which one you pick because they differ on some very important points. We outline the key points in this article.

TLC was once a channel offering educational content but now primarily focuses on reality and lifestyle. They include popular shows like Say Yes to the Dress, Sweet Home Sextuplets and the hit show 90 Day Fiancé. But if you are a first-time cord-cutter, you may find the long list of streaming options confusing.

Today, streaming services make watching live TV very easy. All you need is an internet connection, a supported device and you’re ready to go.

TLC is a must-have if you love reality shows, so here are the best options to watch TLC without cable. 

TVision VIBE

TVision has two primary plans to choose from; there is TVision VIBE and TVision Live. However, only TVision VIBE carries TLC in its channel lineup.

For only $10 a month, the service offers 34 entertainment networks, including AMC, HGTV, MTV, Hallmark and more. Unfortunately, if you want to pair TLC with news and sports channels, you won’t find any in TVision VIBE.

To get channels like ESPN, CNN and CNBC, you’ll need to also subscribe to TVision Live, which is $40 a month.

TVision carries local ABC, NBC, FOX and Telemundo affiliated networks. However, the service lacks CBS, CW and Univision. Depending on where you live, some local channels might also be unavailable.

To fix this, we recommend purchasing a separate antenna for your local networks. To understand more about local networks and antennas, read Do Indoor TV Antennas Really Work here.

TVision also offers premium channels as extras. They are as follows:

• SHOWTIME – $10.99/mo
• STARZ – $8.99/mo
• EPIX – $5.99/mo

Although TVision may be affordable, it is exclusive only to T-Mobile customers and legacy Sprint postpaid customers. Before picking a plan, you’ll first need to log-in to your T-Mobile account. The good news is, in 2021, T-Mobile plans to offer the service to everyone.

Once subscribed, you can access the service on most major streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android and iOS. As of now, you can’t stream TVision on Roku, Samsung TV and web browsers. As the service grows, we suspect that will change.

With TVision VIBE, you can watch on up to two devices at the same time. You can also record shows with its 100-hour DVR storage. The feature is free for TVision Live subscribers, but it is a $5 a month add-on with TVision VIBE.

However, if you subscribe to both plans, you can record TVision VIBE networks without purchasing the add-on.

The feature allows you to save your recordings for up to nine months without getting deleted. It also lets you freely fast forward and rewind your recordings.

Unfortunately, the feature isn’t available to Disney-owned networks; this includes Disney Channel, ESPN, Nat Geo and more.

Currently, the service does not offer a free trial. To experience the service, you’ll need to sign-up.

Philo

Philo may be the second least expensive option on this list, but it is still one of the most cost-efficient options available in the market. For $20 a month, the service gives you access to 63 channels, including lifestyle and entertainment channels like A&E, Hallmark, HGTV, MTV and TLC.

Like TVision VIBE, Philo doesn’t have any news or sports channels. The service also lacks access to major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. However, you can solve this issue by installing a good antenna.

With Philo, what you see is what you get. You won’t be able to customize your streaming experience like other streaming services. You can’t upgrade features or purchase extra networks aside from EPIX and STARZ, which is an additional $6 and $9, respectively.

Despite its limitations, Philo provides thousands of hours of affordable content with 63 channels and 60,000 on-demand shows and movies.

You can create ten profiles with one subscription, allowing you to simultaneously stream shows on up to three screens at the same time.

You can also make use of Philo’s unlimited DVR storage. The service lets you record your favorite shows and keep them for 30 days. If you are watching a recording, you can also skip through commercials.

If you want to break from watching live TV, you can pause the channel, resume it or start from the very beginning. You will also be able to watch anything aired within the last three days with its 72-Hour Rewind feature.  

Like other streaming services, you need a phone number or email address, an internet connection and a supported streaming device.

You can enjoy Philo on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS and web browsers.

If you are still on the fence about Philo, the service offers a 7-day free trial. However, you will need to enter your billing information after two days to continue.

Sling Blue

Like TVision, Sling TV offers two different plans: Sling Blue and Sling Orange. However, only Sling Blue carries TLC in its basic lineup.

Alongside TLC, the service gives you access to on-demand content and 44 other channels, including TNT, HGTV, TruTV, CNN and NFL Network. All of this for only $30 a month.

Sling Blue focuses more on bringing you affordable news and entertainment content at the expense of popular sports and family networks like ESPN and Disney Channel.

Depending on your area, you also get FOX and NBC affiliated networks. But again, we recommend purchasing a quality antenna for your local networks.

Unlike Philo and TVision, Sling TV allows you to customize your streaming experience. If you wish to couple TLC with other channels not included in Sling Blue’s channel lineup, you can purchase add-ons. For example, you can buy channels like DIY Network, VH1, Cooking Channel and Oxygen with the Lifestyle Extra add-on for $5 a month.

These add-ons range from $5 to $10. They are as follows:

Moreover, unlike TVision and Philo, Sling TV’s DVR storage isn’t as generous. The service only offers 10 hours of cloud DVR storage. You can upgrade this to 50 hours with the Cloud DVR Plus add-on, but it will cost you an additional $5 a month.

As long as you subscribe to the service, Sling TV protects your shows from deletion once the DVR storage is full. If you pause your subscription, the service lets you keep your recorded shows for 30 days.

You can simultaneously watch Sling Blue on up to three devices, which is great for families. Supported streaming devices include Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, mobile devices and web browsers.

Sling TV offers a 3-day free trial. If three days isn’t enough for you, you can always try Sling Free.

Sling Free is an option for those who wish to try out the service without signing up. With this service, you can watch 5,000+ TV shows and movies. Go to Sling’s website, scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Free Content.”

You can also stream Sling Free on smart TVs, Android devices and most browsers. Open the Sling TV app and click “Explore Free Content.” However, it is currently not available on iOS devices.

The service primarily focuses on helping U.S. consumers keep up with the news and the “new normal” at home but the content is not extensive.

There are a few live TV programs led by ABC News Live. Plus, most of the available TV shows are old such as Hell’s Kitchen, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, and 21 Jump Street. You shouldn’t expect any recent hits on the service. But if you’re looking for holiday-themed movies, there is plenty to watch on Sling Free.

Is There an App to Watch TLC Shows?

Yes, there is. TLC allows anyone to watch full episodes of TV shows through TLC Go. However, most of its content is locked. To unlock them, you’ll need log-in credentials from a TV provider like TVision, Philo or Sling TV.

If you haven’t verified your TV provider, you will only be able to watch a small selection of shows for free. At the time of writing, there are nine unlocked episodes. Some of these are select episodes from My Big Fat Fabulous Life, I Love a Mama’s Boy and The Family Chantel.

Once you unlock the service, you’ll get on-demand access to currently running TV shows and access to an exhaustive library of old series.

If you want to try TLC Go, the app is available on web browsers and most streaming devices.

Does Netflix have TLC?

At the time of writing, Netflix does not have any TLC shows. Despite this, Netflix boasts hundreds of reality TV shows that rival many of TLC’s.

For instance, if you like Say Yes to the Dress, you’ll probably love Say I Do and Extreme Engagement. Additionally, if you are a fan of 90 Day Fiancé, Netflix has Love is Blind and Dating Around.

Netflix’s basic plan costs $8.99 a month. But if you want to watch on two to four screens simultaneously, you can choose the standard or premium plan for $13.99 and $17.99 a month, respectively. The standard package includes HD streaming, while the premium one has 4K+HDR streaming.

Whichever plan you pick, Netflix provides you thousands of hours of on-demand content. Currently, there are no free trials.

Can I Watch TLC on Amazon Prime?

Not exactly. Since Amazon Prime is an on-demand streaming service, you can’t watch TLC live. But it does have some of TLC’s shows, including Say Yes to the Dress, Miami Ink, Toddlers and Tiaras and more.

Like Netflix, Amazon Prime is an affordable alternative to cable TV. For $12.99 a month or $119 a year, you’ll gain access to Amazon’s extensive library.

But if you only care about on-demand content, there is an option to sign up for an Amazon Video Membership for $8.99 a month. Amazon Video is cheaper, but you lose all the perks that come with Amazon Prime.

Regardless of your choice, the two plans allow you to stream on up to three devices at once. There is also a generous 30-day free trial. There are no contracts nor hidden fees, and you can cancel anytime.

Summary

With cable prices seemingly rising to no end during the pandemic, many consumers are choosing to cut the cord.

There are many important things to consider when deciding on a streaming service, but enjoying your favorite shows doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  

There are plenty of ways to stream TLC without cable. What we listed above are only some of the best and affordable options in the market.

If you are a T-Mobile customer looking to watch TLC shows at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong with TVision VIBE.

Alternatively, Philo is another inexpensive choice. Like TVision VIBE, it doesn’t have sports or news. However, you can watch TLC with other similar networks.  

But if you want your viewing experience to be customizable, choose Sling Blue.

TLC Go has most of its content locked. But once you unlock them, you’ll get the latest episodes of TLC shows at your fingertips.  

On-demand streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are also viable options. The former doesn’t carry any TLC programs, but its shows are on par to TLC’s.

We hope this post makes it easier to decide which streaming option is best for you and your family.

How are you watching TLC? Are you using traditional cable TV? Would you consider streaming TLC on one of the streaming services discussed? Let us know in the comments below to help other readers with their decision.

Lloyd Rano Opalec

Additional Resources

Read some of our previous articles to help you with your streaming options like:

The Cheapest Way to Watch FOX NEWS here

How to Watch ESPN Without Cable here

How to Watch HGTV Online Without Cable here

The Cheapest Way to Get One America News here

4 Things Cable Companies Don’t Want You To Know here