Build the must-have list
The calculator combines selected live channels, sports, local stations, antenna preference, and existing subscriptions into one household checklist.
Step 1 of 5
Step 1 of 5
Your current bill
Use your full monthly TV bill, including equipment fees, if possible.
Inside the calculator
How CableQuit turns selections into recommendations
The recommendation engine compares coverage and cost together. It does not assume that every household needs a broad live TV package or that the cheapest plan is useful when important channels are missing.
Generate service combinations
Candidate setups are built from CableQuit's centralized coverage and price records. A provider is not assigned randomly.
Audit coverage item by item
Each need is marked live, on demand, location-dependent, partial, or missing so a lower price cannot hide an important compromise.
Rank three useful tradeoffs
Cheapest prioritizes cost, Best Balance weighs coverage against savings, and Closest to Cable favors a more complete live TV experience.
Tested household patterns
Three situations that should produce different tradeoffs
These scenarios explain what CableQuit evaluates. They are not promised results because provider prices, lineups, location, and selected preferences can change the final ranking.
Scenario 1
Sports channels without an automatic cable-sized bundle
- Example selections
- ESPN, FS1, and Fox News; no other live channels selected
- What the calculator examines
- CableQuit first checks direct sports/network bundles that may cover the exact list. A broad live TV service can still appear as Closest to Cable, but it should not automatically control Cheapest or Best Balance.
- Confirm before switching
- Confirm event rights, blackouts, and whether a direct service includes the exact live feed needed.
Scenario 2
Local stations plus a smaller entertainment setup
- Example selections
- ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, HGTV, and Hallmark; open to an antenna
- What the calculator examines
- The calculator can compare an antenna plus selected apps against a recurring live TV package. The lower-cost path only works when tested antenna reception covers the essential local stations.
- Confirm before switching
- Reception estimates are not guarantees, and on-demand libraries do not equal every live cable feed.
Scenario 3
A household that already pays for several apps
- Example selections
- Current TV bill of $185; Netflix and Hulu already owned
- What the calculator examines
- Existing apps can help satisfy the viewing list without being counted as new switching spending. Their regular cost still stays in the total setup so monthly savings reflect the full ongoing budget.
- Confirm before switching
- A low new-spending number is not the same as a low total entertainment cost.
Cost clarity
Total setup cost and new spending answer different questions
Total recommended setup
The regular monthly estimates for every service needed in the option, including subscriptions the household already owns.
Estimated new monthly spending
The setup total minus services already being paid for. This estimates the immediate budget added by the switch, not the full entertainment budget.
Estimated savings
Current TV bill minus the full recommended setup cost. Using the full cost keeps an existing subscription from being treated as free.
Calculator questions
Does CableQuit automatically require a live TV service?
No. Cheapest and Best Balance can use on-demand apps, bundles, or an antenna when those options fit the selected needs. Closest to Cable gives more weight to a broad live TV replacement.
Should I enter my internet bill as part of my TV bill?
Enter the recurring television portion you want to replace, including TV equipment and broadcast or sports fees when possible. Keep internet cost separate unless you are comparing the post-cancellation price of an internet bundle yourself.
How are apps I already pay for treated?
An existing app can contribute coverage without being counted as new switching spending. It still remains part of the total ongoing setup cost so the savings estimate does not pretend the app is free.
Does selecting a channel mean it is guaranteed everywhere?
No. Local stations, regional sports networks, blackouts, and some channel lineups vary by location. CableQuit identifies known limits, but current availability must be confirmed with the provider.
Can an antenna replace every local channel?
Not necessarily. Reception depends on the address, terrain, building materials, antenna placement, and nearby towers. Test the channels that matter before cancelling a paid local-channel source.
Why are the calculator prices rounded?
Rounded prices make plans easier to compare and avoid presenting temporary promotions as permanent savings. The Streaming Price Tracker shows the plan basis, source, and review date behind each estimate.
Still deciding where to begin? The How to Cut Cable guide walks through the preparation process before cancelling service.