Watch CBS Live: Free & Paid Streaming Options Compared

Anyone who’s cut the cord knows the feeling: you finally ditch cable, then realize your favorite CBS show airs tonight. The good news is you have more options than ever to watch CBS live, from completely free streams to premium subscriptions, and this guide breaks down every legitimate method so you can pick the one that fits your setup and budget.

Free live streams available: CBS News 24/7 and CBS Sports HQ ·
Paramount+ Premium monthly cost: $13.99 ·
CBS app free episodes: No login required ·
CBS on Amazon Prime: Premium channel only

Bottom line

For most cord-cutters, the fastest path to CBS live is the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (Premium) plan at $12.99/month, which gives you your local CBS station 24/7. If you only want news and sports, the free CBS News 24/7 and CBS Sports HQ streams on CBS.com (official site) and the CBS app cost nothing. The truest free option for full local CBS is still an over-the-air antenna—no subscription, no login.

Five key facts about CBS live streaming, one pattern: free access is limited to news and sports unless you pay for a subscription or use an antenna.

How can I watch CBS live for free?

Free CBS live streams from CBS News and CBS Sports HQ

• CBS News 24/7 and CBS Sports HQ are both available as free live streams directly on CBS.com (official site) and through the CBS mobile app.
• These channels require no login, no cable subscription, and no credit card—just an internet connection.
• You get live news coverage, breaking stories, and sports highlights around the clock.

1. Download the CBS app from your device’s app store.
2. Open the app and select “Live TV” from the menu.
3. Choose CBS News 24/7 or CBS Sports HQ.
4. Start streaming – no login needed.

The pattern: these free streams focus on news and sports, not entertainment programming like “NCIS” or “Survivor.” The catch is that for full local CBS content—your local evening news, primetime shows, and NFL games—you’ll need a paid option or an antenna.

Using the CBS app for live TV

• The CBS app (official apps page) offers free next-day episodes of many CBS shows without requiring a login.
• For live CBS streaming, the app requires a TV provider login (cable or satellite subscription) or a Paramount+ subscription.
• The app is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and most smart TVs.

Paramount+ free trial options

• Paramount+ offers a free trial for new subscribers—typically 7 days, though promotions vary.
• The free trial gives you access to CBS live TV and the full Paramount+ library during the trial period.
• After the trial, you must choose between the Essential ($5.99/month) or Premium with SHOWTIME ($12.99/month) plan.

The trade-off: a free trial is time-limited. For ongoing free access, an over-the-air antenna remains the only option for local CBS without a monthly bill, as confirmed by FCC antenna guide.

Which streaming service has CBS live?

Paramount+ as the primary streaming home of CBS

• Paramount+ is the direct, official streaming home of CBS, owned by the same parent company (Paramount Global).
• The Premium plan ($12.99/month) includes your local CBS station live, while the Essential plan ($5.99/month) offers on-demand CBS content but no live local channel.
• Paramount+ also includes originals like “Halo” and “Star Trek: Discovery,” plus a library of movies and sports.

Other services: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV

• Hulu + Live TV (around $76.99/month) includes CBS live in most markets, plus the full Hulu on-demand library.
• YouTube TV (around $72.99/month) offers CBS, CBS Sports Network, and unlimited DVR storage, as noted by YouTube TV official site.
• Fubo includes CBS in all packages, starting at $55.99/month for the Sports plan, according to Rolling Stone (Fubo pricing).

Pluto TV offers limited CBS content

• Pluto TV (free, ad-supported) offers CBS News 24/7 and some CBS on-demand shows, but not the full local CBS channel.
• It’s a useful supplement for news but not a replacement for live CBS entertainment programming.

What this means: only three live TV streaming services—Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo—offer the full CBS channel with local stations. Paramount+ Premium is the cheapest standalone option at $12.99/month.

Can you watch CBS on Amazon Prime for free?

CBS on Prime Video Channels

• CBS is available as a premium channel through Amazon Prime Video Channels, but it requires an additional monthly fee ($5.99/month for Paramount+ Essential, or $12.99/month for Premium) on top of your Amazon Prime membership.
• The CBS channel on Prime offers live CBS streaming and on-demand content.

CBS content included with Amazon Prime membership?

• Simply having an Amazon Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139/year) does not include CBS live or any current-season CBS shows.
• Prime Video includes some older CBS content through licensing deals, but not live access.

Cost of CBS channel on Prime

• The Paramount+ Essential channel on Prime Video costs $5.99/month but does not include live local CBS.
• The Paramount+ with SHOWTIME channel on Prime costs $12.99/month and does include local CBS live.

The catch: Amazon Prime membership alone gets you nothing CBS-related live. You need to add and pay for a separate Paramount+ subscription through Prime Video Channels—which costs the same as subscribing directly to Paramount+.

The pattern: Prime members must pay extra for CBS live, with no free option.

Is CBS on Netflix or Hulu?

CBS content on Hulu (on-demand, not live)

• Hulu’s basic on-demand plan includes many current and past CBS shows, available the day after they air.
• Hulu does not offer CBS live unless you subscribe to Hulu + Live TV (the $76.99/month bundle).

CBS not on Netflix

• Netflix does not carry any CBS live streams or current-season CBS episodes. Some older CBS library titles may appear occasionally through licensing deals, but this is irregular.

Hulu + Live TV includes CBS live

• Hulu + Live TV subscribers get both the on-demand library and a live CBS stream in supported markets.
• This makes Hulu + Live TV one of the most complete options if you want CBS plus a broader on-demand catalog.

Why this matters: if you already subscribe to Netflix, it won’t help for CBS. Hulu on-demand is great for catching up on episodes the next day, but for live viewing, you need Hulu + Live TV or a separate service.

What is Paramount+?

Paramount+ as the successor to CBS All Access

• Paramount+ launched in 2021, rebranding and expanding the former CBS All Access service.
• It remains CBS’s exclusive streaming home for live TV and current-season content.

Paramount+ tiers: Essential and Premium

• Essential ($5.99/month with ads): Includes on-demand CBS shows, originals, movies, and sports, but not local CBS live.
• Premium with SHOWTIME ($12.99/month, ad-free on demand): Includes local CBS live, live sports, and the SHOWTIME library in addition to all Essential content.

What you get with Paramount+ including CBS live

• Live local CBS station (Premium plan only).
• On-demand access to thousands of episodes from CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and BET.
• Originals like “Yellowstone” (streaming rights), “1923,” and “Tulsa King.”
• Live sports including NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and PGA golf.

The pattern: Paramount+ Premium is the cheapest way to get live CBS plus a vast library. The Essential plan is cheaper but crucially missing the one feature most cord-cutters want—live local CBS.

Confirmed facts

• CBS.com offers live streams of CBS News and CBS Sports HQ without login (CBS.com (official site)).
• Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (Premium) provides local CBS live at $12.99/month (Goal).
• OTA antenna is the only truly free method for 24/7 local CBS (FCC antenna guide).
• CBS app provides free next-day episodes without login (CBS app official page).
• YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo carry CBS live (YouTube TV official site).
• Netflix does not have CBS live or current season shows.

These facts are verified by multiple sources.

What’s unclear

• Whether local CBS stations on CBS.com are completely free without a cable login varies by market.
• Exact Paramount+ pricing may differ slightly by region or promotional period.

These uncertainties depend on market and region.

“CBS.com offers live streams of CBS News and CBS Sports HQ for free, no login required.”

CBS.com (official site)

“The Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan is the cheapest way to get a 24/7 live stream of a local CBS station online.”

Goal (live stream coverage)

“An OTA digital antenna is the best free option to watch CBS, requiring no internet connection.”

FCC antenna guide

For cord-cutters in the US, the choice is clear: use an antenna for totally free local CBS, subscribe to Paramount+ Premium for the cheapest live stream with extras, or bundle CBS into YouTube TV for a full cable replacement. Pick your setup based on whether local news, sports, or primetime entertainment drives your viewing, and you’ll never miss a Sunday night drama or a live NFL game again.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of free apps and antenna options, the CBS live streaming options guide on CBS live streaming provides additional insight.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Tubi Live TV: Watch Free Live Channels & Sports Full Guide
• The TV App Shutdown? What Happened & How to Watch Free Live TV