How to cut your cable bill without cutting the cord

 Even if you're not ready to cut the cable TV cord, there's still an easy way to lower your monthly TV bill.

The trick is to use your TV provider's free streaming apps instead of traditional set-top boxes. This way, you can avoid equipment rental fees that add to your monthly costs. The more cable boxes you return, the more you have to save.

Unfortunately, not all TV providers have seen the light of day in streaming apps, and in some cases you may lose out on key features like DVR access. Read on to find out which TV providers let you stream without a cable or satellite box and how much you can save by not renting their equipment.

Comcast streaming app

Comcast's Xfinity Stream app is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, and Xumo TV. There are also iOS and Android apps with Chromecast support.

With these apps, the experience will be similar to that of Comcast cable boxes, allowing you to watch live channels, video on demand and DVR. (Comcast uses a cloud-based DVR, so you'll have access to the same recordings made on the company's X1 cable boxes.)

Please note that for new customers, the option to avoid renting at least one X1 box will only appear if you combine internet and TV service. It does not appear for TV-only registrations. Comcast says it is looking into the issue.

Potential savings: $10 per month per cable box

Spectrum streaming app

The Spectrum TV app is available on Roku, Apple TV, Samsung TV, Xumo TV and Xbox consoles. The Spectrum iOS and Android apps also support Chromecast.

However, the DVR situation is a bit complicated. If you are using a Spectrum cable box with on-device DVR storage, these recordings will not be available in the Spectrum apps.

The solution is to sign up for the Spectrum cloud DVR service, which costs $10 a month on all your devices. You can then ditch all your cable boxes and switch to Spectrum streaming apps instead if you're also a Spectrum Internet subscriber.

One more note: Spectrum's login page says that equipment selection is "required," but you can skip the equipment rental part and continue through the checkout process without any hardware. Alternatively, the company will sell you an Apple TV that you can pay off in 18 monthly installments (currently $5 per month).

Potential savings: $11 per month per box plus $5 per month per box in DVR fees.

Dish Network streaming app

The Dish Anywhere app is only available on Amazon Fire TV devices along with iOS and Android. You can't access it on any other streaming device.

Fire TV devices are cheap, though, and the Dish app gives you the full set-top box capabilities, including live TV, video-on-demand, and DVR. Just be aware that you'll need a Hopper with a Sling connection or a Hopper 3 connected to the internet to access the recordings.

Potential savings: $7 per month for each additional TV. (One set-top box rental is required.)

DirecTV streaming app

DirecTV apps are available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV/Google TV, Samsung TV, iOS and Android. But if you're a satellite TV customer, you won't be able to access the DVR through these apps. Instead, you'll be limited to live video and video on demand.

To use the DVR on DirecTV apps, you'll need DirecTV Stream or the streaming version of DirecTV. Both use a cloud-based DVR that works across all your devices.

What is the difference between DirecTV Stream and the streaming version of DirecTV? Quick Breakdown:

DirecTV Stream starts at $75 per month and is designed to be used with your own streaming devices. Read our recent DirecTV Stream review.

The streaming version of DirecTV includes one "Gemini" set-top box, and you can either rent another one or use DirecTV's free apps. The service starts at $65 per month, but has additional fees (including $15 per month for just the first set-top box).

Potential savings: $7 per month per box for satellite customers (but without DVR), $10 per month per additional box for streaming customers (with DVR)