Sky Stream is the simplest and most flexible satellite-dish-free Sky service in the UK. It has also unveiled a new money-saving TV subscription bundle, which is live now – so we're not surprised to find you here, thinking about whether it's right for you.
Sky's streaming service product is similar to its own-brand TV, Sky Glass, which gives customers the option to access all their channels over the internet instead of via satellite.
Sky Stream has one key difference – it doesn't require you to purchase an integrated TV set. All you'll need is a television with an HDMI port and broadband to connect the small, convenient streaming box to your telly and WiFi.
Sky Stream has two base packages to choose from – Essential TV and Ultimate TV, both with different price points.
As of April 2026, Sky upgraded their Ultimate TV package so that customers have access to four streaming services alongside the usual Sky channels – HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+ and as of this month, Hayu will be available to stream fully after several months of 'teaser' programmes being available since March.
Find the best Sky Stream deals
What to Read Next
This guide will take you through what you need to know about Sky Stream (which gets a mention in our best streaming services roundup) – including details of new customer deals, available channels and broadband requirements.
Sky Stream packages – Essential TV vs Ultimate TV
Instead of offering one option, Sky allows you to choose between two and layer in add-ons as you wish.
Sky Essential TV is priced at £15/month for a 24-month minimum term for new customers, or £18/month if you'd prefer a monthly rolling contract.
This tier boasts Sky Atlantic, Netflix Standard with Ads, discovery+ basic membership and "100 free-to-air channels" including free-to-view programming from the likes of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Sky Ultimate TV is currently priced at £24/month (usually £38/month) on a 24-month contract for new customers, or £30/month (usually £38/month) on a 31-day rolling agreement.
This package contains all the Essential TV output "plus over 30 more premium channels" including Sky Max, Sky Witness, National Geographic, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries and U&Gold. As part of the new Ultimate TV package, you'll also get access to Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu.
Sky Ultimate TV viewers can also access Sky Nature and Sky Comedy as part of their package.
Whether you choose Essential TV or Ultimate TV as the foundation of your Sky Stream membership, you'll have access to Sky Atlantic, Netflix Standard with Ads, and discovery+ basic membership.
Pros
- Quick and easy to set up and use
- Useful features like voice search and playlists
- On-demand content and 150+ live TV channels
Cons
- Internet connection required to watch content
- No Sky Q-style series record
- Prices are not fixed for a contract term
Sky Stream July 2026 deals – Is there a free trial?
Here's how things are looking price-wise for Sky Stream's packages when you consider the various add-ons. Our last price check was conducted on Wednesday 1 July, 2026.
There isn't a regular Sky Stream free trial as such, but occasionally new customers will be offered a month or three months' access for free. The last free trial offer came to an end in late September 2024.
More on the latest pricing below:
• Sky Stream base package: You will need to take out either Sky Essential TV or Sky Ultimate TV to buy any of Sky Stream's add-ons.
As a reminder, the starting prices for new Sky customers are as follows:
• Sky Essential TV (24 months): £15/month
• Sky Essential TV (31-day rolling): £18/month
• Sky Ultimate TV (24 months): £24/month (usually £38/month)
• Sky Ultimate TV (31-day rolling): £30/month (usually £35/month)
The base package you choose shouldn't affect the add-on pricing that you're offered. This is instead influenced by how long you'd like to commit to the add-on.
If you've committed to the Ultimate TV package, you'll automatically get add-ons like Netflix and Disney+ Standard with ads as part of your deal, but you'll have the chance to upgrade to the service without adverts.
• Netflix: £6/month (usually £8.49/month) for Netflix Standard, or £11/month (usually £14.49/month) for Netflix Premium.
Netflix Standard with Ads gives you access to watch on two screens and download to two devices, with viewing in 1080p Full HD. Netflix says customers "can expect to see a few short adverts per hour" and adds that it aims to place them "during natural plot breaks for a more seamless experience".
If you'd like to upgrade, Netflix Standard also gives you access to watch and download on two supported devices in 1080p Full HD, but without in-programme adverts.
For an additional £4.99 per month (with adverts) or £5.99 per month (without adverts), you also have the option to add one extra member to your account who doesn't live with you.
Netflix Premium is a 4K UHD + HDR service with immersive spatial audio, allowing you to watch on up to four supported devices at once and download to six supported devices.
For an additional £4.99 per person per month (with adverts) or £5.99 per month (without adverts), you can add up to two members to your account who don't live with you.
Sky Sports is on offer as an add-on for Ultimate TV and Essential TV customers at £20/month (usually £35/month) on a 24-month minimum term contract and £27/month (usually £35/month) on a 31-day rolling contract.
Sky Sports' coverage includes live men's Premier League football, plus EFL Championship and Women's Super League football matches. You'll also find live Formula 1, golf (including the Ryder Cup and other majors), top-level cricket, NFL games, Premier League Darts, boxing, netball and much more across its dedicated channels.
Its tennis channel carries major tournaments, including the US Open, while its Sky Sports+ channel and accompanying pop-up Sky Sports+ streams are available "at no extra cost" to Sky Sports subscribers.
To get the promotional pricing for Sky Sports on a 24-month term, Sky's terms say you'll need to "keep both packs for 24 months to continue to get this offer" – so you'll need to retain the basic Sky Stream package for that length of time, too.
• Sky Cinema is currently on offer at £10/month (usually £17/month) on a 24-month minimum term contract, or £13/month (usually £17/month) on a 31-day rolling contract.
Sky Cinema gives you access to some of the latest and greatest movies streamable anywhere. July's premieres include Wicked: For Good and Bugonia.
You'll also get two free Vue cinema tickets per month, which are "valid for showings from Sunday to Thursday". You'll need to generate the codes, which are for 2D admission tickets, via your MySky app, and use them within that same calendar month.
Paramount+ Basic (with ads) is bundled with your Sky Cinema membership at no extra cost, too.
• Sky Kids is currently priced at £6/month (usually £8/month) on a 31-day rolling contract. It bundles children's channels from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and the broadcaster's own Sky Kids channel.
• TNT Sports is priced at £28/month (usually £34/month) on a 31-day rolling contract.
TNT Sports hosts coverage of selected Premier League and selected Serie A matches, plus exclusive live UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League football games. It shares the rights to the UEFA Champions League with Amazon's Prime Video service, and the rights to the men's FA Cup with the BBC.
TNT Sports is also home to MotoGP racing, NBA basketball (including the NBA Finals), top-level baseball tournaments, Premiership Rugby, plus WWE and UFC.
What streaming services come with the new Ultimate TV deal?
The new Ultimate TV subscription deal has officially rolled out, so as well as Netflix, customers will be able to access the following streaming services:
- HBO Max Basic with ads – you'll be able to watch hit shows like The Pitt and ER.
- Disney+ Standard with ads – customers will also have the option to upgrade to the streaming service without ads for an extra cost.
- Hayu – the full streaming channel is now available to customers from this month.
Is Sky Stream right for me?
We'd recommend checking out our Sky Stream review – but essentially, Sky Stream gives its customers a way to watch Sky TV without a satellite dish.
It's similar to Sky Glass, but you don't need to purchase the full TV set to get it – just a small box that can be plugged into the back of your television and connects to your home WiFi, so a simple setup process that shouldn't require an engineer's visit.
If you're happy with your TV hardware and you're specifically looking to subscribe to Sky channels or services, then Sky Stream is something to consider.
Customers have the option of 24-month contracts or 31-day rolling contracts for most services (for the latter, you'll need to give 31 days' notice to cancel or change services).
There are some disadvantages – if you don't have great broadband, this may not be the service for you. While the Sky Glass TV sets contain a digital tuner as a backup if your connection goes down, you will need a broadband connection to watch with Sky Stream.
The recommended broadband speed for Sky Stream is 25Mbps. It works with any provider, so Sky Broadband isn't a requirement. If you opt for the UHD and Dolby Atmos package or Whole Home add-on, the recommended minimum broadband speed is 30Mbps.
One very important note: Sky Stream pricing is not fixed, as noted during the checkout process, which states that "prices may change during this period" regardless of whether you sign up for a 31-day or 24-month agreement.
When walking through setup, we'd recommend reading the terms and conditions in the pop-out section at the bottom of the page very carefully – particularly if you're an existing customer, as pricing for your existing add-ons may be affected depending on what you're changing.
Sky Stream add-on pricing explained
At the time of writing, extras not already listed above are priced as follows, with some differences based on whether you have chosen a 31-day rolling contract or a 24-month contract:
• Whole Home Pack: Get additional Sky Stream Pucks at £15/month per new device (31-day rolling contract).
Each new puck has a setup fee as outlined above, although on occasion, Sky may offer customers their first additional device for free.
• UHD and Dolby Atmos: Priced at £6/month (31-day rolling contract), this add-on works only with Sky Entertainment, Cinema and Sports content, and you'll need a compatible TV set and audio hardware.
• Ad Skipping: £5/month (usually £6/month) for 24 months and on a 31-day rolling plan. This allows you to fast-forward ads "on Playlist, On Demand and live content you've paused or restarted," according to Sky's description of this add-on. You can also use Ad Skipping to fast-forward ads in ITVX, STV Player, the Channel 4 and My5 apps.
Sky Stream setup fees are usually priced at £39.95 upfront.
Unlike with Sky Q, which is now discontinued, an engineer shouldn't need to visit your home for an installation, as the Sky Stream service is delivered via broadband. All you need to do is plug in the device and connect it to your TV.
Kate (they/she) is a freelance writer, editor, digital editorial trainer and data technician who first joined Digital Spy as an overnight freelance sub-editor in January 2011, after studying a postgraduate diploma in journalism at Salford University while working part-time as a social researcher.
In July 2013, Kate joined the DS staff team as chief sub-editor and following six years as the site's managing editor, their role expanded to incorporate Hearst UK's entertainment portfolio (including Digital Spy and its sibling titles Best and Inside Soap) between late 2024 and early 2026.
Kate has worked as a writer and editor since 2006, with bylines syndicated across the Hearst network and at organisations including Metro. They started their career as a TV production runner for the BBC and contributed to various music websites, blogs and zines while based in Manchester.
During her time at DS, Kate has previously been a freelance sub-editor and chief sub-editor.
Kate's team at Digital Spy were proudly nominated in the Best Subbing/Production Team category at the BSME Talent Awards 2022. Over the years, she has contributed to coverage of many, many Prime Days and Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and was part of the team that launched the DS weekly TV newsletter in November 2019 – followed by the Top of the Shops e-commerce newsletter in May 2024.
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Her highlights while working at DS have included interviewing Stevie Nicks on the red carpet for her documentary In Your Dreams, sitting at a press roundtable with Formula 1 commentary icon Murray Walker, watching a life-sized LEGO car being driven around Silverstone, writing an album-by-album retrospective of Lady Gaga's genre-defying career for Living Legends, and raising awareness of receiving and understanding a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis through the lens of Bianca and Freddie's EastEnders storyline.
Upon remembering to log off the internet, Kate enjoys live theatre, dance and comedy, appreciating nature, baking (badly), tending a recently-rented allotment (equally badly) and pampering one very spoiled rescue cat named Jolene.
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Rachel joined Inside Soap in 2015 as a picture researcher having studied journalism at Portsmouth University. After seven years on the picture desk, Rachel moved on to the lifestyle team at best magazine delving into the world of fashion, beauty and all things lifestyle.
From working with celebrities and on photoshoots and assisting with Hearst UK entertainment portfolio events, Rachel also contributes to best's sibling titles (Inside Soap and Digital Spy), dipping into the world of soaps and all things TV and entertainment.
Helen has worked at Hearst UK for nearly 20 years, most recently on Best magazine as Deputy Lifestyle Editor.
Helen's covered all manner of topics during her time as a journalist – from fashion to gardening and even pets – but it's beauty that remains her big passion (and her bursting bathroom cabinet is proof of it).
Helen has contributed to Digital Spy's Top of the Shops newsletter since early 2025. When she's not searching for the latest deals or shopping trends, you can find Helen either building LEGO with her son or down at her allotment plot.
