How to Stream ION in 2026: All Legal, Free, and Paid Options
Believe it or not, ION is one of America’s most-watched channels. Viewers love the lineup of recent hits starring police and firefighters, alongside rising sports leagues.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching ION in 2026.
How to Watch ION for Free
There are three legal ways to watch ION live without paying.
Totally Free Streaming Services with ION
ION is widely available on free streamers like Google TV, Plex, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, Tubi, and Xumo Play
Free Trials of Streaming Services with ION
You can watch ION with free trials of multi-channel streamers like DIRECTV, Fubo, Frndly TV, and YouTube TV. Those services typically offer 1-5 days of free streaming. Cancel before the trial ends and you won’t be charged.
Use Your Antenna to Watch ION
As long as you are close enough to the broadcast tower, you can watch ION with an antenna. I’ve attached my antenna to a HD Homerun so I can stream dozens of channels on all my devices at no additional cost. Use ION’s channel finder to see which frequency you need to lock into. (ION is available in 37 of the top 50 U.S. markets.)
Paid Options to Stream ION
There are 5 streaming services that offer the full ION channel in 2026.
Watching ION with DIRECTV
DIRECTV is a great live TV option with several different channel packages. In fact, DIRECTV offers more channels than any other live streamer. You can unlock ION for as little as $34.99 with the MyEntertainment package.
You’ll get an unlimited DVR, unlimited streams at home, and a very friendly user interface. It’s our team’s top choice for first-time cord-cutters.
$34.99/mo.+
Watching ION with Frndly TV
Frndly TV is a super-cheap way to watch ION. You can watch the channel with lots of other family-friendly channels for less than $8/month. Frndly TV isn’t for everybody, but if you like ION, you may love it.
$8.99/mo.
Read our full Frndly TV review.
Watching ION with Fubo
We don’t normally recommend Fubo because its price is outrageous compared to its competitors. The channel lineup has some giant holes. If you live in an area that can access the Sports + News lineup, that’s Fubo’s cheapest option for ION.
$55.99/mo.
Watching ION with YouTube TV
YouTube TV is quickly becoming a dinosaur in the live TV streaming world. It was my go-to solution for several years, but I dropped it as the price climbed and the channel lineup remained stale. YouTube TV does carry ION.
$82.99/mo.
Read our full YouTube TV review.
Watching ION with Peacock
Although you can watch ION for free with services like Plex, Tubi, Sling Freestream, and The Roku Channel, it’s also available on Peacock among other channels like REELZ, Nosey, and Bounce.
$16.99/mo.
Read our full review of Peacock.
Live TV Streaming Services That Do Not Carry ION
Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Philo do not carry ION.
What Can You Watch with ION?
ION caters to viewers who love shows about cops, detectives, and firefighters. This is a sample of the channel’s most popular shows:
- Magnum P.I.
- Blue Bloods
- Bones
- Chicago Fire
- Chicago P.D.
- Criminal Minds
- NCIS: Los Angeles
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
ION is also home to WNBA games on Friday nights and National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) on Saturday nights.
Conclusion and Recommendations
ION is widely available so you have several options. Since you can get the channel for free with a free streamer or with your antenna, that’s what I would recommend. (Plex is our team’s favorite.) If you’d like to see it within your regular channel lineup, DIRECTV is one of the best all-around streamers, so I’d recommend choosing that.
