Just because you don't have cable doesn't mean you can't watch current TV shows. We took a look at the top 10 most popular shows, based on the amount of chatter they generate online, and figured out how to get them online without paying for cable — or breaking the law.
1. "Breaking Bad"
The most-talked-about show right now, AMC's "Breaking Bad" ended its fifth and final season on Sept. 29 with season 5, episode 16: "Felina."
Where can you watch it?
AMC.com (free)Episodes 9-16: free to stream (episodes 9-13 for only four more days).
Netflix Instant (subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-5 (up to episode 8)
Seasons 1-5 (up to episode 8)
Amazon Instant Video (a la carte)
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Seasons 1- 5: $11.99 to $21.99 per season, depending on the number of episodes in each season.
Amazon considers Season 5, episodes 9 "Blood Money" through 16 "Felina" to be "Season 6," and charges $1.99 each or $14.99 for all eight episodes of each "season.".
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1-4: $14.99 to $29.99 per season, depending on the number of episodes in each season.
iTunes split the last 16 episodes of "Breaking Bad" into a season 5 and a season 6 as well. Season 6, which includes several bonus features, costs $22.99 on iTunes.
There is another way to watch "Breaking Bad," but it involves breaking bad yourself. The series finale was downloaded via BitTorent or other pirating methods more than 500,000 times within the first 12 hours after its airing, according to news site TorrentFreak.
This makes "Breaking Bad" a top contender for TorrentFreak's yearly most-pirated TV shows list.
Doctor Who
2. "Doctor Who"
This long-running British science-fiction show is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and wrapping up the seventh season of the so-called "New Who" reboot, which started in 2005.
There's a lot for new fans to catch up on, but don't worry — the bandwagon is bigger on the inside. Here's how to get "Doctor Who" online.
Where can you watch it?
Netflix Instant (subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-18 of "Classic Doctor Who" — but note that several episodes are missing.
Seasons 1-18 of "Classic Doctor Who" — but note that several episodes are missing.
Seasons 1-6 of "New Who," with Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and currently Matt Smith in the titular role.
BBC Online (free)
For the seventh season (or "series," as it's called in England), only the second to most recent episode "Nightmare in Silver" are available on the BBC's website.
iTunes (a la carte)
"New Who" episodes from seasons 5-7 cost $2.99. Earlier episodes cost $1.99.
Seasons 1-4 cost $24.99. Season 5 costs $33.99. Season 6, part 1 costs $19.99; part 2 costs $16.99.
Season 7, part 1: $8.99. Season 7, part 2: $13.99
A number of classic "Doctor Who" episodes are on iTunes as well, for $1.99 each or $5.99 for 4.
Amazon (a la carte and subscription, $7.99)
Episodes of "New Who" from season 1 to season 7, part 1 are on Prime streaming service, meaning Prime members ($79 per year) can view the episodes at no extra cost.
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Season 1: $14.99. Seasons 2-6: $14.99-$24.99 per season.
Season 7, part 1: $8.99. Part 2: $13.99.
Hulu (subscription, $7.99)
Thanks to a recently signed deal with the BBC, Hulu will now be offering "Doctor Who" season 1 through season 7, part 1 on its Hulu Plus service ($8 per month), with the promise of rotating various episodes of this and other BBC programs through its free, ad-supported video-streaming service.
3. "Pretty Little Liars"
This ABC Family television show, based on the teen novels by Sara Shepard, follows four high school girls whose clique leader has gone missing. The show is currently on midseason hiatus in the middle of its 4th season, and will resume Oct. 22.
Where can you watch it?
Netflix (subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-3 are on Netflix Instant.
Amazon Instant Video (a la carte)
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Season 1 costs $16.99, and seasons 2 and 3 cost $39.99 each.
Amazon also offers a season pass for season 4, which amounts to $1.89 per episode, with each episode being automatically purchased as it airs.
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1-3 each cost $28.99. You can purchase season 4 in advance for $14.99 as well.
4. "Duck Dynasty"
This reality TV show from A&E, currently in its fourth season, follows the Robertsons, a Louisiana-based family who struck it rich making duck-hunting equipment.
Where can you watch it?
Aetv.com
The most recent episode is usually available for free on A&E's website. Other episodes on the A&E website require a login with a cable supplier username and password.
Amazon Instant (a la carte and subscription, $7.99)
Season 1 is on the Amazon Prime streaming service, meaning Prime members can view it at no extra cost.
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Seasons 2 and 3 cost $22.99 and $17.99, respectively.
All Season 4 are $1.99 each, or $1.69 each if you buy a season pass.
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1-4 cost between $24.99 and $33.99.
Orange is the New Black
5. "Orange Is the New Black"
"Orange is the New Black" is a Netflix original series, like "House of Cards," "Arrested Development" (latest season) and "Hemlock Grove." The show, which revolves around a women's prison, launched on Netflix Instant July 11 and generated more viewers and hours viewed in its first week than any of Netflix's other original series.
Where can you watch it?
Netflix (subscription, $7.99)
All 13 episodes of "Orange Is the New Black" are exclusive to Netflix — officially. It's currently one of the most pirated television shows, according to The New York Times.
Game of Thrones
6. "Game of Thrones"
This extremely popular fantasy series, based on the books by George R. R. Martin, is from HBO, which means you can only watch the most-recent season online via HBO Go, the network's streaming-video app. However, you can only use the app if you have HBO in your cable TV package.
Where can you watch it?
HBO Go (subscription, $7.99 with cable)
HBO's streaming app is the only legal way to get current HBO shows online. This exclusivity, combined with the show's popularity and critical acclaim, has made "Game of Thrones" one of the most pirated TV shows of all time.
Within 24 hours of the season three finale's airing June 9, the episode had been downloaded more than a million times, according to TorrentFreak.
Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner (which owns HBO) called "Game of Thrones'" piracy rates "better than an Emmy."
Amazon Instant (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1 and 2: $28.99 each.
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes from seasons 1-2 cost $3.99 each. Episodes from season 3 cost $3.49 each.
Seasons 1-2: $38.99 each.
Season 3: $33.99.
7. "SpongeBob Squarepants"
This hugely popular children's show featuring a talking sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea first aired in 1999.
Where can you watch it?
Nick.com (free)
Some recent "SpongeBob" episodes can be streamed for free on Nick.com.
Hulu Plus (subscription, $7.99)
Season 9, episodes 7-11 are available on Hulu Plus ($8 per month).
Amazon (a la carte and subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-3 and season 7 are available on Amazon Prime, so Prime members can stream them at no extra cost.
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Seasons 1- 7 cost between $14.99 and $19.99 each. Season 8 costs $21.99.
A season pass for season 9 amounts to paying $1.89 per episode.
YouTube (free)
Many episodes are also available, either officially or otherwise, on YouTube, where it's easiest to find them by searching for individual episodes by name.
8. "The Walking Dead"
Where can you watch it?
"The Walking Dead" started off as a graphic novel by Robert Kirkman and is now a successful TV show (as well as acritically acclaimed spin-off video game). The show's fourth season premieres Oct. 13 on AMC.
Netflix Instant (subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-3.
Amazon Instant (a la carte)
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Seasons 1, 2 and 3 cost $7.99, $16.99 and $19.99, respectively.
When the new season begins to air, it's likely to be on Amazon Instant as well for $1.99 per episode.
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1-3: $15.99, $34.99 and $42.99, respectively.
A season pass for season 4 costs $42.99.
9. "True Blood"
Where can you watch it?
This dark fantasy show about vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters and more recently wrapped up its sixth season, and a seventh is on the way in 2014.
HBO Go (subscription, $7.99 with cable)
As with "Game of Thrones" and other HBO shows, you need an HBO cable subscription, $7.99 to watch the shows live or close to the original airdate.
Amazon Instant (a la carte)
Episodes cost $2.99 each.
Seasons 1-4 cost $34.99 each. Season 5 costs $32.99.
Amazon Instant Video does have the first five seasons available for purchase, however: Individual episodes are $2.99 a pop on Amazon Instant Video, and each season is $34.99 ($32.99 for season 5).
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes cost $3.49 each.
Seasons cost between $33.99 and $40.99.
Family Guy
10. "Family Guy"
This long-running adult cartoon sitcom just began its 12th season on Sept. 29, airing on Fox.
Where can you watch it?
Fox.com (free)
The five most recent episodes are available online. But new episodes, which appear one day after their original airing, are exclusive for the first seven days to people who sign in to the site with their cable account information. The episodes become generally available beginning eight days after their original airdate.
Netflix Instant (subscription, $7.99)
Seasons 1-10 are available on Netflix Instant.
Amazon Instant (a la carte)
Episodes cost $1.99 each.
Seasons 1-11: between $9.99 and $29.99, loosely based on the number of episodes per season.
A season 12 pass amounts to saving 9 percent per episode.
iTunes (a la carte)
Episodes from seasons 1-7 cost $1.99 each.
More recent episodes cost $2.99 each.
Season 1 costs $9.99. Seasons 2-11 cost between $27.99 and $49.99 each.
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