**Update 4/12/15: The first four episodes of the upcoming Game of Thrones season have leaked to torrent sites Saturday evening. So, please, spread this article to your friends and family to let them know that there are a few ways to stream HBO legally.**
The Game of Thrones Season 5 premiere is this Sunday, April 12th, and that means you need to scramble to find a way to watch a live HBO stream online. But among the sea of illegal ways you’ll find to watch Game of Thrones online, you’ll get spyware, viruses and very low quality streams. And, there is the fact that it IS illegal. However, there are a couple of legal ways to watch an HBO stream online on your TV, PC, Tablet or smartphone that were announced earlier this year and will be available by Sunday’s Game of Thrones premiere.
So if you’re a fellow cordcutter like myself, here are a few 100% legal ways to watch Game of Thrones via a live HBO stream online:
Watch ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Premiere On Sling TV
The easiest way to watch Sunday night’s Game of Thrones Season 5 Premiere via live stream is on this year’s newly announced Sling TV which just added the Live HBO channel to its lineup of add-on channels. For $15/month, users can add HBO to their Sling TV package so that they’ll be able to watch Game of Thrones Season 5. Sling TV works on virtually any streaming device you own, including Roku players, Xbox One, your smartphones and tablets. The best part about Sling TV is that you don’t need a contract to use it, and can cancel the HBO package after the Season 5 finale if you’d like to. But, the big negative of Sling TV is that only one device can stream at one time, and you can’t access Sling TV through your PS3 or any other device not listed. There is a seven day free trial available for Sling TV, although you can’t add packages to the core package with the trial.
Watch ‘Game of Thrones’ on Sling TV here.
Watch ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Premiere On HBO Now
HBO NOW, the official standalone HBO live stream service, just launched this week as well, and you can actually sign up up for a 30-day introductory free trial. After 30 days, HBO Now will cost you $15/month (like it would with Sling TV). Unfortunately, it’s limited to just iOS devices, Apple TV and Optimum Online. Of course, that seriously limits customers for right now, since there are many HBO fans (like myself) that don’t own or want an iOS device. More services will be added soon, though, and hopefully Android and Roku users will be able to use the service soon enough.
For non-iOS owners, you can still use HBO Now by signing up via iTunes and watch the HBO stream through your internet browser. You can also cast it to your TV with Chromecast or connect your PC to your TV with an HDMI cord.
Check out HBO Now here.
Use the HBO Go App to Watch ‘Game of Thrones’
If you are already paying for an HBO TV subscription, you can use the HBO Go app to stream Game of Thrones live this Sunday. HBO GO gives you anytime, anywhere access to live HBO and HBO On Demand (in case you accidentally miss an episode). Unfortunately, you have to already subscribe to HBO through your cable.