In a world where technology is constantly advancing, and On-Demand entertainment is just a click away, streaming services have become the go-to entertainment option for many people. These platforms have unleashed a revolution in the entertainment industry, enabling us to cut the cords that once bound us to expensive cable and satellite TV packages.
Choosing a suitable streaming service may seem like an overwhelming chore, with so many options tempting you with their unique features. But you can easily overcome this problem with some research. This Sling TV vs. DIRECTV Stream showdown compares two streaming titans. Both streaming services offer a wide range of channels and programming options, but which one is the right fit for you? Let’s take a closer look.
Which One is Better – DIRECTV Stream or Sling TV?
Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream are two streaming giants that have become household names for providing a wide selection of channels at competitive rates. However, they both have different features, prices, and policies. Here is a side-by-side comparison of these streaming services to help you understand their essential details.
| Comparison | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Streaming Service | Streaming Service |
| Plans | 4 | 3 |
| Starting Price Range | $79.99 to $164.99/mo. (standalone) | $20.00 to $30.00/mo. for 1 month (varies with location) |
| $84.98 to $169.98/mo. (bundled) | ||
| Contract | Not needed | Not needed |
| Availability | All the states of the USA | All the states of the USA |
| Max. No. of Channels | Over 185 | Up to 46 |
| On-demand Content | More than 90,000 | Up to 50,000 |
| Trial Period | 5 days | None |
| Promotions | Available | Available |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited | Up to 50 hours of storage |
| Additional Costs | None | Up to 5.00/mo. for 200 hours of DVR storage |
| Simultaneous Streams | At home: Unlimited | Up to 3 devices |
| On-the-go: 3 devices |
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream is a streaming service BY DIRECTV, a multichannel video programming distributor in America owned by AT&T. Formerly known as AT&T TV, this streaming division of DIRECTV is similar to traditional cable and satellite TV services in terms of an extensive channel lineup, giving users a cable-like experience along with thousands of On-Demand movies and shows.
Consequently, it is also one of the most expensive streaming services. DIRECTV Stream is an excellent choice for sports enthusiasts, presenting an impressive selection of local and national sports networks. This app-based service makes it easier to access a wide variety of content and is perfect for large families. It is also available throughout the country.
Pros
- Extensive channel lineup
- Delivers cable-like experience
- Excellent collection of regional sports networks
- Contract-free plans
Cons
- Expensive subscription
Sling TV
Sling TV is a perfect streaming service for people looking to cut their cords. This American live TV streaming service owned by Sling TV LLC, a subsidiary of DISH Network, aims to provide affordable and flexible alternatives to traditional cable and satellite TV services.
Founded in 2015, Sling TV has grown to be one of the top streaming services, with approximately 2.3 million subscribers. It offers a selection of major cable channels and thousands of On-Demand titles via smart TVs and mobile phones. This internet-based streaming service is available throughout the US and is known as the king of affordability.
Pros
- Affordable subscription
- Contract-free plans
- Customizable packages
Cons
- Small channel lineup
- Unsuitable for large families
Plans and Pricing – DIRECTV vs Sling TV
Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream lie at opposite extremes of the price range. DIRECTV Stream is typically more expensive than Sling TV, as it offers a broader range of channels and more advanced features. Sling TV is a more budget-friendly option, with plans starting at a lower price point and a more limited selection of channels.
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream gives you four subscription options, each with varying channel lineups and benefits. The streaming service is significantly more expensive than other options, with its standard subscription alone starting at $74.99, with the price going steeper as you move down the list.
However, the high price is mainly due to the extensive channel lineup of DIRECTV Stream, giving you more content than any other streaming platform. It also features an impressive collection of regional sports networks and unlimited cloud DVR storage. The best part? It is contract-free, unlike DIRECTV’s satellite TV service.
| DIRECTV Stream Plans | |||
| Plan | Promotional Price | Live TV Channels | Contact DIRECTV |
| ENTERTAINMENT + Sports Pack | $84.98/mo. + tax for 3 mos. | 90+ | Call Now |
| CHOICE™ + Sports Pack | $98.99/mo. + tax for 1 mo. | 125+ | Call Now |
| ULTIMATE + Sports Pack | $109.99/mo. + tax for 1 mo. | 160+ | Call Now |
| PREMIER + Sports Pack | $169.98/mo. + tax for 3 mos. | 185+ | Call Now |
**Entertainment subscribers must add the DIRECTV Sports Pack to get the promo discount.
***Sports Pack is included for 1 month on Choice and Ultimate packages for free, after which a monthly fee of $14.99 will apply.
Sling TV
Sling TV, in contrast, has three incredibly cost-effective subscription plans: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue. However, there is a catch! The channel lineup is limited, and it racks up money with add-ons. The streaming service allows you to customize your package according to your preferences, offering you a bunch of add-ons like Kids Extra and News Extra.
The service offers more than 50,000 On-Demand titles and includes 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. However, Sling TV is unsuitable for large households as its packages only allow 1 to 3 simultaneous streams per account.
| Sling TV Plans | |||
| Plans | Promo Price | Regular Price | Live TV Channels |
| Orange | $30.00/mo.* | $40.00/mo. | 32 |
| Blue | $35.00/mo.* | $45.00/mo. | 42 |
| Orange + Blue | $50.00/mo.* | $60.00/mo. | 46 |
**Prices and channels are based on New York City and may vary depending on your location.
Who has a Better Channel Lineup – Sling TV or DIRECTV Stream?
DIRECTV Stream is the ultimate champion in terms of channel lineup, offering a smorgasbord of channels. Its packages include everything from premium networks to popular local and impressive regional sports channels, allowing you to choose based on your preferences.
On the other hand, Sling TV is more like the a la carte menu, where you select individual packages with specific channels. However, you can make your package more unique with add-ons. In the end, Sling TV is perfect for those who want a customized viewing experience.
Local Channels
Local channels are like the hometown heroes of television. They keep you up-to-date on all the latest news, weather, and events happening in your area, bringing a sense of community to your viewing experience.
DIRECTV Stream is the heavyweight champion of local channels, offering more options than Sling TV. The service keeps you connected to your community, no matter where you are.
| Local Channels | DIRECTV Stream | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | No | Yes |
| CBS | No | No |
| FOX | No | Yes |
| NBC | No | Yes |
| PBS | No | No |
| The CW | No | No |
**DIRECTV Stream only offers local networks at certain locations.
Popular Channels
We have prepared a detailed comparison of some of the popular networks offered by both services, so you can identify the most suitable service for your home based on your preferred channel lineup.
| Popular Channels | DIRECTV Stream | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| A&E | Yes | Yes |
| ACC Network | Yes | No |
| ACCU Weather | Yes | No |
| AMC | Yes | Yes |
| American Heroes Channel | Yes | No |
| Animal Planet | Yes | No |
| Aspire | Yes | No |
| AXS TV | Yes | Yes |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes |
| BBC News | Yes | No |
| BET | Yes | Yes |
| BET Her | Yes | No |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | No |
| Bloomberg TV | Yes | Yes |
| Boomerang | Yes | No |
| Bravo | Yes | Yes |
| C-SPAN | Yes | No |
| C-SPAN 2 | Yes | No |
| Cartoon Network | Yes | Yes |
| CMT | Yes | No |
| CNBC | Yes | No |
| CNN | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes |
| Cooking Channel | Yes | No |
| Destination America | Yes | No |
| Discovery Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Channel | Yes | Yes |
| E! | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN2 | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN3 | No | Yes |
| ESPNews | Yes | No |
| ESPNU | Yes | No |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes |
| FOX Business Network | Yes | No |
| Fox News | Yes | Yes |
| FS1 | Yes | Yes |
| FS2 | Yes | No |
| Freeform | Yes | Yes |
| Fuse | Yes | Yes |
| FX | Yes | Yes |
| FXM | Yes | No |
| FXX | Yes | No |
| fyi, | Yes | No |
| Galavision | Yes | No |
| Golf Channel | Yes | No |
| Hallmark Channel | Yes | No |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes |
| HLN | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | Yes | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes |
| LMN | Yes | No |
| Magnolia Network | Yes | No |
| MLB Network | Yes | No |
| MotorTrend | Yes | Yes |
| MSNBC | Yes | Yes |
| MTV | Yes | No |
| National Geographic Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Nat Geo WILD | Yes | No |
| NBA TV | Yes | No |
| NHL Network | Yes | No |
| Nickelodeon | Yes | No |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes |
| Nicktoons | Yes | No |
| OWN | Yes | No |
| Oxygen True Crime | Yes | No |
| Paramount Network | Yes | No |
| QVC | Yes | Yes |
| Science | Yes | No |
| SEC Network | Yes | No |
| SHOWTIME 2 | Yes | No |
| Smithsonian Channel | Yes | No |
| STARZ | Yes | No |
| SundanceTV | Yes | No |
| Syfy | Yes | Yes |
| Tastemade | Yes | No |
| TBS | Yes | Yes |
| TeenNick | Yes | No |
| Telemundo | No | No |
| Tennis Channel | Yes | No |
| The History Channel | Yes | Yes |
| TLC | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes |
| TruTV | Yes | Yes |
| TV Land | Yes | No |
| USA Network | Yes | Yes |
| VH1 | Yes | No |
| VICE | Yes | Yes |
| WEtv | Yes | No |
Premium Channels
Premium channels are the VIP guests of the television world, offering exclusive, and high-quality content that you won’t find anywhere else. These networks bring excitement, suspense, and drama to your viewing experience, elevating your television game to a whole new level. So, which streaming service offers the best deals on these channels?
Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream offer a variety of options when it comes to premium channels. But DIRECTV Stream is the premium power player, offering a diverse selection of premium channels, including the coveted HBO. The service provider is renowned for offering special deals on a few of these networks. For example, its first three packages include access to CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, and STARZ for three months in the promotional offers. Meanwhile, its PREMIER package has these networks in its channel lineup.
On the other hand, Sling TV also has an extensive lineup of premium channels, including networks like MGM+, discovery+, AMC+, and more. But it does not offer HBO Max, CINEMAX and EPIX.
| Premium Channels | DIRECTV Stream | Sling TV | |
| ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE & ULTIMATE | PREMIER | ||
| Max | $0 for 3 mos., then $15.99/mo. | Included | ╳ |
| CINEMAX® | $0 for 3 mos., then $10.99/mo. | Included | ╳ |
| Paramount+ with SHOWTIME | $0 for 3 mos., then $11.99/mo. | Included | $10.00/mo. |
| STARZ® | $0 for 3 mos., then $10.99/mo. | Included | $9.00/mo. |
| MGM+™ | $0 for 3 mos., then $5.99/mo. | $0 for 3 mos., then $5.99/mo. | $5.00/mo. |
Sports Channels
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or only enjoy the occasional match, sports channels are an essential part of any sports enthusiast’s lineup. DIRECTV Stream has a more extensive collection of sports networks, with its higher-tiered subscriptions giving access to all the major local and national networks. In contrast, Sling TV offers most sports channels as add-ons.
| Sports Channels | DIRECTV Stream | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| ACC Network | Yes | No |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | No |
| CBS Sports Network | Yes | No |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN2 | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN3 | No | Yes |
| ESPNews | Yes | No |
| ESPNU | Yes | No |
| FanDuel TV | Yes | No |
| FOX Sports 1 | Yes | Yes |
| FOX Sports 2 | Yes | No |
| Golf Channel | Yes | No |
| MLB Network | Yes | No |
| MotorTrend | Yes | Yes |
| NBA TV | Yes | No |
| NFL Network | Yes | Yes |
| NHL Network | Yes | No |
| SEC Network | Yes | No |
| SportsGrid | Yes | No |
| Sportsman Channel | Yes | No |
| Tennis Channel | Yes | No |
| TUDN | Yes | No |
Compatible Devices – Sling TV vs DIRECTV Stream
Compatibility is crucial for accessing the content of your streaming service. Otherwise, even if you have a subscription, you won’t be able to use your preferred service with incompatible devices.
You don’t need special equipment to access DIRECTV Stream or Sling TV. Both streaming services are app-based and are compatible with a range of devices. However, Sling TV wins over DIRECTV Stream since it is available on more platforms, including Xbox One game consoles and smart TVs from Vizio. Ultimately, the choice of service may depend on your preferences and the devices you already own. Here is a detailed comparison of both services.
| Devices | DIRECTV Stream | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire Cube, Stick, TV | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Android phones | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Android TV | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Apple TV | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Chromecast | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Echo Show | ❌ | ❌ |
| iOS | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| LG Smart TVs | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Nintendo Switch | ❌ | ❌ |
| PlayStation 4 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Roku | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Samsung TV (select models) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| TIVO Stream | ❌ | ✔️ |
| VIZIO | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Xbox One | ❌ | ✔️ |
Final Verdict – Sling TV or DIRECTV?
Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW (now AT&T TV) are two of the top streaming services in the market, offering a wealth of channels, features, and benefits to their customers. But which service provides the best value?
When it comes to Sling TV vs. DIRECTV Stream, the final choice between the two depends on your specific needs and preferences. However, DIRECTV Stream is a far better option for large families, sports, or premium content enthusiasts. The service may seem more expensive than other alternatives, but it elevates your entertainment experience to a whole new level with an extensive channel lineup and exclusive deals.
