FuboTV vs DIRECTV Stream

Back in the day, TV watching with family used to be a stressful affair. Siblings would fight over which channel to watch and who should hold the remote control. Washroom breaks were timed as per the advertisements and mums would hurriedly finish the kitchen chores to ensure that not a single syllable of the dialogue was missed. There was no option to curate multiple playlists, watch the same show or movie from separate devices, and most importantly, pause, rewind and replay the missed parts. 

But in the last decade, we have come far from that mayhem. The introduction of live TV streaming services has fine-tuned our on-screen entertainment to include personalized content, multiple screens, and never-miss-a-beat Cloud recording. 

If you are thinking about ditching the traditional TV and going cordless, then our FuboTV vs DirecTV Stream guide will help you pick the right service for your home. 

Comparison – FuboTV vs DIRECTV Stream

Here is a side-by-side comparison of FuboTV vs DirecTV Stream to give you a glimpse of what each service has to offer. 

DIRECTV Stream 

DirecTV Stream is a separate, live TV streaming service offered by the DIRECTV brand. The service was launched in November 2015 to compete with renowned multichannel TV providers. DirecTV Stream combines the best of cloud-based DVR streaming, live TV streaming, and content curation to offer its customers a unique experience. Currently, DirecTV Stream has around 1.8 million subscribers throughout the country. 

The multichannel streaming arm of DIRECTV operates on simple mechanics. Customers can choose between four monthly plans and subscribe to the package online. After you have selected the package, you will be prompted to choose your add-ons, like premium channels and a compatible device. 

The DirecTV Stream service also comes with unlimited Cloud DVR and a voice-activated remote control that works perfectly with Google Assistant and Alexa. Moreover, you can simultaneously watch DirecTV Stream’s content on unlimited devices at home and up to three on the go.

Like FuboTV, DirecTV Stream is a no-contract service and users have to pay in advance for receiving the service throughout the month. You can log into your DirecTV Stream account from your smart TV, desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The content can be streamed smoothly using Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV devices. 

Pros 

• No-contract service 
• Thousands of on-demand titles 
• Unlimited Cloud DVR recording 
• Wide selection of sports networks 
• You can pause and rewind live TV streaming
• Premium channels are included in the Premier package 
• Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are included at no extra cost

Cons 

• Needs a high-speed internet connection 
• The user interface can be confusing 

Plans & Pricing

DirecTV Stream has four monthly packages for streaming live TV. All four tiers allow users to access numerous channels, and record unlimited hours of TV and on-demand content on their Cloud DVR. Subscribers can also watch up to 65,000 most in-demand movies and shows in the DirecTV Stream library.

DirecTV’s Entertainment, Choice, and Ultimate packages offer all the premium channels for the first three months at no additional cost. Additionally, customers can currently receive a $25 discount per month for the first two months on their selected plan if they also add DirecTV’s Sports Pack. Moreover, subscribers to DirecTV’s Choice and higher plans can enjoy this add-on for free for the first month.

Add-Ons for DIRECTV Stream 

All the premium channels are included in the DirecTV Stream plans for the promo period of 3 months. After which, customers can continue to enjoy the premium channels as add-ons for a small monthly fee. 

FuboTV 

FuboTV is a live TV streaming service with an extensive focus on the coverage of sporting events. The company proclaims itself to be the “Netflix of Sports”. In January 2015, co-founders David Gandler, Alberto Horihuela, and Sung Ho Choi launched FuboTV with a subscription fee of $7 per month. The initial channels carried live streams of soccer matches from around the country. Gradually, the service area was expanded to Canada and Spain and in 2018, FuboTV became the first live-TV streaming service to air the FIFA World Cup in 4K HDR video quality. 

Today, FuboTV is a direct competitor of cable TV and other live TV streaming services like YouTube TV and Sling TV. Its wide collection of regional, national, and international networks ranges from entertainment to lifestyle and news channels. FuboTV has approximately 1.477 million subscribers and it offers four different packages at reasonable rates.

FuboTV is a no-contract service. Customers pay in advance for an entire month of service and they can choose to cancel their subscription anytime without incurring early termination charges. FuboTV has its headquarters in New York City but most of the interaction with the customers takes place online. It works a lot like any other click-and-buy e-commerce platform out in the market. Users can select the package they wish to buy on the FuboTV website, stack add-ons to enhance their experience, enter their credit card details, and finally hit CHECKOUT to complete the purchase. 

The FuboTV is compatible with the most popular streaming devices such as smart televisions, Android and Apple devices, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Xbox. The plans include up to 1000 hours of HD recording on Cloud DVR and you can pause and rewind a live stream for up to 60 minutes. FuboTV allows multi-device streaming on 10 devices at once and you can create a maximum of 6 user profiles on one primary account. FuboTV is the best live TV streaming service for sports enthusiasts.

Pros 

• You can live-stream popular cable TV channels 
• Carries popular sports and entertainment channels 
• No-contract service 
• Award-winning customer service 
• On-demand content is available 

Cons 

• Expensive add-ons
• Variable channel count across different locations

Plans & Pricing

FuboTV has a four-tier pricing model where each plan’s price is set based on the number of channels and perks it offers. Potential customers can test-drive the plans for 7 days by enrolling for the free trial. FuboTV’s Premier package is the most popular monthly plan, and it is the only package that includes all the channels on the SHOWTIME network.

All new subscribers can save $8 on the FuboTV Latino plan. In the first month, the plan costs $24.99 instead of the regular $32.99 per month.  

Add-Ons for FuboTV

FuboTV does not offer Max as an add-on channel. Apart from that it has an amazing selection of all the add-on international, sports, and entertainment networks. 

Who has a Better Channel Lineup – FuboTV or DIRECTV Stream?

Our consolidated channel lineup for DirecTV Stream vs FuboTV will help you quickly sort through your favorite TV channels and decide on the service that is best for your needs. If you are leaning towards DirecTV Stream then be sure to browse through our DirecTV Stream Review 2023 for a complete rundown on what channels are included in each monthly package. 

Availability – DIRECTV Stream vs FuboTV

The DirecTV Stream app can be downloaded on all the latest models of Android and Apple smartphones and tablets. You can stream the content on your DirecTV Stream account through your Windows and Mac laptops and desktops. All the popular TV streaming devices, such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, and other Android TV operating systems support glitch-free streaming on DirecTV Stream. 

DirecTV Stream is only licensed to broadcast multichannel TV streams within the United States. In contrast, FuboTV subscriptions are available in the USA, Canada, and Spain. And the service is compatible with all the above-mentioned devices plus Xbox. The Xbox One console can be used to navigate through the FuboTV interface on the TV screen.  

Final Verdict – DIRECTV Stream or FuboTV?

Both DirecTV Stream and FuboTV are multichannel streaming services that were launched around the same time. While the starting price of DirecTV Stream’s entry-level plan is higher than FuboTV, the perks such as more HD channels, unlimited hours of recording on Cloud DVR storage, simultaneous streaming on unlimited devices at home, special offers on premium channels, make it a better option than FuboTV. Moreover, DirecTV is also well-loved for providing exclusive access to regional sports networks on Choice and higher plans.

In contrast, FuboTV has more channels, but the streaming quality is comparatively poorer. FuboTV only allows up to 1000 hours of recording on its Cloud DVR, and the collection of on-demand content is quite limited. Moreover, users can only stream content on 10 devices at once, and account sharing is limited to 6 members. And you shouldn’t even question the premium channels because even on its top-tier Premier plan, the HBO network is non-existent. FuboTV is indeed a “sports first” streaming platform, but what about the moms and kids at home? Where do they go for their cheap thrills? 

So, our final verdict on FuboTV vs. DirecTV Stream is that DirecTV offers more value for the same price through its streamlined channel lineup, a larger selection of on-demand content, and exclusive service as compared to FuboTV.