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.
| Comparison | DirecTV Stream | FuboTV |
| Type | Streaming Service | Streaming Service |
| Price Range | $74.99 to $154.99/mo. | $74.99 to $94.99/mo. |
| Plans | 4 | 4 |
| Contract | Not needed | Not needed |
| Availability | All the states of the USA | All the states of the USA |
| Max. No. of Channels | 150+ | 215+ |
| On-demand Content | Up to 65,000 | Up to 10,000 |
| Trial Period | 5 days | 7 days |
| Promotions | Available | Available |
| DVR Box | Cloud DVR | Cloud DVR |
| Additional Cost | Activation fee of $19.99 | Activation fee of $22.00 |
| Equipment fee of $10/mo | Equipment fee of $10/mo | |
| Regional sports fee of $12/mo | Regional sports fee of $14/mo | |
| Taxes & Surcharges: $5/mo | Taxes & Surcharges: $6/mo | |
| Customer Service | 3.5 stars out of 5 | 4.1 stars out of 5 |
| Best For | Movie watchers | Sports enthusiasts |
| Contact Provider | Call 877-209-3574 Now! | Call 877-395-5851 Now! |
DIRECTV Stream
DirecTV Stream is a separate, live TV streaming service offered by the DIRECTV brand. The pay-TV 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 DirecTV Stream device.
Subscribe to DIRECTV Stream at the Lowest Rates
Limited Time Discounts Ending Soon
The DirecTV Stream device contains a Cloud DVR box and a voice-activated remote control that works perfectly with Google Assistant and Alexa. You can either buy the device by paying $120 upfront or lease it for $10 per month. At the checkout, you will be asked to enter your shipping address and credit card details. Your DirecTV Stream device will be shipped to you within 2 business days, free of charge.
After receiving your DirecTV equipment, you can use the manual for a quick and easy, DIY setup of your DirecTV Stream devices. You can only add up to 6 DirecTV Stream devices per household.
All the content on DirecTV Stream can be viewed on 20 compatible devices at once (within the home). You can stream content on the go on 3 devices at the same time. On each DirecTV Stream plan, you can add up to 20 accounts. The sub-account holders can create their playlists and tailor their on-screen experience without getting lost in a sea of content.
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
Cons
- Needs a high-speed internet connection
- The user interface can be confusing
- Additional costs are high
Plans & Pricing
DirecTV Stream has four monthly packages for streaming live TV. All four tiers allow users to 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 Entertainment, Choice, and Ultimate packages include all the premium channels for the first three months. Customers can get a $10 discount per month for the first 12 months on their chosen plan if they purchase the DirecTV Stream device for $120.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Contact DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $74.99/mo. | 75+ | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Choice | $99.99/mo. | 105+ | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Ultimate | $109.99/mo. | 140+ | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Premier | $154.99/mo. | 150+ | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
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.
| Premium Channels | Price | Call to Subscribe |
| HBO Max | $14.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Cinemax | $11.00/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| STARZ | $11.00/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| SHOWTIME | $11.00/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Epix | $6.00/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Packages | Price | Call to Subscribe |
| Peacock Premium | $4.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| AMC+ Above and Beyond | $7.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Discovery+ | $4.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Movies Extra Pack | $4.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| All Black | $5.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| FOX Nation | $5.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Netflix | $6.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Amazon Prime Video | $8.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Pandora | $4.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Spanish TV Pack | $14.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Brazilian TV Pack | $29.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Korean TV Pack | $29.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
| Vietnamese TV Pack | $19.99/mo. | Call 877-209-3574 Now! |
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 close to 1.2 million subscribers and it offers four different packages that can be bought on month-to-month, quarterly, or annual payment plans.
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
- 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
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.
| Plans | Price | Channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $74.99/mo | 146 |
|
| Elite | $84.99/mo | 206 |
|
| Premier | $94.99/mo | 215 |
|
| Latino | $32.99/mo | 47 |
|
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 HBO Max as an add-on channel. Apart from that it has an amazing selection of all the add-on international, sports and entertainment networks.
| Premium Channels | Price |
| SHOWTIME | $10.99 per month |
| STARZ | $8.99 per month |
| MGM+ | $5.99 per month |
| Pantaya | $5.99 per month |
| Packages | Price |
| Sports Plus with NFL Red Zone | $10.99 per month |
| International Sports Plus | $6.99 per month |
| NBA League Pass | $14.99 per month |
| Adventure Plus | $4.99 per month |
| Sports Lite | $9.99 per month |
| Fox Nation | $5.99 per month |
| Fubo Extra | $7.99 per month |
| News Plus | $2.99 per month |
| RAI Italia | $8.99 per month |
| Latino Plus | $19.99 per month |
| TV5MONDE | $9.99 per month |
| Portuguese Plus | $14.99 per month |
| Entretenimiento Plus | $9.99 per month |
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.
| Channel Lineup – DIRECTV Stream vs FuboTV | ||
| Channels | DirecTV Stream | FuboTV |
| A&E | Yes | Yes |
| ABC | No | Yes |
| ABC News Live | No | Yes |
| ACC Network | Yes | Yes |
| ACCU Weather | Yes | No |
| AMC | Yes | Yes |
| American Heroes Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Animal Planet | Yes | Yes |
| Aspire HD | Yes | No |
| AXS TV HD | Yes | No |
| Baby First HD | Yes | No |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes |
| BBC World News | Yes | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS 4 | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS 5 | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS 6 | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS 7 | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS 8 | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS en Espanol | No | Yes |
| beIN SPORTS LaLiga | No | Yes |
| BET | Yes | Yes |
| BET Her | Yes | Yes |
| BET Jams | No | Yes |
| BET Soul | No | Yes |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | Yes |
| Bloomberg TV HD | Yes | No |
| Boomerang | Yes | No |
| Bounce TV | Yes | No |
| Bravo | Yes | Yes |
| C-SPAN HD | Yes | No |
| C-SPAN 2 | Yes | No |
| Cartoon Network HD | Yes | No |
| CBS | No | Yes |
| CBSN | No | Yes |
| CBS Sports Network | Yes | Yes |
| Cheddar | Yes | Yes |
| Cinemax ActionMAX HD | Yes | No |
| Cinemax East HD | Yes | No |
| CLEO TV | Yes | No |
| CMT | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC World | Yes | Yes |
| CNN en Espanol | Yes | No |
| CNN HD | Yes | No |
| CNN International | Yes | No |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy.TV HD | Yes | No |
| Comet | No | Yes |
| Cooking Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Cozi TV | Yes | Yes |
| Destination America | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery Family | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Junior | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery Life | Yes | Yes |
| Disney XD | Yes | Yes |
| DIY Network | No | Yes |
| E! | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN 2 | Yes | Yes |
| ESPNews | Yes | Yes |
| ESPNU | Yes | Yes |
| Estrella TV | No | Yes |
| FanDuel TV HD | Yes | No |
| FM HD | Yes | No |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes |
| FOX | No | Yes |
| FOX 4K | No | Yes |
| Fox Business | Yes | Yes |
| Fox News Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Sports 1 | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Sports 2 | Yes | Yes |
| FOX Weather | Yes | No |
| Freeform | Yes | Yes |
| Fubo Sports Network | No | Yes |
| Fubo Sports Network 2 | No | Yes |
| Fuse | Yes | Yes |
| FX | Yes | Yes |
| FXM | Yes | Yes |
| FXX | Yes | Yes |
| FYI | Yes | Yes |
| Galavision | Yes | Yes |
| Game Show Network | Yes | Yes |
| GetTV | No | Yes |
| GINX Esports TV | No | Yes |
| Golf Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Great American Country/ Family | Yes | Yes |
| GRIT | Yes | No |
| Hallmark Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Hallmark Drama | No | Yes |
| Hallmark Movies and Mysteries | Yes | Yes |
| HBO Comedy HD | Yes | No |
| HBO HD | Yes | No |
| HBO Family HD | Yes | No |
| HBO Latino HD | Yes | No |
| HBO Signature HD | Yes | No |
| HBO Zone HD | Yes | No |
| HBO 2 | Yes | No |
| Heroes & Icons HD | Yes | No |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes |
| History Channel | Yes | Yes |
| HLN HD | Yes | No |
| Home Shopping Network HD | Yes | No |
| IFC | Yes | Yes |
| INSP TV | No | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes |
| ION TV | Yes | No |
| Jewelry Television | Yes | No |
| Jewish Life TV | Yes | No |
| Justice Central HD | Yes | No |
| Law & Crime Trial Network | No | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes |
| LMN | Yes | Yes |
| Local Now | No | Yes |
| Logo | Yes | Yes |
| LX TV | No | Yes |
| Magnolia Network | Yes | No |
| MLB Network | Yes | Yes |
| MoreMAX HD | Yes | No |
| MotorTrend | Yes | Yes |
| MovieMAX HD | Yes | No |
| MSG | No | Yes |
| MSG+ | No | Yes |
| MSG 2 | No | Yes |
| MSG+ 2 | No | Yes |
| MSNBC | Yes | Yes |
| MTV | Yes | Yes |
| MTV 2 | Yes | Yes |
| MTV Classic | Yes | Yes |
| MTV Live | No | Yes |
| MTVU | No | Yes |
| National Geographic | Yes | Yes |
| Nat Geo Wild | Yes | Yes |
| NBA TV | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | No | Yes |
| NBC News Now | No | Yes |
| NBCSN | No | Yes |
| Newsmax TV | Yes | Yes |
| NewsNation | Yes | No |
| Newsy | No | Yes |
| NFL Network | No | Yes |
| NHL Network | Yes | Yes |
| Nickelodeon | Yes | Yes |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes |
| Nick Music | No | Yes |
| Nicktoons | Yes | Yes |
| Olympic Channel | No | Yes |
| Ovation | Yes | No |
| OWN | Yes | Yes |
| Oxygen | No | Yes |
| Oxygen True Crime | Yes | No |
| Pac-12 Network | No | Yes |
| Paramount Network | Yes | Yes |
| PBS Kids | Yes | No |
| People TV | No | Yes |
| Pop TV | Yes | Yes |
| QVC | Yes | No |
| QVC 2 | Yes | No |
| Reelz Channel | Yes | No |
| Revolt TV | Yes | Yes |
| RFD-TV | Yes | No |
| Science Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Scientology Network | Yes | No |
| SEC Network | Yes | Yes |
| Shop LC | Yes | No |
| Shorts TV | Yes | No |
| Showtime 2 HD | Yes | No |
| Showtime East HD | Yes | No |
| Showtime Extreme HD | Yes | No |
| Showtime FamilyZone HD | Yes | No |
| Showtime Next HD | Yes | No |
| Showtime Showcase HD | Yes | No |
| SHOxBET HD | Yes | No |
| Smithsonian Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Sony Movie Channel | No | Yes |
| Sportsman Channel HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Cinema HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Comedy HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ East HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Edge HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Action HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Black HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Classic HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore East HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Family HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Suspense HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore West HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Encore Westerns HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ in Black HD | Yes | No |
| STARZ Kids and Family HD | Yes | No |
| SportsNet | No | Yes |
| Stadium | No | Yes |
| Stadium 1 | No | Yes |
| Stadium 2 | No | Yes |
| Stadium 3 | No | Yes |
| Sundance TV | Yes | Yes |
| Syfy | Yes | Yes |
| Tastemade | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | No |
| TCM | Yes | No |
| TeenNick | Yes | Yes |
| Telemundo | No | Yes |
| Tennis Channel | Yes | Yes |
| TLC | Yes | Yes |
| The CW | No | Yes |
| The Weather Channel | Yes | Yes |
| The Grio HD | Yes | No |
| TNT | Yes | No |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes |
| TruTV | Yes | No |
| TUDN | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 1 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 2 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 3 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 4 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 5 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 6 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 7 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 8 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 9 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 10 | No | Yes |
| TUDNXtra 11 | No | Yes |
| TVG | No | Yes |
| TV Land | Yes | Yes |
| TV One HD | Yes | No |
| UniMas | Yes | Yes |
| Universal Kids | Yes | Yes |
| Universo | Yes | Yes |
| Univision | Yes | Yes |
| UPtv | Yes | No |
| USA Network | Yes | Yes |
| VH1 | Yes | Yes |
| VICE | Yes | Yes |
| WE tv | Yes | Yes |
| Zona Futbol | No | Yes |
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. The entry-level plans for DirecTV Stream and FuboTV start at $75 per month and include Cloud DVR storage, popular cable TV channels, and thousands of on-demand titles but it is the perks that make DirecTV Stream’s base plan better than FuboTV. DirecTV Stream offers more HD channels, unlimited hours of recording on Cloud DVR storage, simultaneous streaming on 20 devices, and exclusive access to all the premium channels.
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.
