Live TV Streaming · Tool Face-Off

Sling TV vs DirecTV Stream

Quick answer

Sling TV wins on price and flexibility; DirecTV Stream wins on channel depth and local coverage. Pick Sling if you're budget-conscious, DirecTV Stream if you want the closest cable replacement.

Sling TV

Lean, cheap, and surprisingly customizable live TV.

3.5★

Our pick

DirecTV Stream

Cable TV vibes without the cable box headache.

3.9★

Entry Price

$40/mo (Sling Orange or Blue)

$65/mo (Entertainment plan)

Top-Tier Price

$65/mo (Orange + Blue combined)

$155/mo (Premier plan)

Channel Count (base plan)

~30-35 channels

~75+ channels

Local ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox

Spotty — limited markets, often missing

Available in most major markets

Cloud DVR Storage

50 hours free; upgrade available

Unlimited DVR included

Simultaneous Streams

1 (Orange) or 3 (Blue) — tricky split

3 streams (unlimited on higher plans)

Free Trial

3 days

5 days

Sports Add-ons

NFL RedZone, NBA League Pass extras available

RSNs included on higher plans — rare for streaming

Spanish-Language Packages

Sling Latino plans from ~$15/mo

Available but pricier add-ons

4K Streaming

Limited 4K content

Some 4K available (select content)

Contracts

Month-to-month, no contract

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs)

Not available

Included on Choice plan and above

Sling TV

Pricing★★★★★

Ease of Use★★★★☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Local Channels★★☆☆☆

DVR & On-Demand★★★☆☆

Channel Selection★★★☆☆

Streaming Quality★★★½☆

DirecTV Stream

Pricing★★½☆☆

Ease of Use★★★½☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Local Channels★★★★½

DVR & On-Demand★★★★☆

Channel Selection★★★★½

Streaming Quality★★★★☆

Worth knowing

Sling TV was the first live TV streaming service to launch in the US, debuting back in 2015.
DirecTV Stream dropped its data caps and contracts after rebranding from AT&T TV in 2021.
Sling's Orange plan limits you to just 1 simultaneous stream — watch out if you share with roommates.
DirecTV Stream includes regional sports networks, something almost no other streaming service offers.
Sling offers a half-price deal on the first month fairly regularly — worth watching for.
DirecTV Stream's Premier plan rivals traditional cable in channel count, and in price, frankly.

Sling Orange only allows 1 stream at a time, meaning if your partner changes the channel, you literally lose your show — a feature that has ended more than a few movie nights.

If you want

You want the lowest monthly bill possible

Sling's $40 base plan is nearly half the cost of DirecTV Stream's entry tier.

→ Pick Sling TV

If you want

You want local network channels reliably

DirecTV Stream covers locals in far more markets — Sling's local coverage is genuinely patchy.

→ Pick DirecTV Stream

If you want

You're a sports fan who needs regional sports networks

DirecTV Stream is one of the only streamers that still carries RSNs — a huge deal for local team fans.

→ Pick DirecTV Stream