Streaming & Live TV · Tool Face-Off

Sling TV vs YouTube TV

Quick answer

Sling TV wins on price and flexibility; YouTube TV wins on channels, DVR, and polish. Choose your poison.

Sling TV

Skinny bundles for the budget-conscious cord-cutter

3.6★

Our pick

YouTube TV

The premium all-in-one live TV replacement

4.4★

Starting Price

$40/mo (Sling Orange or Blue)

$72.99/mo

Base Channel Count

~30-45 channels

~100+ channels

Cloud DVR Storage

50 hrs (free); upgradeable for $5/mo

Unlimited (9-month rollover)

Simultaneous Streams

1 (Orange) or 3 (Blue); both for $55/mo

Up to 3 (unlimited in-home)

Local Affiliates (ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX)

Limited; varies by market & plan

Available in most markets

ESPN / ESPN2

Sling Orange only

Included in base plan

NFL Network / NFL RedZone

Available as add-on

NFL Network included; RedZone add-on

Free Trial

3-day free trial

No free trial currently

Add-On Packs

Many (Sports, News, Comedy, etc.)

Limited add-ons (Spanish, sports)

4K Streaming

Limited 4K content

4K Plus add-on available (~$10/mo)

Supported Devices

Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, smart TVs

Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, Chromecast, smart TVs

Contract Required

No — cancel anytime

Sling TV

Pricing★★★★★

Ease of Use★★★½☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Channel Selection★★★☆☆

Streaming Quality★★★½☆

DVR & Cloud Storage★★★☆☆

Sports & Live Events★★★½☆

YouTube TV

Pricing★★★☆☆

Ease of Use★★★★★

Device Support★★★★½

Channel Selection★★★★½

Streaming Quality★★★★½

DVR & Cloud Storage★★★★★

Sports & Live Events★★★★½

Worth knowing

Sling TV was the first major live TV streaming service in the US, launching back in 2015.
YouTube TV's unlimited DVR is a genuine game-changer — no other major skinny bundle matches it.
Sling's split Orange/Blue plan structure has confused customers since day one; you often need both for full coverage.
YouTube TV is owned by Google, so its interface feels suspiciously like... YouTube. Because it basically is.
Sling TV regularly runs promos slashing the first month to as low as $20 — worth timing your signup.

Sling TV's name has nothing to do with a slingshot — it's owned by Dish Network, which named it after the idea of 'slinging' TV to any device. Still sounds cooler than 'Dish Stream Jr.'

If you want

You want to save serious money and build your own bundle

Sling's $40 entry price and à-la-carte add-ons let you pay for only what you actually watch.

→ Pick Sling TV

If you want

You want a true cable replacement with locals, sports, and endless DVR

YouTube TV's 100+ channels, unlimited cloud DVR, and clean interface make it the closest thing to cable without the cable bill... well, almost.

→ Pick YouTube TV

If you want

You're a die-hard sports fan who needs ESPN and local sports

YouTube TV covers more regional sports networks and includes locals in most markets — critical for live game-day viewing.

→ Pick YouTube TV

If you want

You only watch a handful of channels and hate paying for bloat

Sling lets you pick a lean 30-channel base and add only the extras you need, keeping the bill refreshingly low.

→ Pick Sling TV

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