Sling TV doesn’t offer HBO, and this is Sling’s biggest downside. But it has lower package prices for those trying to save as much money as possible. DIRECTV STREAM has some premium channels included (you heard me: included) in its plan and has more channels overall. Although Sling TV doesn’t have the king of premium channels (HBO) Sling TV is still our winner. Sling TV gives you a 50-hour cloud DVR storage space, and it charges an extra $5 per month for its 200-hour cloud DVR. It’s absolutely worth the extra $5 if you’re sharing with 3 other roommates. Trust us. DIRECTV STREAM gives you a tiny DVR storage space of 20 hours. If you’d like to record more than just five Supernatural episodes, 10 Teen Titans Go! episodes, and three movies, you’ll want to pay an extra $10 for DIRECTV STREAM’s unlimited DVR storage space. YouTube TV is the only service that includes an unlimited DVR storage space in its service, and DIRECTV STREAM is the only service to offer it as an add-on. For some, it might be nice that the enhanced cloud DVR is optional if you’re not really into recording. DVRs are super convenient, but the more you can customize your service, the better chance you have of getting exactly what you want. Of course, DIRECTV STREAM will have more popular channels because of its overall channel count, but check out the channel lineup for Sling TV and DIRECTV STREAM, just in case. Price aside, though, DIRECTV STREAM wins this section.
Check DIRECTV STREAMS’s available networks here. Check Sling TV network availability here.
And it can’t be overlooked that Sling TV doesn’t have HBO at all (or CINEMAX)! So if you can live without Succession, The White Lotus or The Last of Us, you’ll do great with Sling TV. But if you and your kids want to catch the cute new Scoob! series, you’ll have to pay a little extra for DIRECTV STREAM. (Who doesn’t want to watch Scooby-Doo and the gang?) If you’re looking for the most sports channels, DIRECTV STREAM offers up to 20 sports channels, whereas Sling TV offers fourteen. So, it’s not hard to see that DIRECTV STREAM is the option for sports aficionados. Sling TV has the following sports channels:
ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 FS2 RedZone NBA TV NFL Network NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) NHL Tennis Channel TBS TNT Stadium
And DIRECTV STREAM has the following sports channels: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of DVR storage or you must pay $5 per month for 200 hours of DVR storage. DIRECTV STREAM includes a 20-hour cloud DVR storage, but you can upgrade for $10 per month to an unlimited DVR storage space. We like how Sling TV comes with a 50-hour DVR storage, which makes the case for Sling TV even stronger. But if you and the fam like to record everything under the sun, we like how DIRECTV STREAM tends to those families. The Sling TV channel guide is similar to that of traditional cable. It has channel scrolling, time scrolling, and channel categories. There’s also a view that lets you see next week’s schedule so you can scope out which action movies you want to watch while cuddling with a glass of wine. DIRECTV STREAM’s channel guide is about the same as Sling’s, with some key differences. When you click on one of the genre tabs, you get a listing of only the current showings and what’s on for the next couple of hours. And if you want to exit the genre tab, you have to exit the channel guide altogether. That’s not very convenient—or intuitive. Download the app on these devices so you can watch your favorite shows anywhere, any time. You can stream Sling TV on these devices: DIRECTV STREAM is available all day long on these devices:
Pricing: All of Sling TV’s plans ($40–$55) are cheaper than DIRECTV STREAM’s plans ($75–$155). Channels: DIRECTV STREAM is perfect for those who want lots of live TV channels rather than just 50 or less. You’ll just have to make sure Sling TV’s channel lineup will satisfy the family’s watching needs. And don’t forget that Sling doesn’t have HBO or CINEMAX. Sports channels: DIRECTV STREAM holds the championship belt between the two because it has a great variety of sports channels with major sports coverage. Sling TV offers fourteen sports channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, NBA, NHL, and FS1. DVR: Sling TV includes a 50-hour DVR storage while DIRECTV STREAM includes 20. Sling TV offers a 200-hour DVR storage space for $5/month and DIRECTV STREAM lets you upgrade to an unlimited DVR for $10/month. User experience: Sling TV has a simple cable-like channel guide and DIRECTV STREAM gives a rough channel guide experience.
If you’re still on the fence, you can dive into the nitty-gritty details in our full reviews:
Sling TV Review DIRECTV STREAM Review
