Sling TV vs. DIRECTV

Sling TV has two inexpensive options if you're OK sacrificing a chunk of channels to keep prices down, but if you want the full suite of what Sling TV has to offer, you'll need the more expensive package.

You can choose to buy DIRECTV via a satellite or internet connection. You get up to 185 channels. Now, the price tag is pretty high, but you’ll get many popular lifestyle, sports, kids, and news channels. 

DIRECTV's internet packages have fewer fees than its satellite plans, which have an activation fee for additional receivers. With Sling, expect to pay more in fees for DVR storage space.

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 has two different DVRs: the Genie and the Gemini Air. The Genie, DIRECTV's DVR for satellite packages, gives you a 200-hour DVR storage space without expiration and a one-time $49 activation fee for additional devices. The Gemini Air, DIRECTV's DVR for internet packages, gives you unlimited recordings lasting up to 9 months.

If you’d like to record more than just five Supernatural episodes, 10 Teen Titans Go! episodes, and three movies, you’ll want to get DIRECTV's internet packages for the Gemini Air's unlimited DVR storage space.

Depending on the plan you get, both services have an almost equal amount of popular channels. If you love your Hallmark Channel Christmas movies and your kids love Paw Patrol, DIRECTV is for you. Sling TV offers Hallmark Movies for an additional $6/mo.

Of course, DIRECTV will have more popular channels to stream because of its overall channel count, but check out the channel lineup for Sling TV and DIRECTV, just in case. Price aside, though, DIRECTV wins this section.

Back in the day, cable was the most reliable way to get good channels. But times have changed—and if you want to cut the cord and still watch ABC, FOX, CBS, CNN, or CNBC, check out both services to see if they offer them in your area.

• Check DIRECTV’s available networks here.
• Check Sling TV network availability here.

An upside to streaming with DIRECTV: Max, Cinemax, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, STARZ, and MGM+ is included in all the packages for free for three months. And in its PREMIER package you can get all those channels (minus MGM+) included for the duration of your service. It’s a solid win for everyone in the family with the variety.

And it can’t be overlooked that Sling TV doesn’t have Max 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. (Who doesn’t want to watch Scooby-Doo and the gang?)

The section you’ve all been waiting for (*drumroll*): the sports channel lineup. And we must say, DIRECTV is a clear championship winner in this department.

If you’re looking for the most sports channels, DIRECTV offers up to 20 sports channels, whereas Sling TV offers fourteen.

So, it’s not hard to see that DIRECTV 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 has the following sports channels:

DIRECTV beats Sling TV in the DVR game.

Sling TV comes with 50 hours of DVR storage or you must pay $5 per month for 200 hours of DVR storage.

DIRECTV includes a 200-hour cloud DVR storage with its Genie DVR and unlimited DVR recordings with its Gemini Air DVR. The Genie typically comes with a satellite connection while internet plans include the Gemini Air.

We like how Sling TV comes with a 50-hour DVR storage, but DIRECTV's DVR storage is just better. Plus, you don't have to pay extra for more storage.

Sling TV’s user experience is smoother than DIRECTV's.

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'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.

These days, we want our streaming service to be compatible with our phones, tablets, and TVs. After all, your commute on public transit is the perfect time to catch up on The Expanse.

Download the app on these devices so you can watch your favorite shows anywhere, any time.

You can stream Sling TV on these devices:

• iPhones, iPads (iOS 9 and up, iPhone 4.0 and up)
• Android smartphones, tablets, and TVs
• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• Roku
• Xbox One
• Google Chromecast

DIRECTV and its on-demand service is available all day long on these devices:

• iPhone, iPad (iOS 9 and up, iPhone 4.0 and up)
• Android smartphones and tablets
• Roku TV, Streaming Stick, Premiere, Ultra, Express, etc.
• Apple TV
• Amazon Fire TV, Stick, and Cube
• Google Chromecast
• Samsung Smart TV
• Chrome, Safari

After comparing price, channels, DVR, user experience, and the bonuses, Sling TV comes out ahead. DIRECTV is a great option for the family with its variety of internet or satellite connection, and for premium-channel and sports fanatics. But Sling TV is a great option for anyone trying to save a buck and still watch most of their favorite channels.

• Pricing: All of Sling TV’s plans ($40–$55) are cheaper than DIRECTV's plans ($58–$150).
• Channels: DIRECTV 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 Max or CINEMAX.
• Sports channels: DIRECTV 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 includes 200 (satellite) or unlimited (internet). Sling TV offers a 200-hour DVR storage space for $5/month.
• User experience: Sling TV has a simple cable-like channel guide and DIRECTV 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 Review