DIRECTV vs Sling TV | Honest Comparison Between Streaming Services

DIRECTV vs Sling TV is two competitors’ fight in the TV streaming market in the US. Both of them have their perks and dark sides but what exactly makes a difference between the two is the real question. Starting from their prices and the number of channels available, this article will thoroughly make a comparison between DIRECTV vs Sling TV.  

As a consumer, I could not find any website making a simple comparison of DIRECTV vs Sling TV. Therefore, I decided to make one. At Path of EX, it is my hobby to bring the best deals for you and make the decision of buying the right thing easy for you.

After reading this article, you should be able to decide whether DIRECTV or Sling TV suits your requirements. To provide you with a bang for the buck, I have extensively researched both TV providers’ benefits and customer reviews. 

DIRECTV vs Sling TV 

DIRECTV has the most comprehensive list of channels to let you watch whatever you love. It offers two different services, including DIRECTV stream (formerly known as AT&T TV) and DIRECTV satellite. DIRECTV stream is aimed at backpackers or anyone else who would love to enjoy a mix of live and on-demand TV. 

Sling TV offers two basic plans and 1 premium plan that covers almost everything in terms of channels. The orange plan is focused more on sports, cartoons, or overall family requirements. The blue plan is more about sports, entertainment, and news. 

Plans and Price Comparison of DIRECTV and Sling TV

You get 3-month premium networks along with your subscription. The subscription ranges between $49.99/mo with 75+ channels to $129.99/mo with 150+ channels. DIRECTV Satellite is claimed to be the #1 satellite TV service that comes with 99% reliability in terms of its channel connection.

In the package, you get a professional dish installation, access to NFL SUNDAY,  a good quality DVR, and again, just like DIRECTV stream, 3-month premium networks. The subscription ranges between $64.99/mo with 165+ channels to $139.99/mo with 340+ channels. You can pick any package suitable for your requirements. 

Sling TV Orange Plan is the cheapest TV plan that you can buy in 2022. It is priced at $35/mo and the best part is that you do not see any ads. The number of screens, however, is limited to 1 per subscription. In this Orange Plan by SLING, you get a total of 32 Live channels.

The major channels are Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, etc. SLING TV Blue Plan covers a total of 43 Live channels, the major ones being Bravo, Discovery, FX, etc. That’s not all, you can use the same subscription on a total of 3 screens.

All these benefits come at a price of $50/mo. SLING TV Orange and Blue Plan will cost you $50/mo but is better than its counterparts. It allows you to use the same subscription on 3 different screens with 51 Live channels to give you the best of both worlds. 

Channel Comparison of DIRECTV and Sling TV

DIRECTV has four different plans in which the Entertainment plan offers 165+ channels, the Choice plan offers 200+ channels, Ultimate Plan offers 70+ channels, and the Premier plan offers 340+ channels. Whereas Sling TV offers you a list of 50+ channels in its most expensive plan of $50/mo. The list of channels is as follows: 

1. A&E
2. ABC
3. ABC News Live
4. ACC Network
5. Accuweather
6. AMC
7. American Heroes Channel
8. Animal Planet
9. BBC America
10. BBC World News
11. BET
12. BET Her
13. BET Jams
14. BET Soul
15. Big Ten Network 
16. Bravo
17. CBS
18. Cheddar
19. CMT
20. CNBC
21. CNBC World
22. Comedy Central
23. Comet
24. Cooking Channel
25. Cozi TV
26. Destination America
27. Discovery
28. Discovery Family
29. Discovery Life
30. Disney Channel
31. Disney Junior
32. Disney XD
33. DIY Network
34. E!
35. Estrella TV
36. Food Network
37. Fox
38. Fox Business
39. Fox News
40. Freeform
41. FS1
42. FS2
43. FUBO Movie Network
44. Fuse
45. FX
46. FXM
47. FXX
48. FYI
49. Galavision
50. Game Show Network
51. getTV
52. GINX Esports
53. Golf Channel
54. Great American Country
55. Hallmark Channel
56. Hallmark Drama
57. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
58. HGTV
59. History Channel
60. IFC
61. INSP
62. Investigation Discovery
63. Law & Crime Trial Network
64. Lifetime
65. LMN
66. Local Now
67. Logo
68. LX TV
69. MLB Network
70. MotorTrend
71. MSNBC
72. MTV
73. MTV 2
74. MTV Classic
75. MTV Live
76. MTVU
77. Nat Geo Wild
78. National Geographic
79. NBC
80. NBC News Now
81. NBCSN
82. Newsmax
83. Newsy
84. NFL Network
85. NHL Network
86. Nick Jr.
87. Nick Music
88. Nick Toons
89. Nickelodeon
90. Olympic Channel
91. OWN
92. Oxygen
93. Pac-12 Network
94. Paramount
95. People TV
96. Pop TV
97. Revolt TV
98. Science Channel
99. SEC Network
100. Smithsonian Channel
101. Sony Movie Channel
102. Sundance TV
103. Syfy
104. Tastemade
105. TeenNick
106. Telemundo
107. Tennis Channel
108. The CW
109. The Weather Channel
110. TLC
111. Travel Channel
112. TUDN
113. TUDNXtra 1
114. TUDNXtra 10
115. TUDNXtra 11
116. TUDNXtra 2
117. TUDNXtra 3
118. TUDNXtra 4
119. TUDNXtra 5
120. TUDNXtra 6
121. TUDNXtra 7
122. TUDNXtra 8
123. TUDNXtra 9
124. TV Land
125. TVG
126. UniMas
127. Universal Kids
128. Universo
129. Univision
130. USA
131. VH1
132. Vice
133. WE
134. WGN

Sports Channels on DIRECTV

1. beIN SPORTS
2. beIN SPORTS 4
3. beIN SPORTS 5
4. beIN SPORTS 6
5. beIN SPORTS 7
6. beIN SPORTS 8
7. beIN SPORTS en Espanol
8. CBS Sports Network
9. CBSN
10. ESPN
11. ESPN 2
12. ESPNews
13. ESPNU
14. FUBO Sports Network
15. FUBO Sports Network 2
16. NBA TV
17. Zona Futbol
18. Stadium
19. Stadium 1
20. Stadium 2
21. Stadium 3

 Sling TV Channel list in 2022

1. FOX
2. NBC
3. A&E
4. AMC
5. AXS tv
6. BBC America
7. BET
8. Bloomberg Television
9. Bravo
10. CNN
11. Cartoon Network (including Adult Swim)
12. Cheddar News
13. Comedy Central
14. Comet
15. Discovery Channel
16. Disney Channel
17. E!
18. Epix Drive-In
19. FS1
20. FX
21. Food Network
22. Fox News
23. Freeform
24. Fuse
25. HGTV
26. HLN
27. History
28. IFC
29. Investigation Discovery
30. Lifetime
31. Local Now
32. MSNBC
33. MotorTrend
34. NBCSN
35. NFL Network
36. National Geographic
37. Nick Jr.
38. SyFy
39. TBS
40. TLC
41. TNT
42. Trvl (Travel Channel)
43. USA
44. Vice
45. truTV
46. NFL RedZone
47. Big Ten Network (BTN)
48. FS2
49. MLB Network
50. NHL Network
51. Pac 12 Networks
52. Olympic Channel
53. MTV
54. fetv
55. Laff
56. Paramount Network
57. MTV2
58. CMT
59. Logo
60. Revolt
61. Game Show Network (GSN)
62. TV Land
63. NickToons
64. TeenNick
65. Boomerang
66. Baby TV
67. Duck TV
68. BBC World News
69. NewsNation
70. Newsmax TV
71. WeatherNation TV
72. Euronews
73. SCI (Science)
74. News 18
75. RT America
76. CGTN
77. Law & Crime
78. FOX Business
79. CNBC
80. France 24
81. NDTV 24×7
82. VH1
83. Cooking Channel
84. DIY Network
85. fyi
86. Hallmark Channel
87. WE tv
88. LMN
89. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
90. Hallmark Drama
91. Oxygen
92. Reelz
93. H&I (Heroes & Icons)
94. StartTV
95. Grit
96. HDNet Movies
97. Sundance TV
98. Cinémoi
99. TCM
100. FXX
101. FXM
102. World Fishing Network
103. insp
104. Sportsman Channel
105. Pursuit
106. Outdoor Channel
107. GAC Family
108. GAC Living
109. American Heroes Channel
110. RFD TV
111. Destination America
112. PixL
113. Cowboy Channel
114. Nat Geo Wild
115. AMC+
116. Shudder
117. Sundance Now
118. IFC Films Unlimited
119. Showtime
120. Showtime West
121. Showtime 2
122. Showtime x BET
123. Showtime Showcase
124. Showtime Extreme
125. Showtime Next
126. Showtime Women
127. Showtime Family
128. STARZ
129. STARZ West
130. STARZ Edge
131. STARZ Comedy
132. STARZ Kids & Family
133. STARZ Encore
134. Epix
135. Epix 2
136. Epix Hits
137. CineFest
138. Comedy Dynamics
139. Con TV
140. The Country Network Plus
141. CuriosityStream
142. Docurama
143. DogTV
144. Dove Channel
145. Magnolia Selects
146. Monsters & Nightmares
147. Warriors & Gangsters
148. DOX
149. Qello Concerts by Stingray
150. FlixLatino
151. Kartoon Channel!
152. Grokker
153. Hallmark Movies Now
154. BET+
155. Here TV
156. Hopster
157. Outside TV Features
158. Pantaya
159. Stingray Karaoke
160. UP Faith & Family
161. VSiN
162. ScreamFlix
163. Noggin
164. True Royalty TV

Sports Channels of Sling TV

1.  ESPN
2. ESPN2
3. ESPN3
4. Stadium
5. NBA TV
6. Golf Channel
7. beIN Sports
8. Tennis Channel
9. MLB Strike Zone

In this category, I think DIRECTV does a better job in terms of Sports channels. On the other hand, Sling TV is focused more on the streaming of mixed channels. 

Availability Comparison of DIRECTV and Sling TV

You may ask whether DIRECTV is available in your area. Let me tell you that only in the United States. Here is the list of states it is available in the United States: 

1. Alabama
2. Alaska 
3. Arizona 
4. Arkansas 
5. California 
6. Colorado 
7. Connecticut 
8. Delaware 
9. Florida 
10. Georgia 
11. Hawaii 
12. Idaho 
13. Illinois 
14. Indiana 
15. Iowa 
16. Kansas 
17. Kentucky 
18. Louisiana 
19. Maine 
20. Maryland 
21. Massachusetts 
22. Michigan 
23. Minnesota 
24. Mississippi 
25. Missouri 
26. Montana 
27. Nebraska 
28. Nevada 
29. New Hampshire 
30. New Jersey 
31. New Mexico 
32. New York 
33. North Carolina 
34. North Dakota 
35. Ohio 
36. Oklahoma 
37. Oregon 
38. Pennsylvania 
39. Rhode Island 
40. South Carolina 
41. South Dakota 
42. Tennessee 
43. Texas 
44. Utah 
45. Vermont 
46. Virginia 
47. Washington 
48. West Virginia 
49. Wisconsin 
50. Wyoming

Sling TV is also a US-based service, and you will not be able to use it outside the US region.

Both DIRECTV and Sling TV are US-based operators but DIRECTV offers its services in more states than Sling TV. Therefore, DIRECTV has the upper hand. Alongwith that, DIRECTV is a better choice for sports lovers because of its extensive sports channels inclusion.

Device Compatibility of DIRECTV and Sling TV

Sling TV is available on Android, iOS, and Chromecast platforms. Along with that, you can access Sling TV on the following TVs:

1. AirTV Player
2. Amazon Fire TV
3. Android TV
4. Apple TV (4th Generation and Apple TV 4K)
5. Channel Master DVR+
6. LG Smart TV (on webOS 3.0 or higher)
7. Mi Box
8. Roku
9. Xbox One
10. Xbox Series X/S
11. TiVo Stream 4K

On the other hand, DIRECTV is also available on iOS, Android and Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV.

User Interface Comparison of DIRECTV and Sling TV

Sling TV’s app is called Slingbox 500, and overall its user interface is very simplistic. You get a LIVE TV Tab, TV Gallery Tab, Web Gallery, Apps, What’s New, and Settings. Youtube features, however, can be accessed from the UI in the US only. 

The DIRECTV user interface is in blue color and has a vintage look to its interface. You can see the time, the playlist, and the top movies. It has round corners with a gradient finish and the DIRECTV logo at the top. 

Both TV providers offer a similar type of user interface, but DIRECTV gives you more options to browse from. Also, you can monitor DVR space right on the app. My vote goes to DIRECTV in this case.

Cloud DVR Comparison Between DIRECTV and Sling TV

With Sling TV, you will pay $5.00/mo for using a DVR with 200 hours of storage. DIRECTV on the flip side sends you their first Genie DVR, which can be connected to your TV and stores for up to 200 hours. However, each additional set-top box will attract a fee of $7.00/mo. Hence, my vote goes to Sling TV in this case. 

Who wins, DIRECTV or Sling TV?

In my comparison, I have found DIRECTV to be a better contender in terms of its general channels, sports channels as well as the user interface. Sling TV offers you choices at a lower cost. However, it will not suit the requirements of sports enthusiasts. 

Wrapping Up

This completes my comparison between DIRECTV vs Sling TV. A limited period offer is going on on DIRECTV’s website, where you can save between $40 and $120. For more buck-saving tips, keep scrolling Path of EX.