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.

Smriti Razdan

Smriti started her journey by attaining a degree in computer applications, laying down the foundation of her love for everything AI and tech. Research and bringing the best for her readers is what drives her. Besides work, Smriti loves to indulge in reading undiscovered stories and books keep her going.

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