DIRECTV vs Frndly TV: Every Plan Compared
By The Spool Editors · Published June 16, 2026 · Updated June 16, 2026
DIRECTV and Frndly TV sit at the extremes of live streaming: one is a full cable replacement, the other a $9 niche bundle. Comparing them is really about figuring out how much TV you actually need. Here is every plan.
At a Glance
| DIRECTV | Frndly TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Most channels | 185+ | 40+ |
| Local channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Live sports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hallmark & lifestyle focus | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited DVR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Streams at once | 20 | 1 to 4 |
| Full live TV | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cheapest price | ✗ | ✓ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
DIRECTV sells tiers and genre packs; Frndly TV sells one base plan plus add-ons. Here is every plan on each side, with what it really costs.
DIRECTV
Frndly TV
Price Breakdown & Hike History
DIRECTV starts at $59.99/mo and Frndly TV at $8.99/mo, but the sticker price is the trap. With DIRECTV, the regional sports fee can add up to $19.99 on the Choice tier and up. With Frndly TV, the base price is flat but extras stack on top.
DIRECTV: DIRECTV is raising its genre packs on June 25, 2026, with MyEntertainment going from $35 to $43 a month.
Frndly TV: Frndly remains one of the cheapest live options, starting at $8.99 a month.
Channel Lineups Head-to-Head
Frndly TV runs one lineup of 40+ channels with locals and RSNs folded in where they exist. DIRECTV scales from a 90+ channel base up to 185+ on Premier, so the channel count depends entirely on which tier you buy. For most households the question isn't the raw number, it's whether your specific channels are in the plan, which is what the next section is for.
Your Local Channels & Your Team's RSN
This is where the decision usually gets made. Both services carry local stations in most markets, but coverage and regional sports vary city by city and team by team.
- Check exactly which service carries your city's ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox with our local channels guide.
- See whether your team's games are on a regional sports network, and who carries it, in our sports streaming guides.
The Features That Decide It
| Feature | DIRECTV | Frndly TV |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Free trial | 5 days | 7 days |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR | Unlimited on Premium |
| Simultaneous streams | 20 at home, 3 on the go | 1 to 4 by plan |
| Accounts / profiles | Multiple profiles | Single login |
| 4K | Limited 4K via Sports Pack add-on | No |
| Regional sports (RSNs) | Extra fee (up to $19.99) on Choice, Ultimate, Premier | None |
| Local channels | Included where available | None |
Add-Ons & Hidden Costs
DIRECTV add-ons: Max, Paramount+, STARZ, AMC+, Discovery+, Hallmark+, Peacock, NBA League Pass, DirecTV Sports Pack, and International packs. The big hidden cost is the RSN fee on Choice and up.
Frndly TV add-ons: . The hidden cost here is that 4K, extra Spanish channels and more sports each cost extra on top of the base plan.
How to Try Each One Free
DIRECTV runs a 5 days free trial fairly consistently. Frndly TV offers one 7 days. With either, the move is the same: start the trial, watch what you need, and cancel before the first charge. For one-off live events, that trial window is often all you need.
The Cheapest Way to Get What You Want
Work backward from your must-haves. If you only need entertainment and news, DIRECTV Entertainment at $59.99 undercuts everything. If you need regional sports, compare DIRECTV Choice plus its RSN fee against Frndly TV's flat $8.99, and the gap narrows fast. If you want simple and done, Frndly TV's single plan is the least to think about.
DIRECTV vs Frndly TV FAQ
- What channels does Frndly TV have?
- Around 40, centered on Hallmark, lifestyle, easy news and game shows, plus channels like the Weather Channel, A&E and History. No sports and no local stations.
- Is Frndly a real cable replacement?
- Not for most people. With no sports and no locals it works as a cheap niche service or an add-on, not a full substitute. For that, DIRECTV is the pick.
- How much cheaper is Frndly?
- Dramatically. Frndly starts at $8.99 versus DIRECTV at $59.99 and up. You are trading almost everything for that price, though.
- Does Frndly have DVR?
- Yes, unlimited DVR on the $12.99 Premium plan. The $8.99 Basic plan has no DVR and a single screen.
DIRECTV vs Frndly TV: The Verdict
Wildly different budgets and goals. Frndly is $8.99 to $12.99 for around 40 channels built on Hallmark, lifestyle and easy news, with no sports and no locals. DIRECTV is a complete cable replacement at many times the price. Frndly is perfect if Hallmark, the Weather Channel and game shows are your TV. It is useless if you want sports or your local stations, and that is exactly where DIRECTV takes over.
Last updated: June 16, 2026