DIRECTV vs Fubo: Every Plan Compared
By The Spool Editors · Published June 16, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026
DIRECTV and Fubo are the two services sports fans actually argue about. Fubo leans hard into soccer and international coverage; DIRECTV is the broad cable replacement with deep regional sports. We compared every plan to settle which fits which kind of fan.
At a Glance
| DIRECTV | Fubo | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $79.99/mo |
| Most channels | 185+ | 297 |
| Streams at once | 20 | 10 |
| Local channels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Regional sports free | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited DVR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soccer & international depth | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cheap mini plans | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
DIRECTV sells tiers and genre packs; Fubo sells one base plan plus add-ons. Here is every plan on each side, with what it really costs.
DIRECTV
Fubo
Price Breakdown & Hike History
DIRECTV starts at $59.99/mo and Fubo at $79.99/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 Fubo, 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.
Fubo: Fubo Pro sits at $79.99 in 2026, up from $54.99 two years earlier, with the regional sports fee charged separately.
Channel Lineups Head-to-Head
Fubo runs one lineup of 219 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.
Channel by Channel
Every channel below links to our full answer on whether that service carries it. Channels neither service publishes an answer for are left out rather than guessed at.
Only on DIRECTV: CNN, HGTV, History, Lifetime, TBS, TNT.
On both: ABC, ACC Network, Bravo, CBS, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, FX, Fox Business, Freeform, Game Show Network, ION, MTV, NBC, NFL Network, USA.
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 | Fubo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $79.99/mo |
| Free trial | 5 days | 7 days |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR |
| Simultaneous streams | 20 at home, 3 on the go | Up to 10 |
| Accounts / profiles | Multiple profiles | Up to 7 profiles |
| 4K | Limited 4K via Sports Pack add-on | 4K on Elite/Premier |
| Regional sports (RSNs) | Extra fee (up to $19.99) on Choice, Ultimate, Premier | Up to 40 regional sports networks, $3 to $17 extra a month |
| Local channels | Included where available | Included in most markets |
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.
Fubo add-ons: Sports Plus with NFL RedZone, Fubo Extra, International packs, and Premium channels. 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. Fubo 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 Fubo's flat $79.99, and the gap narrows fast. If you want simple and done, Fubo's single plan is the least to think about.
What Changed Recently
- June 25, 2026: DIRECTV raised its genre packs, with MyEntertainment going from $35 to $43 a month.
- June 10, 2026: Telemundo and Universo joined the Fubo Latino lineup.
- June 2026: Fubo Latino moved to $19.99 a month for new customers, with existing monthly subscribers following from 1 July.
- September 2, 2025: Fubo launched its skinny Sports and News plan, which includes ESPN Unlimited access.
- March 2025: Fubo pulled the Essential plan from its signup page about four months after launching it.
- 2025: DIRECTV launched the MySports genre pack after the Venu joint venture collapsed.
DIRECTV vs Fubo FAQ
- Is DIRECTV or Fubo better for sports?
- It depends on the sport. Fubo is unmatched for soccer and international leagues. DIRECTV has the widest regional sports network coverage, which matters more for following a local pro team.
- Which is cheaper?
- DIRECTV's Entertainment tier at $59.99 is the cheapest way in, but it has no RSNs. Fubo Pro at $79.99 includes regional sports, so for a sports fan the real prices land closer together.
- How many people can watch at once?
- DIRECTV allows 20 simultaneous streams at home, more than Fubo's 10. Both are generous compared with most rivals.
- Do both have a free trial?
- Yes. Fubo offers a consistent 7-day free trial and DIRECTV a 5-day one. Either lets you test the lineup before paying.
DIRECTV vs Fubo: The Verdict
Both are built for sports fans, but they specialize differently. Fubo is the soccer and international heavyweight, with wide regional sports, up to 10 simultaneous streams and a deep channel count, all from $79.99. DIRECTV counters with a cheaper $59.99 entry, 20 streams at home and strong RSN coverage of its own. If your TV life revolves around soccer or you want a huge number of streams and channels, Fubo. If you want a cheaper way in and the widest regional sports net, DIRECTV.
Last updated: October 7, 2026