DIRECTV vs Paramount+: Every Plan Compared
By The Spool Editors · Published June 16, 2026 · Updated June 16, 2026
DIRECTV and Paramount+ are easy to confuse as competitors, but one is a full live TV service and the other a streaming app with live CBS sports. Here is what each actually delivers, plan by plan, so you can tell whether you need one or both.
At a Glance
| DIRECTV | Paramount+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $7.99/mo |
| Live cable channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Local channels | ✓ | CBS only |
| Live sports | ✓ | ✓ |
| On-demand library | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud DVR | ✓ | ✗ |
| Streams at once | 20 | 3 |
| Full live TV service | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cheapest price | ✗ | ✓ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
DIRECTV sells tiers and genre packs; Paramount+ sells one base plan plus add-ons. Here is every plan on each side, with what it really costs.
DIRECTV
Paramount+
Price Breakdown & Hike History
DIRECTV starts at $59.99/mo and Paramount+ at $7.99/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 Paramount+, 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.
Paramount+: Paramount+ Essential is $7.99 and the Showtime tier $12.99 as of 2026.
Channel Lineups Head-to-Head
Paramount+ runs one lineup of On-demand + CBS sports 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 | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $7.99/mo |
| Free trial | 5 days | 7 days |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR | None |
| Simultaneous streams | 20 at home, 3 on the go | 3 |
| Accounts / profiles | Multiple profiles | 6 profiles |
| 4K | Limited 4K via Sports Pack add-on | Limited |
| Regional sports (RSNs) | Extra fee (up to $19.99) on Choice, Ultimate, Premier | None |
| Local channels | Included where available | Live local CBS on the Showtime tier |
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.
Paramount+ 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. Paramount+ 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 Paramount+'s flat $7.99, and the gap narrows fast. If you want simple and done, Paramount+'s single plan is the least to think about.
DIRECTV vs Paramount+ FAQ
- Is Paramount+ a live TV service?
- Not a full one. It is an on-demand app with live CBS sports and, on the Showtime tier, your live local CBS station. There is no broader channel bundle and no DVR, so it does not replace DIRECTV.
- What live sports does Paramount+ have?
- NFL on CBS, the UEFA Champions League, and other CBS Sports events. For CBS-carried sports it is excellent value at $7.99 to $12.99.
- Can Paramount+ replace DIRECTV?
- Only if CBS sports and on-demand are all you want. For live cable channels, full local TV and DVR, you still need a service like DIRECTV.
- Which is cheaper?
- Paramount+, by a wide margin, from $7.99 versus $59.99 and up for DIRECTV. But you are comparing a streaming app to a full live TV service.
DIRECTV vs Paramount+: The Verdict
Like Peacock, Paramount+ is not a full live TV service. It is a streaming library with live CBS sports attached. From $7.99 it gets you NFL on CBS, the UEFA Champions League and, on the $12.99 Showtime tier, your live local CBS station, but no other live channels and no DVR. DIRECTV is the complete live lineup. Use Paramount+ for CBS sports and a big on-demand catalog on the cheap; use DIRECTV when you want real live TV. They are complements more than rivals.
Last updated: June 16, 2026