DIRECTV vs Sling TV: Every Plan Compared
By The Spool Editors · Published June 16, 2026 · Updated June 16, 2026
DIRECTV and Sling TV sit at opposite ends of the cord-cutting spectrum: one is the full-service cable replacement, the other the cheap, build-it-yourself option. Here is every plan compared, and who each one is actually for.
At a Glance
| DIRECTV | Sling TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $45.99/mo |
| Most channels | 185+ | 47+ |
| Streams at once | 20 | 1 to 4 |
| Local channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regional sports free | ✗ | ✗ |
| Unlimited DVR | ✓ | ✗ |
| Full channel lineup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cheapest price | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✗ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
DIRECTV sells tiers and genre packs; Sling TV sells one base plan plus add-ons. Here is every plan on each side, with what it really costs.
DIRECTV
Sling TV
Price Breakdown & Hike History
DIRECTV starts at $59.99/mo and Sling TV at $45.99/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 Sling 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.
Sling TV: Sling has raised its base price seven times since 2020, from $30 to $45.99.
Channel Lineups Head-to-Head
Sling TV runs one lineup of 32+ 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 | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $45.99/mo |
| Free trial | 5 days | No (first month often half off) |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR | 50 hours (200 with DVR Plus) |
| 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 | Mostly dropped |
| Local channels | Included where available | Limited (ABC/NBC/Fox in select markets, no CBS) |
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.
Sling TV add-ons: Sports Extra, News Extra, DVR Plus (200 hours), and Comedy / Kids / Lifestyle Extras. 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. Sling TV offers one no (first month often half off). 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 Sling TV's flat $45.99, and the gap narrows fast. If you want simple and done, Sling TV's single plan is the least to think about.
DIRECTV vs Sling TV FAQ
- Is Sling really cheaper than DIRECTV?
- Yes, by a lot. Sling starts at $45.99 versus DIRECTV's $59.99, and Sling's slimmer lineup keeps the bill down. The trade-off is far fewer channels, thin locals and a capped DVR.
- Does Sling have local channels?
- Only partly. Sling Blue carries ABC, NBC and Fox in select markets and no CBS. DIRECTV includes locals in most markets. If local stations matter, DIRECTV is safer.
- Which has better DVR?
- DIRECTV, with unlimited Cloud DVR on every plan. Sling includes 50 hours and charges extra for 200 hours via DVR Plus.
- Which should a sports fan pick?
- DIRECTV. It keeps regional sports networks that Sling has largely dropped, so for following a local team it is the stronger choice.
DIRECTV vs Sling TV: The Verdict
These play in different leagues. Sling is the budget pick at $45.99 for a slim, customizable lineup, with limited locals and a 50-hour DVR. DIRECTV is the full cable replacement: 185+ channels, locals, unlimited DVR and regional sports. If price is the priority and you only want a handful of channels, Sling wins easily. If you want a complete lineup with locals and RSNs, that is DIRECTV, and you will pay roughly double for it.
Last updated: June 16, 2026