Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW

If you’re trying to decide which streaming service to get and you’ve narrowed it down to Sling TV and AT&T TV NOW, then you’re in the right spot. We’re here to help you make that difficult decision. So let’s dive in.

Sling TV doesn’t offer HBO, and this is Sling’s biggest fault. But it has a lower price, more sports channels, and a better DVR.

AT&T TV NOW has HBO included (you heard me: included) in its plan and has more channels overall.

Although Sling TV doesn’t have the king of premium channels, HBO, Sling TV is our winner. Stick around as we we explain why we have named them the winner.

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW price comparison

Sling TV has a more affordable price tag than AT&T TV NOW.

Sling TV has two inexpensive options if you’re OK sacrificing a chunk of channels to keep prices down, but if you want the full suite of what Sling TV has to offer, you’ll need the more expensive package.

^{Data effective 12/13/2019. Offers are subject to change.}

^{Data effective 12/13/2019. Offers are subject to change.}

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW hidden fees

Sling TV charges an extra $5 per month for its cloud DVR fee. Which is kind of a bummer when you look at AT&T TV NOW and see that it doesn’t have any extra fees. (In fact, Sling TV might be the only streaming service that charges for DVR service.)

It’s nice that the cloud DVR is optional with Sling, though. DVRs are super convenient, but the more you can customize your service, the better chance you have of getting exactly what you want.

Although AT&T TV NOW doesn’t charge extra for its cloud DVR, Sling TV is still the overall cheaper option.

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW live channels

If you want top channels like Fox News, MSNBC, and the Hallmark Channel, AT&T TV NOW is your service.

Depending on the plan you get, both services have an almost equal amount of popular channels. If you love your Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, AT&T TV NOW is for you. But if you’re more of a Fixer Upper kind of person, then go for Sling TV.

Of course, AT&T TV NOW will have more popular channels because of its overall channel count, but check out the channel lineup for Sling TV and AT&T TV NOW, just in case. Price aside, though, AT&T TV NOW wins this section.

^{Data effective 12/13/2019. Offers are subject to change.}

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW local channels

Back in the day, cable was the most reliable way to get good channels. But times have changed—and if you want to cut the cord and still watch Fox News, CBS, CNN, FOX, or CNBC, you’ll be set with AT&T TV NOW. Make sure it’s available in your area, though!

• Check AT&T TV NOW’s available networks here.
• Check Sling TV network availability here.

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW premium channels

One upside to AT&T TV NOW: HBO is included. And when you upgrade to AT&T TV NOW MAX, CINEMAX is also included. It’s a solid win for everyone in the family with its variety.

And it can’t be overlooked that Sling TV doesn’t have HBO at all. Sigh.

So if you can live without Game of Thrones or The Wire, you’ll do great with Sling TV. But if you want to catch the new His Dark Materials series, you’ll have to pay a little extra for AT&T TV NOW. (Who doesn’t want to see Lin-Manuel Miranda fly a hot-air balloon?)

^{Data effective 12/13/2019. Offers are subject to change.}

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW sports channels

The section you’ve all been waiting for: the sports channel lineup. And we must say, Sling TV is a clear championship winner in this department.

We compared the Orange + Blue $45 per month plan to the AT&T TV NOW $65 per month plan, and the difference in the number of sports channels is significant. It’s like comparing Patrick Mahomes to Marcus Mariota.

Sling TV not only has 13 more sports channels, but it also gives you a great variety to watch lots of major sports games and talk shows. And it’s $20 cheaper. So, it’s not hard to see that Sling TV is the option for sports aficionados.

Sling TV has the following sports channels:

And AT&T TV NOW only has these sports channels:

• ESPN
• ESPN2
• FS1

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW DVR comparison

Sling TV might charge a little extra for its cloud DVR, but its storage is bigger and the recordings save for longer. It’ll save you the headache of rushing to watch The Simpsons episodes you recorded close to a month ago.

Sling TV vs. AT&T TV NOW user experience

Sling TV’s channel guide is familiar, while AT&T TV NOW’s can be a little frustrating.

The Sling TV channel guide is similar to that of traditional cable. It has channel scrolling, time scrolling, and channel categories. There’s also a view that lets you see next week’s schedule so you can scope out which Christmas movies you want to watch while cuddling with a hot cup of cocoa.

AT&T TV NOW’s channel guide is about the same as Sling’s, with some key differences. When you click on one of the genre tabs, you get a listing of only the current showings and what’s on for the next couple of hours. And if you want to exit the genre tab, you have to exit the channel guide altogether. That’s not very convenient—or intuitive.

Which devices can you watch Sling TV and AT&T TV NOW on?

These days, we want our streaming service to be compatible with our phones, tablets, and TVs. After all, your commute on public transit is the perfect time to catch up on The Expanse.

Download the app on these devices so you can watch your TV show while on the train or waiting in a long line.

You can stream Sling TV on these devices:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• Roku
• Xbox One
• Google Chromecast
• iPhones, iPads (iOS 9 and up, iPhone 4.0 and up)
• Android smartphones, tablets, and TVs
• And more

Stream AT&T TV NOW all day long on these devices:

• Roku
• Apple TV
• Amazon Fire TV
• Google Chromecast
• Samsung Smart TV
• iPhone, iPad (iOS 9 and up, iPhone 4.0 and up)
• Android smartphones and tablets
• And more

Recap: Sling TV is the winner.

Sling TV is more affordable, but AT&T TV NOW has more live channels.

After comparing price, channels, DVR, user experience, and the bonuses, Sling TV comes out ahead. AT&T TV NOW is a great option for the family with its variety and for HBO fanatics, but Sling TV is a great option for the sports fans and for anyone trying to save a buck.

• Pricing: All of Sling TV’s plans ($30–$45) are cheaper than AT&T TV NOW’s plans ($65–$80).
• Channels: AT&T TV NOW has more live channels and includes HBO. Sling TV has a lower number of channels and doesn’t have HBO whatsoever.
• Sports channels: Sling TV holds the championship belt because it has a great variety of sports channels with major sports coverage. AT&T TV NOW only offers ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Sling TV offers those sports channels and 13 more.
• DVR: Sling TV’s DVR gives you 50 hours of storage and saves your recordings indefinitely versus AT&T TV NOW’s 20-hour storage that saves for 30 days.
• User experience: Sling TV has a simple cable-like channel guide and AT&T TV NOW gives a rough channel guide experience.

If you’re still on the fence, you can dive into the nitty-gritty details in our full reviews:

• Sling TV Review
• AT&T TV NOW Review

What do you think?

Do you have Sling TV or AT&T TV NOW? What’s your experience with it been? Or do you like a different streaming service better? Drop us a comment below!

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