Sling TV vs. DIRECTV NOW
OVERVIEW
DIRECTV NOW versus Sling TV—which one is really worth it?
Our money’s on DIRECTV NOW. But the budget-conscious part of us is head over heels for Sling TV’s prices.
| Features | DIRECTV NOW | Sling TV |
| Price | $40–$80/mo.* | $25–$45/mo.** |
| Channels | 60–120+ | 30–50+ |
| Simultaneous streams | 2–3 | 1–4 |
| Cloud DVR | Included; 20 hours for 30 days | Not included; $5/month for 50 hours and unlimited days upgrade |
| Cost to add HBO® | $5/mo. | $15/mo. |
| Learn more | Free trail | Free trial |
Data effective 8/31/2018. Offers are subject to change.
* Maximum price includes $5/mo. for a simultaneous streams upgrade.
** Maximum price includes $5/mo. for a DVR upgrade.
DIRECTV NOW vs. Sling TV price comparison
DIRECTV NOW offers more channels—but Sling TV is our budget pick.
If you’re not so worried about price and want the most channels money can buy, DIRECTV NOW is easily your best choice out of these two.
While Sling TV is cheaper overall, DIRECTV NOW simply takes the cake when it comes to having the widest variety of content.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Learn more |
| Live a Little | $40/mo. | 60+ | Free trial |
| Just Right | $55/mo. | 80+ | Free trial |
| Go Big | $65/mo. | 100+ | Free trial |
| Gotta Have It | $75/mo. | 120+ | Free trial |
Data effective 8/31/2018. Offers are subject to change.
Even DIRECTV NOW’s smallest package, Live a Little, includes more channels than Sling TV’s biggest package, Sling Orange+Blue. (That’s 60+ channels for Live a Little versus 50+ for Sling Orange+Blue.) The kicker? It’s the same price.
Also, did we mention DIRECTV NOW’s cost includes a DVR, while Sling’s doesn’t? Shade thrown.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Learn more |
| Sling Orange | $25/mo. | 30 | Free trial |
| Sling Blue | $25/mo. | 35 | Free trial |
| Sling Orange + Blue | $40/mo. | 50+ | Free trial |
Data effective 8/31/2018. Offers are subject to change.
But don’t drop the mic yet, because Sling TV’s most expensive package is the same price as DIRECTV NOW’s cheapest package (plus $5 a month for a DVR if you want it). Looks like this rap battle is getting heated.
However, those low prices will mean you’ll miss out on some key channels. We couldn’t help but notice Fox News, The CW, and Telemundo were missing from Sling. But more on that later.
DIRECTV NOW vs. Sling TV channels
DIRECTV NOW’s premium channel prices just can’t be beat—and now it’s got NFL SUNDAY TICKET.
It’s easier to get the channels you want with DIRECTV NOW, which isn’t that surprising, since its packages include more channels than Sling’s to begin with.
But if you’re looking for foreign language channels, that’s where Sling TV shines. From its México Add-On option to its Hindi Mini add-on and everything in between, you’re able to grab several handfuls of international channels.
Honestly, though, you shouldn’t disregard Sling TV just because its channel count is low. The best way to check if your favorites are included is to view the channel lists. Who knows, you might find a few of your favorites on there—and that might be all you need.
You can view DIRECTV NOW’s channel list here, and get eyeballs on Sling TV’s channels here.
DIRECTV NOW vs. Sling TV local channels
What local channels you can tune into largely depends on where you live. But you’re more likely to get access to ABC and other local channels with DIRECTV NOW.
Why? Because DIRECTV NOW has more local channel affiliates than Sling TV.
- DIRECTV NOW has 218 local affiliates.
- Sling TV has 36 local affiliates.
Sling TV vs. DIRECTV NOW premium channels
If that Game of Thrones intro music gets you hyped, both Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW have you covered.
But Sling TV just can’t beat DIRECTV NOW’s prices. (In fact, most streaming services will charge around $15 for HBO, making DIRECTV NOW’s $5 a month for HBO quite a steal.)
| Channel | DIRECTV NOW price | Sling TV price |
| HBO® | $5/mo. | $15/mo. |
| SHOWTIME® | N/A | $10/mo. |
| CINEMAX® | $5/mo. | $10/mo. |
| STARZ® | $8/mo. | $9/mo. |
| EPIX® | N/A | $5/mo. |
Data effective 8/31/2018. Offers are subject to change.
Of course, if you want SHOWTIME and EPIX, you gotta go with Sling TV.
DIRECTV NOW vs. Sling TV sports channels
If all you need for your sports fix is ESPN, both services are good to go. Yup, DIRECTV NOW and Sling TV both offer ESPN—and ESPN2.
But if you’re looking for something more specific, you may not be so lucky. It seems like DIRECTV NOW has the best sports channel coverage, but even so, it’s missing a couple key players.
- NFL Network: Sling TV only
- NFL RedZone: Sling TV only
- Big Ten Network: DIRECTV NOW only
- MLB Network: DIRECTV NOW only
- CBS Sports Network: DIRECTV NOW only
(By the way, if you’re a die-hard sports fan, might we recommend fuboTV? See why in our fuboTV review here.)
DIRECTV NOW vs. Sling TV user experience
Our wish: a no-commercial option for both Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW.
Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW are neck and neck when it comes to how you watch shows.
Both services miss out on the option to rewind, pause, or fast-forward live content—though we did notice DIRECTV NOW let us pause an episode of Criminal Minds when someone stepped in the room to ask us a question.
But DIRECTV NOW’s user interface (UI) was weird. Any time we moved the mouse, the controls would pop up.
Normally, that wouldn’t be so bad—in fact, we expect it. But with DIRECTV NOW, that means a big pause button pops up in the middle of your show. Not cool.
We like Sling TV’s UI better—it sits down at the bottom of your screen, so it’s out of the way but still clickable. However, if you’re a huge TV buff, you’ll probably find the content on Sling to be slim pickings. (Of course, we have Sling Orange, the base package, so it can only get better from there.)
We should also mention that when we wrote a DIRECTV NOW review, we talked about quite a few UI bugs. This time around, we didn’t run into the same issues. In fact, the only odd thing we noticed was not being able to load a list of our favorite shows on the main menu.
What devices can you watch Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW on?
As a die-hard PlayStation 4 user, I have to ask: where’s the PS4 love?
But honestly, even if you have a PS4, you’ll likely be able to stream your favorite shows on Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW on desktop or another streaming device anyway.
Things you can stream DIRECTV NOW on:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Chromecast
- iOS and Android mobile
- Mac and PC
Things you can stream Sling TV on:
- Amazon Fire TV and mobile
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Chromecast
- iOS and Android mobile
- Windows phones
- Xbox One
- Mac and PC
How many streams can you have going at once?
DIRECTV NOW and Sling TV approach simultaneous streaming a little differently. Here’s a quick look at what you can expect.
DIRECTV simultaneous streaming
- Each package comes with two simultaneous streams.
- You can upgrade to three simultaneous streams for $5 extra per month.
Sling TV simultaneous streaming
- Sling Orange allows you to only stream on one device at a time.
- Sling Blue lets you stream on three devices at once.
- Sling Orange+Blue says why not get the whole family in on this and lets you stream on four devices at a time.
Sling TV vs. DIRECTV NOW DVR comparison
DIRECTV NOW includes a DVR—but you’ll pay extra to get one with Sling TV.
If you’re all about recording episodes of Sharp Objects for a binge session on the weekend, a DVR is your best friend.
| Price | Cloud storage | |
| DIRECTV NOW True Cloud DVR | Included | 20 hours (30 days) |
| Sling TV Cloud DVR | $5/mo. extra | 50 hours (unlimited days) |
Data effective 8/31/2018. Offers are subject to change.
Unfortunately, Sling TV doesn’t include a DVR with any of its packages—so you’ll have to pay $5 extra each month to get one. But it lets you keep 50 hours of big screen drama stashed away forever. For. Ever.
DIRECTV NOW, on the other hand, includes a DVR no matter which package you get. Buuut it keeps fewer recordings for a shorter period of time than Sling TV.
Recap—DIRECTV NOW is the winner
With a plethora of channels and low add-on costs, DIRECTV NOW is our pick.
| Best for most | Budget pick |
 |  |
| Free trial | Free trial |
When it comes to channel selection and pricing for add-ons like HBO, it’s hard to beat DIRECTV NOW. But Sling TV remains our choice for best budget streaming service, so there’s that.
- Pricing: DIRECTV NOW costs more, sure. But you get more channels. You win some, you lose some.
- Channels: Like we mentioned before, DIRECTV NOW blows past Sling TV when it comes to channel selection. We’re talking a maximum of 120+ channels compared to 50+. Oh, and did we mention DIRECTV NOW offers NFL SUNDAY TICKET? No contest.
- Experience: We have to give it to Sling TV here. It was annoying when DIRECTV NOW’s controls kept popping up in the middle of our screen.
- DVR: It’s a toss-up—DIRECTV NOW includes a DVR with your package, but even though you pay extra for Sling TV’s DVR, it comes with more storage hours that last infinitely longer.
Still not sure which of these two streaming services is right for you? Check out our full reviews here.
Have you used Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW? Which one do you think is the winner? Let us know in the comments.
If you’re not sold on either one consider other options from our Best Live TV Streaming Services or our Best Cable Alternatives review.
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if your an AT&T customer you can stream direct tv on your phone no data usage
do either include the NFL network ?
do either include the NFL channel
yes, both services offer nfl
Do Directv Now offer “bein Sports”?
Can you use your sling tv account to sign into other applications like you can with direct tv now? Such as NFL ap or history channel ap?
Some channels offer Sling as a provider for their on line stream… not sure which ones though.
Can you use your sling sign in info to sign into other applications like you can with direct tv now?
No. I have checked out almost every streaming service and DTV now is the only one listed. I love the HBO and Showtime stand alone apps for free with the cheap subscription price through DTV now. Stars does not allow you to use their free with subscription app. Hope this helps.
You missed a very important feature with your review. DirectTV Now lets you view both NBC and ABC, but Sling would not let me view either where I live. That’s huge, because ABC over the air is an almost impossibility to watch with an antenna. CBS isn’t on either service, but I can at least use an antenna to bring in pretty good reception.
i’ve had sling tv for 6 months and have found it nearly impossible to watch. the guide is terrible. the apple tv app is so buggy i’m constantly having to restart the app. using the cloud DVR is almost pointless as half the shows don’t allow you to DVR and they’re not available and i get an error screen. i use my sling tv account to sing in to all the individual channel apps and have more success. I’ve been using the DirectTV now app and will be switching to it, cutting off hulu, the CBS app, and all the others.
As another pointed out, you missed some networks…NBC and ABC were mentioned…I have NBC on Sling, but not CBS, which is a big deal for football fans. One thing you didn’t mention at all was the shows that are available On Demand. I’ve had Sling for two months now – one of the best features it has is all the available On Demand content (TBS for example has a wealth of old shows available On Demand). I set up a free trial of DirecTV last night just so I could watch New Year’s Rockin Eve…So far, in comparing Sling & DTV side by side, Sling blows DTV away with the available On Demand content. Also worth noting that every time I’ve used DTV so far, it’s stopped to buffer several times…this rarely happens on Sling. The channel lineup on DTV’s basic plan is pretty decent – if it had more On Demand and worked better, I’d keep it and dump Sling Blue. I’ll probably just get the CBS Now service for my NFL fix which is only for another month of playoff games…hopefully by next September there will be more availability…
During the 1st quarter of 2018. It’s in beta right now.
1st Quarter is about to end and still no sign of Cloud DVR for DirecTV Now.
It’s in beta right now. Their plans are to add it in the 1st quarter of 2018.
Directv Now does offer Turner Classic Movies, by the way. Also, it wasn’t pointed out in the article, but Directv now is also the only service that offers MLB network. (Sling does not). They both have NFL network.
The one main difference that I have noticed is that Directv Now’s guide is much more user friendly. It is in alphabetical order. Sling’s is not. (In fact, I actually haven’t figured out the order of the channels yet).
Plus Directv now has ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS. Sling (in my area) only offered FOX and NBC.
It is a total mystery to me how Sling orders their channels. The guide for an old guy like me is difficult to use. My daughters, on the other hand, took to it naturally. Like Netflix.
Overall I prefer the functionality and channel selection of Directv Now to Sling. Sling has it beat in performance by quite a large margin. I’ve experienced some buffering with Sling. But full blown errors and inability to watch certain channels with Directv. That said, I think I’m still going to go with Directv because of the functionality and gamble that performance improves over time. I like the guide better. It’s a better “surfing” platform than Sling. Pet peeve on all of these services, CAN WE GET A “LAST CHANNEL” BUTTON?
Another factor in my decision for Directv. Delay time. I hope this isn’t impacted by new DVR functionality. And I only care during football season. I timed both Sling and Directv against Verizon Fios cable. I found that Directv tended to be 30 seconds behind the cable feed where Sling was a full minute or more. Not a big deal perhaps. For me, I don’t need to be getting a text from a friend or an update from my phone before seeing the action on tv. Knowing about a TD before seeing it on the screen is a deal breaker for me. In fact, I may get myself an HD Antenna to address that challenge even if I do get Directv.
There is a last channel button on sling with roku its the circle with the arrow button on the remote .
I have Direct TV Now, I was wondering if they still have the NFL Network as one of there programming networks. I have enjoyed it so far, but that is one of the big questions I have as an huge football fan.
I have Sling. It is often barely watchable. It loads slow – freezes and buffers. My internet is fairly slow but I am able to watch Netflix- tubi and other apps with no problems. Would Directv now work better for me?
I am having the same problem with Directv Now, and it’s infuriating. I’m thinking of switiching back to Sling.
With a slow internet, you would receive slow streaming. I have been on DTVN for over a year. I almost quit after the first month, but stuck with it and it is 1000 X better than what it was. Does it still have its glitches? Yes, but whereas the glitches used to shut the whole system when I first became a user, now they last for a few seconds and then take you back into the show. It is maddening at times because I can have no issues for a month..and then as someone is getting ready to hit a last second shot…here comes the glitch. Overall I am happy with the service for what you get and since SlingTV does not have TLC…my wife won’t let me change unless I go back to cable 🙂
I have tried both Sling tv and Directv Now and I have experienced bugs with both services. I have Directv Now and I am deciding whether I should go back to Sling TV. With Sling Tv I had the sling orange/blue along with 4 add-ons not including the Cloud DVR. And with Directv Now I have the Gotta Have It package> I am glad that I came across this website which by the way is helping me to decide which company I will go with after I do a little bit more home work because honestly I do not find much difference except that I can record tv with sling
Another awesome thing about DirectTv Now is if you have an account with you can stream from other premium streaming devices like HBO, Starz and Showtime just by logging in with your DirectTV Now account which means you can stream from more devices despite DirectTv Now’s 2 device limit. Also if you have AT&T for your wireless service you get HBO free anyways.
What is the best streaming service for multiple tv,s
DirecTV NOW DOES have CBS!
Here’s the great thing…No Contracts! You can change anytime.
I just signed up with Direct tv now. I planned to put four homes on their service. My billing zip is my office where I receive all my mail. I will not be able to get ANY network channels at any house – ABC CBS NBC. I would have to get four Visa cards to match the locations and the bills would be mailed to houses without mail service. The billing zip has to match the device location. I am out of business with Direct. Does anyone know a streaming service that would solve my problem. Thanks.
How are you getting your local channels?
Currently, I’m HATING Directv Now, and will probably switch back to Sling. Directv Now’s streaming service is spotty, unreliable, and “buffers” every 30 seconds, rendering the tv unwatchable. I’ve tried to contact them several times, to no avail. So, in addition to their service being utter crap, their customer service is as well.
I can’t stand it and I prepaid for 3 months to get my free Apple TV. I will cancel and go back to Sling. I hate that you can’t pause live tv and come back 15 minutes later and just continue watching. It skips back to live tv!
I’ve used Sling, Hulu Live, YouTube Live, and Direct TV Now. I haven’t notice a large difference in performance with any of them. Both on home internet and on mobile. One nice feature with DTN is if you have ATT for wireless, it doesn’t count towards your data plan so long as you are using a DTN app.
HI Kyle! I don’t think you can. https://help.directvnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/212447843-What-devices-and-browsers-can-be-used-with-DIRECTV-NOW-
I do not believe you can use DirecTV now with Android TV boxes. I have been unable to. Do any of you have more info on this?
Confirmed, it doesn’t work with Android TV boxes at this time.
I recently signed up for Sling, prepaying for 2 months ($80) in order to get a free Roku Express. Unfortunately, Roku (who processes the shipments) refused to accept the validity of either my street address or my PO box. I went through many weeks of near-daily contacts with Sling and Roku (and multiple “escalations”) to try to get delivery until I finally gave up. Sling refused to refund my $80 (for service that I was unable to watch) and to truly cap things, they also charged me ANOTHER $40 . . . because by the time I finally cancelled my service, things had gone one day into a THIRD month.
Needless to say, I will have no future dealings with Sling (or Dish) in this lifetime or any other. An outright refusal to correct matters caused by a company (or their marketing partner) is NOT is a good policy.
I appreciate your comments on Sling TV, I have Direct now. It some troublesome issues but nothing, don’t they all problems. Sorry you had to thru such a terrible experience.
Does direct TV now have MSNBC i had sling 4 two weeks and could not find Rachael Maddow live on it and that’s all my husband watches?
check out the info regarding the channels above…yes, it does have MSNBC,
Does direct TV now have Rachel Maddow on live? I had sling for 2 weeks and could not find it live, and thats all my husband watches. My do Netflix?
Who in their right mind would watch MADCOW? she is a birch personified !! All she does is lie, hate , and spew venom !!!!!
She’s got more integrity in her little finger than all of fox news talking heads combined and that’s why right-wing morons hate her.
I have SlingTv (blue plan) and watch Rachel Maddow live nightly 🙂
I pay the extra $5 for news package on Sling just to get MSNBC. Rachel is hands down the smartest news anchor, I always learn the facts and the background to important stories.
Can anyone elaborate on the on-screen channel guide for either Sling or DTV-Now (for the live/real time programming, not the on-demand stuff)? I had PlaystationVue for about a month, it worked pretty well (relatively quick with no buffering or error messages) but I cancelled it because the on-screen guide was terrible (plus the DVR functionality was too limited). No need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to designing the on-screen guide – just list the channels, programming & times in a basic grid – but the PlaystationVue guide tried to be too cute and ended up being simply frustrating & confusing.
I have direct tv now and on screen guide is very clear and you can select favorite channels or all channels.
I agree..the on screen guide is great with Direct TV Now. I stream DTVN through a Firestick on one TV and on Roku on a second tv. The channel guide can search for what is on now, or you can search through channel directories for on Demand content. You can also set up your channels as favorites so that you do not need to scroll through all of the channels. It is very easy. The only issue that I have with searching on DTVN is trying to find new shows on HBO/Cinemax. It would be nice to have a “search” feature that allows you to type in a movie…or some separation for “new movies” similar to Netflix.
The experience does vary slightly based on what device you are using (browser, iPhone, Apple TV, etc). Channels are listed in Alpha order. I’d prefer grouping by channel type, but to each their own. I have not found a way to get the additional info on a show without actually laughing the channel / program. Also, sometimes opening the guide will stop the current channel from playing. ex. in the browser. But on the iPhone the channel will continue to play in the background when you view the guide.
you missed live local TV with DTVN..also you cannot use stand alone apps with Sling like you can with DTVN
Does anyone know if SlingTV is working on getting Discovery channel?
In the list of channels, channel TCM, is on direct tv now. I have he $30 a month. Direct tv now has a backing out with various reasons, but I’ve never had e error they say caused the problem.
Direct TV Now has the channel selection. Sling is simply deficient. I don’t care about a channel only five people have heard of. The BIG issue is Direct TV Now is simply unreliable. I’ve got all the good stuff, plenty of signal and It still freezes, buffers to the point I cancelled it. AND just try to get help from them– it’s exhausting and futile. Their 24/7 chat is an auto attendant joke. Need HULU reliability and cost with Direct TV Now channel selection— any of you idiot companies listening???
We have had DirecTV since January and are becoming very frustrated with the constant buffering . We also use OTA when this occurs but it angers me that we are paying for this service and frequently cannot use it due to the buffering .Why would anybody put out a service that does not work 100% of the time . Equally frustrating is the fact they try and fall back on the trouble being with our WiFi 😡
Well, I tried Sling for a week and loved it. So much so that I was ready to quit Direct TV satellite tv. I called to cancel services knowing that I had 9 months left on my 2-year contract, so I agreed to go with Directtvnow and received 3 months free with HBO. Great deal, no? Well, started watching and the buffering issues are driving me nuts. Just one day in, with fast internet and I’m ready to quit.
We just switched from Sling to DTV and I’m glad we did . Sling was a mess. Terrible guide , constantly freezing, and the commercials while watching On Demand were twice as loud as the actual show . I don’t sleep well and I’d rather not wake my family because the commercials blare after I struggled to hear the actual program . Sling doesn’t offer nearly the same amount of channels anyway . TLC and the Discovery channels lured me over to DTV ,as well as Investigation Discovery. Now I don’t need CBS Now or Amazon Prime to watch those .
what is the least internet speed need for either to enjoy
I’ve tried both services and am days away from leaving SlingTV. My biggest issue is on demand content through dedicated Apps. I have a 4K AppleTV given to me “free” by prepaying with DirecTV Now. I then switched to SlingTV after the 4 months with DirecTV Now. With DirecTV Now I had almost zero issues logging in (single sign on) to AppleTV Apps such as HGTV using my DirecTV/AT&T credentials and could watch what I wanted when I wanted. The single sign on with SlingTV is there and works but there are very few Apps (including HGTV) that work with SlingTV. Almost everything I watched was directly through the SlingTV app, which works well, except for on demand content which is lacking. The SlingTV app built into my Sony TV is also terrible. I’ll likely be returning to DirecTV Now because of the dedicated App support/on demand.
I have had both for a long period of time. If I had to choose it would be sling tv all the way. If they would add OWN, ID, CENTRIC, TVONE, THE WEATHER CHANNEL along with four other channels. They would be on top of the world. I love the cloud recording of 50 hours and being able to record all episodes, new episodesonly or just one episode. I don’t have issues with buffering either.The on demand options are awesome as well.Now DirecTV now buffers alot and has no DVR options but offer the nine channels I miss. I have an issue with the my favorite list. It always goes back to all channels instead of letting you pick from the favorite list. Last I do love that they offer HBO and cinamax for 5 dollars and starz for 8 dollars. They definitely can work on adding more on demand options and add a DVR and fixing the annoying buffering.
Hey! When we update pages, policies, reviews, and prices, it changes the publish date. This review has been updated to help the readers.
DirectTVNow, is a good package but it will be even better when they sort
out their bugs. I was Pissed Off Angry when I was watching a movie
only to be kick out TO THE DirectTVNow Login screen. I had to find my
password in my long list of passwords to log back in. Once back in then I
had to try to find the channel of movie; I missed most, if not all of
it. This has happened to me 3 times; once a month in 3 months. I
couldn’t take it anymore & I switched back to Sling I.’ll wait a
couple of months when/if they sort out the bugs – Nothing worse then
having a movie or sports game shut off while in progress- especially to
log back into something you are already logged into. AND their so called
“Chat” Support is ridicules because “if you cant login” you aint
getting in to the “Chat” so you can forget about getting any help – You’ll just have to FIGURE IT OUT Yourself. With Sling – at least you can Call Support and actually speak to a live person.