DIRECTV VS THE COMPETITION
More sports. More flexibility. See how DIRECTV compares.
How the top live TV services compare
Live TV Provider | Technology | Starting Price | Channels | Cloud DVR | Regional Sports | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DIRECTV | $20.99/mo. | 10-185+ | Unlimited* | Yes | 5 days | |
DIRECTV | $87.99/mo. | 175-350 | HD DVR
200 Hrs | Limited |  | |
YouTube TV | Streaming | $64.99/mo. | 100+ | Unlimited | Limited | 7 days |
Hulu + Live TV | Streaming | $89.99/mo. | 100+ | Unlimited | Limited | 3 days |
Spectrum | Cable | $25.00/mo. | 80+ | Unlimited, Additional cost | Yes | |
DISH | Satellite | $89.99/mo. | 190+ | 500 hours | Limited | |
Sling | Streaming | $19.99/mo. | 10-50+ | Unlimited, Additional cost | No | |
Xfinity | Cable | $20/mo. | 10-185+ | 150 hours | Yes | |
What makes DIRECTV different?
DIRECTV has the most regional sports networks
DIRECTV carries more RSNs than YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV & DISH combined. Plus, get access to your team’s new local streaming channels.
Disney+, Hulu & HBO Max included at no extra cost
MyEntertainment® starts at $42.99/mo. with all three streaming apps included. YouTube TV's comparable plan isn’t available everywhere, costs more & includes no streaming apps.
Genre Packs from $20.99/mo. built for you
Pay for the channels you want & nothing else, starting at less than a quarter of YouTube TV's base price.
Watch the way you want
With DIRECTV, you can get live TV via streaming plans or satellite plans! Either way, get access to more sports, top channels & thousands of shows & movies available on demand.
DIRECTV vs. Live TV providers
YouTube TV may seem comprehensive — but it has limited RSNs, and its base plan starts at $82.99/mo. DIRECTV offers RSN access on qualifying plans and flexible TV plans.
Hulu + Live TV bundles Disney+ and ESPN, but so does DIRECTV’s MyEntertainment®, which also includes HBO Max, 60+ live channels and costs less.
Stop chasing your sports across apps. With DIRECTV, you get live games, scores and alerts all in one sports interface, unlike Sling’s disconnected experience.
Spectrum requires a cable box and is only available in select markets. DIRECTV streams on your existing devices nationwide – no installation, no commitment.
Xfinity is only available in select markets and requires a cable subscription. DIRECTV is available nationwide with flexible connection options and no hardware needed.
Dish requires satellite installation and a DVR box before you can watch anything. DIRECTV gives you better RSN access and streaming on any device, right away.
free for 5 days.
DIRECTV vs. live TV streaming services and cable providers
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting monthly price | $20.99/mo. | $45/mo. | $65/mo. |
Disney+, Hulu (with ads) & ESPN Unlimited included (select packages) |  w/ Streaming App + Gemini device |  Apps included vary depending on package |  |
Access live TV and top streaming apps—no input or remote switching | | | |
2-year price guarantee | | | |
Unlimited streams for unlimited screens | | | |
Streaming app to watch live TV, On Demand & Cloud DVR on the go | w/ Streaming Service | | |
Voice remote to find shows quickly | w/ Gemini device | | |
4K Ultra HD available | | | |
Start watching instantly with the app- before your device is set up | | | |
Watch up to four channels at once with curated multiview (sports, news, business or kids). | | | |
Unlimited Cloud DVR storage | w/ Streaming Service | | |
Record unlimited shows at once | w/ Streaming Service | | |
Search and watch shows across live TV, On Demand and popular streaming apps, now or later. | | | |
Most in-market RSNs | | | |
Most MLB games | | | |
Most local NBA games all season long. | | | |
Which live TV streaming service is right for you?
Looking for your local team's games?
DIRECTV has the most RSNs available, giving fans the channels needed to stream local MLB, NBA & NHL games.
Explore sports packages
Want Disney+, Hulu & HBO Max included?
DIRECTV's MyEntertainment® plan bundles all three, plus 60+ channels, at $42.99/mo.
Get MyEntertainment®
Want family-friendly programming?
MyKids® includes 10+ family channels plus Disney+ for just $20.99/mo. — an affordable way to get Disney+ alongside live TV channels.
Get MyKids™
Want to spend less than $40/mo?
DIRECTV Genre Packs® start at $20.99/mo. & are built around the channels you actually watch. Lower cost, higher flexibility.
See Genre Packs®
Want Spanish-language programming?
Enjoy top Spanish-language channels — stream novelas, fútbol, news and family entertainment with 60+ Spanish-language options available live and On Demand.
Get MiEspañol®
Don't want to commit?
DIRECTV streaming packages are billed month-to-month — 5-day free trial, no annual contract, cancel anytime.
Start your free trial
Get the Insider look
See which Regional Sports Networks are available to you
,
DIRECTV does not offer Regional Sports Networks in your area.
What DIRECTV plan is most similar to YouTube TV?
DIRECTV's CHOICE™ Signature package is the closest match to YouTube TV's base plan — both offer local networks, sports, news and entertainment. The key difference is flexibility: YouTube TV offers a single plan at $82.99/mo., while DIRECTV offers multiple Signature packages and Genre Packs® like MySports®, MyEntertainment® and MyNews® that let you build a plan around what you actually watch.
What is the cheapest live TV streaming service?
DIRECTV's MyEntertainment® Genre Pack® is $42.99/mo., delivering you 60+ popular live channels, plus Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (premium streaming services that would cost $20+/mo. to subscribe to separately), making MyEntertainment the best bang for your buck in the market.
What DIRECTV plan is most similar to Hulu + Live TV?
The DIRECTV Choice™ package is the closest match to Hulu + Live TV. Both include a strong lineup of top live channels, but DIRECTV adds a wider selection of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), more 4K streaming availability and more premium add-on options that Hulu + Live TV doesn't offer.
What is the best live TV streaming service?
For most viewers, DIRECTV offers the strongest combination of channel selection, sports coverage and pricing flexibility. It's got the most RSNs of any major streaming service, and Genre Packs® let you customize your TV lineup starting at $20.99/mo. — well below YouTube TV ($82.99/mo.) and Hulu + Live TV ($89.99/mo.).
Why should I choose DIRECTV over another live TV provider?
DIRECTV provides customers access to the most Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), giving you access to local team games for MLB, NBA, NHL and more that YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling don't carry. You also get unlimited cloud DVR, unlimited in-home streams and flexible Genre Packs® starting at $20.99/mo., giving you more customization than any other provider.
Which live TV streaming service is best for sports?
DIRECTV has the most regional sports networks and local team channels of any live TV provider, making it easier to stream local team games across MLB, NBA, NHL and more. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV only carry a select number of RSNs. Explore DIRECTV’s RSNs in your area here.
How can I connect to DIRECTV?
DIRECTV provides flexible TV plans designed to match your entertainment preferences.
- DIRECTV Signature Satellite + Device
- DIRECTV Signature Streaming + Device
- DIRECTV Streaming App only via Internet (like Hulu+ Live TV & YouTube TV)
- DIRECTV Genre Packs® w/ or without Device
Does DIRECTV require a contract?
No. All DIRECTV streaming packages are month-to-month with no annual contract. You can cancel anytime and get started with a 5-day free trial.
What DIRECTV plan is most similar to YouTube TV?
DIRECTV's CHOICE™ Signature package is the closest match to YouTube TV's base plan — both offer local networks, sports, news and entertainment. The key difference is flexibility: YouTube TV offers a single plan at $82.99/mo., while DIRECTV offers multiple Signature packages and Genre Packs® like MySports®, MyEntertainment® and MyNews® that let you build a plan around what you actually watch.
What DIRECTV plan is most similar to Hulu + Live TV?
The DIRECTV Choice™ package is the closest match to Hulu + Live TV. Both include a strong lineup of top live channels, but DIRECTV adds a wider selection of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), more 4K streaming availability and more premium add-on options that Hulu + Live TV doesn't offer.
Why should I choose DIRECTV over another live TV provider?
DIRECTV provides customers access to the most Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), giving you access to local team games for MLB, NBA, NHL and more that YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling don't carry. You also get unlimited cloud DVR, unlimited in-home streams and flexible Genre Packs® starting at $20.99/mo., giving you more customization than any other provider.
How can I connect to DIRECTV?
DIRECTV provides flexible TV plans designed to match your entertainment preferences.
- DIRECTV Signature Satellite + Device
- DIRECTV Signature Streaming + Device
- DIRECTV Streaming App only via Internet (like Hulu+ Live TV & YouTube TV)
- DIRECTV Genre Packs® w/ or without Device
What is the cheapest live TV streaming service?
DIRECTV's MyEntertainment® Genre Pack® is $42.99/mo., delivering you 60+ popular live channels, plus Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (premium streaming services that would cost $20+/mo. to subscribe to separately), making MyEntertainment the best bang for your buck in the market.
What is the best live TV streaming service?
For most viewers, DIRECTV offers the strongest combination of channel selection, sports coverage and pricing flexibility. It's got the most RSNs of any major streaming service, and Genre Packs® let you customize your TV lineup starting at $20.99/mo. — well below YouTube TV ($82.99/mo.) and Hulu + Live TV ($89.99/mo.).
Which live TV streaming service is best for sports?
DIRECTV has the most regional sports networks and local team channels of any live TV provider, making it easier to stream local team games across MLB, NBA, NHL and more. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV only carry a select number of RSNs. Explore DIRECTV’s RSNs in your area here.
Does DIRECTV require a contract?
No. All DIRECTV streaming packages are month-to-month with no annual contract. You can cancel anytime and get started with a 5-day free trial.