If you’re thinking about ditching DirecTV Stream, here are four cheaper live TV streaming services for you to consider. As is the case with any move from one service to another, there’s always going to be compromises other than the price.
DirecTV Stream can be a good option for many homes, and with more than one plan to choose from, DirecTV Stream offers options to suit the channel needs and budgets of different homes. The cheapest DirecTV Stream plan is Entertainment. Priced at $79.99 a month, Entertainment unlocks access to more than 90 live TV channels.
For those that want a richer selection of channels, DirecTV Stream’s Choice plan costs $108.99 a month and unlocks access to more than 125 live TV channels, including local sports channels. Then there’s the $119.99/month Ultimate plan with more than 160 channels and the $164.99/month Premier plan with access to more than 185 channels.
The four live TV streaming services below are all cheaper than DirecTV Stream’s Entertainment plan. If considering switching from one of the more expensive DirecTV Stream packages, the monthly savings are likely to be even greater.
| Service | Price p/m | Saving p/m |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | $7 |
| Sling TV | $40+ | $40 |
| Philo | $28 | $52 |
| Frndly TV | $8+ | $72 |
YouTube TV
$7 cheaper than DirecTV Stream
YouTube TV might only be $7 cheaper than DirecTV Stream each month, but that still equates to a saving of almost $85 over the course of a year. More importantly, YouTube TV might prove to be a better option in general, thanks to the difference in channels and features.
Unlike DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV only offers one main base plan, so all base subscribers get access to the exact same channel lineup. With more than 100 live TV channels available, YouTube TV also offers more channels than DirecTV Stream’s cheapest Entertainment plan.
If considering switching from Choice or higher, then you may want to compare the channels first, to ensure you are not losing out on any of your favorite channels. Of course, with Choice priced at $108.99 a month, you’ll be saving more than $35 each month by switching to YouTube TV.
$83/mo
- 100+ channels
- 3 streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: $50/mo for first 2 months
Sling TV
$40 cheaper than DirecTV Stream
Sling TV is significantly cheaper than DirecTV Stream, making it a good option for those that want to greatly save on the amount they spend on live TV each month. Naturally, with a saving of at least $40 each month, there is going to be some major differences in the service received.
The biggest difference is the channel lineup. While DirecTV Stream’s Entertainment plan unlocks access to more than 90 live TV channels, Sling Orange includes more than 30 channels and Sling Blue includes more than 40 channels. As long as the channels you want are included with one of Sling’s base packages, there’s no point paying any more each month.
For reference, Sling also offers a combined Orange & Blue package, which unlocks access to more than 45 channels. At $55 per month, the Orange & Blue plan is still $25 cheaper than DirecTV Stream’s cheapest live TV package.
$46-61/mo
- 35+ channels
- 1-3 streams
- 50-Hour DVR
Deal: First month starting at $23.
Philo
$52 cheaper than DirecTV Stream
For those looking to save even more each month, Philo is $52 cheaper than DirecTV Stream. With the base plan priced at just $28 a month, switching to Philo will result in a major change to the channel lineup. Most notably, live news and sports will be the biggest casualties.
Still, Philo can be a good option for those specifically interested in Entertainment channels and content, and with access to more than 70 channels, as well as an unlimited DVR, Philo does offer very good value overall.
$28/mo
- 70+ channels
- AMC+
- Unlimited DVR
Frndly TV
$72 cheaper than DirecTV Stream
Frndly TV is one of the most affordable live TV services around, and its cheapest plan is $72 cheaper than DirecTV Stream’s Entertainment plan. However, with plans starting at just $8 a month, the channel lineup is going to look very different and be far more limited.
Similar to Philo, Frndly TV is heavily reliant on entertainment channels and content, so this won’t be an option for live sports and news. It is also worth noting that the cheapest Frndly TV plan doesn’t come with a DVR either. That said, the $10 Classic plan does come with an unlimited DVR, and is still massively cheaper than the cheapest DirecTV Stream package.
$8-$12/mo
- 50+ channels
- 1-4 streams
- Limited DVR
Deal: Save more with an annual plan.
