DIRECTV is raising prices again, beginning June 25, with most packages increasing by $5-8 per month. With DIRECTV being the most expensive live TV streaming service, the latest price hike, some subscribers might be looking for more affordable live TV streaming packages. Below, we’re sharing the top DIRECTV alternatives if you want a change.
YouTube TV: Choose From New & Cheaper Packages
- Starting price: $82.99 per month
- What you get: YouTube TV’s live channel lineup has over 100 channels, including locals, and the top news, sports, and entertainment networks. YouTube TV recently launched a few less expensive plans – Sports, Entertainment, and News, starting at $54.99 per month that look a lot like DIRECTV’s Genre Packs. YouTube TV is also the home of Sunday Ticket, so when football season starts up, you can get a bit of a discount if you’re already subscribed to the service (or sign up for Sunday Ticket on its own for the full price.)
- What’s missing: You won’t find many RSNs on YouTube TV when switching over from DIRECTV
- Best for: Those who want a full channel lineup or genre-specific plans at more affordable prices
Fubo: Keep Your RSNs
- Starting price: $84.99 per month
- What you get: Fubo offers over 200 channels, with a focus on national, regional, and niche sports. If you don’t need the full lineup, Fubo also launched a slimmed down Fubo Sports package with 27 channels for $55.99 per month. A Fubo subscription comes with unlimited DVR.
- What’s missing: After several carriage disputes, Fubo is missing NBCUniversal channels (NBC local affiliates, Telemundo, Bravo, USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Golf Channel, and NBC Sports regional networks), Warner Bros. Discovery channels (TNT, TBS, CNN, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, and Investigation Discovery), and A&E channels (A&E, History, Lifetime, and FYI)
- Best for: Sports fans who want wide live sports coverage and flexible streaming features.
Hulu + Live TV: Add Original Content & Bundles
- Starting price: $89.99 per month
- What you get: Hulu + Live TV has over 100 live channels, including locals and top cable channels. Your subscription comes with the Hulu on-demand library and Hulu Originals like The Testaments, The Bear, Rivals, and Welcome to Wrexham. You’ll also get access to Disney+ and ESPN Select, along with unlimited Cloud DVR.
- What’s missing: Most subscribers won’t get their local RSN with Hulu
- Best for: Viewers who want the smallest disruption and prefer a single app for live Disney channels and on-demand Disney/Hulu/FX content.
Sling TV: Downsize to Fit Your Budget
- Starting price: $45.99 per month
- What you get: Sling has a smaller lineup than other live TV streaming services, but both Sling Orange and Sling Blue have a lot to offer, including over 30 channel spanning news, sports, and entertainment. If you’re looking to ditch a monthly subscription altogether, you can also take advantage of Sling’s 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day passes to get access to live channels for a limited time to catch a game or a can’t-miss episode of a favorite TV show in real time.
- What’s missing: Locals and a robust sports channel lineup
- Best for: Budget-minded viewers who want live TV with a lighter channel slate.
Philo: Skip Sports and Locals, Stay Entertained
- Starting price: $25 per month
- What you get: Like Sling, Philo has a slimmed down lineup that keeps costs low by not including locals and some sports channels. What you will get with a subscription is 70+ channels to watch true crime, reality TV, home improvement, and more.
- What’s missing: Locals and most sports channels
- Best for: Streamers supplementing antenna channels or who don’t need hundreds of channels
