DIRECTV STREAM review 2024: Everything to know before subscribing

DIRECTV STREAM experience

The sign-up process for DIRECTV STREAM is similar to other streaming platforms. After you select a plan and enter your account and payment information, your DIRECTV STREAM five-day free trial will begin. Once you’re in your account, you can select your favorite channels or any programs you’d like to record to your DVR.

The user interface for DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t feel quite as intuitive as some competitors, but all the same basic features are there that you’ll find with any streaming platform. There’s a live channel guide, a “My Library” tab for your DVR recordings, a page for on-demand content and a home page with a live TV feed and a list of genres and other categories with sliders of recommended live and on-demand shows, sports and movies. 

The on-demand page also has a helpful category sorter so you can find content by networks, movies or TV shows. Notably, this section is a little deceiving, as some of the programs listed here show upcoming air times rather than on-demand viewing options.

Overall, DIRECTV’s interface and overall user experience — not to mention its price point —  are a bit more similar to traditional cable providers than other streaming services. That could be a pro or a con, depending on what you’re looking for when you cut the cord.

DIRECTV STREAM content

Channel lineups and content on DIRECTV STREAM vary widely by plan, along with any add-on premium channels you choose. While the basic Entertainment plan includes around 75 channels, you can upgrade to more than 150 with the top-tier Premier plan, which also includes Cinemax, Max, SHOWTIME and STARZ. 

Although the service offers a fairly balanced lineup of entertainment, sports, news and family programming, your best options kick in at the Choice plan or above. As many reviews of DIRECTV STREAM note, the Choice plan offers far more sports networks than the Entertainment plan. While you’ll only get five sports channels in the basic plan, you’ll have more than 15 in the Choice package, including much of the ESPN family of networks, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, SEC Network and regional sports networks like Bally Sports. Sports lovers will want this plan, at a minimum, and that makes DIRECTV Stream a pricier proposition than many of its competitors.

Based on our DIRECTV STREAM review, there’s quite a bit of on-demand content included with your subscription. This also varies based on which plan you choose, as much of the content is based on the channels you have available. In our Choice plan, we found popular offerings like “John Wick” alongside classics like “Indiana Jones and the “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” You can expand your on-demand options significantly with the top-tier plan or by individually adding premium over-the-top services like Max and STARZ to your plan.

DIRECTV STREAM DVR

DIRECTV STREAM’s unlimited DVR is easy to use, as you can select any program that’s currently airing and begin recording immediately. You can also select episodes or live events to record in advance, or even choose teams you want to follow and automatically record every game.

After you record programs, you’ll find them in the “My Library” section. Recordings will stay in your queue for up to nine months, and you can watch them anytime. You’ll also see a list of your upcoming scheduled recordings in your library so you know what will be in your watch queue soon. Note that you can only store up to 30 episodes of one series at a time.

DIRECTV STREAM viewing experience and video quality

DIRECTV STREAM delivers its content at 720p or 1080p. Streaming quality will adjust automatically based on your device capabilities and bandwidth, but you can also set your picture quality to “Good,” Better” or “Best” in the settings menu. Unlike some of its competitors, DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t offer any content in 4K Ultra HD, so this may be a knock for some viewers.

DIRECTV STREAM user profiles

One of DIRECTV STREAM’s most cable-like — and weakest — features is its lack of user profiles. There’s no way to create different profiles and customize the viewing experience for different people in your household, so everyone will see the same menu, favorites and DVR selections when browsing the app.

DIRECTV STREAM does make up for this, in part, by including parental controls as an option. You can require a PIN to access content with ratings above a certain level, such as PG-13 or TV-14. 

DIRECTV STREAM for sports fans

In our DIRECTV STREAM review, we found that sports are one of the platform’s biggest strengths. There are more than 20 major sports networks on offer here, including some of the most popular regional channels. You can keep up with your favorite local teams on Bally Sports without falling behind on national professional and college-level contests on networks like ACCN, Big 10 Network, ESPN, FS1, Golf Channel, Tennis Channel and more.

The biggest downside is that you’ll have to pay a premium to get much of this sports coverage. With very few sports channels in the basic plan, you’ll need to upgrade to the Choice plan or higher to get the best sports experience, and that means you’ll pay at least $108.99 a month for DIRECTV STREAM.

How does DIRECTV STREAM compare?

DIRECTV STREAM has a lot to offer, especially for those who value a more traditional cable experience. However, it does have some key limitations compared to competitors.

In terms of popular networks available on the platform, DIRECTV Stream offers one of the most robust streaming lineups available. You’ll find all the standards here, from A&E and CMT to CNN and the Disney Channel. When paired with so many national and regional sports channels, it’s a lineup that’s tough to beat. DIRECTV STREAM’s unlimited DVR and unlimited simultaneous streams at home (limited to three on the go) are nice bonuses, as well.

However, DIRECTV STREAM falls short of some competitors in terms of its price point and user-specific customizations. For similar sports coverage, for instance, you can pay less for FuboTV’s basic plan. Most streaming platforms also allow you to create distinct user profiles, and DIRECTV STREAM is noticeably behind the times in this area.

How to subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM

It’s easy to get started with DIRECTV STREAM. You can get your subscription up and running in a few simple steps:

1. Head to the DIRECTV STREAM home page and select your plan.
2. On the next screen, you can select any add-ons you’d like to include in your subscription. Many of these are free for your first three months.
3. Click “Start 5-day free trial.”
4. Fill in your personal and credit card information on the next two pages, agree to the terms of service and start watching.

After you sign up, you’ll have five days to try out the service and decide if you like it. Your card will be charged after the five-day free trial ends, and you’ll automatically be charged each month thereafter. You can cancel DIRECTV STREAM anytime, and you’ll have access to your subscription until the end of the billing cycle. 

How to cancel a DIRECTV STREAM subscription

DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t make it entirely obvious how you can cancel your service. To find a cancellation option, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Log into your account via a web browser and click on the settings gear in the top right corner.
2. Select “See Account Details.” You may be prompted to log in to your account again.
3. Select the “Billing & Payments” tab.
4. Click on “Change” next to your Base Package.
5. On the next screen, you’ll see a link to “Cancel my service” underneath “Current TV package.” Click that and follow the prompts to complete the cancellation process.

Final thoughts

As our DIRECTV STREAM review has shown, this is a traditional cable service that’s been reformatted for today’s cord-cutters and streaming viewers. It’s one of the most expensive streaming platforms on the market, but it offers a similar channel lineup and user experience to what you’ll find on cable TV. There’s a lot of sports coverage available here and plenty of options to upgrade or add to your service — if you’re willing to pay the price.

FAQ

Is DIRECTV streaming as good as DIRECTV?

DIRECTV offers a more traditional cable service that has much in common with DIRECTV STREAM. Although DIRECTV does offer options for streaming, you’ll typically need to set up a Gemini box to watch your service, and you’ll sign annual contracts to lock in your price. It does include more channels than DIRECTV STREAM, but the core popular offerings are the same. Note that you may pay less (at least for an initial contract period) for DIRECTV than for similar DIRECTV STREAM packages.

Is DIRECTV STREAM too expensive?

DIRECTV STREAM offers a lot of channels, especially in terms of some sports coverage that many competitors don’t have. However, it is one of the most expensive streaming platforms available, so you’ll need to consider whether it’s a good fit for you. The five-day free trial for DIRECTV STREAM makes it a little easier to decide.

How hard is it to cancel DIRECTV STREAM?

It’s not particularly difficult to cancel DIRECTV STREAM, but the company doesn’t make it particularly obvious, either. You’ll need to go to your settings and edit your existing plan, where you’ll find the button to cancel your service.