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Sling TV vs YouTube TV: Which is the best option for you in 2024?
As you shop for a streaming provider, two of the better options to consider are YouTube TV and Sling TV. YouTube TV is perfect for households seeking a great mix of news and entertainment channels, unlimited recording space and you don’t mind spending more for the service.
Meanwhile, Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services with packages starting from just $40 per month. While Sling TV touts affordability, it also comes with significantly fewer channels and recording space when compared to YouTube TV.
With this in mind, our guide compares the two streaming services. We’ll examine offerings, DVR, user experience and which is the best option for sports fans. From there, you’ll be able to choose the best service for your needs.
Sling TV and YouTube TV compared
Here’s a glance at what you receive with each service:
|
Sling TV |
YouTube TV |
|
|
Starting monthly price |
$40 |
$72.99 |
|
DVR |
50 hours |
Unlimited |
|
Simultaneous streams |
1-3 streams |
3 streams |
|
Number of live channels |
32+ |
100+ |
|
On-demand library |
Yes |
Yes |
Sling TV vs YouTube TV content
Sling TV offers a good mix of channels and you have your choice of packages. Both of the base packages start from $40 per month, with Sling Orange offering sports content with three channels from ESPN. You’ll also have entertainment options from Freeform, HGTV, the Disney Channel, AMC and more. Overall, Sling Orange offers you 32 channels and one stream for $40 per month.
While Sling Orange offers a great mix of entertainment content, news lovers will enjoy the Sling Blue package. It comes with Fox News, your local Fox and ABC networks (in certain markets), CNN and MSNBC. On the sports end, stream content on Fox Sports 1 and the NFL Network. Sling Blue also has more streams than Sling Orange at three and comes with 41 channels. You can also choose the Sling Orange & Blue plan that combines both packages for $55 per month.
Conversely, YouTube TV offers significantly more channels in its base package. With over 100 channels available, you’ll have access to channels you won’t have through Sling TV’s base package, such as TCM, the Hallmark channel and the Big Ten Network. Accessing these channels with Sling TV requires add-on services, which reduces the value the streaming platform delivers.
Circling back to YouTube TV, it’s one of the most robust platforms for content offerings. Whether you want to stream news, weather, sports, kids programming, reality TV or movies, the platform gives you the option to do so. Most importantly, YouTube TV offers local channels throughout the United States, while with Sling TV, you only receive them in select markets.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV DVR
DVR is another important distinction between the two streaming providers. Sling TV offers 50 hours standard in each of their packages, but you can upgrade to 200 hours for another $5 per month. This is great for households on a budget wanting access to more of their content on the go.
In saying that, Sling TV’s DVR offerings pale in comparison to YouTube TV’s. YouTube TV offers unlimited recording space on their base package. This makes it a perfect choice for families that stream and record a lot of content. However, please note that when you have record items, they stay in the cloud for nine months. Sling TV, on the other hand, doesn’t set expiration dates for their recordings.
Overall, both offer a good mix of recording options. YouTube TV works best for heavy streamers who want to record entire seasons of TV shows or sports. Meanwhile, Sling TV is best for the casual viewer who wants to record a few shows and have access to them anytime.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV personalization and user experience
YouTube TV is an easy service to use, particularly through your TV with their free app. Upon setting up your account, you can choose your favorite sports teams and YouTube TV records any content from them for you. On top of that, the guide is easy to use. You can scroll to find your favorite shows, use the library to access recordings or the home screen recommends some programs based on your viewing behaviors.
The only challenges found with YouTube TV relate to their mobile app. The navigation is a little trickier in that you can scroll live content as it airs, but you won’t be able to see any future programs on the channel. It means if you want to record future programs, you’ll need to use the search feature to record programs that way. It’s an extra step, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it.
Similarly, Sling TV also offers an easy user experience. You can access shows, recordings and more through the tabs at the top of your screen. The service also has a free tier called Sling Freestream, offering a mix of replays from newer/older shows and movies. You can also access free channels similar to how Tubi and other free streaming platforms work.
When you want to record shows on Sling TV, all you need to do is select the program and tap record. Once recorded, access it from the My TV tab.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV for sports fans
Sports fans will find both services offer something to meet their needs. Sling TV offers three ESPN channels in their Sling Orange package, making it perfect for football, basketball and baseball fans wanting access to nationally broadcasted games. Meanwhile, Sling Blue’s package comes with Fox Sports 1 and the NFL Network.
Moreover, if you want more sports channels, consider adding the Sports Extra package for $11 per month. The Sports Extra package includes NBA TV, the MLB Network, the Tennis Channel, ESPNU, the ACC Network, beIN SPORTS, the Longhorn Network, ESPNEWS, the SEC Network, MLB Strike Zone and the ACC Network Extra. In turn, it gives you a ticket to content for regional and specialty sports networks for less.
Meanwhile, YouTube TV is one of the best streaming services for sports fans. Their base package includes ESPN, Fox Sports 1, the CBS Sports Network, the Big Ten Network, ESPN3, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Fox Sports 2, the NFL Network, NBA TV, the SEC Network, and more.
What separates YouTube TV from Sling TV is that you receive many specialty and regional sports network standards without the need to add on other services. In addition, YouTube TV comes with all of your local networks. Considering some of sports’ most important games from the World Series to the Super Bowl air on local networks, this is a must-have for the avid sports fan.
Which service is best for you?
Both Sling TV and YouTube TV offer a lot of entertainment and value. Sling TV works for households looking to save money and have access to some entertainment, news and sports channels. It also works well if you don’t require much in the way of recording space.
Alternatively, YouTube TV is a great service for households wanting to stream regional sports networks or need a mix of more sports, entertainment and news channels. YouTube TV offers unlimited recording space, making it an enticing option for mid-size to larger households. The only drawback is you’ll pay significantly more for the service compared to Sling TV’s base offerings.
FAQ
Can I watch Sling TV for free?
Yes, Sling TV has a free feature called Sling Freestream. With it, you don’t need to pay for a subscription, and you gain access to over 40,000 on-demand titles.
Is there anything better than YouTube TV?
It depends on your household’s viewing needs. To demonstrate, Hulu + Live TV offers live TV with on-demand content from Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, giving them more diversity in content offerings than YouTube TV.
What major channels are missing from Sling TV?
Most notable is the fact Sling TV doesn’t offer local channels in every market. They also don’t carry TCM, the Hallmark Channel and regional sports channels like the Big Ten Network in their base packages.
