Sling TV Review: Budget Live TV Streamer is a Strong Choice

Streaming Smarter says: Sling TV is a great choice for streaming live TV on a budget. Sling users can lower costs with smaller channel packages and less DVR storage. You can also choose a short-term plan for 24 hours, one weekend, or one week. The biggest drawback: live, local channels are not available in all areas.

What Does Sling TV Cost?

There are two major questions for Sling TV users: what channels do you need and how long do you need them?

Most users will choose a monthly plan. Those start at $19.99-$29.99/month, depending on where you live.

The $19.99 price gets you a very small package (“Sling Select”) that includes Fox News, NFL Network, FS1, and MeTV. In some markets, Sling Select includes ABC, NBC, and FOX, but the price increases to $29.99.

Sling TV’s primary base packages cost $45.99/month. The bundles are called Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Users can combine the channel lineups for a total of $60.99/month.

Users can add an unlimited DVR for $5/month. Additional channel packages are available.

Sling also has “Passes,” so you can choose to stream for 24 hours ($4.99), Friday-Sunday ($9.99), or one week ($14.99).

Can You Get a Discount on Sling TV?

Sling has a Deals Page that is updated regularly. New users often get discounts on premium channels for the first month. The best prices for Sling usually require you to sign up for a 3-5 month contract.

Can You Watch Sling TV for Free?

Yes! Sling Freestream gives you a taste of Sling TV at no cost, but you won’t find any of the main cable channels.

Freestream includes over 600 channels including A&E Sneak Peek, AMC+ Sneak Peek, BBC News, ION, PBS Food, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Court TV, MSG SportsZone, and FOX Weather. The service also includes 40,000+ on-demand movies and shows.

Unlike most free services, Freestream includes a 10-hour DVR.

There’s also an arcade so you can play Pac-Man, Tetris, and more.

If you enjoy the service, you can upgrade to a paid Sling TV plan.

What Channels Are Available on Sling TV?

Sling Select is a micro-package of channels with Fox News, National Geographic, GRIT, NFL Network, FX, FS1, and MeTV.

Choose either Sling Orange or Blue, you’ll get A&E, AMC, BBC America, BET, CNN, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, History Channel, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Nick Jr., QVC, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, and Vice.

Sling Orange also includes Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN 4K, ESPN2, ESPN3, Freeform, and MotorTrend.

Sling Blue adds Bravo, Discovery Channel, E!, FOX Sports 1, FX, Fox News, Fox Sports 1, HLN, MSNBC, NFL Network, National Geographic, SYFY, TLC, USA, and truTV.

Remember, you can combine Orange + Blue.

If you’re looking at the day, weekend, or week passes, those are only available on Sling Orange. There are no Sling Blue packages less than a month.

More channels are available with add-on packages (see below).

What Local Channels Are on Sling TV?

Sling Orange has no local channels, but Sling Select and Sling Blue may provide local channels, depending where you live. For Sling Blue subscribers, there’s a $5 upcharge if you can access these. With Sling Select, users who get two of these channels will pay another $5/month. If you get all three, it’s another $10/month.

If you need CBS, the easiest option is signing up for Paramount+ Premium. If you’d like to save money on local channels, see Streaming Smarter’s Guide to TV Antennas.

If your market doesn’t carry FOX, you can choose their direct-to-consumer option, FOX One.

If you need NBC, choose Peacock Plus Premium.

What Sports Channels Are on Sling TV?

Sling Select provides NFL Network and FS1, along with the local network affiliates above.

Sling Orange includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Even if you don’t get ABC in your area, every game on ABC is simulcast on ESPN3.

Sling Blue gives you important sports channels like NFL Network, FS1, TNT, and TBS. FOX, NBC, and ABC may also be available in your market (see above).

More channels are available in the Sports Extra package.

For Sling Orange, Sports Extra ($11) unlocks SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, SEC Network+, ESPNEWS, MLB Network, MLB Network Alternate, NBA TV, beIN SPORTS, Tennis Channel, NHL Network, NHL Network Alternate, and MLB Network Strikezone.

Sports Extra with Sling Blue ($11) includes NFL RedZone, Big Ten Network, Big Ten Network Alternate, FOX Sports 2, Big Ten Network 4K, Golf Channel, NHL Network, NHL Network Alternate, NBA TV, Big Ten Network Alternate 2, beIN SPORTS, MLB Network, MLB Network Alternate, Tennis Channel, and MLB Network Strike Zone.

If you have Orange + Blue, Sports Extra includes all the channels above for $15.

Basketball fans can add NBA League Pass for $16.99/month or choose NBA Team Pass to follow one team for $13.99/month.

If you love baseball, add MLB.TV to Sling TV for $29.99/month.

Can You Watch Regional Sports Networks with Sling TV?

Sling does not offer regional sports networks. For several cities, a standalone streaming subscription to FanDuel Sports Network ($19.99) can solve that problem. Some sports teams like the Utah Jazz and Florida Panthers have their own standalone streaming services in their home markets. See Streaming Smarter’s Guide to Sports to know which service is best for you.

Does Sling TV offer 4K Broadcasts?

Yes, 4K is included with Sling TV at no additional cost. When available, you’ll be able to watch 4K college football, NFL, NBA, college basketball, MLB Postseason and World Series, and U.S. Open Tennis. You will need 4K-enabled devices to see the high-resolution broadcasts.

Does Sling TV Require a Contract?

You can subscribe to Sling TV for as little as one day or one month. Cancel anytime – there’s no penalty and your subscription won’t renew.

Sling sometimes offers discounts if you’re willing to lock into a longer commitment, but it’s not necessary.

Does Sling TV Have a DVR?

Yes. Your Sling subscription includes a 50-hour DVR. Unlike most competitors, Sling allows you to record or delete individual episodes of a program. You can “lock” certain recordings so Sling doesn’t overwrite them. Recordings can be saved for 9 months.

In my experience, 50 hours was sufficient as long as I monitored capacity and deleted episodes after I watched them.

If you’d like an unlimited DVR, Sling offers that for an additional $5/month.

What Streaming Devices are Compatible with Sling TV?

How Many Simultaneous Devices Can Stream Sling TV?

Sling Blue and Sling Orange+Blue offer 3 simultaneous streams. Sling Orange only offers one stream at a time.

What Are All the Channels Available on Sling TV?

Sling TV Add-On Packages

Sling TV Premium Channel Add-Ons

Who Should Subscribe to Sling TV?

Sling TV works well for fans of sports, news, and all-around entertainment. It’s what I recommend to friends looking to save money on their TV bill.

Sling TV may not be the right choice if you live in a smaller market, which may prevent you from watching NBC, FOX, or ABC. But it’s a great choice if you live in if you live in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose where you get all three of those channels. I recommend choosing a different service if you want to watch a regional sports channel.