Sling TV Review: The Best Budget Live TV Streamer

Streaming Smarter says: Sling TV is my choice for the best budget option to stream live TV. You’ll find frequent discounts, including 50% off your first month. Sling users can lower costs with smaller channel packages and less DVR storage. The biggest drawback: live, local channels are not available in all areas.

Value 5/5

Sling’s price is unbeatable, considering the top-tier channels available.

Channels 3/5

Sling has most of what you’ll want in a live TV service, but no CBS or regional sports channels.

Experience 3/5

Sling’s UX is sluggish and the base DVR is only 50 hours, but you can upgrade.

~~$45.99/mo~~. $23/mo.

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Sling TV Pros and Cons

Pros

Cheapest option for most sports, news, and entertainment channels.
Flexible channel packages

Cons

No CBS; limited cities for NBC, ABC, and FOX
Clunky user interface
Unlimited DVR costs extra
No regional sports networks

What Does Sling TV Cost?

Sling TV has two base channel packages that 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. Sling is offering 50% off your first month when you sign up now.

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

Can You Get a Discount on Sling TV?

Beyond Sling’s typical offer of 50% off your first month, the service has a Deals Page that is updated regularly.

Current Sling TV Deals

Get 3 months of Sling Sports Extra + Orange or Blue for $99.99 (save $48) or Orange+Blue for $144.99 (save $37.98)
Add Max to Sling and get a $5 monthly discount
Pay full price for your first month of Sling and get Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, AMC+, STARZ, and MGM+ for free
Get your first month of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $5
Get your first month of AMC+ for $5
Get your first month of STARZ for $5

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 500 channels including A&E Sneak Peek, AMC+ Sneak Peek, BBC News, ION, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Court TV, MSG SportsZone, and FOX Weather. The service also includes 40,000+ on-demand movies and shows. If you enjoy the service, you can upgrade to a paid Sling TV plan.

Watch Free

What Channels Are Available on Sling TV?

With any Sling package, 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 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.

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 Blue may provide local channels, depending where you live.

You can get ABC, NBC, and FOX with Sling if you live in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose. In those markets, you’ll pay another $5/month. I live in the Chicago market and have no trouble receiving these channels with Sling.

FOX is available in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne, Phoenix, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C.

Sling offers NBC in Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Hartford/New Haven, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.

ABC is offered in Fresno, Houston, and Raleigh-Durham.

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

$12.99/mo.

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What Sports Channels Are on Sling TV?

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.

$19.99/mo.

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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 one month at a time. Cancel anytime at no penalty.

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?

AirTV Mini
Amazon Echo Show
Amazon Fire TV devices
Amazon Fire Tablets
Android Mobile Phones
Android TV and Google TV
Apple iPhones and iPads
Apple TV
Chromecast

Cox Contour Stream Player
Google TV Nest Hub
LG Smart TVs
Roku
Samsung Smart TVs
TiVo Stream 4K devices
VIZIO Smart TVs
Xbox
Xfinity devices

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.

A&E
AMC
AXS TV
BBC America
BET
Bloomberg Television
CHARGE!
CNN
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
Comet
Food Network
Fuse
HGTV
History Channel
IFC
Investigation Discovery
Lifetime
Local Now
MGM+ Drive-In
Nick Jr.
QVC
Sling scapes
Sling scapes 2
TBS
TNT
Travel Channel
Vice
ESPN
Disney Channel
Freeform
ESPN 4K
ESPN2
ESPN3
MotorTrend
QVC

A&E
AMC
AXS TV
BBC America
BET
Bloomberg Television
CHARGE!
CNN
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
Comet
Food Network
Fuse
HGTV
History Channel
IFC
Investigation Discovery
Lifetime
Local Now
MGM+ Drive-In
Nick Jr.
QVC
Sling scapes
Sling scapes 2
TBS
TNT
Travel Channel
Vice
ESPN
Disney Channel
Freeform
ESPN 4K
ESPN2
ESPN3
MotorTrend
QVC
Bravo
Discovery Channel
E!
FOX Sports 1
FX
Fox News
HLN
MSNBC
NFL Network
National Geographic
SYFY
TLC
USA
truTV
ABC
NBC
FOX

Sling TV Add-On Packages

Orange ($11): SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, SEC Network+, ESPNEWS, MLB Network, MLB Network Alternate, NBA TV, beIN SPORTS, Tennis Channel, NHL Network, NHL Network Alternate, MLB Network Strikezone

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

Orange+Blue ($15): NFL RedZone, ACC Network, beIN SPORTS, Big Ten Network, Big Ten Network 4K, Big Ten Network Alternate, NBA TV, NHL Network, NHL Network Alternate, ESPNEWS, Big Ten Network Alternate 2, ESPNU, FOX Sports 2, Golf Channel, SEC Network, SEC Network+, MLB Network, MLB Network Alternate, MLB Network Strikezone, Tennis Channel

Any Base Package: Paramount Network, MTV, Laff, truTV, FETV, MTV2, CMT, Logo, Revolt, Game Show Network, TV Land, aspireTV, AWE

Orange: WGN America, NewsMax, HLN, Science Channel, News18, NDTV World, CGTN, Law & Crime, One America News Network

Blue: WGN America, Fox Business Network, CNBC, Law & Crime, NewsMax, Science Channel, News18, NDTV World, CGTN, One America News Network

Orange+Blue: CNBC, HLN, News18, CGTN, NewsMax, Science Channel, Law & Crime, WGN America, Fox Business Network, NDTV World, One America News Network

Orange: Magnolia Network, Hallmark Channel, VH1, Cooking Channel, FYI, WE TV, Lifetime Movies, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family, UPtv

Blue or Orange+Blue: Magnolia Network, Hallmark Channel, VH1, Cooking Channel, FYI, Oxygen True Crime, WE TV, Lifetime Movies, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family, UPtv

Orange or Orange+Blue: Disney Junior, Disney XD, NickToons, TeenNick, Boomerang, BabyTV

Blue: NickToons, TeenNick, Boomerang, BabyTV

Orange: American Heroes Channel, Destination America, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Family, INSP, Outdoor Channel, PixL, Pursuit, RFD-TV, Sportsman Channel, The Cowboy Channel, Cowgirl Channel, World Fishing Network

Blue or Orange+Blue: American Heroes Channel, Destination America, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Family, INSP, Nat Geo Wild, Outdoor Channel, PixL, Pursuit, RFD-TV, Sportsman Channel, The Cowboy Channel, World Fishing Network

Orange: Start TV, REELZ, Grit, Heroes & Icons, HDNet Movies, SundanceTV, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Bounce

Blue or Orange+Blue: Heroes & Icons, FXX, FX Movies, REELZ, Grit, Start TV, HDNet Movies, SundanceTV, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Bounce

This add-on includes all the channels in the Kids Extra, Lifestyle Extra, News Extra, and Entertainment Extra bundles for your chosen base package. This adds 35-39 channels, depending on your base package.

Add all the extras Sling has to offer! If you have Orange or Blue, you’ll get all the extras packages for $21. If you have the Combo base package, the Total TV Deal is $27.

What Is the Best Sling TV Alternative?

Sling’s unique price structure makes it hard to beat. For the past two years, I’ve chosen Sling as my TV provider for the NFL season. But if you’re willing to spend more, there are other strong live TV services to consider.

The closest comparison to Sling TV would be DIRECTV STREAM’s MySports package ($49.99 trial, then $69.99). Like Sling, this package doesn’t have CBS, but offers the most important cable channels to watch sports and news. It’s only available in 23 major markets right now.

DIRECTV STREAM is my favorite TV streaming service because it offers more channels than any other service. It can get expensive if you need lots of channels, but DIRECTV STREAM offers packages with CBS and regional sports channels — Sling does not. The service comes with an unlimited DVR and unlimited simultaneous streams at home. I highly recommend sampling it with a free 5-day trial. It’s the gold standard of TV streaming.

If you’re looking at Sling for its value, Hulu + Live TV may be worth the extra cost. Hulu’s live TV bundle starts at $82.99, but you will get free Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand. That bundle normally costs $16.99 on its own, but Hulu gives it to you free with their live TV plan.

It has a strong lineup including all your local channels, a handful of regional sports channels, and nearly every major cable channel. An unlimited DVR is included. Hulu + Live TV may seem expensive compared to Sling, but If you add up the cost of all your streaming services and compare that to Hulu’s great discount, it may be a better value overall. You can try Hulu + Live TV free for 3 days.

Besides DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo is the only live TV streamer offering the widest lineup of regional sports networks. Fubo doesn’t have key channels like TNT or TBS, but it does have an unlimited DVR. Although Fubo offers multiple bundles starting at $84.99, it’s one of the more expensive live TV streamers. If you choose a channel package with regional sports networks, there’s a hidden $16 fee you won’t discover until checkout. I do not recommend it.

YouTube TV is the most popular live TV streaming service, but I don’t recommend it. It starts at $82.99, but Hulu + Live TV is the same price and offers free streaming services. YouTube TV has a better channel lineup than Sling TV, but it’s more expensive.

Philo is a great option for people who want live TV without the enormous bill. In fact, it’s just $28/month. Why so cheap? It’s missing live local channels, news, and sports. That’s a dealbreaker for most people, but that rock-bottom price is hard to pass up. I would still recommend Sling over Philo.

Frndly TV starts at $7.99/month, which is great for bargain hunters. But Frndly TV’s channel lineup is very limited. Most of the channels are what you’d find on free services, aside from A&E, Hallmark Channel, The Weather Channel, and MeTV. Sling TV is the better choice.

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.