YouTube TV vs. DIRECTV: Which Should You Choose?
When it comes to live TV streaming services YouTube TV has the most subscribers, but DIRECTV gives users more choice and more channels. Which is the perfect cord-cutting option for you? I’ve spent months comparing these services and I’ll help you choose with this guide.
Streaming Smarter says: DIRECTV is the easy winner in this comparison. With the most channels of any live streaming service, several different prices, more regional sports channels than any other service and free 4K, it’s a nearly unbeatable option.
Winner on Price: DIRECTV
YouTube TV starts at $82.99/month without add-ons.
But DIRECTV now offers smaller channel bundles called “genre packs” that allow you to start streaming for as little as $34.99. If you want a more traditional channel bundle of sports, news, and entertainment, DIRECTV’s “signature packs” start at $84.99.
Winner on Overall Channels: DIRECTV
DIRECTV is the champion of channel availability. It gives you 91 of the 100 most-watched TV channels. No one else comes close. YouTube TV has 78 out of the top 100.
Other than those exceptions, both services have identical lineups among the top 100 TV channels.
See our DIRECTV vs. YouTube TV full channel comparison if you’d like to see all the differences.
Winner on Local Channels: Draw
Both services offer ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, the CW, and PBS.
Winner on Sports Channels: DIRECTV
While YouTube TV offers one main channel package, DIRECTV offers seven. While DIRECTV offers all of these sports channels, anything with an asterisk (*) requires a package beyond the Entertainment ($84.99) lineup. If you love sports, be sure to check out DIRECTV’s MySports genre pack, which is only $69.99 and gives you most of these.
| Channel | DIRECTV | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN2 | Yes | Yes |
| ESPNEWS | Yes* | Yes |
| ESPNU | Yes* | Yes |
| FS1 | Yes | Yes |
| FS2 | Yes* | Yes |
| CBS Sports Network | Yes* | Yes |
| NBA TV | Yes* | Yes |
| NFL Network | Yes* | Yes |
| NFL RedZone | Yes* | Yes* |
| MLB Network | Yes* | No |
| MLB Strike Zone | Yes* | No |
| NHL Network | Yes* | No |
| Tennis Channel | Yes* | Yes* |
| Golf Channel | Yes* | Yes |
| ACC Network | Yes* | Yes |
| Big Ten Network | Yes* | Yes |
| SEC Network | Yes* | Yes |
* May require an additional fee
Winner on Regional Sports Channels: DIRECTV
This isn’t close. DIRECTV offers every single regional sports network except NBC Sports Philadelphia. YouTube TV only offers 5 regional sports networks. DIRECTV’s regional sports networks can be accessed with the Choice plan ($105.98) or with the MyHome Team add-on ($19.99) to the MySports package ($69.99).
| Channel | DIRECTV | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude Sports | Yes | No |
| Chicago Sports Network | Yes | No |
| CleGuardians.TV | Yes | No |
| DBacks.TV | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Detroit | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Florida | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Great Lakes | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Midwest | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports North | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Ohio | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Oklahoma | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports SoCal | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports South | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Southeast | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Southwest | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Sun | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports West | Yes | No |
| FanDuel Sports Wisconsin | Yes | No |
| MASN | Yes | No |
| MSG | Yes | No |
| MSG Sportsnet | Yes | No |
| Marquee Sports Network | Yes | No |
| Monumental Sports Network | Yes | Yes |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | Yes | Yes |
| NBC Sports Boston | Yes | Yes |
| NBC Sports Philadelphia | No | Yes |
| NBC Sports California | Yes | Yes |
| NESN | Yes | No |
| Padres.TV | Yes | No |
| ROOT SPORTS Northwest | Yes | No |
| Rangers Sports Network | Yes | No |
| Rockies.TV | Yes | No |
| SNY | Yes | No |
| Space City Home Network | Yes | No |
| Spectrum SportsNet | Yes | No |
| Spectrum SportsNet LA | Yes | No |
| SportsNet Pittsburgh | Yes | No |
| Twins.TV | Yes | No |
| YES Network | Yes | No |
Major Differences
DIRECTV Genre Packs
Unlike YouTube TV (and most competitors), DIRECTV gives you lots of control over your channel lineup.
Check out MyEntertainment for $34.99 if sports aren’t a priority. You’ll also get free Disney+, Hulu, and Max. Those 3 on-demand services alone normally cost $16.99 as a bundle, so this is a great deal.
MyNews is just $39.99 and delivers just the news, financial, and commentary channels news junkies want (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Newsmax, and more).
MySports offers the big-name sports channels without the fluff. You’ll also get free ESPN+. Jump in for $69.99. Add (most) regional sports networks for $19.99 with the MyHome Team add-on.
DIRECTV delivers flexibility, which is something YouTube TV really struggles with.
YouTube TV: NFL Sunday Ticket Discount
NFL Sunday Ticket is the league’s solution for out-of-market games. When you sign up, you’ll have access to every out-of-market game that airs on Sunday afternoons. It is incredibly expensive, but YouTube TV subscribers get it at a slight discount.
YouTube TV subscribers can get NFL Sunday Ticket for $378 (or 12 payments of $31.50).
If you don’t have YouTube TV, NFL Sunday Ticket is $480 (or 12 payments of $40).
Comparing Features
DVR
Both services offer an unlimited cloud DVR that can store your recordings up to 9 months.
4K
YouTube TV offers some 4K broadcasts, but you have to pay $9.99/month after a discounted trial.
DIRECTV includes 4K at no additional cost.
Multiview
YouTube TV allows users to watch up to 4 channels at once, though the channels are decided by YouTube TV. This feature will receive upgrades later this year.
DIRECTV does not offer multiview.
Channel Guide
YouTube TV is the only service that allows you to rearrange your channels as you like. I enjoy kicking worthless channels out of my lineup, allowing me to focus on what I want to watch.
Simultaneous Streams
YouTube TV allows 3 simultaneous streams. If you add the 4K Plus add-on ($9.99), you’ll get unlimited streams on your home network.
One of my favorite things about DIRECTV is that unlimited devices can watch when connected to your home network. Outside the home, you’re limited to 3 simultaneous streams at once.
DIRECTV is also a great choice if you have multiple homes. You can update your home network up to 4 times in a 12-month period.
Conclusion: Why DIRECTV Should Be Your Choice
I used YouTube TV for years. It was a great option years ago. But as someone who covers these services for a living, I was shocked how much I loved DIRECTV when I tried it.
The interface is slick and smooth. I was surprised how much I liked the fact that DIRECTV still has channel numbers – it seems like a little thing, but it helped navigation quite a bit.
DIRECTV’s channel lineup is unbeatable. If you need live TV, there are only a few channels it doesn’t offer. Check out DIRECTV’s intro offers as well. They throw a ton of freebies at you to get you to sign up.
YouTube TV feels like cord-cutting with training wheels. It’s a decent lineup and the interface is reliable. But the price keeps going up without any real added benefit. You don’t have to try both services, but if you do (like I did), I’m willing to bet you’ll prefer the DIRECTV experience.
