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One of the most well-known fights to replace the cable box is between YouTube TV and Sling TV. Both services got more expensive this year. Both are on our list of the best options to cable TV, but they will appeal to different people. And one of them just pulled me away from the other one. When we cut the cord in 2021, Sling TV and YouTube TV were my top two choices. That year, we had enough of how expensive cable was and how slow it was to use a cable box, so we just left.
We tried out all of the live TV services that summer to see which one was best for me, and now we are back to see which is best for most people. When we recently moved providers, we actually took my own advice and chose the winner of this battle. This shows how complicated the process is. The best service for the specific person might not be the best service for you. Sling, for example, is the service that aims to replace cable with the lowest price and the best station lineup.
Sling vs Youtube TV Comparison Table
Specification | Sling | YouTube TV |
---|---|---|
Starting Price | $35/month | $64.99/month |
Channels | 50+ channels in Sling Blue or Sling Orange plans; up to 60+ channels with combined Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans | 85+ channels |
DVR | 50 hours of cloud DVR storage | Unlimited cloud DVR storage |
Simultaneous Streams | 1-4 depending on the plan | 3 simultaneous streams |
Supported Devices | Smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, mobile devices, web browsers | Smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile devices, web browsers |
What is Sling ?
Sling is a television streaming service that is based on the internet and allows users to access live and on-demand programming from a variety of channels and networks, such as sports, entertainment, news, and more, without the need for a traditional cable or satellite TV subscription. Sling is available to consumers at no additional cost. It is a popular solution for people who wish to cut the cord on their cable or satellite TV service in order to save money and tailor their TV viewing experience.
What is Youtube TV?
YouTube TV is a paid live TV viewing service that you can get from YouTube. It gives people access to live and on-demand sports, news, entertainment, and other shows from broadcast and cable television networks over the internet. YouTube TV lets users watch material on multiple devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, and offers unlimited cloud DVR storage. It is a popular choice for people who don’t want to pay for cable or satellite TV but still want a similar experience without the high costs and long-term contracts. You can download this app from its official website
Sling vs Youtube TV: Channels
YouTube TV costs between $33 and $13 more than Sling TV, so it’s not a big surprise that it has more stations. YouTube TV has more than 100 stations, while Sling TV has less than a third or less than half of that number. With Sling Orange, you get 31 channels, with Sling Blue, you get 41 channels, and with both, you get 47 channels. In recent news, YouTube TV got back the Tennis Channel, which is part of Sling TV Sports Extra, as well as other Sinclair-owned networks.
Sling TV has some of the same stations as YouTube TV, which is good news. When you look at the top 25 most-watched TV networks, the ABC and CBS television networks stand out as the main things that make YouTube TV different. It has Univision, Ion, and Telemundo as well. ABC is coming to many Sling viewers, but not all of them. On March 1, Sling TV’s Blue plan got ABC and the price went up by $5 in some areas.
Which is better?
Sling and YouTube TV have their own special features and benefits, so it’s hard to say which one is better. Sling is less expensive and gives you more ways to customize it, but YouTube TV has more stations and unlimited DVR storage. In the end, it all depends on what you want and need. Sling may be a better option if you want a cheaper service and don’t need a lot of stations. But if you want more channels and endless storage on your DVR, YouTube TV might be a better choice.
Sling: The good and The bad
The Good
- Cheaper than YouTube TV.
- Add-on channel bundles for a cost
The Bad
- Fewer channels compared to YouTube TV
Youtube TV: The good and The bad
The Good
- More channels—85+
- Base price includes unlimited cloud DVR storage.
The Bad
- Higher starting price than Sling
FAQS
Sling TV costs less, but YouTube TV has more programs and lets you record as much as you want. Read the reviews from our experts to find out which one is best for you. Price: $72.99/mo.
If you subscribe to Sling Blue, Sling Latino, or Sling International Base, you can watch on up to three (3) devices at the same time. Your three streams will include any extras you add to your Sling Blue service.