Sling TV vs AT&T TV: The Ultimate Comparison of Streaming Services

at&t directv now vs sling tv

AT&T TV or DIRECTV Stream and Sling TV provide variable broadcasting experiences. Sling TV begins at $40 per month ($10 off on first month). This tailors 30 to 50+ channels with a cloud DVR for 50 Hours. It enables up to 4 consistent streams and is recognized for its modified plans. This makes it cost-effective but sometimes diverting in channel choice. On the other hand, AT&T TV prices are between $69.99 to $159.99 per month. This provides 45 to 125+ channels and a generic 500 hours of cloud DVR storage. It assists 3 streams consistently and involves premium channels, alluring to those looking for a wider channel lineup. Sling TV vs AT&T is something that you need to focus on to make sure that you get just the right channels. Both of the services are awesome in their way but Sling TV has lower prices.

Pros & Cons – AT&T TV Now vs Sling TV

Which is better Sling TV or AT&T TV Now? Before we conclude this problem, you need to make sure you all about the pros and cons of both streaming platforms. Here are the main benefits and disadvantages of both services. 

Pros of AT&T TV NowCons of AT&T TV Now
Most premium channels are includedLimited Cloud DVR storage
Convenient viewing without the InternetMore expensive than Sling TV
Pros of Sling TVCons of Sling TV
Free device offers for brand new subscribersConfusing Channel Lineup
Cheaper prices in comparison to other servicesLimited channels
Great lineup for kids

Sling TV vs AT&T TV Now – Promotions

Obviously, you can’t decide on any particular service that doesn’t offer promotions. Promotions are the best part of choosing any live TV streaming service. That’s the sole reason we have hunted down some delicious deals and promotions for you and your family. Here are the promotional deals for both Sling TV & AT&T TV Now.

  • AT&T TV Now: Free HBO Max for 30 days with a new subscription (Worth $15)
  • Sling TV: Users get free AirTV Mini (Worth $79.99).
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Difference Between Sling TV & AT&T TV Now

Sling TV vs AT&T Now, which one is better you ask? Well, there is a lot of differences between the services. To find just the right service between Sling TV vs AT&T TV Now. Let’s focus on all the differences so you can understand what you actually need from your preferred live TV streaming service.

FactorsSling TVAT&T TV
Customer Star Rating3.9/53.2/5
Price$40 per month ($10 off on first month)$69.99 to $159.99 per month
Live Channels30-50+ channels90-185+ channels
Cloud DVR50 Hrs.500 Hrs.
Compatible Devices169
Multiple Streams43
Trial7 Days7 Days

On one side, you have Sling TV that comes at an affordable price and the best features in almost every single category. If you are budget conscious and you need limited channels then Sling TV is definitely the right choice for you. 

Another side you have AT&T TV Now, which was previously known as DIRECTV Now. The key difference is that AT&T TV Now offers more channels. They offer cable-like prices. Although these factors don’t really make the services that much different from each other. To get a better understanding of everything, we will break AT&T TV now vs Sling TV feature by feature.

Sling TV vs AT&T TV Now Prices and Plans

Make sure that you are completely focused here as the plans are going to get really confusing. Both streaming services have really different package layouts. You need to know about the packages offered by Sling TV & AT&T TV to make an educated decision on where to invest your money.

Sling TV Pricing & Plans

PackagesChannel CountStarting Price
Sling Orange30+$30 per month
Sling Blue40+$30 per month
Sling Orange & Blue50+$45 per month

Needless to say that Sling TV has a weird channel lineup. You can get either Sling Blue or Sling Orange for $30 per month. While the price is the same, you will get a different channel lineup in both packages so they don’t overlap each other. This simply means that you have to choose between either Fox or ESPN. It can be extremely annoying having to choose between different types of plans that offer the same number of channels.

Although, if you don’t like choosing between the plans, then you can get the Sling Orange & Blue for $45 per month. You can get a channel lineup of both packages by just adding $15 to a plan. According to customer reviews, Sling TV’s channel lineup makes customers happier than AT&T TV Now’s channel lineup. So this section of the race between Sling TV channels vs AT&T Now is obviously won by Sling.

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AT&T TV Now Pricing & Plans

PackagesChannel CountStarting Price
Entertainment90+$69.99 per month
Choice125+$84.99 per month
Ultimate160+$114.99 per month
Premier185+$159.99 per month

Over the course of the last few years, AT&T TV has changed a lot. It used to be a fan favorite but the times have changed a lot. AT&T TV Now’s biggest cons are its expensive packages. If a user wants to pay $159.99 per month for a plan then they are most likely to buy a Cable TV Package. AT&T TV is offering lesser channels for more price than cable & Satellite TV packages.

There is one primary benefit of the service, you get HBO’s exclusive streaming service for one month for free. Not every package of AT&T TV Now fits in each other. Basically, every channel in Plus is not available in Max and the same goes for almost all the plans. So before you let go of your cable package, make sure you are aware of your channel list.

Sling TV vs AT&T – Fees & Extra Charges

No service is perfect and this is the same for both Sling TV & AT&T TV Now. They do come with extra charges and some fees. Sling TV asks you for $5 if you want a cloud DVR feature. Although the fee is completely optional, it is not included in your package. And there aren’t any installation charges so that’s a good thing.

AT&T TV Now is not too different, it also comes with additional charges like the multiple streams add-on option. The price is the same as Sling TV’s cloud DVR service and it is also optional.

If you are debating between AT&T DIRECTV now vs Sling TV. Then you will have to decide which service are you willing to pay extra money for.

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Sling TV Channels vs AT&T Now Channels

Instead of the available channels, let’s start with channels that are missing from both services. 

Sling TVAT&T TV Now
HBONFL Network
Fox NewsNFL Sunday Ticket
CBS Sports NetworkMLB Bases Loaded
NickelodeonCOZI TV
El ReyCOMET

The thing is that AT&T TV Now has way more channels than Sling TV but it is still missing a few channels. The one channel that most AT&T TV Now consumers will miss is the NFL ticket. Sling however is missing HBO and no you can’t even get it as an Add-on. So you really want to know about the channels you are getting before signing up for any other package.

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Best Channels Available

Sling TVAT&T TV Now
A&EAMC
Discovery ChanelBravo
E!ESPN
Food NetworkFOX News
HISTORYDisney Channel

If you want basic entertainment and a few niche channels, Sling TV is mostly the best choice for you. It covers a broad base even with the most basic of packages. If you want more channels for news, sports, kids, and entertainment then you will have to sign up for Add-ons. 

However, if you are looking for a complete entertainment package then AT&T TV Now probably has all the channels you need. If you go with the AT&T TV Now Max plan, you can get HBO. We won’t recommend the expensive packages on AT&T TV Now as they are not worth their value. For the same price, you’ll get many more channels from any local cable company.

Sling TV vs AT&T TV Now Specs & Features

You can’t end the debate of Sling TV vs AT&T TV now without considering the specs and features they have to offer to the consumers. If you couldn’t understand which service you wish to choose from the channel lineup then maybe the difference in specs and features will make a difference. 

1. Cloud DVR

All the live TV streaming services offer a cloud DVR Service. You can record your favorite TV shows and movies and watch them wherever and whenever.

ServiceStoragePrice
Sling TV DVR50 Hrs.$5/mo.
AT&T TV Now DVR500 Hrs.Included

Sling TV lacks behind in this part of the service. It offers just 50 Hrs of storage that too for $5 per month. On the other hand, AT&T TV DVR service offers you 500 hrs of cloud DVR storage. You don’t have to pay an extra amount for recording shows, movies, and sports networks.

2. Multiple Streams

How many streams you get with your live TV streaming service is one of the most important factors. Having multiple streams allow you and your family to watch whatever they want without having to worry about TV conflicts. 

PackagesMultiple StreamsOffline Viewing
Sling Orange1N/A
Sling Blue3N/A
Sling Orange & Blue4N/A
AT&T TV Now All Plans2DVR Only
AT&T TV Now Multiple Streams Add-on3DVR Only

If you go with the Sling Orange & Blue plan, then you won’t get four streams all over. You can just stream 3 simultaneous streams on Blue channels and 1 stream on Orange channels. This part really sucks in terms of Sling. AT&T on the other hand AT&T TV Now will offer you 2 simultaneous streams regardless of the package that you choose. If two won’t do you any good, then you can pay $5 extra to AT&T for an extra stream. In terms of multiple streams. AT&T TV now is the winner of Sling TV vs AT&T now.

3. Video Streaming Quality

Now let’s move onto the thing that matters the most while deciding which is better Sling TV or AT&T TV. You should keep one thing in mind all streaming video quality drops when your internet connection is slow. Regardless of the number of Pixels you are getting, it will drop down to nothing when you have a slow internet connection. Make sure you have enough bandwidth to handle streaming across all the devices. Keep in mind that AT&T TV Now struggles with service reliability. 

Both services offer 720P service across all their plans. Which is standard across all live TV streaming services.

Final Take – AT&T DIRECTV Now vs Sling TV

If we had to choose between both platforms, Sling TV would be our choice. It has better deals, prices, channels, and reliability. And if you have kids, then you should know it is one of the best streaming services for kids. 

If you aren’t ready just yet to get rid of your cable connection then you need a brilliant cable TV package to provide you with the entertainment you need. Luckily, Club HDTV can help you find excellent cable TV packages based on your TV viewing needs. What are you waiting for then? Reach out to us today!

About Kendry Perl

Kendry Pearl is an experienced telecom writer and Internet enthusiast having more than a decade of expertise in the telecommunications industry. Being a responsible resident of San Francisco, Kendry loves to explore various phones, Internet and TV products and plans based on new technologies, regulatory changes and industry trends that feature the telecom structure. Coming from an Tech background, she is passionate about writing various stories regarding Internet and TV features, deals and offers. More than hundreds of Kendry’s works deliver complete information to Internet users based on their choices and experiences.

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