In the year 2025, Dish and DirecTV have emerged as the leading satellite internet providers across the USA. Choosing between them would require examining their coverage options such as their plans, features, and pricing. DISH offers packages for as low as $86.99 to the highest at $116.99 for three years without any increase in prices for channels ranging from 190+ to 290+ channels in the different package deals. On the other hand, DIRECTV offers channels ranging from 90+ to 185+ channels for a monthly payment ranging from $74.99 to $154.99, and the prices are locked in for two years to avoid a big rise when the contract is broken. Both companies are relatively good: Dish offers great DVR functionality thanks to the hopper while DIRECTV occurs mostly in the form of sporting events and many other programming options enhancing the competitiveness of the two companies. In this post, we shall provide you with a detailed comparison of Dish vs Directv satellite TV internet and their packages, and additional features.
DISH TV vs DIRECTV Comparison Overview
Both companies are relatively good: Dish offers great DVR functionality thanks to the hopper while DIRECTV occurs mostly in the form of sporting events and many other programming options enhancing the competitiveness of the two companies. In this post, we shall examine how Dish compares to DIRECTV satellite internet providers and their systems in relation to each other.
| DIRECTV Satellite | Dish | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $74.99 to $154.99 per month | $86.99 to $116.99 per month |
| Channels | 90+ to 185+ | 190+ to 290+ |
| Maximum DVR Hours | 500 HD Hours | 500 HD Hours |
| Maximum Live Sports in 4K HDR | Yes | No |
| Included Maximum On-Demand Entertainment | Yes | No |
| Included HD DVR Device | Yes | No |
| Maximum Hours of HD DVR Storage Involved with Genie as compared to Dish Hopper Duo | Yes | No |
In comparison to DIRECTV, DISH is cheaper but with less channel options. In the channels available area, DIRECTV is a winner, whereas DISH has a fixed monthly payment within your whole 2 years of contract and 3rd year. By the end of this article, you will make an informed decision on which option best suits your recreational expectations and budgetary concerns.
At first look, Dish and DIRECTV might come point-to-point with costing. Situations quickly modify once you differentiate Dish’s 3-year cost from DIRECTV’s 2-year contract. Costing is one of the biggest Dish perks. Dish is now providing “inflation-free TV” with their new 3-year TV cost lock and free establishment.
Curating Dish TV is not only affordable in the long term but also gives you the maximum value for your money. DIRECTV has a big cost increment after its two-year contract. After your contract is ended, your costs will return to DIRECTV’s recent plan costing on a monthly contract. The Dish plans and pricing are given in the table below.
DISH Packages and Pricing
| Package | Cost | Channel Count |
|---|---|---|
| America’s Top 120 | $86.99 /mo. | 190 |
| America’s Top 120 Plus | $101.99 /mo. | 190+ |
| America’s Top 200 | $106.99 /mo | 240+ |
| America’s Top 250 | $116.99 /mo. | 290+ |
DIRECTV Plan and Pricing
| TV Plan | TV Cost | TV channel count |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT All-Included | $74.99/month | 90+ |
| CHOICE All-Included | $79.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees | 125+ |
| ULTIMATE All-Included | $109.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees | 16+ |
| PREMIER All-Included | $154.99/month for 24 months plus taxes and fees | 185+ |
Are There Contracts With DISH and DIRECTV?
DIRECTV needs you to sign a 2-year contract, but DISH has a no-contract or 2-year contract choice.
With DISH’s no-contract Flex TV choice, you can pay for your satellite TV dish package and make monthly payments. Your monthly bill may be $10 to $15 higher than the advertised cost, but you do not need to be concerned about contract cancellations if you select to cancel the service.
DISH Cancellation Fee
- A fee of $20 for each remaining month in your contract.
DIRECTV Cancellation Fee
- A maximum fee of $20 per remaining month in your contract.
Are There Undisclosed Charges or Fees With DISH and DIRECTV?
DISH and DIRECTV inflict DVR and equipment fees that are important to be aware of.
Comparison of DIRECTV and DISH Network Fees
| TV Fees | DISH | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Installation fee | Included | Included |
| Activation fee | $39.99 (one-time) | $19.95 (one-time) |
| First set-top box | Included + $10.00–$15.00/mo. | $15.00/mo. |
| Additional set-top box fee | $7.00-$10.00/mo. each | $7.00/mo. |
| Local channels fee | $12.00/mo. | $0 |
| Regional sports fee | $0 | Up to $13.99/mo. |
Dish vs DIRECTV channel lineup
DISH offers sports coverage comparable to DIRECTV; however, it goes above and beyond to include all NCAA channels. Of course, DIRECTV used to have NFL SUNDAY TICKET rights, which granted it the ability to show out-of-market NFL football games but starting in the 2024 NFL season, NFL SUNDAY TICKET can only be found on YouTube TV. Dish essentially puts everything under the sun into their channel offerings for every interest, but DIRECTV definitely wins for something that just comes up with great channels. It is hard to say DIRECTV and Dish apart as they both share reasonable packages that share a lot of channels. DIRECTV makes the best premium channels offered in all of the plans. For Dish, more sports channels and better coverage for college sports basically mean any game played on Big Ten, SEC, PAC-12, ACCN, and ESPNU.
Dish vs DIRECTV: Popular Channels
| Channel | Dish | DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| The CW | Yes | No |
| Bravo | Yes | Yes |
| Choice, Ultimate, and Premier | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Fox News | Yes | Yes |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime Channel | Yes | Choice, Ultimate, and Premier |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes |
| MSNBC | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | Yes |
| Univision | America’s Top 200 and Up | Yes |
| USA Network | Yes | Yes |
DISH Vs DIRECTV: Premium Channels
Essentially, DISH and DIRECTV share identical premium channels: if you’ve signed up for one or the other, you’ll be able to watch Max’s The White Lotus or CINEMAX’s Warrior. Also, DISH and DIRECTV offer a few promotions.
With any package from DIRECTV currently, get three months of free access to Max, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, Starz, and MGM+.
DISH gives you three months of SHOWTIME and a free DISH Movie Pack subscription. This includes 15 movie channels, among them the Sony Movie Channel and MGM HD.
DIRECTV vs Dish: Premium Channels Pricing
| Channel | DIRECTV Cost | Dish Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Max | $15 per month | $15.99 per month |
| Paramount+ with Showtime | $10 per month | $10.99 per month |
| Starz | $10 per month | $10.99 per month |
| Cinemax | $10 per month | $10.99 per month |
| Starz Encore | $6 per month | Involved with Starz subscription |
| MGM+ | $7 per month | $5.99 per month |
Conclusion
Choosing between DISH and DIRECTV comes down to your individual tastes, desires, and spending limits. DISH is flexible and comparatively priced; which might appeal to those interested in customizing their own TV experience. Meanwhile, DIRECTV shines with its broad range of channels for sports fans. Weigh your priorities and needs carefully to see what satellite TV provider best meets your entertainment choices and budget.
