DIRECTV Stream vs YouTube TV (2026)
DIRECTV Stream and YouTube TV are both licensed live-TV services in United States. This comparison lines up their current plans, channel line-ups, sports rights, simultaneous streams, recording and contract terms so you can pick the one that fits how you watch.
Side by side
| DIRECTV Stream | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $89.99/month (Entertainment) | $82.99/month (Base Plan) |
| Channels | 75-150+ | 100+ |
| Sports rights | NFL, NBA, MLB | NFL (incl. NFL Sunday Ticket add-on), NBA on ESPN/TNT, MLB on FOX/FS1 |
| Simultaneous streams | Unlimited at home | 3 |
| Recording / DVR | Unlimited | Unlimited, kept 9 months |
| Free trial | 5 days | 10 days |
| Contract | None | None |
| 4K | Yes | Yes |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing.
Price
DIRECTV Stream
| Plan | Monthly price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $89.99 /month | promo $59.99 then $89.99 |
| MySports genre pack | $64.99 /month | $49.99 first month |
| MiEspañol genre pack | $37.99 /month | |
| CHOICE | See official pricing | adds regional sports networks; price shown at checkout |
| DIRECTV Sports Pack add-on | $14.99 /month |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing.
YouTube TV
| Plan | Monthly price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Base Plan | $82.99 /month | 100+ channels; promo $59.99 for the first 2 months |
| 4K Plus add-on | $9.99 /month | 4K where available, unlimited streams |
| Spanish Plan | from $34.99 /month |
Prices and plans read from the official pricing page on 2026-10-12. They change often: confirm on the operator site before subscribing. Price not shown on the official page when checked; figure from the last public price list.
Channels and sports
DIRECTV Stream
- NFL
- NBA
- MLB
- NHL
- Regional sports networks
YouTube TV
- NFL (incl. NFL Sunday Ticket add-on)
- NBA on ESPN/TNT
- MLB on FOX/FS1
- College football
- Premier League on NBC/USA
Streams, recording and devices
DIRECTV Stream
Simultaneous streams: Unlimited at home · Recording / DVR: Unlimited
YouTube TV
Simultaneous streams: 3 · Recording / DVR: Unlimited, kept 9 months
Verdict
DIRECTV Stream is the only one with TNT plus regional sports networks; YouTube TV costs less and has the better DVR.
Switching or combining
Both services are contract-free on their monthly plans, so you can run DIRECTV Stream for one season and YouTube TV for the next, or hold both during the months when their sports rights overlap. Cancel from the account page; there is no equipment to return.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, DIRECTV Stream or YouTube TV?
Compare the first plan of each in the table above; the cheaper headline price is only half the answer because streams, recording and sports add-ons differ.
Which has more sport, DIRECTV Stream or YouTube TV?
DIRECTV Stream: NFL, NBA, MLB. YouTube TV: NFL (incl. NFL Sunday Ticket add-on), NBA on ESPN/TNT, MLB on FOX/FS1. Rights move between seasons, so check the current schedule.
Can I subscribe to both DIRECTV Stream and YouTube TV?
Yes. Both sell monthly plans without a contract, so many households keep one all year and add the other for a specific season.
Which supports more simultaneous streams?
DIRECTV Stream: Unlimited at home. YouTube TV: 3.
Do DIRECTV Stream and YouTube TV work on the same devices?
Largely yes: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV for DIRECTV Stream; Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV / Google TV for YouTube TV.