Sling TV vs YouTube TV (2026)
Sling TV 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
| Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | from $45.99/month (Sling Orange) | $82.99/month (Base Plan) |
| Channels | 30-50 per plan | 100+ |
| Sports rights | NFL on FOX/NBC (Blue) and ESPN (Orange), NBA on ESPN/TNT, College sports | NFL (incl. NFL Sunday Ticket add-on), NBA on ESPN/TNT, MLB on FOX/FS1 |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | 3 |
| Recording / DVR | 50 hours included (200 hours with DVR Plus) | Unlimited, kept 9 months |
| Free trial | None; first-month discounts instead | 10 days |
| Contract | None | None |
| 4K | No | 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
Sling TV
| Plan | Monthly price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Sling Orange | from $45.99 /month | ESPN, Disney Channel, 1 stream |
| Sling Blue | from $50.99 /month | FOX, NBC, FS1, 3 streams; price varies by market |
| Orange + Blue | from $65.99 /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.
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
Sling TV
- NFL on FOX/NBC (Blue) and ESPN (Orange)
- NBA on ESPN/TNT
- College sports
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
Sling TV
Simultaneous streams: 3 · Recording / DVR: 50 hours included (200 hours with DVR Plus)
YouTube TV
Simultaneous streams: 3 · Recording / DVR: Unlimited, kept 9 months
Verdict
Sling TV saves $30 or more a month; YouTube TV gives you locals, unlimited DVR and three streams.
Switching or combining
Both services are contract-free on their monthly plans, so you can run Sling TV 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, Sling TV 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, Sling TV or YouTube TV?
Sling TV: NFL on FOX/NBC (Blue) and ESPN (Orange), NBA on ESPN/TNT, College sports. 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 Sling TV 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?
Sling TV: 3. YouTube TV: 3.
Do Sling TV and YouTube TV work on the same devices?
Largely yes: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV for Sling TV; Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV / Google TV for YouTube TV.