I wasn’t ready to let go of the cable TV experience. I like flipping through a guide. I like having all my channels in one place. But I was definitely ready to ditch the equipment fees, contracts, and endless bills that came with traditional cable. That’s when I found DirecTV Stream.
It gave me the best of both worlds: a familiar channel lineup and guide, but delivered over the internet. After using it for several months—and hearing feedback from clients who were also tired of bloated cable bills—I can confidently say it’s a strong option for anyone who wants to cut the cord without cutting out their favorite TV habits.
One of the first things I noticed with DirecTV Stream is how much it feels like having cable again, and I mean that in a good way. The service offers hundreds of live TV channels (depending on your package) that include all the familiar networks: local broadcast stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX), ESPN and sports channels, CNN and news outlets, lifestyle channels like HGTV and FX, and so on.
In other words, it covers basically everything you’d expect in a typical cable lineup. I didn’t have to sacrifice my favorite channels when I dropped cable – they were all still there on DirecTV Stream, which immediately made me feel at home.
Another aspect that preserves the “traditional TV” vibe is the user interface. DirecTV Stream’s app has a channel guide grid that looks and operates a lot like your old cable guide. This was a big deal for me because I’m used to flipping through a guide to see what’s on. Scrolling through the guide on DirecTV Stream is as natural as it was with cable, and it’s something many cord-cutters (including myself and my clients) appreciate.
In fact, some of my friends and clients say that DirecTV Stream has one of the best and most familiar channel guides in the business. Not everyone agrees – a tech-savvy friend found the interface a bit clunky and dated, but I like that it didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, a little nostalgia in the design can make the transition from cable to streaming much easier.
Besides replicating cable’s channel lineup and guide, DirecTV Stream adds something cable never could: portability. As someone who travels frequently, I love this feature. With cable, I was tethered to the cable box in my living room. Now, with DirecTV Stream, I can take my TV anywhere – whether I’m in a hotel, visiting family, or just hanging out at a café with Wi-Fi.
I’ve personally done this by bringing a easy to carry and travel with Roku Streaming Stick on a trip. I plugged the Roku into the hotel room TV, fired up the DirecTV Stream app, and voilà – I had all my usual channels and DVR recordings ready to watch, just as if I were sitting on my couch at home. The service didn’t miss a beat; it works seamlessly for travelers using devices like Roku or Amazon Fire TV sticks on the go.
One of my clients, who practically lives in hotels for work, told me DirecTV Stream was a game-changer for them – they could keep up with their local news and sports teams from wherever they were, no special setup required. This kind of flexibility simply isn’t possible with traditional cable or satellite, and it’s a huge plus in DirecTV Stream’s favor.
On top of that, DirecTV Stream lets you stream on multiple devices at once. You can have up to 3 simultaneous streams outside your home, and unlimited streams at home on your Wi-Fi network.
In practical terms, that meant my family could watch different channels on different TVs/tablets at the same time, without fighting over the remote – again, something that would have required extra cable boxes (and extra fees) in the old days. We no longer worry about renting or buying additional hardware for each TV; any smart TV or streaming dongle works as a “virtual cable box” now.
This also ties back to the cost: with cable we used to pay monthly fees for multiple cable boxes, which really added up. With DirecTV Stream, the device fees are zero if you use your own Roku/Fire TV/Apple TV, etc., and even if you opt for DirecTV’s proprietary Gemini Air streaming box with voice remote for a more integrated experience, you can lease it for about $10 a month – still likely cheaper than renting multiple cable DVR boxes.
Now for the not-so-fun part: the price. I’ll be honest, the biggest downside of DirecTV Stream in my experience is the cost. If you go for the full-fledged channel packages (what DirecTV calls its Signature Packages), the monthly bill ends up comparable to a traditional cable bill, especially once any promotional period ends. For example, the standard Entertainment package (with 90+ channels) runs about $84.99 per month (before taxes/fees).
The next tier, Choice (125+ channels including regional sports), is about $89.99 a month. Higher tiers like Ultimate (160+ channels) and Premier (185+ channels, with premium movie networks included) cost around $119.99 and $164.99 per month respectively.
Those prices are pretty steep, essentially cable-level pricing. In fact, I initially had some sticker shock because I started out thinking streaming services were always cheaper than cable, but with live TV streaming that’s not necessarily true anymore.
That said, DirecTV Stream often has promotions and deals to soften the blow. When I signed up, I took advantage of a promotion for new customers that knocked $20 off the first month and locked in a discounted rate for the first two years. As of 2025, DirecTV is advertising savings of “up to $500 over 2 years” by giving monthly bill credits during your first 24 months.
For instance, new subscribers can get $5–$20 off per month (amount varies by package) for two years – e.g. $5 off Entertainment, $10 off Choice, $15 off Ultimate, $20 off Premier. With those discounts, my Choice package effectively costs $79.99/mo instead of $89.99, which definitely helps. They also were offering the first month at $59.99 for certain plans, so there are limited-time deals to look out for.
Additionally, all plans currently come with a 5-day free trial so you can test the waters without commitment. The flexibility to cancel anytime (no annual contract) is reassuring as well, even if the goal is not to cancel but to avoid being locked in if the price no longer makes sense for you. Kinda wish it was a full month free, to really test it out though.
Still, even with discounts, if you’re coming from a cheap cable plan, DirecTV Stream might not save you money – it might only break even or even cost more in some cases. I usually tell friends: if you were already paying over $200 a month for cable with multiple boxes and premium channels, then DirecTV Stream could save you money (since you drop those box fees and some taxes). But if your cable bill was, say, $120, switching to DirecTV Stream at $85–$90 might not feel like a huge win for the wallet. Price is the major downside, no question about it, and it’s something to weigh carefully.
One thing I do applaud DirecTV for is embracing a more flexible packaging model instead of only sticking to the old big bundles. In 2024 they rolled out an innovative Genre Packs system that I’ve been exploring as an alternative to the all-in packages. These Genre Packs let you mix-and-match smaller channel bundles focused on specific interests – a nice way to avoid paying for tons of channels you never watch.
There are four main base packs: MyEntertainment, MySports, MyNews, and MiEspañol. Each can be subscribed to individually (no need to get all of them – you pick what you want) starting around $34.99–$69.99 per month depending on the pack.
40+ channels of general entertainment and lifestyle programming. This pack includes popular channels like Discovery, FX, HGTV, Bravo, TLC and more. A very cool perk is that it includes streaming apps: subscribing to MyEntertainment unlocks the Disney+ and Hulu (Basic) bundle and Max (formerly HBO Max) with Ads at no extra cost. That means you not only get live channels, but also those on-demand libraries as a bonus – all integrated into one package. As someone juggling multiple apps, I found that integration super convenient.
20+ sports channels for the die-hards. This has ESPN, FS1, TNT, NFL Network and more, plus niche sports networks like regional college conference channels. Notably, MySports also includes ESPN+ (the sports streaming service) free with the pack. This pack is pricier, but it’s a sports lover’s dream if you don’t want other entertainment channels.
10+ channels of news, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC World, etc. It’s a slim package purely for news junkies, but it does still carry some locals like FOX and NBC in many areas (though ABC and CBS may not be included).
50–60+ Spanish-language channels, including big names like Univision, Telemundo, ESPN Deportes, and TUDN. Great for Spanish-speaking households or anyone who wants Spanish sports and telenovelas.
You can subscribe to any one of these base packs on a month-to-month basis (no contract, cancel any time) and even add mini-packs on top. For example, if you get MySports, you can add the MySports Extra mini-pack for $12.99/mo to get channels like NFL RedZone and MLB Strike Zone. Or if you have MyEntertainment or MyNews, you can tack on the MyCinema mini-pack ($9.99/mo) to get a set of movie channels like Turner Classic Movies and Lifetime Movie Network.
There’s even a MyHomeTeam ($19.99/mo) add-on for regional sports coverage of local teams, which pairs with MySports. It’s a bit of an à la carte feel within the DirecTV ecosystem, which is refreshing. I found this approach a plus because it combines the best of both worlds: you can keep a slim, cheap bundle for what you watch most and not pay for the rest, while still having the option to bolt on extras (including premium networks or even streaming services like Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, etc. as add-ons through DirecTV).
In short, DirecTV Stream is no longer one-size-fits-all. If the traditional big bundles are too pricey, you can try building your own bundle with a Genre Pack and save money. For instance, a friend of mine realized all they really watch is sports and a bit of CNN – so they dropped the $90 full package and went with MySports + MyNews for roughly ~$110 combined. It’s still a high total, but that’s with all sports channels including regionals (something no other streamer provides in one package) plus news, which worked for them.
Another friend who doesn’t care about sports at all went with just MyEntertainment at $34.99 and is perfectly content streaming Disney+ and HGTV. This flexibility is something I applaud DirecTV Stream for embracing, rather than resisting, the changing TV landscape – they’re clearly trying to cater to different preferences and budgets rather than forcing everyone into a mega bundle.
Of course, DirecTV Stream isn’t the only player in town. I’ve also tried or researched many of the competing live TV streaming services, so here’s a quick personal take on how DirecTV Stream compares to the big alternatives:
Often the first service people consider when dropping cable. As of 2025, YouTube TV carries 100+ channels and (like DirecTV) has unlimited DVR storage included. I loved YouTube TV’s sleek interface and recommendations, and its one-price model is simple: just one package for everything. However, the price has been climbing. It was $72.99 a month, but YouTube TV raised its base price to $82.99 in January 2025.
That makes it roughly the same price as DirecTV Stream’s mid-tier packages. YouTube TV does include all the major networks and many cable channels, but it is missing some channels that DirecTV has – for example, channels from the A&E family (like History, Lifetime) aren’t on YouTube TV, whereas they are available on DirecTV Stream.
One huge difference is regional sports: YouTube TV (and Hulu Live) do not carry many regional sports networks (the Bally Sports, YES Network, etc., are absent), which was a deal-breaker for me because I follow local sports. DirecTV Stream’s Choice package includes regional sports networks by default – though note, DirecTV does charge a regional sports fee in applicable areas, similar to cable.
Still, if you don’t need RSNs, YouTube TV is excellent and arguably has the edge in cloud DVR (though both are unlimited, YouTube’s interface for recordings is top-notch). Just be prepared to pay essentially cable-level prices on YouTube TV now too.
Hulu’s live TV bundle is another popular option I tested. It’s pretty compelling because it comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services. As of 2025, the Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) plan costs about $82.99 per month and gives you 90+ channels, plus Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN+ included. If you want Hulu’s on-demand library ad-free, there’s a pricier $95.99 plan with Live TV.
Hulu’s channel lineup is very similar to YouTube TV’s, and it also offers unlimited DVR. In my experience, Hulu + Live’s interface for live channels was a bit less intuitive – the focus of Hulu’s app has always been on-demand content, so finding live TV in the menu felt tacked on. It works, but it’s not as close to the cable-style experience as DirecTV Stream is.
On the plus side, if you already love Hulu originals or Disney content, bundling everything in one subscription is convenient. Price-wise, Hulu is now on par with YouTube TV (low $80s per month), so again we’re seeing that these services have all crept up in cost.
One important note: Hulu Live also doesn’t carry those regional sports networks, and some channels like AMC were removed in recent years. So depending on your channel must-haves, Hulu Live could have some gaps. DirecTV Stream, in contrast, tends to have the widest channel selection overall (it even offers 185+ channels on its top plan, far more than Hulu’s ~90), just at a higher price.
Sling is the budget-friendly option I’ve used on and off for a lightweight setup. Sling’s approach is different: they have two small base packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, each with ~35–43 channels for $46/month after a recent price hike. Orange has a focus on ESPN and Disney channels, while Blue offers more news and local FOX/NBC in some cities (but no ABC or CBS on Sling at all). You can also combine Orange + Blue to get ~70 channels for $61/month.
Sling is definitely cheaper than DirecTV Stream – even the full Sling combined plan is about the price of DirecTV’s lowest tier, and still $20+ less than YouTube or Hulu Live. However, it’s a case of “you get what you pay for.” Sling’s channel lineup is much thinner; it might be missing certain major networks (for example, no local CBS or ABC means no local news or certain big sports events unless you use an antenna). Its DVR is limited (50 hours free, or 200 hours if you pay extra, whereas DirecTV gives unlimited by default).
Sling works best for people who only watch a select set of channels and are willing to live without the broader selection. I found Sling’s interface fine but not as polished as DirecTV Stream’s or YouTube TV’s. It’s a great cheap alternative and it often has promotions like half off your first month (as of May 2025, new customers can still get 50% off the first month).
In comparing Sling to DirecTV Stream, it’s really affordability vs. channel breadth: Sling is the frugal pick with fewer channels; DirecTV Stream is the premium pick with nearly everything (but you pay for it).
To summarize the comparison, here’s a quick rundown of 2025 pricing for these services:
As you can see, all streaming TV services have crept up in price – the gap between streaming and cable has essentially closed in 2025. My philosophy now (and recommendation to friends) is: don’t chase a particular show or channel, chase the best overall value. Content libraries and channel lineups change frequently – a show that’s exclusive to one platform today might move tomorrow. So I believe in “follow the price, not the content.”
In other words, choose the service that offers the channels you need at the best price, because no service will permanently have every show or movie you want (they’re all trading content all the time). DirecTV Stream is embracing that reality by offering a variety of ways to subscribe (from free streaming channels to small packs to full bundles), allowing you to adjust your plan as your needs or the content landscape evolves.
After living with DirecTV Stream for a while, I genuinely feel it’s a great solution for people who want a hybrid of old and new TV worlds. On one hand, it gave me the comfort of a traditional cable TV experience – I can channel-surf, use a familiar guide, and enjoy a broad channel lineup including my locals, news, and live sports.
On the other hand, it delivers all that with the freedom of streaming – I’m not tied down to a cable jack or a specific box, I can watch on any device anywhere, and I can mix live TV with on-demand streaming apps effortlessly. DirecTV Stream has even integrated some streaming services into its packages (like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ with certain Genre packs), which shows it’s leaning into the future rather than fighting it.
Yes, the price is the big caveat. If you’re expecting streaming to save you tons of money, you might be disappointed here. DirecTV Stream will please your desire for a cable-like experience, but it may still pinch your wallet like cable did.
For many, the decision will come down to how much you value the convenience and comprehensive channel selection. In my case, I was already paying through the nose for cable, so switching to DirecTV Stream didn’t drastically change my budget – it just made my TV viewing more flexible and enjoyable. If you were on a smaller cable bundle, you might opt for DirecTV’s Genre Packs or a cheaper competitor instead, and that’s okay – the good news is we have options.
In the end, I appreciate that DirecTV Stream stands out by embracing change. It isn’t just clinging to the old model; it’s trying to bridge it with the new. Whether you’re a sports fanatic who needs those regional channels, a family that wants a familiar TV experience across multiple rooms, or a cord-cutter who simply hates the question “what streaming app has my show now?”, DirecTV Stream makes a compelling case as a one-stop solution. It’s cable TV for the streaming era – and for me, that’s exactly what I (and my client's) are looking for.
