Is sling TV worth it?
Sling is worth your money having being one of the first TV streaming services in the market and it still remains one of the most affordable. With Sling TV you will be able to stream almost all your favorite TV channels plus more. There also may add-ons and customization options catered to meet user preferences and needs.
Live TV has grown at a very fast rate as internet access and speeds expand. This led to live TV being a preferred mode of entertainment to cable TV. The problem is while you have other Live TV streams in the market they do cost you a lot. Sling TV starts at $35 per month and offers you great value for money.
Table of Contents
Why Sling TV is worth it
Sling TV pricing
Plan |
Monthly Price |
Available channels |
Sling Orange |
$35/Month |
30+ |
Sling Blue |
$35/Month |
45+ |
Sling Orange + Blue |
$50/Month |
50+ |
If you are looking for a package to suit your kids and enjoy some lifestyle channels then you can start with Sling Orange. However, if you want more in terms of news and sports then Sling Blue is the package for you. Sling Orange + Blue gives you less than 10 more additional channels but with the option of EPIX channels.
Expected channels in Sling TV
Some of the channels you should expect to get on Sling Orange include AMC, A&E, CNN, BBC America, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Comedy channel, History, HGTV, Freeform, Investigation discovery, Lifetime, Food Network, and TBS. For Sling Blue you get additional channels like FOX, Fox News, TLC, USA, and Nick jr. The last Package Sling Orange + Blue has EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX Hits, EPIX Drive-in, FX, MSNBC, Univision, and AMC.
You also get some premium channels through add-ons like HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME and EPIX. The add-ons go for $10 for SHOWTIME and $9/month for STARZ. Extras for the Lifestyle category will give you VH1, Hallmark Channel and several other channels for as low as $6.
For some time the base price for Sling TV was $30 but this was increased to $35 with the DVR now having the capacity to record up to 50 hours from the previous 10. The price change however, does not affect those with existing subscriptions until August 1, 2021.
How Sling TV compares with competitors
Provider |
Price |
Channels |
Cloud DVR |
Sling TV |
$35 – $45/mo. |
45+ |
50hr |
Hulu TV |
$64.99 – $70.99/mo. |
70+ |
50 hr. |
YouTube TV |
$64.99 |
85 |
– |
Sling TV has the fairest deals of the above ranked streaming services. YouTube TV goes for $65 same as Hulu TV but you get more channels. Fubo TV goes for $60 which is in the range of YouTube and Hulu, this leaves Sling as the most affordable channel. However, there is a catch in that you do not get a full slate of channels you may desire for a specific package. If you do not get your news channels then you have to use the streaming service with over the air antenna.
Intuitive menus
One great feature you will find with Sling TV is that the menus are simple, clean and uncluttered. This makes it very easy to access everything you desire without over scrolling. Upgrades to its cloud DVR allows one to now record and live pause channels.
Service optimizer
In 2020 Sling TV launched this useful tool for those who may get lost in the maze of choosing their favorite channels. Here you enter your favorite channels then the optimizer will recommend the most suitable bundle. The company offers a free trial for new subscribers who can download the app and get a feel of it before finally settling on a package. At times you will find the company offering some special deals like paying $10 for the first month of service. Sling TV may not be that great for you if you are someone who is used to receiving over 100 channels. You may also be forced to bundle up the streaming service with your TV so as to catch on some local channels. This will depend on the kind of bundle you get.
Sports channels
If you are a big sports fan then this will probably be your number one concern when getting into a streaming service provider. You can get the Sports extra add on for $15 per month. For the price you are paying for the service don’t expect much. For Sling Orange you get ESPN/2/3, Stadium and TNT. For Sling Blue you get the option of NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, NBC sports, Stadium, FS1, and TNT. For Sling Orange + Blue you have ESPN/2/3, FS1/2, NFL Network, NBC sports, Sports Network, Golf channel, Stadium and TNT.
Devices compatible with Sling TV
Once you download the Sling TV app you are good to go. You can also stream their services through Xbox One, apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, iPhones, Android smartphones and Google Comcast. The only pre-condition is a good internet connection.
Conclusion
If you are looking for something to keep your family entertained and that combines amazing channels at an affordable price then Sling TV is the way to go. The streaming service has everything for the family from kids shows, sports channels, documentaries to lifestyle channels. With their additional DVR space you can record more shows for future consumption. The streaming service only has three packages so this simplifies things a bit for consumers. You can rent out latest movies through the platform for $3.99 to $6.99.
FAQ
How much of DVR storage does one get with Sling TV?
The service provider offers you a solid 50 hour of storage from the previous 10 hour. You can also get an additional 200 hours of storage when you opt for their $5 per month package.
Does Sling TV have the latest movie releases?
Sling TV main focus is on-demand TV shows and movies. You also get various popular live TV channels. If there is a movie you would like to watch you can rent it out from $3.99 to $6.99.