Best Satellite TV Providers: DISH or DIRECTV—Who Wins?
DISH is the best satellite TV provider based on its affordability, transparency, and family-friendly content—but sports fans may prefer DIRECTV.
DISH Network is our Best of the Best satellite TV provider due to its high channel count, industry-leading DVR, and two-year price guarantee. DISH is also our best TV provider for families, with tons of kids’ channels and excellent parental controls. So we highly recommend DISH for almost everyone.
DIRECTV packages don’t offer the same bang-for-your-buck that DISH does, despite adding a two-year price guarantee and at least flirting with pricing transparency. DIRECTV still has plenty of sports channels and regional sports networks (RSNs), though, so we recommend it for sports fans who don’t mind paying a premium for live sports. Just watch out for the $15.99 monthly RSN fee and another addition—a $15 monthly Advanced Receiver Service Fee for its Genie DVR (formerly included).
Best overall: DISH Network
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay.
Pros
- 2 yr. price guarantee
- Best DVR (Hopper 3)
- Best kids programming
- Best parental controls
- DISH Anywhere app
Cons
- $10 monthly fee for Hopper 3 DVR
- Limited bundling options
DISH Network has four main satellite TV packages (and two current-customer plans that you can read about in our DISH review). We recommend America’s Top 200 ($111.99/mo.) because it has 240+ live TV channels for a great price (especially compared to DIRECTV, which we’ll cover next).
Like DIRECTV, DISH has two-year contracts, but it locks in your price for two years—that’s why DIRECTV added its own two-year price guarantee last year.
DISH also has the best DVR in the business: the Hopper 3, which records up to 16 shows at once and stores up to a whopping 500 hours of HD movies and shows. The Hopper 3 does cost an extra $10 per month, but that’s an amazing value considering what you get with the receiver/DVR.
If you don’t wanna pay the extra $10 for the Hopper 3, DISH offers the Hopper Duo for $5 a month. The Duo stores only 125 hours of HD content and records only two shows at once, but that’s plenty for smaller households.
Pro tip: See how satellite TV services DISH and DIRECTV compare with top cable TV providers in our guide to the Best TV Providers.
The DISH TV plan America’s Top 120 has 190 live TV channels for $91.99/mo. while the more sports-oriented America’s Top 120+ has 190+ channels for $106.99/mo.. We recommend Top 120 for most people, but sports fans will want to go with Top 120+.
Best for sports: DIRECTV
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer for details.
Pros
- 2 yr. price guarantee
- Genie HD DVRs
- 3 mos. of free premium channels
Cons
- 2 yr. contract
- Hidden fees
- No more NFL SUNDAY TICKET
DIRECTV’s value is poorest when compared to its main satellite TV rival, DISH, and top cable TV providers. With the $15-a-month Advanced Receiver Service Fee for the Genie DVR, and the regional sports network (RSN) fee (up to $15.99 a month), the advertised plan prices rise by 19%–44%. To put that into perspective, remember you’re paying the same or (much) more than DISH for half the channels, and DISH charges $5 less for its—superior—Hopper DVR.
If you’re set on DIRECTV, consider this: The ENTERTAINMENT ($84.99/mo., 165+ channels) and CHOICE ($89.99/mo., 200+ channels) plans compare more favorably to some live TV streaming services. So, if you don’t want to pay the $15-a-month Advanced Receiver Service Fee for the Genie DVR, or other DIRECTV hidden costs, check out Stream with DIRECTV, which has no equipment fees if you supply your own streaming TV device (otherwise, it costs $10.00 monthly to rent one from DIRECTV).
Pro tip: If Stream with DIRECTV isn’t for you, try YouTube TV, our Editor’s Choice for the best overall live TV streaming service. YouTube TV has 100+ channels for $82.99/mo. along with free unlimited cloud DVR, no hidden fees, and—as with every streaming TV service—no hidden fees or equipment charges.
A downside of streaming with DIRECTV is that you’ll still have to pay the RSN fee. Also, without the Genie HD DVR, you won’t have some of the fun features sports fans love, like Mix Channels (watch up to six sporting events at once) and 72-hour rewind (catch missed events up to 72 hours later).
We don’t recommend the ULTIMATE ($119.99/mo., 270+ channels) or PREMIER ($164.99/mo., 340+ channels) plans for either DIRECTV Satellite or Stream with DIRECTV. Sigh. At least DIRECTV now has a two-year price guarantee, which means there’s no longer a massive, second-year rate increase.
We think DIRECTV’s CHOICE™ All Included package (200+, $89.99/mo. channels) is a decent deal, especially when you consider the added value of free three-month trials of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, Max, STARZ®, Cinemax® & MGM+™.
What to look for in satellite TV providers
What are the most important qualities of a satellite TV provider (besides a good personality and sense of humor)? If you said channel count or DVR equipment, you’re right.
It’s also smart to see if the provider has an app for mobile watching and account management, value-adding perks, and good customer satisfaction ratings.
Let’s dive deeper into why these are key features.
Pro tip: If you plan to move to a rural area soon, then you’re smart to check out satellite TV providers, which are often your only option for TV service. Same goes for internet service. Our Best Satellite Internet Providers guide can help you find a satellite internet provider.
Channel count
For TV providers, channel count is a crucial stat. The higher the number, the more impressive. But quality also matters: to make sure you can get the channels you want, check out our channel guides for each provider.
DVRs and other equipment
When you sign up for satellite TV service, you’re also committing to a DVR/receiver unit—and possibly a monthly rental fee. Make sure the machine meets your needs.
- Is the DVR included or is there a rental fee?
- Is there also a separate fee for DVR service?
- How many hours of HD content does the DVR store?
- Can you buy separate DVRs or receivers for multi-room viewing?
- Does the DVR have cool, exclusive features?
- Does the remote control have voice search capabilities?
Also, many providers offer access to your DVR content (and maybe even your channel package) via a mobile app. Let’s discuss, shall we?
Pro tip: We take a closer look at DVRs in our comprehensive guide DISH Hopper 3 vs. DIRECTV Genie.
Mobile apps
Most cable and satellite service providers have apps that allow account management (bill pay, support, etc.), watch-anywhere streaming, or both. You should get some of that convenience in your life.
DIRECTV (Android, iOS) and DISH (Android, iOS) both have mobile apps that allow you to watch your live channels, on-demand content, and DVR recordings on your smartphone or tablet. You can also use both apps to set and manage DVR timers and parental controls.
Perks, deals, and other promotions
DIRECTV and DISH sell pretty much the same product for the same price. So, to get your business, they regularly offer deals to entice new customers to sign up.
Check out our DISH Deals and DIRECTV Deals pages for the most current offers.
Customer satisfaction
It’s always smart to see what other customers think of a provider before you commit.
In our annual customer satisfaction survey, we asked customers of the top cable and satellite TV providers* to rate providers on billing, channel selection, customer and technical support, DVR satisfaction, installation, signal reliability, user experience, and overall satisfaction.
DIRECTV finished second in overall customer satisfaction with 69% indicating complete or very high satisfaction. DISH finished 7th with 62% (remember, these are customer ratings, not CableTV.com’s editorial ratings).
Pro tip: Neither DISH nor DIRECTV is an internet provider, but there are DIRECTV bundles through AT&T Internet and Centurylink Internet.
Is DISH or DIRECTV better?
So which satellite TV service is best? We say you should put a DISH Network satellite dish on your roof (or, alternatively, a pole in your yard).
DISH beat its rival DIRECTV to earn our Best of the Best Award for the best satellite TV provider. That’s thanks to its high channel count, transparent pricing and two-year price-lock, the awesome Hopper 3 DVR, and excellent parental controls.
DIRECTV is just too expensive for anyone but sports fans who’ve come to rely on DIRECTV’s live sports offerings, including the Genie HD DVR and its sports-friendly Mix Channels and 72-Hour Rewind features.
Best satellite TV providers FAQ
What is the cheapest satellite TV provider?
DISH is the cheapest satellite TV provider—and, in our opinion, the best satellite TV provider. DISH TV packages have lower prices and DVR fees and fewer hidden costs than DIRECTV's. Both providers offer a two-year price guarantee.
Can I get free satellite TV?
You can pick up free-to-air satellite TV channels with your own satellite dish and receiver, but you won't get the kinds of channels that are available through satellite TV companies like DIRECTV or DISH. It'll be mostly government-sponsored stations like PBS. But if you've relocated to the US from another country, free-to-air satellite TV can pick up channels from your home country.
What are the best satellite TV providers?
Out of the two satellite TV providers in the US, DISH is best. It has 290+ channels, the Hopper 3 DVR (500 hours of storage, 16 simultaneous recordings), and a two-year price guarantee.
What is the difference between cable and satellite TV?
Cable TV comes through a cable. Satellite TV bounces from Earth to a satellite and back to a satellite dish on top of your house.
What are the best satellite TV deals?
Here are the deals and promotions we dug up for DIRECTV and DISH. DIRECTV
- Free premium channels: Get three months of CINEMAX, MGM+, Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and STARZ free when you sign up for ENTERTAINMENT All Included or higher.
- Cut local channels, save money: Choose to cut local channels from your DIRECTV plan and save $12/mo. ($144/yr.).
- Free installation: DISH currently waives the $199 installation fee on new orders.
- Free premium channels: New customers get 3 free months of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and the DISH Movie Pack. Remember to cancel before the promo period ends, or you’ll be charged $20 per month.
- eAutoPay discount: DISH gives you a $5/mo. discount for using paperless billing.
Why you should trust us
Our experts employed hours of hands-on testing and crunched the numbers, rating DISH and DIRECTV on bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction.
Then we matched up the satellite TV providers head to head to give a clearer picture of their strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer:
DIRECTV:
ENTERTAINMENT: for 24 months + taxes & fees ($89.99/mo. w/ req’d fees) w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay and paperless bill req’d.
CHOICE: for 24 months + taxes & fees ($116.98/mo. w/ req’d fees) w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay and paperless bill req’d.
ULTIMATE: for 24 months + taxes & fees ($146.98/mo. w/ req’d fees) w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay and paperless bill req’d.
PREMIER™: for 24 months + taxes & fees ($191.98/mo. w/ req’d fees) w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay and paperless bill req’d.
