DIRECTV STREAM vs. DIRECTV

Earlier this year, AT&T sold its DIRECTV brand and exited the TV business. Now there are two DIRECTV-branded TV services: the original satellite TV service, DIRECTV, and a live TV streaming service, DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV).

We tend to recommend other services over both DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV. But if you’re already set on one of these, we suggest DIRECTV STREAM for its flexibility, simplicity, and price for most people. DIRECTV is much more expensive, but it offers more channels, a better DVR, and NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which is perfect for sports fans.

Jump to:

• Head-to-head comparison
• Packages and prices
• Features
• FAQ

DIRECTV STREAM vs. DIRECTV pros and cons

Compare DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV head to head

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas.

We were never into AT&T TV, and DIRECTV STREAM is essentially its clone, with high channel counts, high prices (including a $5 a month fee for your streaming device), and scanty cloud DVR storage compared to other live TV streaming services.

DIRECTV STREAM does, however, have sweet no-contract flexibility, like most streaming services, and you can self-install its internet-based streaming box in minutes.

We’d suggest services like YouTube TV ($64.99 a month, 85+ channels) and Hulu + Live TV ($65.99–$71.99 a month, 70+ channels) over DIRECTV STREAM. Neither one has as many channels, but both offer better overall value—including cheaper pricing and beefier cloud DVRs—than DIRECTV STREAM.

DIRECTV, meanwhile, has a bunch more channels (330+) for the same price as DIRECTV STREAM. DIRECTV also includes the Genie DVR at no extra charge, free NFL SUNDAY TICKET for one season, and premium-channel offers for new customers.

But DIRECTV also has contracts, with a huge 29%–40% rate hike in the second year (when those promos expire), and requires professional installation. These negatives mean DIRECTV loses to DIRECTV STREAM.

If satellite TV is your only option, DISH has slightly fewer channels than DIRECTV and similar pricing, but it pledges not to raise your monthly payment for two years, so it’s much cheaper in the long run.

DIRECTV STREAM vs. DIRECTV prices and plans

DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV have four separate plans with similar monthly payments—but wildly divergent channel counts. Let’s see how they rate in terms of overall value.

DIRECTV STREAM pricing and plans

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas.

All live TV streaming services, not just DIRECTV STREAM, have fewer channels than cable and satellite TV services . So it’s not like DIRECTV STREAM is trying to give you less for your money. It’s just how live TV streaming services roll—they offer quality over quantity, or more popular channels instead of filler networks.

DIRECTV STREAM plans cost $0.76–$1.08 per channel. DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE ($94.99 a month, 125+ channels) has the best value at $0.76 per channel. Here’s how that number compares to other top live TV streaming services.

(Note: Due to differences between streaming and traditional TV services, it wouldn’t make sense to do a direct cost-per-channel comparison between DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV.)

• fuboTV (111–159+ channels): $0.50–$0.59
• Hulu + Live TV (70+ channels): $0.94–$1.02
• Sling TV (32–51+ channels): $0.81–$1.09
• YouTube TV (85+ channels): $0.76

DIRECTV STREAM ULTIMATE also comes with three free months of CINEMAX, EPIX, HBO Max, and SHOWTIME, but that added value doesn’t last very long. But if you go with DIRECTV STREAM PREMIER ($139.99 a month, 330+ channels), those premium channels are a permanent part of your plan.

DIRECTV pricing and plans

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas.

DIRECTV has 190+ channels that DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t carry, but the packages are essentially the same in terms of popular channels. With DIRECTV, you’ll just get a bunch of other channels that you’ll probably never watch.

Price-wise, DIRECTV plans are a little cheaper than DIRECTV STREAM’s—but again, only for the first year. Then you get stuck with the butt-ugly second-year payment amounts listed above.

So why sign up for DIRECTV? Well, DIRECTV has NFL SUNDAY TICKET and includes an extra premium channel, STARZ, in its premium freebies promotion. Also, the DIRECTV app allows you to stream your DIRECTV content. And the free Genie DVR is way better than DIRECTV STREAM’s dinky cloud DVR.

But once the SUNDAY TICKET and premium channel promos expire and your payment jumps in the second year, all that DIRECTV has over DIRECTV STREAM is 190+ filler channels, a fancy DVR, the mobile app, and a monstrous monthly payment.

DVRs

When it comes down to DVRs, the DIRECTV Genie stomps DIRECTV STREAM’s cloud DVR. Check out the vital statistics of each below.

DIRECTV STREAM Cloud DVR vs. DIRECTV Genie DVR

DIRECTV STREAM Cloud DVR

DIRECTV Genie

Installation

Installing DIRECTV STREAM is much, much, easier than installing DIRECTV.

When your DIRECTV STREAM device ($5 a month for 24 months) arrives in the mail, just use the included HDMI cable to connect the device to your TV, plug in the power adapter, connect to your home Wi-Fi network, and start streaming.

DIRECTV installation is also free, and a tech does all the work for you, but the process isn’t nearly as simple as with DIRECTV STREAM. You’ll probably have to take a day off from work to be present for the installation, which can take up to five hours. And apartment dwellers may need to have their landlord sign an installation approval form.

Streaming apps

Comparing DIRECTV STREAM’s and DIRECTV’s apps is a little tricky. Allow us to elaborate.

DIRECTV STREAM app

All streaming services are based around an app that you use on a compatible device like a Chromecast, gaming console, personal computer, smart TV, smartphone, streaming stick, or tablet. So, unlike the DIRECTV app, the DIRECTV STREAM mobile app (Amazon, Android, and iOS) isn’t an extra feature—it’s the main way to use the service.

Note: You don’t need the DIRECTV STREAM streaming device to use DIRECTV STREAM, which is compatible with a variety of better, more affordable streaming devices. See the list in our DIRECTV STREAM review.

DIRECTV T‪V app

With DIRECTV, the mobile app for Android and iOS is an additional feature. Actually, it’s almost like having both DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM because it allows you to do all of this:

• Stream live TV, on-demand content, and DVR recordings
• Download movies and shows to watch offline
• Set and manage DVR recordings
• Set and manage parental controls
• Stream on up to five mobile devices at once

But does adding a streaming component to DIRECTV via the DIRECTV app justify DIRECTV’s astronomical second-year payment? Maybe if money is no object to you. But since money matters to most people, we’ll say that the DIRECTV app isn’t worth the higher payment.

Internet bundles

Although AT&T and DIRECTV have separated, you can still bundle either DIRECTV STREAM or DIRECTV with AT&T Internet plans. And, in some areas, you can bundle DIRECTV with CenturyLink internet services. To learn more, read our DIRECTV Bundles review.

Our final take

DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV have some excellent features, but they’re both way too expensive to be worth it. Forced to choose one over the other, we’d pick DIRECTV STREAM since it’s the most flexible (no contract means an easier escape) and avoids DIRECTV’s ridiculous second-year price hike.

So, go with DIRECTV STREAM if you must. Otherwise, we suggest you try YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. And your best alternative to DIRECTV, if you need satellite TV, is DISH.

DIRECTV STREAM vs. DIRECTV FAQ

Methodology

At CableTV.com, we constantly analyze prices, plans, and specifications of TV providers like DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV so our readers can make informed buying decisions. We’ve also tested DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV from signup through activation, and surveyed other customers to see what they thought about providers. To learn more about our process, see our “How We Rank” page.