DIRECTV VS. Optimum
From contracts to channel counts, we break down everything you need to know about Optimum and DIRECTV plans.
Is DIRECTV or Optimum better?
If you can stomach the high prices, DIRECTV offers a superior DVR, larger availability, and better customer service compared to Optimum.
Optimum’s upper-tier TV plan costs less than DIRECTV’s, plus its plans are contract-free. But you’ll be required to get an internet plan and you’ll have to settle for less than stellar customer service.
DIRECTV vs. Optimum TV pros and cons
DIRECTV
✓ 2-year price guarantee (no more second-year price hike)
✓ Genie DVRs (up to 450 hrs.)
✓ Best sports programming
✓ 99% availability
✗ 2-year contract
✗ Expensive plans
✗ Hidden fees
Optimum
✓ No required contract
✓ Many channels
✗ Limited availability
✗ Bundling requirement
Deals and promotions
DIRECTV TV deals
- Free premium channels: If you’re new to DIRECTV, you’ll get three free months of Max™ (formerly HBO Max), Cinemax®, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, and MGM+™ when you sign up. Don’t forget to cancel after the trial period, otherwise the deal auto-renews. (Note: DIRECTV’s PREMIER All Included package already has these premium channels—but no MGM+. Don’t fret: you’ll still get MGM+ free for three months).
Check out our DIRECTV deals guide to learn more about the other deals DIRECTV (our choice for Best of the Best for Promos) is servin’ up at the moment.
Optimum TV deals
Optimum’s best deals are for its internet plans, but Optimum TV customers can still get solid bundle deals. Visit our Optimum deals page for more information.
Compare DIRECTV and Optimum head-to-head
DIRECTV vs. Optimum
Data effective as of post date. Offers may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer for details.
DIRECTV is mainly a nationwide satellite TV provider, while Optimum provides internet, TV, and phone service across 21 states.
If you’re shopping for TV service and split between either provider, we’d recommend focusing on your budget and home internet needs.
With DIRECTV, you’ll pay a premium for TV service, but you’ll also enjoy excellent channel lineups, including robust sports offerings. Optimum’s prices are lower, but the provider forces you to bundle cable TV with internet service—and Optimum’s customer service is mediocre.
DIRECTV vs. Optimum packages and pricing
DIRECTV and Optimum offer a mountain of channels, but take unique approaches when it comes to divvying them up. Let’s break down what you’ll get with each provider.
DIRECTV TV packages
| Package | Price | Channel count | Notable channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT All Included | $84.99/mo. | 165+ | ESPN, FXX, Hallmark Channel, and TNT | View Plan |
| CHOICE™ All Included | $89.99/mo. | 200+ | NFL Network, NBA TV, Cooking Channel, and regional sports networks | View Plan |
| ULTIMATE All Included | $119.99/mo. | 270+ | BBC World News, CBS Sports Network, and Magnolia Network | View Plan |
| PREMIER All Included | $164.99/mo. | 340+ | HBO®, CINEMAX®, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® | View Plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer for details.
Even though ENTERTAINMENT All Included is DIRECTV’s starting package, we appreciated that DIRECTV didn’t skimp on the plan’s channel lineup. Most TV providers will split second-tier basic cable channels like DisneyXD and FXX across their mid-tier plans, but ENTERTAINMENT All Included includes a strong selection of channels within a single plan.
With DIRECTV’s CHOICE All Included and ULTIMATE All Included plans, you’ll get channels like the ACC Network and the Cooking Channel. They’re nice add-ons if your family’s into sports or the latest Joanna Gaines’ shiplap tips. PREMIER All Included gets you premium cable channels like HBO and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
But DIRECTV’s prices are a doozy, but the satellite TV provider finally introduced a two-year price guarantee this year—which means no more gnarly second-year price hike.
Optimum cable TV packages (West region)
| Package | Price* | Channel count | Notable channels | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic TV | $50.00/mo. | 50+ | ABC, CBS, FOX | View Plan |
| Core TV | $100.00/mo. | 125+ | ESPN, CNN, TNT | View Plan |
| Select TV | $120.00/mo. | 200+ | FXX, TV Land, NFL Network, Cooking Channel | View Plan |
| Premier TV | $140.00/mo. | 250+ | HBO®, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, Outdoor Channel | View Plan |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Offer for new residential customers. Advertised price OFFER for new Optimum residential customers with eligible Internet plan. Rates are subject to change at any time with advanced notice. Advertised price reflects $5 discount for enrolling in Auto Pay & Paperless Billing, must maintain both to keep discount.
Our longstanding policy is “avoid local channel packages,” and Optimum’s Basic TV plan doesn’t change our minds. It’s cheap, but only has broadcast networks like ABC and NBC. If you add an over-the-air antenna to your TV, you can watch these channels for free.
Optimum’s other plans have channel counts that look good on paper, but we’d recommend reviewing their channel lineups beforehand if you’re looking for specific channels. Core TV includes basic cable channels like Cartoon Network and ESPN, but you’ll have to upgrade to Select TV for channels like the Discovery Channel or A&E.
That said, Optimum’s TV plans do have some upsides. Optimum offers contract-free service, and its upper-tier TV plan is a bit more affordable than DIRECTV’s. But, with Optimum, your monthly payment rises sharply after the first year. At least you’re not locked into a contract.
But Optimum’s biggest cable TV downside—you can get it only with an Optimum internet subscription. Unfortunately, few cable internet providers offer standalone TV packages these days. If you don’t want internet, DIRECTV is the way to go.
One more downside: Optimum divides its TV plans between its two regions, meaning you’ll get different TV plan options depending on whether you live in Optimum’s East region (CT, NY, NJ) or its West region (everywhere else). If you’re currently living in one of the three Optimum East states, check out our Optimum guide to see what TV plans you’ll have to choose from.
Optimum vs. DIRECTV features
TV plans aren’t simply limited to your channels and monthly bill. Here’s everything else you’ll need to know about Optimum and DIRECTV service.
Equipment
DIRECTV wins here thanks to its superior Genie DVRs ($15 a month), which include up to 450 hours of DVR storage and 7 simultaneous recordings. DISH’s Hopper 3 DVR technically has better DVR features (500 hours, 16 simultaneous), but it also costs $10.00 monthly.
Optimum cable TV customers get one free Altice One Mini cable box, which includes 4K support and access to Optimum’s streaming TV apps. But if you want Cloud DVR service, you’ll need to pay an additional $8–$20 per month for up to 150 hours of storage.
Optimum’s DVR offerings fall in line with competitors like Xfinity and Spectrum. But Optimum’s free cable box offering is a nice add-on, since many providers will still charge you for your first cable box.
Customer satisfaction
DIRECTV took third place out of 10 providers in our annual TV customer satisfaction survey, thanks to its strong marks in areas like channel lineup and user experience. (Verizon finished in first place, while Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox tied for second.)
By comparison, Optimum earned a dismal 8th-place overall finish and consistently landed in the bottom half of our polling among providers like Astound. When customers had problems with Optimum, things didn’t tend to go well.
Internet service
Optimum landed in a similarly dismal 16th place (out of 21 providers) on our internet customer satisfaction survey. Optimum customers weren’t fans of the provider’s average speeds and customer support.
DIRECTV doesn’t offer internet service, so your options will be wide open if you want to bundle DIRECTV with an internet plan. Enter your zip code below to see what internet options are available in your neighborhood.
Final take
Even though DIRECTV is a bit pricier than Optimum, we’d still recommend the satellite TV provider over Optimum for most households. With DIRECTV, you’ll get better customer service, robust channel lineups, and a superior DVR.
That said, if you’re also looking for a new internet provider, Optimum’s solid internet and TV bundles (with great deals to boot) are hard to turn down. But, the provider’s lackluster customer service is one of its biggest downsides.
DIRECTV vs. Optimum FAQ
Is DIRECTV better than cable?
DIRECTV is better than cable in some areas. It has more sports channels compared to cable TV providers, but its prices are generally larger than cable TV providers. But on satellite TV providers like DIRECTV, you may experience signal loss during heavy storms or major weather events.
Does Optimum use satellite dishes?
Optimum does not use satellite dishes because it’s a cable TV provider. Cable TV providers deliver their signal through in-ground cables.
Can I negotiate with Optimum?
,You can negotiate with Optimum, although you’re not guaranteed to successfully land a better deal. Check out our bill negotiation guide for the best ways to get a new deal from Optimum.
Is Optimum the same as DIRECTV?
Optimum is not the same as DIRECTV. Optimum and DIRECTV are two different TV providers.
Why you should trust us
We spent a week analyzing all DIRECTV and Optimum TV plans to see how they stacked up in areas including price, channel count, and equipment fees. We also used our annual TV customer satisfaction survey to see what actual Optimum and DIRECTV customers had to say about each provider.
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.
