DIRECTV VS. Optimum

Is DIRECTV or Optimum better?

If you can stomach the higher prices, DIRECTV offers a superior DVR, larger availability, and better customer service compared to Optimum.

Optimum’s TV prices are lower than DIRECTV and 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

✓ Wide availability
✗ A required two-year contract

✓ No required contract
✓ Many channels
✗ A requirement for internet service

Jump to:

• Deals and promotions
• Head-to-head comparison
• Packages and prices
• Features

Deals and promotions

DIRECTV TV deals

Top DIRECTV deals have included free streaming service subscriptions and gift cards worth up to $100. Check out our DIRECTV deal guide to learn more about DIRECTV savings.

Optimum TV deals

Optimum’s best deals are for its internet plans, but Optimum TV customers can still get bundle deals like free Optimum Mobile for 12 months. Visit our Optimum deals page for more information.

Compare DIRECTV and Optimum head-to-head

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

DIRECTV is mainly a nationwide satellite TV provider, while Optimum provides internet, cable TV, and phone service throughout the greater New York City region.

If you’re shopping for TV service around New York and split between either provider, we’d recommend focusing on your budget and home internet needs.

With DIRECTV, you’ll be paying a premium for TV service, but you’ll also get add-ons like a free DVR and excellent channel lineups. Optimum’s prices are lower compared to DIRECTV, but you can only get cable TV with internet service and the provider’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.

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*for 12 mos. plus taxes. AutoPay & Paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year.

** for 12 mos. plus taxes. AutoPay & Paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $9.99/mo. is extra & applies.

Even though ENTERTAINMENT 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 includes a strong selection of channels within a single plan.

With DIRECTV’s CHOICE and ULTIMATE 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 gets you premium cable channels like HBO and SHOWTIME.

But DIRECTV’s prices are a doozy any way you slice it. Once you reach the second year of your agreement, DIRECTV’s prices nearly double across the board. With regular second-year prices that start at $102.00 monthly and a mandatory two-year contract, DIRECTV won’t come cheap if you want satellite TV service in your home.

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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 plans are far more affordable than DIRECTV. After your first year of service, Optimum’s Premier TV plan costs $155 monthly, while DIRECTV’s PREMIER package jumps to a woof-inducing $206 per month.

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.

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 takes the win here thanks to its superior DVR and lack of monthly equipment fees. With DIRECTV, you’ll get a free Genie DVR, which includes up to 200 hours of free DVR storage. DISH’s Hopper 3 DVR technically has better DVR features, 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 to $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 tied for second 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. DIRECTV and DISH (which also tied for second place) were only beaten out by Verizon’s Fios TV.

By comparison, Optimum earned a dismal ninth-place overall finish and consistently landed in the bottom half of our polling among providers like RCN (now Astound Broadband powered by RCN). When customers had problems with Optimum, things didn’t tend to go well.

Internet service

Optimum landed in a similarly dismal 12th place (out of 14 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 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 price is your biggest concern and you’re also looking for a new internet provider, Optimum’s lower TV prices are hard to turn down. But the provider’s lackluster customer service is one of its biggest downsides.

DIRECTV vs. Optimum FAQ

Methodology

We spent a week analyzing all eight 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.