DISH vs. DIRECTV: Who Is the Best Satellite TV Provider?
We’ve done hundreds of hours of hands-on testing, online digging, and over-the-phone research to help you find the right satellite TV plan.
Price: $47.99–$104.99/mo.
Channels: 190–290+
DVR: 500 hrs.
Simultaneous recordings: 16
DVR fee: $10.00/mo.
Price: $64.99–$134.99/mo.
Channels: 160–330+
DVR: 200 hrs.
Simultaneous recordings: 5
DVR fee: Included in package
DISH vs. DIRECTV pros and cons
DISH
✓ 2-yr. price guarantee
✓ Best DVR
✓ Best kids programming
✓ HBO is back
✗ Expensive plans
DIRECTV
✓ NFL SUNDAY TICKET
✓ Free DVR
✓ Best sports programming
✗ Expensive plans
✗ Price hike after 1st yr.
DISH and DIRECTV deals
Before you pick out a DISH or DIRECTV plan, have a look at the promotions each provider offers.
DISH deals and promotions
- With DISH 55 (for seniors) and “Those Who Serve” (active military, first responders, nurses, teachers, and veterans), DISH offers various perks like extra channels, free movie rentals, six free months of equipment protection and upgraded identity theft protection.
DIRECTV deals and promotions
- Free premium channels: When you order the CHOICETM All-Included or ULTIMATE All-Included packages, you can get CINEMAX®, EPIX, HBO MaxTM, SHOWTIME®, and STARZ® free for three months.
- Free NFL SUNDAY TICKET: New customers get the current season of this awesome football package free with the CHOICE plan or higher.
Compare DISH and DIRECTV head to head
| Price | Channel count | DVR storage |
Simultaneous recordings |
Details |
| $47.99–$104.99/mo.* | 190–290+ | 125–500 HD hrs.† | 2–16† | View plans |
| $64.99–$134.99/mo | 160–330+ | 200 HD hrs. | 5 | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.
* Flex Pack ($47.99/mo.) is for existing customers only.
DISH’s strong points are its industry-leading Hopper 3 DVR and two-year price guarantee. But keep in mind that it has smaller channel lineups, which can make it difficult to get the exact channels you want. Oh, and did we mention that the Hopper 3 will cost you $10 extra per month?
DIRECTV has the best sports programming around, and every plan comes with an included Genie DVR. But the Genie isn’t as powerful as the Hopper 3, and DIRECTV prices increase drastically after the first year of your two-year contract.
Wanna know more before you sign up? We’ve dug into packages, features, and more, so you can find the right DISH or DIRECTV plan for you.
Packages and pricing
With nine packages to choose from, things can get a little, um . . . confusing. But have no fear! We’ve made it easy to pick a plan by researching every DISH and DIRECTV package and listing up-to-date pricing, channel counts, and popular channels.
DISH packages and pricing
| Package |
| Flex Pack |
| America's Top 120 |
| America's Top 120+ |
| Best package America's Top 200 |
| America's Top 250 |
| Price | Channel count | Popular channels | Details |
| $47.99/mo.* | 50+ | AMC, CNN, and more | View plan |
| $69.99/mo. | 190 | Disney Channel, ESPN, and more | View plan |
| $84.99/mo. | 190+ | NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and more | View plan |
| $94.99/mo. | 240+ | Disney Junior, Hallmark Channel, and more | View plan |
| $104.99/mo. | 290+ | Nicktoons, STARZ® ENCORE, and more | View plan |
Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.
* Flex Pack ($47.99/mo.) is for existing customers only.
DISH is more expensive per month than DIRECTV, but only in the first year. In the second year, DIRECTV’s prices jump by 29%–40%, whereas DISH’s two-year price lock prevents your payment from increasing for the duration of your contract. And a price guarantee is a rare find in an industry that thrives on raising prices after promotional periods.
That said, DISH packages include fewer channels and sports networks. So sports fans might find value in DIRECTV’s packages, even with those price jumps.
Pro tip: America’s Top 120 and America’s Top 120+ pretty much share the same name and channels. The difference is that America’s Top 120+ has more sports channels, like NFL Network and Pac-12 Network.
We recommend America’s Top 200 for true-blue TV fans because it includes more than 250 channels, like Disney HD and Investigation Discover, for the decent price of $94.99 per month.
For more insights into TV service from DISH, read our full review of DISH plans, channel lineups, and more.
DIRECTV packages and pricing
| Package |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
| Best package CHOICE™ All Included |
| ULTIMATE All Included |
| PREMIER™ All Included |
| Price | Channel count | Popular channels | Details |
| $64.99/mo. | 160+ | ESPN, ESPN2, and more | View plans |
| $69.99/mo. | 185+ | FX, IFC, and more | View plans |
| $84.99/mo. | 250+ | Boomerang, FLIX, and more | View plans |
| $134.99/mo. | 330+ | HBO, CINEMAX, and more | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.
No doubt about it, DIRECTV has unbeatable deals and promotions. You can get NFL SUNDAY TICKET or NBA League Pass and HBO Max free for a year when you sign up for its CHOICE All Included plan and above.
Pro tip: You can’t get HBO or CINEMAX with DISH, but you can get them included with your DIRECTV PREMIER All Included package. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re trying to keep up with shows like Barry and Westworld.
What’s more, all DIRECTV packages include the Genie DVR free of charge. DISH includes the Hopper Duo DVR with its plans, but it charges a $5.00 service fee and a $10.00 upgrade fee if you want the far superior Hopper 3 DVR instead.
But the main catch with DIRECTV is that ridiculous price hike after the first year of your two-year contract. For example, our recommended package, CHOICE All Included, jumps up from $69.99 a month to $122.00 a month after the first year—zoinks!
Still, if you gotta have all the sports, and you want a really solid DVR for free, go with DIRECTV.
To learn more about TV service from DIRECTV, read our comprehensive review of DIRECTV plans, channel lineups, and more.
DVRs
TBH, a DVR can make or break your TV experience. Luckily, you can’t lose with the DISH Hopper 3 and DIRECTV Genie.
DISH Hopper 3 vs. DIRECTV Genie
| DVR |
| Best DVR DISH Hopper 3 |
| DIRECTV Genie |
| Price | Storage |
Simultaneous recordings |
Video quality |
Details |
| $10/mo. | 500 HD hrs. | 16 | Up to 4K Ultra HD | Read review |
| Included | 200 HD hrs. | 5 | Up to 4K Ultra HD | Read review |
DISH Hopper 3
While DISH has more than one DVR, we recommend the Hopper 3 if you want an amazing DVR experience. While the Hopper Duo comes included with most DISH packages, it’s basic af.
On the other hand, the Hopper 3 is the best DVR out there, with sixteen simultaneous recordings and 500 hours of HD storage capacity. If DVRs are your thing, you should probably go with DISH.
DIRECTV Genie
The Genie DVR ain’t too shabby, either. With five simultaneous recordings and 200 hours of HD storage, it’ll get the job done for most people.
It’s especially nice if you’ve got NFL SUNDAY TICKET because you can program a Mix Channel that allows you to watch up to eight live games at once.
Pro tip: You can learn more about how the Hopper 3 and the Genie compare head to head by reading our in-depth vs. article.
Installation
When you sign up for DISH, your service includes the cost of standard installation from a professional.
To make installation even smoother, you can view your technician’s photo, monitor their location, and review your scheduled time with the appointment feature in the MyDISH app. In this user-friendly world, it’s a feature we appreciate and think more TV providers should implement.
While DIRECTV charges a $20 activation fee to start your service, it doesn’t technically charge anything for installation. Still, 20 bucks is 20 bucks, amirite?
Watch out: DIRECTV has other hidden fees, too. Check out our Hidden Costs of DIRECTV guide for more details before you sign up.
It would be nice if DIRECTV got a technician-tracker tool like DISH. There are a few complaints online that make us concerned about technicians arriving late or rescheduling last minute.
In the end, we think DISH is the clear winner when it comes to installation.
Streaming apps
The DISH Anywhere app and DIRECTV app are on-the-go streaming apps that turn your phone or tablet into a tiny mobile TV.
DISH Anywhere app
DISH Anywhere lets you watch live and on-demand TV, or you can transfer your DVR recordings to enjoy offline. You can even manage your DVR library and recordings from your phone.
DIRECTV app
The DIRECTV app has similar capabilities to the DISH Anywhere app, along with an extra remote control feature. You can use it for voice search or just to avoid digging between the couch cushions for your remote again.
Both apps are solid, but if we had to choose, we’d say the DIRECTV app is the winner by a hair.
Internet bundles
You can bundle Frontier internet with DISH and CenturyLink internet with DIRECTV. We recommend, however, that you just get standalone internet service rather than bundling, unless you can get Frontier Fios internet in your area.
Bundling DISH with Frontier internet will net you a $10 per month savings on your overall bill. Just be aware that there’s no bundling discount when you bundle CenturyLink internet with DIRECTV.
Not sure which ISPs are in your area? Enter your zip code below to see internet providers in your neighborhood.
DISH vs. DIRECTV FAQ
Where is satellite TV available?
Satellite TV is available across the US anywhere you can set up a south-facing satellite dish.
This might be an issue for some apartment buildings without a clear shot of the southern sky.
Is satellite TV reliable?
Yes, satellite TV technology has come a long way and can provide a reliable signal through most weather conditions.
What is the cheapest satellite TV package?
DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT All-Included ($64.99 a month, 160+ channels) is the cheapest satellite TV package—but DIRECTV prices jump by 29%–40% in the second year. If that rate hike scares you off, DISH America’s Top 120 ($69.99 a month, 190 channels), and DISH guarantees your price won’t change for two years.
Are there low-income options for satellite TV?
While participants in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get assistance with internet bills, TV isn’t considered a utility and doesn’t come with the same benefit.
But over-the-air and streaming TV can be affordable alternatives. Check out our Free and Low-Cost Cable TV guide for more information.
How does satellite TV work?
Satellite TV involves a TV provider sending a signal into space, where it bounces off of a satellite and back down to the dish on your roof, which routes the signal to your receiver.
Are there other satellite TV options besides DIRECTV and DISH?
There really isn’t an alternative to DIRECTV or DISH, which are the only satellite TV providers in the US. But if you’re open to other types of TV service, you can check out cable TV providers or streaming TV services.
Methodology
Our experts did dozens of 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 titans 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.
Disclaimers:
* DISH: for 24. months. New customers only. All offers require 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutopay. Price includes Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
** DIRECTV: for 12 mos. plus taxes and Regional Sports Fee w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay & Paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $9.99/mo. is extra & applies.
† DISH Hopper 3 DVR costs $15/mo. for 500 HD hours of storage & 16 tuners.
