DIRECTV Review 2022: Compare Packages, Deals, and Prices

We've spent dozens of hours researching and testing DIRECTV satellite TV—focusing on plans, pricing, channels, features, and more—to help you find the best deal for your needs.

Best for sports
Customer rating (4.0/5)

Price: $74.99/mo.–$149.99/mo.

Channels: 155–330+*

DVR: 200 hrs. included

Deal: NFL SUNDAY TICKET included for new customers (current season only)

View plans
Compare to competitors
Top packages
Free premium channels
PREMIER™ All Included
Cheapest
ENTERTAINMENT All Included
Price for first year Channel count Deals Details
$149.99/mo. 330+ NFL SUNDAY TICKET included View plan
$74.99/mo. 160+ $5/mo. off w/ AutoPay and paperless bill View plan

Data is as of time of post. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

By

Important update

DIRECTV recently unveiled its new streaming service, DIRECTV STREAM. It’s very similar to standard DIRECTV, but it features no contracts, no dishes, and, sorry football fans, no NFL SUNDAY TICKET.

DIRECTV has outstanding offerings like high channel counts and strong DVR capabilities. We don’t like that you get locked into a two-year contract where your large monthly fees increase over time. But if you’re looking for premium channels and a wide range of sports coverage, DIRECTV doesn’t cut corners on its offerings—especially if you’re a sports fan looking for access to out-of-market games and regional sports networks.

Jump to:

Is DIRECTV service good?

DIRECTV is good if you need total NFL coverage or a quality DVR included with your TV package.

In general, DIRECTV service is consistently above average. Most of its plans include the Genie DVR to record your favorite shows, a season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET, and three months of HBO®, CINEMAX®, SHOWTIME®, and STARZ®.

But if you go with DIRECTV, keep in mind that you’ll have to sign a two-year contract and the prices go up in the second year. Also, DIRECTV’s NFL SUNDAY TICKET and premium channels renew automatically after the free trial period, so forgetting to cancel could ram you in the pocketbook.

DIRECTV pros and cons

Pros

  • 200 HD storage hrs. on included DVR
  • 1 season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET included
  • 3 mos. of premium channels

Cons

  • 2-year contract
  • Price hike after 12 mos.
  • Autorenewing extras that could cost you

DIRECTV deals and promotions

DIRECTV always has deals available for new customers. One of its most popular deals is involves the best sports TV add-on around, NFL SUNDAY TICKET—new customers get the current season free (a $395.94 value). Check out our DIRECTV deals page for more promotions.

Sign up for DIRECTV

Best DIRECTV plans and prices

Package
Best for premiums
PREMIER™ All Included
Best for entertainment
ENTERTAINMENT All Included
Price for first year* Price for mos. 13–24** Channel Count Details
$134.99/mo. $206.00/mo. 330+ View plan
$64.99/mo. $102.00/mo. 160+ View plan

*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.

With four packages to choose from, it can be hard to nail down your best option with DIRECTV. We recommend ENTERTAINMENT All Included for its excellent basic channels and PREMIER™ All Included because it lavishes you in premium channels. The latter package basically makes you TV-watching royalty.

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DIRECTV packages and prices

Compare DIRECTV TV plans and pricing

Package
ENTERTAINMENT All Included
CHOICE™ All Included
ULTIMATE All Included
PREMIER™ All Included
Price for first year* Price for mos. 13–24* Channel count Details
64.99/mo* $102.00/mo. 160+ View plan
69.99/mo** $122.00/mo. 185+ View plan
84.99/mo** $151.00/mo. 250+ View plan
134.99/mo** $206.00/mo. 330+ View plan

*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.

With DIRECTV, as your monthly price increases, so does your channel count. That’s pretty standard as far as TV packages go. What you’ll want to consider, however, is that a lot of the channels included with the more expensive DIRECTV packages are filler channels that you might not need.

Like we said before when it comes to DIRECTV packages and pricing, ENTERTAINMENT gives you tons of popular channels for a decent price.

Check out the full channel lineups of each DIRECTV package before going for broke. The package comparisons break it all down for you.

And, when you’re checking out the prices above, remember that every DIRECTV plan requires a two-year contract. That’s rude, and it probably has something to do with the ugly satellite dish it’ll put up on your south-facing roof. But even worse, DIRECTV raises its prices in the second year, which is a hassle to budget.

DISH, the other prominent satellite TV provider, maintains the same prices for its full two-year contract, so that might be a better option if DIRECTV’s change makes you uneasy.

DIRECTV vs. the competition

Provider
Best for sports
DIRECTV
Best overall, best for kids
DISH
Best value
Spectrum
Cheapest
Astound Broadband powered by RCN
Most channels
Verizon Fios
$500 contract buyout
Optimum
Best voice remote
Xfinity
Free premiums
Suddenlink
Excellent DVR
Cox
Pricing Editorial star rating Channel count DVR storage (HD) Simultaneous recordings Details
$74.99–$149.99/mo. 3.99 / 5.00 160–330+ 200 hrs. 5 View plans
$47.99–$127.99/mo.* 4.10 / 5.00 190–290+ 500 hrs. 16 View plans
$44.99–$94.99/mo. for 12 mos.‡ 3.49 / 5.00 125–200+ varies 2–6 View plans
$83.80–$142.82/mo. 3.63 / 5.00 55–304+ 125–250 hrs. 2–6 View plans
$65.00–$105.00/mo. 3.88 / 5.00 125–425+ 50–200 hrs. 2–12 View plans
$59.99–$174.99/mo. 3.71 / 5.00 220–420+ 25–150 hrs. 15 View plans
$49.99–$89.99/mo. 3.66 / 5.00 125–260+ 150 hrs. 6 View plans
$49.99-$154.99/mo. 3.45 / 5.00 200–340+ 25–150 hrs. 15 View plans
$53.00–$138.00/mo. 3.37 / 5.00 75–250+ 250–1,000 hrs. 2–24 View plans

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary with location and are subject to change.
‡ For 12 mos.
* DISH Flex Pack ($47.99/mo.) and America’s Everything Pack ($127.99/mo.) are for existing customers only.

If you’re set on getting satellite TV, DIRECTV really only has one direct (see what we did there?) competitor: DISH Network.

There really are only three main considerations when comparing DIRECTV vs. DISH Network: channels, contracts, pricing, and sports.

DIRECTV has more channels (330+) and more sports channels, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET (see deal) than DISH (290+ channels). That’s why it’s our pick for the best TV provider for sports. DIRECTV also includes its Genie DVR (200 hours, 5 simultaneous recordings) free with every plan. Unfortunately, DIRECTV is a lot more expensive than DISH, and DIRECTV plan prices go up by 30%–38% percent in the second year of your contract.

DISH also has 2-year contracts, but it offers a two-year price guarantee, which will save you money over the long haul. That remains true even though you’ll pay $10 a month for its DVR, the more powerful Hopper 3 (500 hours, 5 simultaneous recordings). DISH also has more kids’ channels and some fantastic parental controls. Now you can see why we call DISH the best overall TV provider and the best TV provider for families.

For more details, read our helpful DISH vs. DIRECTV guide.

DIRECTV channel lineup

Package
ENTERTAINMENT
CHOICE™
ULTIMATE
PREMIER™
Included popular channels Details
ESPN, ESPN2, NBCSN, and FS1 View plan
IFC, Nick Jr., OWN TV, Travel Channel, and UniMás View plan
El Rey, STARZ ENCORE, and TMC View plan
HBO, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, and STARZ View plan

See full DIRECTV channel lineups

DIRECTV’s ENTERTAINMENT package covers family-favorite channels like ABC and popular sports channels like ESPN. And it’s the cheapest DIRECTV package.

At CHOICE™ and above, you get access to DIRECTV’s perks with no extra cost: a season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET and three months of premium channels for first-time sign-ups.

Again, check out the full channel lineup to make sure you get a package with all the channels you want. If you’re into beIN Sports or Pac-12 Network, tough luck—DIRECTV doesn’t offer those.

Still, DIRECTV’s channel lineups are well balanced, with PREMIER™ standing out as one of the few packages out there to include all the big premium channels in its lineup. It’s a go-big-and-go-home situation, where you can get everything you want and never have to leave your couch again.

So, if you have the cash for DIRECTV PREMIER, it’s pretty sweet to have a package that includes NFL SUNDAY TICKET, HBO Max, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX, STARZ, and EPIX.

DIRECTV sports packages

Package
MLB Extra Innings
MLS Direct Kick
NBA League Pass
NHL Center Ice
Description Details
Up to 90 out-of-market MLB games each week throughout the MLB regular season. View plan
Over 300 out-of-market MLS games each season. View plan
Around 40 out-of-market NBA games per week during the NBA regular season. View plan
Up to 40 out-of-market NHL games a week plus NHL Network included. View plan

In addition to NFL SUNDAY TICKET, DIRECTV offers four other major sports add-on packages. Each package brings you out-of-market access to the top sports leagues in the US.

With both the NBA and the NHL now in season, NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice are important for megafans of basketball and hockey. After all, 40 out-of-market games per week from each league is a lot to miss out on.

Now that you have a good sense of the pros and cons of DIRECTV packages, you’ll probably wanna check out some of DIRECTV’s main competitors.

DIRECTV bundles

Now that DIRECTV is no longer property of AT&T, you might think that bundles with DIRECTV and AT&T Internet can’t happen. That’s untrue. You can still add AT&T Internet service when you order DIRECTV—just don’t expect a discount.

To see your bundle payment, add the price of the AT&T Internet plan (see table below) you want to your chosen DIRECTV plan.

AT&T internet packages

Package
AT&T Internet 100
AT&T Internet 300
AT&T Internet 500
AT&T Internet 1 Gig Internet
AT&T Internet 2 Gig Internet
AT&T Internet 5 Gig Internet
Price for first year† Download speeds up to Details
$55.00/mo. 100 Mbps View plan
$55.00/mo. 300 Mbps View plan
$65.00/mo. 500 Mbps View plan
$80.00/mo. 1,000 Mbps View plan
$110.00/mo. 2,000 Mbps View plan
$180.00/mo. 5,000 Mbps View plan

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 12 mos. plus taxes.
†for 12 mos. plus taxes and RSN fee.

Unfortunately, AT&T Internet speeds vary by location, so you might not be able to get all of these plans in your area.

That said, there are a few more pros and cons to bundling AT&T and DIRECTV, so check those out before you sign up.

DIRECTV equipment

Unlike many TV services, DIRECTV won’t charge you more for a DVR receiver or set-top box. Instead, without spending another penny, you can save up to 200 hours of HD TV—that’s more than enough space for all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries or about 80 NBA games.

DIRECTV’s DVR is called the Genie. (Very magic, much wow, insert something about making your wishes come true here.) Presumptive name aside, it’s a solid piece of equipment that gets the job done.

The DIRECTV Genie comes in both wired and wireless versions, and you can hook up more TVs for $7 more per TV per month. That’s a lot of pers, we know, but if you’re paying for service already, it just makes sense to be able to watch DIRECTV everywhere in your house.

We can go on for pages about the Genie. In fact, we already have—check out our full Genie DVR review for everything else you’ll want to know.

Top DIRECTV features

Family watching TV at night in living room | CableTV.com

To sum it up, here are some of the neatest things about DIRECTV:

  • Out-of-region season passes for NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and MLS
  • 4K HDR programming on CHOICE packages and higher
  • 72-hour rewind on select channels
  • Included DVR with 200 hrs. of HD storage
  • Frequent specials and promotions

Final take

DIRECTV has some finicky things we don’t like—auto-renewing “free” perks and raising prices after it’s locked you into a contract, first and foremost.

But its perks are pretty impressive, especially its sports programming and included Genie DVR. And if you can bundle it with AT&T Internet, the discounts are peachy keen.

Sign up for DIRECTV

Methodology

Our TV experts spent over 100 hours studying and analyzing DIRECTV’s plans and features. We hand-tested the service’s signal reliability and overall user experience while also evaluating its different channel lineups and DVR capabilities. Additionally, we pulled data from our annual TV Customer Satisfaction Survey to see how DIRECTV ranked against competitors.

To learn more about how CableTV.com approaches its reviews, check out our How We Rank page.

Related articles

DIRECTV service FAQ

Does DIRECTV service my area?

DIRECTV service is available nationwide.

With the few exceptions of apartment buildings or houses without a south-facing mounting surface (for the satellite dish), you can get DIRECTV service from way down in the Bayou all the way up to the Northern Lights.

Can I install DIRECTV myself?

You can’t install DIRECTV yourself. A DIRECTV technician will be dispatched to install your satellite dish and get your DIRECTV service up and running.

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, technicians will ensure certain social distancing and cleanliness procedures are followed.

How can I watch DIRECTV on the go?

Your DIRECTV service includes on-the-go viewing with the DIRECTV app. With your smartphone or tablet, you can download the DIRECTV app on the App Store or Google Play.

The app will hook you up with DIRECTV live stream TV, but you’ll need internet access. If you want to watch offline, you can download recordings from your cloud DVR ahead of time.

Heads up: DIRECTV has loads of positive reviews on the App Store, but Google Play users comment that a recent update ruined the functionality of the app. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for patches that fix the problem.

Does DIRECTV have a mobile app?

DIRECTV has a mobile app that allows you to watch live and on-demand programming anytime, anywhere. You can stream on five devices at once and stream thousands of movies and shows.

Does DIRECTV offer a discount for senior citizens?

DIRECTV does not currently offer any senior discounts.

What is the cheapest DIRECTV package?

DIRECTV’s cheapest offering is the ENTERTAINMENT package. At $74.99 a month for the first year, it gives you 160+ channels, including multiple ESPN and Disney channels, along with FX and IFC. A group of premium channels—HBO Max included—are free for the first three months.

What is the best DIRECTV package?

If a diverse and hearty DIRECTV channel package is what you’re shopping for, the PREMIER plan is the jackpot. The 330+ channels PREMIER delivers are a robust blend of local stations, a vast amount of sports and entertainment networks, and, of course, premier channels like CINEMAX®, HBO®, SHOWTIME®, and STARZ®.

This one comes in at $149.99 for the first year. You’re locked in a two-year contract, so keep in mind that the price hike falls into place when your second year begins.

How does DISH compare to DIRECTV?

Like DIRECTV, DISH is a satellite TV provider. DISH’s America’s Top 250 ($104.99 a month) plan gives this DIRECTV channel package a run for its money with more 290+ channels and access to more than 35,000 on-demand titles.

The DISH price is guaranteed for two years. See how the two rate in our head-to-head comparison.

See also: DIRECTV STREAM | DIRECTV Bundles | DIRECTV Channel lineup | DIRECTV Customer service

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