Sling TV Supported Devices: Roku, Apple TV, and More

Whether you’re shopping for a new device or checking if your current one supports Sling TV, the live TV streaming service doesn’t mess around with its device compatibility.

There’s an impressive amount of streaming options available for Sling TV subscribers—supported devices range from mobile phones to 4K smart TVs. But we questioned the quality of each platform, so we decided to test the Sling app across several devices and select our five favorites.

Keep reading to learn more about what platforms offer the Sling app—including how to get Sling TV and what devices we recommend.

Jump to:

• List of Sling TV devices
• Best Sling TV streaming devices
• Other Sling TV devices and accessories

Sling TV supported devices

The great thing about popular streaming services like Sling TV is that you don’t need the most expensive, top-of-the-line device to start streaming. To prove that point, we’ve listed every device that supports Sling TV in the table below.

Data effective as of post date.

The main devices that don’t offer Sling TV support are gaming consoles. While you can use Sling TV on Xbox One, you won’t find the app on PlayStation or Nintendo devices.

Another obstacle to be aware of is that app features can vary across different devices. Though, the general Sling TV experience remains the same no matter what streaming hardware you have. And if you’re using a web browser, it’s even easier to access: visit Sling.com to log in and begin streaming.

Best Sling TV streaming devices

With so many devices compatible with Sling TV, it can take time to choose the best option for your streaming setup. That’s why we reviewed our favorite devices for streaming Sling TV—including how to access the app on each platform.

• Best overall: Roku
• Best for Apple users: Apple TV
• Best for Alexa integration: Amazon Fire TV
• Best for Android users: Chromecast with Google TV
• Best smart TV: Samsung TV

Best overall: Roku

When it comes to streaming platforms, Roku is the best because it offers affordable devices with a clean interface. Many media players get bogged down by their complex app layouts and hidden menu features. But Roku avoids this with its tidy, easy-to-navigate, and customizable menus.

Also, unlike the companies behind Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, Roku is not a big tech rival—meaning it’s more open to offering apps from a diverse lineup of streamers. Sure, carriage disputes still happen between Roku and content providers. But there’s a broader range of video apps available on Roku than any other streaming platform.

For Sling TV users, the Sling app is the most well-rounded on Roku. No glaring components are missing on Roku, and there are even available features not found on other devices. The big one is the View Scores guide, which comes in handy for those weekend afternoons when several sports are happening at once.

How do I access Sling TV on Roku?

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Scroll down to the Search tab and type in “Sling TV.” (You can also use your voice-enabled Roku remote by holding down the microphone button and saying “Sling TV.”)
3. Choose the Sling channel from the search results.
4. Select Add Channel to download and install.
5. You’ll then have the option to go directly to the Sling TV Roku channel. Otherwise, you can access it from the bottom of the Home screen.

If you have additional Roku device questions, head to Roku Support for user and expert-assisted help.

Best for Apple users: Apple TV

If most of your devices at home are Apple, then Apple TV 4K is the most suitable streaming player for your TV setup. You’ll get all the marquee Apple features—including Siri voice recognition and AirPlay compatibility. Plus, you’ll get 4K HDR picture and Dolby Vision sound with applicable content.

Now that Apple TV+ is getting into sports more, we find that Apple TV 4K is a fantastic streaming device for staying up to date with teams and leagues. Not only does it carry popular sports apps, but it also provides scores and standings.

Having game stats at the ready is handy for those watching Sling TV on Apple TV 4K. After all, most people sign up for Sling TV for its affordable plans that offer popular sports channels like ESPN and FOX Sports 1 (FS1). And you’ll need that affordability because the Apple TV 4K device is the most expensive one we highlight here—costing around $124.99.

How do I access Sling TV on Apple TV?

1. Select the App Store from the Apple TV menu.
2. Click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen and search for Sling TV.
3. Choose Sling TV from the search results.
4. Select Get and confirm the free app purchase.
5. After the app downloads and installs, you can select it from the App Store or your Apple TV menu.

The Apple TV Support website hosts additional resources for improving your Apple TV experience.

Best for Alexa integration: Amazon Fire TV

Like Apple, Amazon is expanding its streaming content with live sports and a larger film and TV slate. Amazon Prime Video isn’t quite a streaming behemoth like Netflix and HBO Max. But having the Amazon Fire TV device in your corner gives you the optimal Amazon streaming experience while providing access to more content across other apps like Sling TV.

Amazon Fire TV costs about as much as Roku’s mid-level devices, and users can enjoy complete Alexa assistance without paying for an extra subscription. You can even make Jeff Bezos proud and browse the Amazon storefront via your Fire TV device.

How do I access Sling TV on Amazon Fire TV?

1. Select the magnifying glass icon on the Home screen. (You can also hold the microphone button on your remote and tell Alexa to “search for Sling TV.”)
2. Search for Sling TV using the on-screen keyboard.
3. Select the Sling TV app and click the Download icon.
4. After the app installs, you can open it. You’ll also find the app in the Your Apps & Channels menu.

You can also visit Amazon Customer Service if you have other questions about using your Fire TV device.

Best for Android users: Chromecast with Google TV

Android users and general Google enthusiasts will feel the most at home using Chromecast with Google TV. While other streaming devices use the Android TV operating system, Chromecast with Google TV offers the best version of that streaming ecosystem.

While the original Chromecast relied entirely on casting content from a separate device, Chromecast with Google TV has its own interface and remote. You can still cast as much as your heart desires, but you can also do many other things like gaming and sideloading (via a USB-C or wireless connection).

The Sling TV Chromecast experience isn’t much different from what you would see on other streaming devices. Like we suggested with Apple TV, it really comes down to what device you feel the most comfortable using. But Chromecast with Google TV is a powerful device that’s not too expensive—its HD version costs $29.99, while the 4K version is $49.99.

How do I access Sling TV on Chromecast with Google TV?

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select the Search tab at the top of the Home screen.
3. Type “Sling TV” into the search box and click the magnifying glass to confirm your search.
4. On the Sling app page, select Install.
5. After the installation, you can click Open or return to the Home page and select the app from the Your Apps menu row.

For more information about installing apps on Google TV, check out the Google TV Help Center.

Best smart TV: Samsung TV

Samsung is the leader of the pack when it comes to smart TVs. After all, we rank the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED as the top dog in our Best Smart TVs guide. But no matter which Samsung smart TV you choose, most post-2015 models come equipped with the slick Smart Hub streaming platform.

We like Samsung’s Smart Hub for streaming Sling TV because it’s easy to navigate and offers quick access to your other apps and connected devices. The Tizen operating system that powers Smart Hub is also less laggy than the LG and VIZIO smart TV platforms we tested.

How do I access Sling TV on Samsung smart TV?

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Scroll left and select the Apps icon.
3. Navigate to the top of the Apps menu and select the magnifying glass icon.
4. Type “Sling TV” into the App Search and select the Sling app once it appears at the top of the screen.
5. On the Sling app page, select Install.
6. Once installation is complete, you can open the app or add it to your TV’s Home menu bar for quick access in the future.

Need additional help installing and organizing apps on your Samsung TV? You can learn more about managing your TV’s apps by visiting Samsung Support.

Other Sling TV devices and accessories

Sling TV offers its own devices and accessories to maximize your streaming experience. You can even get some of these devices at a discounted price or for free when signing up, as highlighted on our Sling TV Deals page.

The main Sling TV deal you’ll want to check out is its HD antenna deal, where you can get a free over-the-air (OTA) antenna when you prepay for two months of service. It’s an excellent way to get more local channels than what’s available through Sling TV. Other devices and accessories available individually or through sign-up promotions include the AirTV Mini, AirTV 2, and Air TV Anywhere.

The AirTV Mini is a basic media streaming device made especially for Sling TV users. You can access other apps like Disney+ and Netflix through the Android TV–supported dongle. Though, you’re better off getting one of the devices we highlighted above if Sling TV isn’t the center of your streaming universe.

The AirTV 2 and AirTV Anywhere devices are OTA receivers that require a separate streaming device and an OTA antenna. Once set up, the AirTV 2 or AirTV Anywhere will integrate local channels from your antenna to your Sling TV app. The main difference between AirTV 2 and AirTV Anywhere is that AirTV 2 is a dual tuner (meaning you can record up to two local channels simultaneously) that requires an external hard drive. The AirTV Anywhere can record up to four channels and has a built-in 1 TB DVR.

AirTV 2 and AirTV Anywhere are compatible with some of our favorite streaming devices, as highlighted in the list below.

AirTV 2 and AirTV Anywhere supported devices

Sling TV supported devices FAQ

Methodology

Our TV experts spent over eight hours researching and hands-on testing the Sling TV app across several streaming devices. We determined our device recommendations after examining the app’s latency, interface, and player controls on each device. Additional app features like closed captions and DVR functionality also impacted our analysis.

Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.