YouTube TV offers more channels (100+ vs 30-50), better DVR storage (unlimited vs 50 hours), and includes YouTube Premium, while Sling TV costs $15-20/month less and provides more customizable channel packages for budget-conscious streamers.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Budget-friendly live TV streaming with customizable channel packages starting at $39.99/month.
Premium live TV streaming service with 100+ channels, unlimited DVR, and YouTube Premium included.
Base Monthly Price. Live Channels Included. DVR Storage Capacity. Simultaneous Streams. YouTube Premium Included. Customizable Packages. Free Trial Period
Choose YouTube TV if you want maximum channel variety (100+ channels), unlimited DVR, YouTube Premium access, and don't mind paying $73/month for a comprehensive streaming solution. Choose Sling TV if you're budget-conscious, prefer customizable channel packages starting at $40/month, and don't need as many channels or unlimited recording.
Sling TV: $20.00 | YouTube TV: $72.99/month
Sling TV: No (1080p max) | YouTube TV: Yes ($9.99/month add-on)
Sling TV: 30-50 channels | YouTube TV: 70+
Sling TV: Limited regional availability | YouTube TV: 95% coverage
Sling TV: 50 hours | YouTube TV: Unlimited
Sling TV: Full à la carte customization | YouTube TV: Genre-based plans (2026)
Sling TV: $0 (baseline) | YouTube TV: +$32.99
Sling TV: Yes, anytime | YouTube TV: Yes, anytime
Sling TV: Minimal (DVR-dependent) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 7 days | YouTube TV: 7-day free trial
Sling TV: 50+ devices | YouTube TV: 40+ devices
Sling TV: 50 (upgradeable to 200) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: Yes (Orange tier) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: Not included | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 20 sports channels | YouTube TV: 40+
Sling TV: Not supported | YouTube TV: Yes, included
Sling TV: 1 stream | YouTube TV: 3 streams
Sling TV: Month-to-month | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 50 hours | YouTube TV: Unlimited (9-month retention)
Sling TV: Varies by package (limited) | YouTube TV: None included
Sling TV: Limited (ESPN, Fox Sports not in base tier) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 30-50 channels | YouTube TV: 150+
Sling TV: 3 (combo plan) | YouTube TV: 3 screens
Sling TV: None | YouTube TV: None included
Sling TV: 3 options (Orange/Blue/Combo) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: $479.88/year | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 3-4 networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 7 days | YouTube TV: No free trial
Sling TV: 200 hours ($6.99/month) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: Yes (ESPN, Fox Sports) | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 15-20 channels | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: No | YouTube TV: Available (select channels + $10.99/mo add-on)
Sling TV: 3,000+ titles | YouTube TV: N/A
Sling TV: 30-50 channels | YouTube TV: 100+ channels
Sling TV: $52.00 (base $40 + $12 add-on) | YouTube TV: $72.99 (included)
Sling TV: Requires Sports Extra add-on ($11/month for 10 sports channels) | YouTube TV: Included (ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, MLB Network, Pac-12, others)
Sling TV: 8-12 (varies) | YouTube TV: 15+ channels
Sling TV: 40 (Orange package) | YouTube TV: 100+
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $60 (intro) / $83 (standard)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 100+ live channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: All plans included
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Standard feature (no ads)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 6 accounts standard
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Moderate (licensed dominant)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $82.99/month
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 6 simultaneous
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes - Advanced customizable layouts (2026)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $95.99/month
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 20+ networks
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $1.04 per channel
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, ABC News
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 50+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 22% more expensive
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 6 simultaneous streams
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 2026 (multiview, interactive features)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 150+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: YouTube Premium, YouTube Music
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes (with add-on $9.99/mo)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Excellent with quick guide navigation
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 270 days (9 months)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Minimal (YouTube originals only)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Available with Premium tier ($13.99/month add-on)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Standard coverage only
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: None (unlimited included)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: No official bundles
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Varies (included in channels)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Limited (under 50)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Included via ESPN networks
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Minimal (originals only)
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Not available
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 70+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 90% of U.S. markets
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Minimal original content focus
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 3,000+ (sports only)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: All major broadcasts (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 150 channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes ($79.99/month)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $995.88/year
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 100+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 1 fixed lineup
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 200+ devices
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Unlimited days
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 10+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: No (separate subscriptions needed)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: All major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, CFB, etc.)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 0 (separate subscription required)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: All major platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire, web, mobile)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 3 (no upgrade needed)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $15.99 (separate sub)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: All major (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 0 (separate purchase)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Most major networks
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Available (select channels)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: $14.99 (Sports+ add-on)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 3 months ($1/month)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: YouTube Premium only (1)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: No additional cost
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 12+ channels
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 150+ markets
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports across ABC/Fox/ESPN
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 9 months standard (5 years select)
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: Up to 15% savings
Sling TV: N/A | YouTube TV: 35+ channels
How to choose between Sling TV and YouTube TV
Sling TV vs YouTube TV — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Sling TV vs YouTube TV. Contains 199 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Sling TV vs YouTube TV.
YouTube TV offers significantly more sports coverage with 100+ channels including ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, MLB Network, NFL Network, NBA TV, and regional sports networks. Sling TV's sports offering varies by package but typically includes fewer dedicated sports channels, making YouTube TV the better choice for sports enthusiasts.
Can I share my account with family members?
YouTube TV supports Family Sharing with up to 6 family members, each with independent profiles, watch history, and DVR recordings. Sling TV allows 1-3 simultaneous streams depending on package, but doesn't have a dedicated family sharing feature like YouTube TV, making it less ideal for multi-user households.
How long are recordings kept on the DVR?
Sling TV stores recordings for up to 50 hours with rollover hours to the next month. YouTube TV keeps unlimited recordings indefinitely with no expiration dates. If you're a heavy recorder or want long-term storage, YouTube TV is superior.
Is there a contract or cancellation fee?
Both Sling TV and YouTube TV are month-to-month services with no long-term contracts or cancellation fees. You can cancel anytime without penalties, making both flexible options for testing or temporary use.
Both services support major platforms including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, and web browsers. YouTube TV also includes Chromecast with Google TV as a native experience. Device compatibility is essentially equivalent for most users.
How to Choose Between Sling TV and YouTube TV
Base Monthly Price: Sling TV has $39.99/month, while YouTube TV has $72.99/month.
Live Channels Included: Sling TV has 30-50 channels, while YouTube TV has 100+ channels.
DVR Storage Capacity: Sling TV has 50 hours, while YouTube TV has Unlimited.
Simultaneous Streams: Sling TV has 1-3 depending on package, while YouTube TV has 3 standard / 6 with YouTube TV Plus.
YouTube Premium Included: Sling TV has No, while YouTube TV has Yes.
Customizable Packages: Sling TV has Yes (Orange, Blue, Orange+Blue), while YouTube TV has Single package only.
Free Trial Period: Sling TV has 7 days, while YouTube TV has No free trial (as of 2024).