Cable bills keep climbing. That's the reason most people look at Sling TV. It streams live channels over the internet, there's no contract, and plans start at $19.99 a month. But the lineup is split across several plans, and picking the wrong one is easy.
This review covers what each plan costs, which deals are running for US viewers, how Sling stacks up against YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, and where it falls short. We haven't used the service ourselves. Everything here comes from Sling's own pages and published reviews.
Sling TV Deals and Offers for US Viewers
| Offer | Savings | Code | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium add-ons | $5 for your first month of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, AMC+ or STARZ | None needed | Regular price applies after month one; add or drop anytime |
| Student deal | $10 off per month for 6 months | Unique code through Student Beans | Reported for Orange, Blue and Orange & Blue; student status must be verified |
| Sling Freestream | Free | None needed | 600+ live channels and free DVR, no paid plan required |
Sling TV Plans and Pricing
Sling sorts its plans into basic and full tiers. Orange leans toward ESPN and family channels. Blue leans toward news and entertainment. The combo puts both together.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Streams | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Essentials | $19.99 | 1 | ESPN and other sports on a budget |
| Sling Select | From $19.99 | Up to 3 | FOX News and more, with FOX One app access |
| Essentials & Select | From $34.99 | Up to 4 | Sports and news for less |
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | 1 | Sports and family viewing |
| Sling Blue | From $45.99 | Up to 3 | News and entertainment |
| Sling Orange & Blue | $60.99 | Up to 4 | The widest lineup |
Prices come from Sling.com at the time of writing. Taxes and market-based pricing may apply.
The streams' number deserves a second look. Orange allows one stream at a time. Blue allows three. On the combo plan, up to four streams work, but only one of them can be on an Orange channel. A family with kids watching ESPN and Disney channels in two rooms will run into that.
Add-ons stack on top. Sports Extra adds $11 a month, or $15 on combo plans. News Extra adds $6. Premium channels such as Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, AMC+ and HBO Max can be added or dropped whenever you like.
Top Sling TV Features
The biggest one is flexibility. You pay month to month, and Sling's terms say you can cancel on Sling.com. The Sling app works on 20+ devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, LG, Samsung and Vizio.
Cloud DVR is included, with 50 hours on most plans according to published reviews. Unlimited DVR costs $5 more per month. That's a lot less storage than YouTube TV offers, so heavy recorders should plan for it.
Local channels are the other piece. ABC, FOX and NBC come with Blue and Orange & Blue, but only in select markets. Enter your ZIP code on Sling.com before you pay, because availability depends on where you live.
Then there's Freestream. It's a free, ad-supported tier with 600+ live channels, and you don't need a paid plan to use it. It's a decent way to see how the app feels first.
Sling TV vs YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV
These three are the usual comparisons. They're built for different budgets, so this is about fit.
| Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | Hulu + Live TV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $60.99 (plans from $19.99) | $82.99 | About $89.99 with ads |
| Channels | 50+ | 100+ | 95+ |
| Cloud DVR | 50 hours; unlimited for $5 more | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Local channels | Select markets | Most markets | Most markets |
Competitor prices come from recent published comparisons and change often.
Sling costs a lot less. The trade is a smaller lineup, less DVR space and fewer local channels. YouTube TV leads on channel count and DVR. Hulu + Live TV bundles Disney+ and ESPN Select, which helps households that pay for those anyway. If you mainly want a few sports and news channels, Sling's lower price is the point. If you want every local station and a big recording library, the pricier services cover more.
Billing, Cancellation and Limits
Billing happens monthly in advance. Cancel on Sling.com or through the Help Center. No credits or refunds are issued for partial months after cancellation, so time your cancel date near renewal. Sling is available only in the US, and state and local taxes apply. Some programs can be blacked out because of programmer restrictions. Prices were also updated earlier this year, and Sling says prices and offers can change without notice.
Why Consider Sling TV
Price is the headline. Two basic plans start at $19.99, and even the combo plan costs well below the big live TV services. The month-to-month setup helps too. You can pick up a plan for football season, drop it later, and add STARZ for a month when a show comes out.
It fits sports fans who mainly want ESPN, TNT and TBS. It fits news viewers who want FOX News and CNN, and households leaving cable who don't need every local station. It suits people who like building their own lineup.
Sling TV Pros and Cons
| Type | Point | What It Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | Low starting price | Basic plans start at $19.99 a month. |
| Pro | No long-term contract | You can cancel online and rejoin when you want. |
| Pro | Customizable add-ons | You pay only for the sports, news or premium channels you add. |
| Pro | Free Freestream tier | 600+ channels let you test the app first. |
| Con | Limited local channels | ABC, FOX and NBC depend on your market and plan. |
| Con | Smaller DVR | 50 hours is included; unlimited costs $5 extra. |
| Con | Stream limits | Orange allows one stream, which affects busy households. |
Final Verdict
Sling TV makes sense for viewers who want live sports, news and entertainment without a cable-sized bill. Cord-cutters who know their must-have channels and are fine adding or dropping services will get the most from it. Check your ZIP code for locals before you commit.
Look at YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV if you want every local station, unlimited recording or one simple lineup. Those cost more, but they cover more ground.
The short version: pick Orange for ESPN, Blue for news and locals, or the combo if you want both, then add only the extras you'd actually watch.