Internet or satellite? DirecTV Stream or Dish? You'd think the two were different enough for the answer to be clear, but with streaming prices skyrocketing to cable-level highs, it's easy to get confused by it all. If you're not careful, you might even go with a package that costs you more than it should. If you've been considering these two similarly-priced services, we break down their unique advantages and significant differences below.
Advantages of Dish Cable over DirecTV Stream: HD channels + powerful DVR
The power of having a satellite dish is that you get a stable connection like no other. Dish, in particular, boasts 200 HD channels (and 4k where available) that won't buffer thanks to the strong signal of its receiver. It's the payoff that comes with attaching a clunky device to your roof. In comparison, DirecTV Stream's picture quality generally rests at 720p. It's still crisp, but it's not as sharp and guaranteed as a satellite signal.
If recording shows is a big deal for you, you might also appreciate Dish's Hopper 3 DVR unit more than DirecTV Stream's cloud DVR. To be fair, DirecTV Stream has unlimited storage on cloud, but it deletes recordings after just 90 days. With the Hopper device, you can record 16 shows at the same time, power up to 7 TVs, and watch 4 games at once with its split-screen function. It just has more features overall, though it will cost you an extra $10/month.
Advantages of DirecTV Stream over Dish Cable: no contract + free trial+ flexibility
While both Dish and DirecTV Stream have price locks that prevent them from increasing their monthly fees for 24 months, only DirecTV Stream is contract-free. That means the lock doesn't go both ways with DirecTV Stream - you can choose to cancel your subscription with them anytime you want. Meanwhile, Dish, like most cable providers, has you sign a 2-year contract that binds you to them for that period. If you cancel before then, you'll have to pay a $20 termination fee for each of the remaining months.
If you're still on the fence, DirecTV Stream also has a 5-day trial that lets you test all of its features, from channel lineup to DVR features, at zero cost. Lastly, DirecTV Stream is just generally more flexible, since you don't have to purchase any extra equipment or receivers to use it.
Channels on DirecTV Stream and not DISH Network
The channels that DirecTV Stream has and which are not available on DISH Network:
- ACC Network
- AccuWeather
- Baby First TV
- BBC America
- BET
- Bloomberg Television
- Boomerang
- CBS local channels
- Cleo TV
- CNN en Espanol
- Court TV
- Daystar HD
- Disney Jr
- Disney XD
- E! Entertainment
- EarthxTV
- El Rey Rebel
- ESPN3
- FOX
- FOX SOUL
- Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
- FUEL TV
- Fuse Music
- Galavision
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Mystery
- HLN
- Investigation Discovery
- ION Television
- MTV Classic
- MTV2
- NBA TV
- NBC local channels
- News Nation
- Nick Jr.
- One America News
- Ovation
- Oxygen True Crime
- PBS Kids
- PBS local channels
- Poker GO
- Pursuit Channel
- Racing America
- REVOLT
- RFD-TV
- RSNs
- Scientology Network
- Shop LC
- Somos Novelas
- SportsGrid
- SundanceTV
- Tastemade Home
- Tastemade Travel
- TCM
- TeenNick
- Telemundo local channels
- The First
- TLC
- TV One
- Univision
- Up TV
- WE tv
- Women’s Sports Network
Channels on DISH Network and not DirecTV Stream
The channels that DISH Network has which are not available on DirecTV Stream:
- 3ABN
- 40 Y 20
- A&E
- AMERICA'S VOICE
- AMOR REAL
- AMORES VERDADEROS
- ANGELIQUE
- AQUÍ Y AHORA
- BABY FIRST
- BBC News
- BINGE TV
- Bounce
- BUY TV
- BUZZR
- BYU TELEVISION
- CHRISTIAN TELEVISION NETWORK
- CINE CLUB
- CINE DE ORO
- CINE RETRO
- COCINA TV
- Comet
- COMO DICE EL DICHO
- COWGIRL CHANNEL
- Cozi TV
- DEAL
- DISH NETWORK FYI
- DISH STUDIO
- Enlace
- EPIC
- ESNE
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK
- EXTRA
- FANDUEL RACING
- Fanduel TV
- FETV
- Free Speech TV
- FS1
- GALANES
- GALLERY BY DISH SCAPES
- Gem Shopping Network
- GET
- GRANDES PAREJAS
- GREAT AMERICAN FAITH & LIVING
- GRIT
- HASTA QUE EL DINERO NOS SEPARE
- HEADLINE NEWS
- Heroes & Icons
- History
- HITN
- ID
- Impact Network
- IN COUNTRY TELEVISION
- INSP
- JAJAJA
- Justice Central
- LA FAMILIA P. LUCHE
- LA FEA MAS BELLA
- LA PARODIA
- LA QUE NO PODIA AMAR
- LA ROSA DE GUADALUPE
- LA USURPADORA
- LAFF TV
- LAS 3 MARIAS
- Law & Crime
- Lifetime
- LO MEJOR DE LIGA MX
- LO QUE LA VIDA ME ROBO
- MERCURY TELEVISION
- MERIT STREET
- MI CORAZON ES TUYO
- MLB EXTRA INNINGS
- MTV Live
- MUSIC TELEVISION
- MUSIC TELEVISION 2
- N+
- NASA
- National Geographic
- Newsmax
- NewsNation
- Nickelodeon
- NOSOTROS LOS GUAPOS
- NOTICIAS 24 X 7
- NOVELAS DE ORO
- NOVELAS DE ROMANCE
- NOVELAS EN FAMILIA
- PBS ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
- Pop
- REBELDE
- RISAS DE ORO
- SALE
- SHEPHERD'S CHAPEL NETWORK
- SMART
- SONLIFE BROADCASTING NETWORK
- SORTILEGIO
- Start TV
- SUPERIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION
- TBN Inspire
- TDV
- TERESA
- THE COWBOY CHANNEL
- THE LEARNING CHANNEL
- Travel Channel
- TRIUNFO DEL AMOR
- UNA FAMILIA CON SUERTE
- UNA FAMILIA DE DIEZ
- VALUE TV
- VECINOS
- Victory
- VIX DEPORTES
- Weather Channel
- WeatherNation
- WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT
- YOUTV
- Zona TUDN
- ZRENEW
Price: DirecTV Stream is cheaper than DISH Network
DirecTV Stream's costs $80 whereas DISH Network costs $85. Getting DISH Network instead of DirecTV Stream will set you back $5 more every month.
Why get DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream is a Live TV streaming platform with a twist: you can download the app on any of your existing devices, or for a $120, you can get a box with a custom remote control for the service. But without the box, DirecTV Stream functions like a Netflix or Hulu, allowing you to stream Live TV from anywhere by downloading the app. Within your home, you can stream on up to 20 devices (!), and from outside your home you can stream on up to three devices.
Go to DirecTV Stream
Why get DISH Network?
Generally, Dish Network's TV plans are pretty similar to most cable packages out there, but many things still set them apart. For one, Dish is available in more parts of the country, and for another, it has a great DVR unit in Hopper 3, which can record up to 2,000 hours and 16 shows at the same time. And when it comes to prices, Dish guarantees it won't hike prices up for at least two years, and quite uniquely, it gives you the option to remove local channels from your plan, which will effectively reduce the price by $12/month. Speaking of price, the cheapest Dish plan costs $85/month and carries channels like CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, and National Geographic. As of this writing, it also comes with Starz, Paramount+ with Showtime, and Dish's movie add-on free for three months--after that, this will cost $30/month. Now, from what we could gather, it seems like Dish isn't exempt from dodgy customer service and wily hidden fees (mostly in the equipment). It also doesn't offer a lot of bundling opportunities. But if you don't mind these snags, plus the satellite, then Dish is a great, accessible TV option.
Go to DISH Network
Devices: DirecTV Stream is more widely available than DISH Network
DirecTV Stream is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV or Samsung TV.
Whereas DISH Network is available on . That's 7 less devices than DirecTV Stream.
Trial: DirecTV Stream offers a trial
DirecTV Stream has a trial. The trial duration is 5 days.
Find out more on DirecTV Stream
Trial: DISH Network does not offer a trial
DISH Network does not offer a free trial.
Find out more on DISH Network
Channels on both DISH Network and DirecTV Stream
The channels that are available on both DISH Network and DirecTV Stream are:
If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.
Generally, Dish Network's TV plans are pretty similar to most cable packages out there, but many things still set them apart. For one, Dish is available in more parts of the country, and for another, it has a great DVR unit in Hopper 3, which can record up to 2,000 hours and 16 shows at the same time. And when it comes to prices, Dish guarantees it won't hike prices up for at least two years, and quite uniquely, it gives you the option to remove local channels from your plan, which will effectively reduce the price by $12/month. Speaking of price, the cheapest Dish plan costs $85/month and carries channels like CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, and National Geographic. As of this writing, it also comes with Starz, Paramount+ with Showtime, and Dish's movie add-on free for three months--after that, they will cost $30/month. Now, from what we could gather, it seems like Dish isn't exempt from dodgy customer service and wily hidden fees (mostly in the equipment). It also doesn't offer a lot of bundling opportunities. But if you don't mind these snags, plus the satellite, then Dish is a great, accessible TV option.
Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.
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The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.