Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV are some of the most in-demand streaming services in the market. Both have great channels to choose from and vary very little in their price range. So, when it comes to cord-cutting, how will you choose your pick?
That depends, mainly on the following factors: popularity, price, device availability, channel availability, specialties, and whether each service offers a trial or not.
That said, the main difference between DirecTV and Youtube TV is the quality of the picture, especially when using the DVR functionality. DVR recordings on Youtube TV will be downgraded in quality, but they will stay the same on DirecTV.
Below, we discuss all these and more to help you make the best choice.
| Feature | DIRECTVOur pick | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal for | image quality | a familiar interface |
| Base price | $89.99/mo | $82.99/mo |
| Channels | 80+ | 134+ |
| Free trial | 5 days | 21 days |
| Subscribers | 0.8 million | 8.5 million |
| Try DIRECTV free for 5 days | Try YouTube TV free for 21 days |
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | DIRECTV MyEntertainment Pack | YouTube TV Entertainment Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $34.99 | $54.99 |
| New User Deal | 15% off 1st month | 20% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | Unlimited | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3 |
| DVR Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| DVR Keeps For | 9 months | 9 months |
| Profiles | 5 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | 4 | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get MyEntertainment Pack → | Get Entertainment Plan → |
| DIRECTV 1 plan | YouTube TV 7 plans | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest MyEntertainment Pack | Cheapest Entertainment Plan | Sports Plan | News + Entertainment + Family Plan | Sports + News Plan | Sports + News + Entertainment Plan | Base Plan | Spanish Plan | |
| Price / month | $34.99 | $54.99 | $64.99 | $69.99 | $71.99 | $77.99 | $82.99 | $97.98 |
| New User Deal | 15% off 1st month | 20% off 1st month | 15% off 1st month | 15% off 1st month | 20% off 1st month | 15% off 1st month | 30% off 1st month | 30% off 1st month |
| Streams at Home | Unlimited | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on | 3 on base plan, unlimited with 4K add-on |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| DVR Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| DVR Keeps For | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months | 9 months |
| Profiles | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Multiview Screens | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for $9.99/month | Yes, but with 4K add-on for an extra $9.99/month |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | ✓ Yes | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Min. Speed | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
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63 channels are available on both services. DIRECTV has 75 exclusive channels not on YouTube TV. YouTube TV has 81 exclusive channels not on DIRECTV.
| Channel | DIRECTV | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ABC (depending on zipcode) | – | ✓ |
| ACC Digital Network | ✓ | – |
| ACCN | – | ✓ |
| AMC | ✓ | ✓ |
| AXS TV | ✓ | – |
| AccuWeather | ✓ | – |
| Adult Swim | – | ✓ |
| Alien Nation | ✓ | – |
| Anger Management | ✓ | – |
| Animal Planet | ✓ | ✓ |
| Are We There Yet? | ✓ | – |
| Ax Men | ✓ | – |
| BABY FIRST | ✓ | – |
| BBC America | ✓ | ✓ |
| BBC World News | – | ✓ |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ |
| BET Her | – | ✓ |
| BUZZR | ✓ | – |
| Big 12 | ✓ | – |
| Big Ten Network | – | ✓ |
| Bloomberg TV | ✓ | – |
| Bob Ross | ✓ | – |
| Boomerang | ✓ | – |
| Bounce | – | ✓ |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ |
| C-SPAN | ✓ | – |
| C-SPAN2 | ✓ | – |
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ |
| CBS Sports Network | – | ✓ |
| CBS local channels | ✓ | ✓ |
| CMT | ✓ | ✓ |
| CNBC | ✓ | ✓ |
| CNBC World | – | ✓ |
| CNN | ✓ | ✓ |
| CNN International | ✓ | – |
| CNN en Espanol | ✓ | – |
| CW | ✓ | – |
| Cartoon Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Charge! | – | ✓ |
| Cheddar | – | ✓ |
| Cheddar News | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cleo TV | ✓ | – |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Dynamics | ✓ | – |
| Comedy TV | – | ✓ |
| Comet | – | ✓ |
| Court TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cozi TV | – | ✓ |
| Crime 360 | ✓ | – |
| Curiosity Now | ✓ | – |
| Dabl | – | ✓ |
| Daystar HD | ✓ | – |
| Declassified | ✓ | – |
| Discovery Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disney | – | ✓ |
| Disney Channel | – | ✓ |
| Disney Junior | – | ✓ |
| Disney XD | – | ✓ |
| Docurama | – | ✓ |
| Dove Channel | – | ✓ |
| Duck Dynasty | ✓ | – |
| E! | – | ✓ |
| E! Entertainment | ✓ | – |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN Deportes | ✓ | – |
| ESPN2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESPN3 | – | ✓ |
| ESPNU | ✓ | – |
| ESPNews | ✓ | – |
| EarthxTV | ✓ | – |
| Ebony TV | ✓ | – |
| El Rey Rebel | ✓ | – |
| FMC | ✓ | – |
| FOX | ✓ | ✓ |
| FOX SOUL | ✓ | ✓ |
| FUEL TV | ✓ | – |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ |
| FXM | – | ✓ |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ |
| Food Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox Business Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox News | – | ✓ |
| Fox News Channel | ✓ | – |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) | – | ✓ |
| Fox Weather | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fuse Music | ✓ | – |
| Galavision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Game Show Network | – | ✓ |
| Get TV | – | ✓ |
| Golf Channel | – | ✓ |
| HGTV | ✓ | ✓ |
| HLN | ✓ | ✓ |
| HSN | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Family | – | ✓ |
| Hallmark Mystery | ✓ | ✓ |
| HerSphere | ✓ | – |
| Home Shopping Network | ✓ | – |
| IFC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ION | ✓ | ✓ |
| ION Television | ✓ | – |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jewelry Television | ✓ | – |
| Justice Central TV | – | ✓ |
| LAFC Channel | – | ✓ |
| Law & Crime | – | ✓ |
| Lifetime | ✓ | – |
| Lionsgate Collection | ✓ | – |
| Live Now | – | ✓ |
| Local Now | – | ✓ |
| Localish | – | ✓ |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ |
| MTV 2 | – | ✓ |
| MTV Classic | – | ✓ |
| MTV2 | ✓ | – |
| MeatEater TV | ✓ | – |
| MotorTrend | ✓ | ✓ |
| MovieSphere | ✓ | – |
| My TV | – | ✓ |
| NBA TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBC News Now | – | ✓ |
| NBC Universo | – | ✓ |
| NBC local channels | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBCLX | – | ✓ |
| NBCSN | – | ✓ |
| NECN | – | ✓ |
| NFL Network | – | ✓ |
| Nat Geo Wild | – | ✓ |
| National Geographic | – | ✓ |
| Neon | – | ✓ |
| News Nation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Newsmax | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nick Jr. | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nicktoons | – | ✓ |
| OWN | – | ✓ |
| One America News | ✓ | – |
| Orlando City Channel | – | ✓ |
| Ovation | ✓ | – |
| Oxygen | – | ✓ |
| Oxygen True Crime | ✓ | ✓ |
| PBS | ✓ | ✓ |
| PBS Kids | ✓ | ✓ |
| PBS local channels | ✓ | ✓ |
| PC Mag | – | ✓ |
| Paramount | – | ✓ |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | – |
| Poker GO | ✓ | – |
| Pop | – | ✓ |
| Pursuit Channel | ✓ | – |
| QVC | ✓ | ✓ |
| QVC2 | ✓ | – |
| QVC3 | ✓ | – |
| REELZ | ✓ | – |
| REVOLT | ✓ | – |
| RFD-TV | ✓ | – |
| RSNs | ✓ | – |
| Racing America | ✓ | – |
| Recipe.TV | – | ✓ |
| SEC Network | – | ✓ |
| SNY | – | ✓ |
| SYFY | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scientology Network | ✓ | – |
| Scripps News | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shop LC | ✓ | – |
| Smithsonian Channel | – | ✓ |
| Somos Novelas | ✓ | – |
| SportsGrid | ✓ | – |
| Start TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sundance TV | – | ✓ |
| SundanceTV | ✓ | – |
| TBD | – | ✓ |
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ |
| TCM | ✓ | – |
| TCM (Turner Classic Movies) | – | ✓ |
| TLC | ✓ | ✓ |
| TNA | ✓ | – |
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ |
| TV Land | ✓ | ✓ |
| TV One | ✓ | – |
| TYT | – | ✓ |
| Tastemade | – | ✓ |
| Tastemade Home | ✓ | – |
| Tastemade Travel | ✓ | – |
| Teen Nick | – | ✓ |
| TeenNick | ✓ | – |
| TeleHit | – | ✓ |
| Telemundo local channels | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tennis 2 | – | ✓ |
| The CW | – | ✓ |
| The First | ✓ | – |
| The Great Courses | – | ✓ |
| The Walking Dead Universe | – | ✓ |
| The Weather Channel | – | ✓ |
| Travel Channel | – | ✓ |
| Tru TV | – | ✓ |
| Turner Classic Movies | – | ✓ |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unimas | – | ✓ |
| Unimas local channels | – | ✓ |
| Universal Kids | – | ✓ |
| Univision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Univision local channels | – | ✓ |
| Up TV | ✓ | – |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| WE tv | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waypoint TV | ✓ | – |
| Willow | – | ✓ |
| Women’s Sports Network | ✓ | – |
| Yahoo! Finance | ✓ | – |
| YouTube Originals | – | ✓ |
| Zen channel | – | ✓ |
| theGrio | ✓ | – |
| truTV | ✓ | – |
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | DIRECTV | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google TV Streamer | Not listed | ✓ |
| LG TV | Not listed | ✓ |
| PlayStation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sharp | Not listed | ✓ |
| Vizio | Not listed | ✓ |
| Xbox | Not listed | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
YouTube TV has 8.5 million subscribers compared to 0.8 million for DIRECTV. That makes YouTube TV 979% more popular by subscriber count.
YouTube TV starts at $82.99/month, while DIRECTV starts at $89.99/month. That’s $7.00 more per month for DIRECTV, or $84.00 more per year.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
DIRECTV is one of the priciest ways to stream live TV; you are paying for a cable-sized channel bundle even if you only watch a fraction of it.
YouTube TV has no cheaper tier and its base price has climbed steadily; you pay for the full bundle whether you watch most of it or not.
Is YouTube TV cheaper than DIRECTV?
Yes. YouTube TV starts at $82.99/month, while DIRECTV starts at $89.99/month. That's a difference of $7.00/month, or $84.00 per year.
Do DIRECTV or YouTube TV offer a free trial?
DIRECTV offers a 5-day free trial. YouTube TV offers a 21-day free trial.
Are DIRECTV and YouTube TV the same company?
No. DIRECTV is owned by DirecTV, while YouTube TV is owned by Google. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is DIRECTV included with YouTube TV?
No. Neither service includes the other: a YouTube TV subscription does not give you DIRECTV content, and vice versa. You need a separate subscription for each.
Which has more channels, DIRECTV or YouTube TV?
YouTube TV carries 144 channels, while DIRECTV carries 138. 63 channels are available on both services.
What channels does DIRECTV have that YouTube TV doesn't?
DIRECTV has 75 channels not available on YouTube TV, including: ACC Digital Network, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, Anger Management, Are We There Yet?, and more.
What channels does YouTube TV have that DIRECTV doesn't?
YouTube TV has 81 channels not available on DIRECTV, including: ABC (depending on zipcode), ACCN, Adult Swim, BBC World News, BET Her, and more.
Which has better DVR, DIRECTV or YouTube TV?
DIRECTV's base plan includes Unlimited of DVR storage. YouTube TV's base plan includes Unlimited of DVR storage.
Can I cancel DIRECTV or YouTube TV anytime?
Yes. Both DIRECTV and YouTube TV are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
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