YouTube TV vs DirecTV Cable: Which is better?
YouTube TV and DirecTV are heavy hitters in the TV sphere. Both carry many popular channels, including key sports channels and local networks, and both offer important features like unlimited (YouTube TV) and HD (DirecTV) DVR. But there's a wealth of differences between them, too, not least in the price department. Read more to see how they stack up against each other.
Advantages of YouTube TV over DirecTV Cable: unlimited DVR + NFL Sunday Ticket + free trial
One advantage YouTube has over DirecTV satellite is that it has unlimited DVR storage. You can record as many episodes and shows as you want, though they may not always be as crisp as they would be in the HD DVR units DirecTV offers.
Another advantage—perhaps the most crucial one for sports fans—is that YouTube TV is now the exclusive home of the NFL Sunday Ticket, so you can watch all the out-of-market, local, and national NFL games you want on the platform.
And finally, YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial that allows you to test all its channels and features without having to pay a single dime. No harm, no foul if you decide to forgo a subscription, but if you do go for it, you're free to cancel it anytime since it's contract-free. In contrast, it would be impossible to temporarily try out a cable package because of all the equipment involved. You'd also have to pay a $20 early termination fee if you breach your 2-year contract with DirecTV Cable.
Advantages of DirecTV Cable over YouTube TV: RSNs + better picture quality + price lock
YouTube TV may have the upper hand on out-of-market football games, but satellite still wins when it comes to RSNs or regional sports networks. DirecTV has more RSNs, including the Bally channels that cover local baseball, basketball, hockey, and more. If you pick one of its higher tiers, DirecTV also carries the MLB and NHL networks, which YouTube TV sadly doesn't have. DirecTV's user interface is also easy to navigate, especially if you're a channel surfer. Its remote and channels still have numbers, making it ideal for the elderly.
Lastly, DirecTV's price-per-month remains locked for 2 years, so you don't have to worry about the price hikes that have run rampant among streaming services. YouTube TV itself has increased its price 3 times in the last 5 years (remember when it used to cost $35/month?), so that's not something you have to think about with cable. What you do have to worry about, however, are hidden fees like rental, installation, and broadcast fees, which can stack up and add up to more.
Channels on YouTube TV and not DirecTV Cable
The channels that YouTube TV has and which are not available on DirecTV Cable:
- ABC News
- ACCN
- Adult Swim
- BBC World News
- BET Her
- Big Ten Network
- Bounce
- CBS Sports Network
- Cheddar
- Cheddar News
- CNBC World
- Comedy TV
- Comet
- Court TV
- Cozi TV
- Dabl
- Docurama
- Dove Channel
- ESPN U
- ESPNews
- FOX SOUL
- Fox Sports 2 (FS2)
- Fox Weather
- FXM
- Game Show Network
- Get TV
- Golf Channel
- Hallmark Family
- Hallmark Mystery
- Investigation Discovery
- Justice Central TV
- LAFC Channel
- Law & Crime
- Live Now
- Local Now
- Localish
- MTV 2
- MTV Classic
- My TV
- Nat Geo Wild
- NBA TV
- NBC local channels
- NBC News Now
- NBC Universo
- NBCLX
- NBCSN
- NECN
- News Nation
- NFL Network
- Nick Jr.
- Nicktoons
- Orlando City Channel
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Oxygen True Crime
- PC Mag
- Pop
- Recipe.TV
- Scripps News
- SEC Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- SNY
- Start TV
- Sundance TV
- Tastemade
- Teen Nick
- TeleHit
- The Great Courses
- The Weather Channel
- Travel Channel
- Tru TV
- Turner Classic Movies
- TYT
- Unimas
- Unimas local channels
- Universal Kids
- Univision local channels
Channels on DirecTV Cable and not YouTube TV
The channels that DirecTV Cable has which are not available on YouTube TV:
- AccuWeather
- Antena 3
- Aquí
- AXS TV
- BabyFirst TV
- BabyTV
- Bandamax
- Bloomberg Television
- Blossom
- Boomerang
- BYUtv
- C-SPAN
- C-SPAN 2
- Cleo TV
- CNN en Espanol
- CNN International
- CTN
- Daystar
- Daystar Español
- DIRECTV 4K Live
- DIRECTV 4K Live 2
- DIRECTV News Mix
- EarthX
- Enlace
- ESNE
- EWTN
- Family Movie Channel
- FETV
- Fox Business Network
- Free Speech TV
- FS1
- GEB America
- GOD TV
- Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
- HITN
- Hope
- HSN2
- ID
- Impact Television Network
- INSP
- ION Television
- JBS
- Jewish Life Television
- Living Faith Network
- MavTV
- MTV2
- MUSIC CHOICE
- NASA TV
- Newsmax
- NewsNation
- NHK
- NRBTV
- ONCE MEXICO
- Ovation
- Paramount Network
- Pursuit Channel
- QVC2
- QVC3
- REELZ
- REVOLT TV
- RFD-TV
- Scientology Network
- Shop LC
- ShopHQ
- So Yummy!
- SonLife Broadcasting
- SundanceTV
- TBN
- TBN Inspire
- TCM
- TCT
- TeenNick
- The First
- The Grio
- The WORD Network
- TV One
- USA Network
- Victory
- World Harvest Television
Price: YouTube TV is cheaper than DirecTV Cable
YouTube TV's costs $73 whereas DirecTV Cable costs $85. Getting DirecTV Cable instead of YouTube TV will set you back $12 more every month.
Why get YouTube TV?
Youtube TV boasts a wide offering of almost every major channel, unlimited DVR, six accounts, and up to three simultaneous streams. It's the perfect option for families. The cost is a little steep, and there are cheaper options out there, but with a great interface (Live TV services are not known to always have the most intuitive interfaces) and wide availability across devices, it's fair to say that you'll get your dollar's worth.
Go to YouTube TV
Why get DirecTV Cable?
DirecTV's cable packages are some of the most comprehensive you'll find on the market. The cheapest plan, known as the Entertainment package, starts at $85/month and comes with 200 hours of HD DVR (unlimited on cloud). As for channels, some of the more notable ones include CNN, ESPN, The Food Network, TBS, The Disney Channel, and local networks where available. During your first three months, you'll also have access to premium channels like HBO and Showtime. DirecTV's other packages are Choice (which has RSNs), Ultimate (which has even more sports and entertainment), and Premier (which has everything plus premium channels). It may not be explicit about it, but DirecTV does have a 2-year contract, the early termination of which will cost you $20 for each of the remaining months. If this is a deal-breaker, you might want to consider DirecTV Stream, which is the provider's cordless and contractless alternative.
Go to DirecTV Cable
Devices: YouTube TV is more widely available than DirecTV Cable
YouTube TV is available on Airplay supported, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Shareplay supported, Sharp, Vizio or Xbox.
Whereas DirecTV Cable is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Roku TV, Samsung TV or Vizio. That's 8 less devices than YouTube TV.
Trial: YouTube TV offers a trial
YouTube TV has a trial. The trial duration is 7 days.
Find out more on YouTube TV
Trial: DirecTV Cable does not offer a trial
DirecTV Cable does not offer a free trial.
Find out more on DirecTV Cable
Channels on both DirecTV Cable and YouTube TV
The channels that are available on both DirecTV Cable and YouTube TV 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.
DirecTV's cable packages are some of the most comprehensive you'll find on the market. The cheapest plan, known as the Entertainment package, starts at $85/month and comes with 200 hours of HD DVR (unlimited on cloud). As for channels, some of the more notable ones include CNN, ESPN, The Food Network, TBS, The Disney Channel, and local networks where available. During your first three months, you'll also have access to premium channels like HBO and Showtime. DirecTV's other packages are Choice (which has RSNs), Ultimate (which has even more sports and entertainment), and Premier (which has everything plus premium channels). It may not be explicit about it, but DirecTV does have a 2-year contract, the early termination of which will cost you $20 for each of the remaining months. If this is a deal-breaker, you might want to consider DirecTV Stream, which is the provider's cordless and contractless alternative.
Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.
More lists
Lists on how to save money by cutting the cord.
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.