Right off the bat, YouTube TV stands out among the three live TV plans because of its price. It's the most expensive of the bunch at a whopping $73, but with that tag comes a stacked lineup of channels including local affiliates from CBS, PBS, and The CW, which are the only major broadcasters missing from Sling Blue's local lineup (except for Local Now, Sling Orange does not come with local channels). It also has a user-friendly interface, unlimited cloud DVR, and add-ons you can purchase so you can bump your package to include premium channels like HBO and Showtime. But while we're on the topic, no one really does add-ons like Sling. Sure, Sling Orange and Sling Blue only carry about half the number of channels YouTube has, but they have a host of add-ons ranging from $5 to $11 that you can stack to your package. In some markets, Sling Orange is even cheaper than Sling Blue, but don't be fooled: it has channels that Sling Blue doesn't have, namely, Disney and ESPN channels. And for its part, Sling Blue has Bravo, Discovery Channel, FX, and USA. There's a lot to consider apart from channels: device compatibility, free trial availability, DVR capability. So, to help you decide which among the three fits your needs, we've gathered all that we could about them in the charts below.
Youtube TV vs Sling Orange vs Sling Blue
Which is cheaper?
The cheapest of the three streaming service in order are: Sling Orange ($40), Sling Blue ($45), and the most expensive of the bunch, YouTube TV ($72.99).
YouTube TV vs Sling Orange vs Sling Blue channel lineups
| Channel | YouTube TV $72.99/month |
Sling Orange $40/month |
Sling Blue $45/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&E | - | Yes | Yes |
| ABC | Yes | - | - |
| ABC News | Yes | - | - |
| Adult Swim | Yes | - | - |
| AMC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Animal Planet | Yes | - | - |
| AXS TV | - | Yes | Yes |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BBC World News | Yes | - | - |
| BET | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BET Her | Yes | - | - |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | - | - |
| Bloomberg | - | Yes | Yes |
| Bloomberg Television | - | Yes | Yes |
| Bounce | Yes | - | - |
| Bravo | Yes | - | Yes |
| Cartoon Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS | Yes | - | - |
| CBS local channels | Yes | - | - |
| CBS Sports Network | Yes | - | - |
| Charge! | - | Yes | Yes |
| Cheddar | Yes | - | - |
| Cheddar News | Yes | - | - |
| CMT | Yes | - | - |
| CNBC | Yes | - | - |
| CNBC World | Yes | - | - |
| CNN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy TV | Yes | - | - |
| Comet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Court TV | Yes | - | - |
| Cozi TV | Yes | - | - |
| CW | Yes | - | - |
| Dabl | Yes | - | - |
| Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery Channel | - | - | Yes |
| Disney Channel | - | Yes | - |
| Disney Junior | Yes | - | - |
| Disney XD | Yes | - | - |
| Docurama | Yes | - | - |
| Dove Channel | Yes | - | - |
| E! | Yes | - | Yes |
| EPIX Drive-In | - | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN | Yes | Yes | - |
| ESPN U | Yes | - | - |
| ESPN2 | Yes | Yes | - |
| ESPN3 | - | Yes | - |
| ESPNews | Yes | - | - |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FOX | Yes | - | - |
| Fox Business | Yes | - | - |
| Fox News | Yes | - | Yes |
| Fox News Channel | - | - | Yes |
| FOX SOUL | Yes | - | - |
| Fox Sports | Yes | - | Yes |
| Fox Sports 1 | Yes | - | Yes |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) | Yes | - | Yes |
| Fox Sports 2 | Yes | - | - |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) | Yes | - | - |
| Fox Weather | Yes | - | - |
| Freeform | Yes | Yes | - |
| FS2 | Yes | - | - |
| Fuse | - | Yes | Yes |
| FX | Yes | - | Yes |
| FXM | Yes | - | - |
| FXX | Yes | - | - |
| Galavision | Yes | - | - |
| Game Show Network | Yes | - | - |
| Get TV | Yes | - | - |
| Golf Channel | Yes | - | - |
| Hallmark | Yes | - | - |
| Hallmark Channel | Yes | - | - |
| Hallmark Family | Yes | - | - |
| Hallmark Mystery | Yes | - | - |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| History | - | Yes | Yes |
| HLN | Yes | - | Yes |
| HSN | Yes | - | - |
| ID | - | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) | - | Yes | Yes |
| ION | Yes | - | - |
| Justice Central | Yes | - | - |
| Justice Central TV | Yes | - | - |
| Law & Crime | Yes | - | - |
| Lifetime | - | Yes | Yes |
| Local Now | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Localish | Yes | - | - |
| MotorTrend | Yes | Yes | - |
| MSNBC | Yes | - | Yes |
| MTV | Yes | - | - |
| MTV Classic | Yes | - | - |
| Nat Geo Wild | Yes | - | - |
| National Geographic | Yes | - | Yes |
| NBA TV | Yes | - | - |
| NBC | Yes | - | Yes |
| NBC local channels | Yes | - | - |
| NBC News Now | Yes | - | - |
| NBC Universo | Yes | - | - |
| NBCLX | Yes | - | - |
| NBCSN | Yes | - | - |
| News Nation | Yes | - | - |
| NFL Network | Yes | - | Yes |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nickelodeon | Yes | - | - |
| Nicktoons | Yes | - | - |
| OWN | Yes | - | - |
| Oxygen | Yes | - | - |
| Oxygen True Crime | Yes | - | - |
| PBS | Yes | - | - |
| PBS Kids | Yes | - | - |
| PBS local channels | Yes | - | - |
| Pop | Yes | - | - |
| QVC | Yes | Yes | - |
| Recipe.TV | Yes | - | - |
| Scripps News | Yes | - | - |
| SEC Network | Yes | - | - |
| Smithsonian Channel | Yes | - | - |
| Start TV | Yes | - | - |
| Sundance TV | Yes | - | - |
| SYFY | Yes | - | Yes |
| Tastemade | Yes | - | - |
| TBS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teen Nick | Yes | - | - |
| TeleHit | Yes | - | - |
| Telemundo | Yes | - | - |
| Telemundo local channels | Yes | - | - |
| The Weather Channel | Yes | - | - |
| TLC | Yes | - | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tru TV | Yes | - | - |
| True Crime | Yes | - | - |
| truTV | - | - | Yes |
| Turner Classic Movies | Yes | - | - |
| TV Land | Yes | - | - |
| Unimas | Yes | - | - |
| Unimas local channels | Yes | - | - |
| Universal Kids | Yes | - | - |
| Universo | Yes | - | - |
| Univision | Yes | - | - |
| Univision local channels | Yes | - | - |
| USA | Yes | - | Yes |
| VH1 | Yes | - | - |
| Vice | - | Yes | Yes |
| W | Yes | - | - |
| WE tv | Yes | - | - |
| Weather Channel | Yes | - | - |
Device availability comparaison
Where each streaming service has an app:| Device | YouTube TV $72.99/month |
Sling Orange $40/month |
Sling Blue $45/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airplay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Airplay supported | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AirTV | - | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Fire TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast | - | Yes | Yes |
| Cox | - | Yes | - |
| Fire TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LG | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LG TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mi Box | - | Yes | - |
| PlayStation | Yes | - | - |
| Roku | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Samsung | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Samsung TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shareplay supported | Yes | - | - |
| Sharp | Yes | - | - |
| TiVo | - | Yes | - |
| Vizio | Yes | Yes | - |
| Windows 10 | - | Yes | - |
| Windows 11 | - | Yes | - |
| Xbox | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox 360 | - | - | Yes |
| Xbox One | - | Yes | - |
Trials: YouTube TV includes a free trial
YouTube TV has a free trial of 7 days.
Trial: Sling Orange does not offer a trial
Sling Orange is currently not offering a trial.
Trial: Sling Blue does not offer a trial
Sling Blue is currently not offering a trial.
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.
Why get Sling Orange?
Get Sling Orange if you watch ESPN or Disney channels, which are not available on Sling Blue.
Why get Sling Blue?
If you like channels such as Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, and TBS, Sling Blue is a cheap alternative to cable - costing only $40 a month.
Sling Blue used to be cheaper than Sling Orange, but they now cost the same - $40 per month. If you get both of them, they cost $55 for the bundle, so around $27.5 each.
Price: $45/month
Device availability: Airplay supported, AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox 360
Channel lineup: A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Discovery Channel, E!, EPIX Drive-In, Food Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1, Fuse, FX, HGTV, History, HLN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MSNBC, National Geographic, NFL Network, Nick Jr., SYFY, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA, Vice
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.