IAs we settle into 2026, the streaming wars have only intensified. Prices across the board have crept up, with major competitors like YouTube TV now pushing past the $80 mark. In this landscape, Sling TVremains a defiant outlier, positioning itself as the value leader.
But with the introduction of the ultra-budget Sling Select tier and complex local channel surcharges, is it still the bargain it claims to be? This review aims to equip you with everything you need to know.
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV is an app-based live TV service designed to replace cable without the hefty contract. Unlike its "kitchen-sink" competitors that force you into $80+ monthly plans, Sling offers a segmented approach: pay for the package that fits your viewing habits (sports, news, or entertainment) and skip the rest.
Sling TV Pricing & Plans
Sling recently shook up its model by introducing a fourth entry-level tier. Here is the current pricing structure:
| Plan | Monthly Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Sling Select | $19.99 | |
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | |
| Sling Blue | $45.99* | |
| Orange & Blue | $60.99 |
*Sling Blue (as well as the Orange and Blue plan) may cost an additional $5-10 in some markets where local channels (ABC, NBC, and Fox) are provided
Plan Details & Differences
- Sling Select ($19.99/mo): The budget option. Best for news and lifestyle viewers. Includes only 1 simultaneous stream.
- Sling Orange ($45.99/mo): Best for sports and families (ESPN, Disney). Also includes only 1 simultaneous stream.
- Sling Blue ($45.99/mo): Best for news and entertainment (Fox, MSNBC, Bravo). Includes 3 simultaneous streams
- Orange & Blue ($60.99/mo): If you need it all, you can combine the two base plans. This package offers the most comprehensive coverage and bumps you up to 4 simultaneous streams.
Sling Select: The New $20 Game-Changer
Launched in late 2025, Sling Select is the service's answer to rising inflation. For just $19.99/mo, you get a skinny bundle of ~15 essential channels including Fox News, National Geographic, FX, and the NFL Network.
It is significantly cheaper than any other live TV option, but it comes with a catch: it lacks major sports heavy hitters like ESPN and local networks in most areas. It is perfect if you just want news and background entertainment without breaking a $20 bill.
Sling Orange vs Sling Blue: The Core Dilemma
Sling TV
If "Select" is too thin for you, the core debate remains Orange vs Blue.
Sling Orange ($45.99/mo)
Sling Orange is effectively the service's "Sports & Family" foundation, serving as the most affordable gateway to the Disney ecosystem in 2026. Its primary value lies in its exclusive access to the ESPN suite - ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 - making it non-negotiable for NBA fans and Monday Night Football loyalists who want to avoid the $80+ price tags of competitors. Beyond sports, it anchors the lineup with family staples like Disney Channel and Freeform, along with niche favorites like MotorTrend, offering a focused lineup that cuts out the fluff of reality TV found on other tiers.
However, this package comes with a strict technical limitation that can be a dealbreaker for larger households: it is restricted to one simultaneous stream. This means if you are watching a live game in the living room, no one else can stream content on a tablet or second television without booting you off. Additionally, because Orange operates separately from the NBC and Fox ecosystems, you miss out on major entertainment networks like Bravo, USA Network, and FX, creating a distinct "lane" that forces you to choose between live sports and popular cable entertainment.
Sling Blue ($45.99/mo + local fees)
Sling Blue serves as the platform's "News & Entertainment" powerhouse, offering a broader and more versatile lineup than it's Orange counterpart. It builds its value on the combined strength of the NBCUniversal and Fox portfolios, making it the essential choice for reality TV junkies and news buffs who need their daily fix of Bravo, TLC, MSNBC and Fox News. While it lacks the Disney ecosystem, it compensates with a robust general entertainment library including USA Network, FX, and Discovery, plus key sports assets like FS1 and the NFL Network. Crucially, Blue solves the "single stream" headache by allowing three simultaneous users, making it far more practical for families or shared households.
However, the glaring omission here is ESPN: while you gain access to local NBC broadcasts (for Sunday Night Football) in major markets, you are completely cut off from Monday Night Football and the NBA on ESPN, creating a fragmented sports experience that often forces die-hard fans into the pricier Combo plan.
| Channel | Sling Orange | Sling Blue |
|---|---|---|
| A&E | ✅ | ✅ |
| ABC (select markets) | ❌ | ✅ |
| AMC | ✅ | ✅ |
| AXS TV | ✅ | ✅ |
| BBC America | ✅ | ✅ |
| BET | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bloomberg TV | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bravo | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cartoon Network | ✅ | ✅ |
| CNN | ✅ | ✅ |
| Comedy Central | ✅ | ✅ |
| Discovery Channel | ❌ | ✅ |
| Disney Channel | ✅ | ❌ |
| E! | ❌ | ✅ |
| ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPN3 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Food Network | ✅ | ✅ |
| FOX (select markets) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Fox News Channel | ❌ | ✅ |
| Freeform | ✅ | ❌ |
| FS1 (Fox Sports 1) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Fuse | ✅ | ✅ |
| FX | ❌ | ✅ |
| HGTV | ✅ | ✅ |
| History Channel | ✅ | ✅ |
| HLN | ❌ | ✅ |
| IFC | ✅ | ✅ |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lifetime | ✅ | ✅ |
| Local Now | ✅ | ✅ |
| MGM+ Drive-In | ✅ | ✅ |
| MotorTrend | ✅ | ❌ |
| MSNBC | ❌ | ✅ |
| National Geographic | ❌ | ✅ |
| NBC (select markets) | ❌ | ✅ |
| NFL Network | ❌ | ✅ |
| Nick Jr. | ✅ | ✅ |
| QVC | ✅ | ✅ |
| Syfy | ❌ | ✅ |
| TBS | ✅ | ✅ |
| TLC | ❌ | ✅ |
| TNT | ✅ | ✅ |
| Travel Channel | ✅ | ✅ |
| truTV | ❌ | ✅ |
| USA Network | ❌ | ✅ |
| Vice | ✅ | ✅ |
Sling Freestream: Free TV for Everyone
If $19.99 is still too much, Sling Freestream has expanded massively. Now boasting over 600 free channels, it rivals Pluto TV and Tubi. You do not need a credit card to watch; just download the app. It includes:
- News: ABC News Live, CBS News 24/7
- Entertainment: Dedicated channels for The Walking Dead, Hell's Kitchen, and classic sitcoms.
- Movies: Rotational library of ad-supported films.
Flexible Viewing: The New 1, 3, and 7-Day Passes
Getty Images
In a move that fundamentally breaks the "monthly subscription" mold, Sling TV has introduced a pay-per-view model for its entire channel lineup. If you only care about a specific big game, a season finale, or a holiday weekend of watching TV, you no longer need to pay for a full month.
The feature is unique to Sling in 2026 - competitors like YouTube TV and Hulu still lock you into $80+ monthly cycles.
How It Works & Pricing
These passes grant you access to the Sling Orange lineup (ESPN, TNT, Disney, etc) for a fixed window. They do not auto-renew, meaning you don't have to set up a reminder to cancel.
| Duration | Price | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Pass | $4.99 | Monday Night Football, NBA Finals Game 7, or an Award Show |
| 3-Day Pass | $9.99 | A long holiday weekend of specific tournament round |
| 7-Day Pass | $14.99 | A full vacation week or following a team during the playoffs |
The "Micro Transaction" Add-Ons
Sling has also cleverly gamified the add-ons for these passes. You aren't stuck with just the base channels, you can add "Extra" packs (like Sports Extra for SEC Network/RedZone) for a nominal fee:
- +$1 for 1-Day Pass
- +$2 for 3-Day Pass
- +$3 for 7-Day Pass
Sling TV vs The Competition
Sling TVremains the most flexible and budget-friendly builder, though it requires careful package selection to get the right mix. Its 31 to 46+ channel lineup is split into two distinct tracks: the "Orange" plan, which caters to families and sports fans with essentials like Disney and ESPN for NBA games, and the "Blue" plan, which focuses on news and entertainment via Fox, NBC, and Bravo. Subscribers can pay $46 per month for a single track or $61 per month for the combined "Orange + Blue" package. However, local channels like ABC, NBC, and Fox are not guaranteed; in markets where they are available on the Blue plan, the price often increases by an additional $4 to $9 per month. On the recording front, Sling includes 50 hours of free DVR storage, but you must pay an extra $5 per month for "Unlimited" capacity, with recordings expiring after 9 months.
DirecTV Streampositions itself as the premier cable replacement for those seeking a traditional TV experience without the satellite dish. Starting with 90+ channels it its Entertainment Package, it offers excellent picture quality and arguably the most complete lineup of local channels. Crucially, it is one of the few services that still carries a wide array of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) like FanDuel Sports Network, although accessing these typically requires upgrading to the "Choice" tier (approximately $108.99+/mo), which is a key consideration for fans looking for comprehensive sports coverage. The service includes unlimited DVR storage, with recordings kept for nine months.
YouTube TVcontinues to offer the best overall value, widely considered the "gold standard" for general audiences by effectively balancing price, features, and content. With a lineup of over 10 channels, it provides the best mix of local stations, news, ad sports - including NBA TV and NFL Network - without the hidden fees often attached to RSNs. Known for its reliable interface, this service also includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, with recordings expiring after nine months.
Hulu + Live TVis the ultimate bundle, focusing less on its standalone channel lineup and more on the massive on-demand value it provides. The $89.99 monthly price tag secures 95+ channels alongside a bundle that includes Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN+ (with ads). For users who already subscribe to these services separately, consolidating them here makes Hulu + Live TV a high-value pick. Like its competitors, it includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, with recordings expiring after nine months.
Fubo, historically the "Sports Specialist", finds its position complicated in 2026 due to significant channel losses. While it offers a massive count of 180+ channels (varying by location) and remains a powerhouse for international soccer and nice sports, the service is currently compromised by major gaps. It presently lacks Turner Networks (TNT, TBS and truTV) and NBCUniversal channels (NBC, USA, Bravo). This creates a significant hole for fans of the NBA, NHL, and the English Premier League, as key games broadcast on USA Network or TNT are unavailable. Fubo includes unlimited DVR storage, with recordings expiring after nine months.
Verdict
- Budget: Go with Sling TV (Blue or Orange).
- Sports (Regional): Go with DirecTV Stream (Choice Package)
- Simplicity & Value: Go with YouTube TV
- On-Demand Content: Go with Hulu + Live TV
Sling TV: Pros and Cons
Pros ✅
- Price: Still the lowest entry point for live TV in 2026
- Flexibility: The new "Select" plan is a great budget option
- Freestream: Excellent free content integrated into the guide
- Antenna Integration: Best-in-class support for combining OTA locals with streaming
Cons ❌
- The Split: Forcing a choice between ESPN (Orange) and Fox/NBC (Blue) is frustrating
- Local Fees: The hidden surcharge for locals on Blue plans makes the prices less transparent
- DVR Fees: Most competitors offer unlimited DVR for free; Sling charges $5 extra for it
The Final Verdict
If you want a "cable-like" experience where you have every channel imaginable, Sling TV might frustrate you. You will yourself missing channels or paying for the $60.99 combo plan, which puts you dangerously close to YouTube TV's price point with fewer channels.
However, if you are a budget-conscious viewer who only needs specific channels, like NBA TV for basketball, or just Fox News and History for lifestyle, Sling is the only service in 2026 that lets you pay under $50/mo. The new $19.99 Sling Select plan is a standout winner for ultra-frugal cord-cutters.
Score: 4/5