Sling Orange vs Blue: Which Sling Plan Should You Get?

The short answer to Sling Orange vs Blue: pick Orange if you want ESPN and family channels and watch on one screen at a time; pick Blue if you want more news and entertainment channels, possible local FOX and NBC, and up to three screens at once. Both cost around $45.99 a month at the time of writing, and Orange & Blue together is around $60.99.

Below we break down what actually differs so you can match the plan to how your household watches.

Sling Orange vs Blue at a glance

Channel counts and lineups shift over time. Use Sling’s channel lookup with your zip code for the exact list.

What Sling Orange is best for

Orange is Sling’s sports and family plan. Its main draw is ESPN and ESPN2, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to get ESPN through a live TV service. It also carries Disney Channel and a mix of entertainment and lifestyle channels shared with Blue.

The big limitation is one stream at a time. If two people want to watch different things, Orange will not work. It suits a single viewer or a couple who watch together. If ESPN is your priority, also read our cheapest way to watch ESPN guide, since ESPN now sells its own streaming service too.

What Sling Blue is best for

Blue is the news and entertainment plan. It includes more cable news and general entertainment networks, plus channels like FS1 and the NFL Network that matter to some sports fans. In select markets it also carries local FOX and NBC.

Blue allows three streams at once, which makes it the better choice for households where people watch separately. If you mainly watch cable news, reality and drama networks, Blue usually gives more channels you will use.

When Orange & Blue makes sense

Combining both costs around $60.99, which is cheaper than paying for each separately. It makes sense if you need ESPN and the news and entertainment networks on Blue, and it raises the stream limit to four.

At that price, though, compare it with full live TV services. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV cost more but include CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX in most markets plus unlimited DVR. See our IPTV vs Sling TV comparison and our wider list of live TV options before committing.

Things to know before you subscribe

• No traditional free trial: Sling does not offer one on paid plans, but its free Freestream tier lets you test the app.
• DVR: 50 hours are included; unlimited storage costs around $5 a month extra.
• Locals are limited: pair Sling with an antenna for ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS. Our best indoor TV antenna guide helps.
• Add-ons: extras like sports, news and kids packs cost more and differ between Orange and Blue.

Which plan suits which household?

A few common situations make the choice easier:

• Solo sports fan: Orange covers ESPN, and the single-stream limit will not matter.
• Couple who watches news and dramas together: Blue usually has more of the channels they want.
• Family with kids and teens on separate screens: Blue for three streams, or Orange & Blue for four.
• Mixed household with a sports fan and a news fan: Orange & Blue, or a full live TV service if locals matter too.

If none of these fit, our wider guide to Sling TV alternatives covers cheaper and fuller options. Because Sling is month to month, you can also start with one plan and upgrade later if you find yourself missing channels.

A step-by-step way to decide

1. List the 10 channels you watch most.
2. Check them against Sling’s Orange and Blue lineups for your zip code.
3. Count how many people watch at the same time. More than one? Blue or both.
4. Decide whether ESPN is essential. If yes, Orange or both.
5. Check whether you need locals and whether an antenna works at your address.
6. Compare your final monthly total with alternatives.

If you are also considering an IPTV subscription, remember that IPTV is legal technology but only licensed providers can stream channels legally. Our own plan, IPTV Journal, is 12 months for $89, and it is worth comparing on channel rights, support and devices, not only price.

Which Sling plan should you choose?

Choose Orange for ESPN on a single screen, Blue for news, entertainment and up to three screens, and Orange & Blue only if you truly need channels from both. Add an antenna to whichever you choose and you cover most of what cable used to deliver.

FAQ

Is Sling Orange or Blue better?

Neither is better overall. Orange is better for ESPN and single-screen viewing, while Blue is better for news, entertainment and households that need up to three streams. Match the plan to your must-have channels.

Does Sling Orange have local channels?

Generally no. Sling Blue carries local FOX and NBC in select markets, and ABC is available in a limited number of markets. An antenna is the simplest way to add locals to either plan.

How many devices can watch Sling at once?

Orange allows one stream at a time, Blue allows three, and Orange & Blue allows four at the time of writing. Each stream counts whether you are at home or away.

Can I switch between Orange and Blue?

Yes. Sling is month to month, so you can change plans from your account settings. The change usually applies from your next billing cycle, so check the terms when you switch.

Is Sling Orange & Blue worth it?

It can be if you need ESPN plus Blue’s news and entertainment networks. At around $60.99, compare it with YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, which cost more but include locals and unlimited DVR.

Part of our guides: USA streaming guide