Sling TV Alternatives: Best Options for Every Budget

The best Sling TV alternatives are Philo if you want an even cheaper entertainment package, free apps like Pluto TV, Tubi and Sling’s own Freestream if you want to pay nothing, and YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo or DirecTV Stream if you are ready to pay more for local channels, unlimited DVR and more screens. The right pick depends on which of Sling’s limits bothers you most.

This guide works backwards from Sling’s weak spots so you can find a replacement that actually fixes them, using prices available at the time of writing.

What Sling TV does well, and where it falls short

Sling Orange and Sling Blue each cost around $45.99 a month at the time of writing, and the combined Orange & Blue plan is around $60.99. That keeps Sling among the cheapest paid live TV services with ESPN or major cable news. Sling does not offer a traditional free trial, but its free Freestream tier lets you test the app.

The common complaints are:

• Few local channels: ABC, FOX and NBC are available only in select markets, and there is no CBS.
• Stream limits: Orange allows one stream at a time; Blue allows three.
• Small DVR: 50 hours are included, and unlimited storage costs extra (around $5 a month).
• Split lineup: ESPN sits on Orange while many news and entertainment channels sit on Blue, so you may need both.

For a detailed look at the two plans, see our Sling Orange vs Blue breakdown, and for how Sling stacks up against IPTV, read IPTV vs Sling TV.

Sling TV alternatives at a glance

Prices are approximate, exclude taxes and fees, and change often. Check each provider’s site before subscribing.

Cheaper than Sling: Philo and free TV

Philo

Philo Essential costs around $25 a month for 70+ live channels, including many AMC, A&E, Discovery and Paramount networks, plus a seven-day free trial and unlimited DVR storage kept for a year. Philo Bundle+ (around $33) adds HBO Max Basic with ads, AMC+ and Discovery+. The catch: no ESPN, no major sports and no locals.

Free streaming services

If you mostly leave the TV on for news, reruns and movies, free ad-supported apps go a long way. Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus and Sling Freestream all offer live channel grids at no cost. Our roundup of free live TV streaming apps covers what each one carries.

More complete than Sling: full live TV packages

If you are tired of patching holes, a full package costs more but removes most of the compromises:

1. YouTube TV: around $82.99 for 100+ channels including locals, unlimited DVR and three streams. Its genre plans start lower if you want fewer channels.
2. Hulu + Live TV: around $89.99 for 95+ channels with locals, unlimited DVR, the Hulu library and ESPN Unlimited.
3. Fubo: sports-heavy lineup, large DVR and up to 10 streams at home on its main plans.
4. DirecTV Stream: from around $89.99 (Entertainment) and around $94.99 for Choice, which adds regional sports networks.

Moving from Sling to one of these roughly doubles the monthly bill, so make sure the extras are things you will use.

Add an antenna instead of switching

Often the cheapest fix for Sling’s missing locals is an over-the-air antenna. It picks up ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS in HD for a one-time cost. Combine it with Sling Orange or Blue and you cover most of what a $80+ package offers. Our guide to local channels without cable explains the options.

Where IPTV fits

IPTV subscriptions are another route some households compare with Sling, usually for a yearly flat fee and a much larger channel list. IPTV technology is legal, but not every provider holds the rights to what it streams, so check the service carefully and follow local law. Our guide on how to subscribe to IPTV safely covers the warning signs.

If you want to compare an IPTV option, our own plan, IPTV Journal, costs $89 for 12 months and runs on devices many Sling users already own, such as Fire TV, Android TV boxes and smart TVs.

Which Sling TV alternative should you choose?

• Lowest bill: Philo, or free apps if you can live with ads.
• Need locals: keep Sling and add an antenna, or move to YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
• Big sports fan: Fubo or DirecTV Stream Choice for regional sports.
• Large household: a service with more simultaneous streams than Sling Orange’s single stream.

FAQ

What is cheaper than Sling TV?

Philo Essential is around $25 a month, which is cheaper than Sling Orange or Blue. Free services like Pluto TV, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus and Sling Freestream cost nothing. None of these include ESPN, so sports fans may still need Sling Orange.

Does Sling TV have a free trial?

Sling does not currently offer a traditional free trial on its paid plans. You can use the free Sling Freestream tier to try the app and its interface before paying for Orange or Blue.

Which Sling alternative includes local channels?

YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream include local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in most markets. Philo has no locals. An antenna adds locals to any service for a one-time cost.

Is Philo a good replacement for Sling?

Philo is a good replacement if you watch entertainment, reality and lifestyle channels. It is not a good replacement if you need ESPN, other sports networks or cable news like CNN. Check the channel list against what you watch on Sling.

Can I watch ESPN without Sling?

Yes. ESPN is available on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream and through ESPN’s own streaming service. Our ESPN guides compare the cheapest options at the time of writing.