Sling TV Review 2020: Packages, Pricing, Channels

Sling TV Review

Sling TV is an online streaming video service. The company is a subsidiary of DISH Network. This service is entirely separate from the DISH Network satellite TV service. Unlike the satellite version, Sling TV is a no-contract live TV streaming service that delivers live television through your internet connection to devices such as computers, tablets, smartphones, or streaming devices. It requires no installation, there are no extra fees, and you can cancel anytime.

Sling TV is arguably the number one choice of cord-cutters. This streaming service is one of the least expensive live TV services before any discounts or promotions. Subscribers have the option to choose between different channel packages that contain the most popular TV channels such as AMC, Comedy Central, ESPN, HGTV, Disney, and more. Sling TV regularly offers promotions on free streaming devices players too. The service has appeal to all different types of cord-cutters.

Sling TV Packages and Pricing

Subscribers can choose from up to three different plans: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Orange + Blue. They also offer nine different a-la-carte add-on packs, as well as, Latino and International programming and premium channel options. At the time of this review, Sling TV is offering a limited time 1-year price guarantee.

Sling TV Channel List

There is a wide range of streaming TV channels to choose from. Carefully browse the list below to see which channels are in each streaming packages.

Sling TV Package Add-ons

Total TV Deal ($20.00/mo): Cloud DVR Plus, Sports Extra, Kids Extra, Comedy Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, Heartland Extra, Hollywood Extra

Cloud DVR Plus ($5.00/mo): Upgrade to 50 hours, and in addition to more recordable hours, you can protect your favorite recordings from being auto-deleted when your Cloud DVR storage is full. Cloud DVR is available on all Sling-supported platforms except for Comcast

Sports Extra ($10.00/mo): ACC Network, SEC Network, The Longhorn Network, Pac-12, beIN SPORTS, NBA TV, ACC Network Extra, MLB Network, SEC Network+, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Tennis Channel, NHL Network, MLB Network Strikezone, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Bases Loaded, Outside Television

Comedy Extra ($5.00/mo): MTV, truTV, Paramount Network, MTV2, CMT, Logo, Revolt, GSN, TV Land

Kids Extra ($5.00/mo): Disney Junior, Disney XD, Nick Jr., NickToons, TeenNick, Boomerang, BabyTV, ducktv

News Extra ($5.00/mo): BBC World News, NewsMax, HLN, Weather Nation, Euronews, Science Channel, News18, RT America, CGTN, Law & Crime

Lifestyle Extra ($5.00/mo): VH1, BET, Cooking Channel, DIY, FYI, Hallmark Channel, WE TV, Lifetime Movies, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Hallmark Drama, Z Living HD

4 Extras Deal ($12.00/mo): Kids Extra, Comedy Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra

Hollywood Extra ($5.00/mo): REELZ, HDNet Movies, SundanceTV, Cinemoi, Turner Classic Movies

Heartland Extra ($5.00/mo): World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, Pursuit, Great American Country, Outdoor Channel, RIDE TV, American Heroes Network, RFD-TV, Destination America, PixL, The Cowboy Channel

Premium Channel Add-ons for Sling TV

Sling TV offers multiple different premium channel options.

STARZ ($5.00/mo): STARZ, STARZ West, STARZ Edge, STARZ Comedy, STARZ Kids & Family, STARZ Encore
SHOWTIME ($5.00/mo): SHOWTIME®, SHOWTIME® WEST, SHOWTIME® 2, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME® EXTREME, SHOWTIME® BEYOND, SHOWTIME® NEXT, SHOWTIME® WOMEN, SHOWTIME® FAMILY ZONE
EPIX ($5.00/mo): EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX Hits
ACORN ($6.00/mo): Acorn TV
CineFest ($5.00/mo): CineFest
Cinemoi ($3.00/mo): Cinemoi
Cocina On($3.00/mo): Cocina On
Comedy Dynamics ($5.00/mo): Comedy Dymanics
CONtv ($5.00/mo): CONtv
The Country Network ($3.00/mo): The Country Network Plus
CuriosityStream ($3/mo): CuriosityStream
Docurama ($5.00/mo): Docurama
DOGTV ($5.00/mo): DOGTV
Dove Channel ($5.00/mo): Dove Channel
DOX ($3.00/mo): DOX
DrinkTV ($3.00/mo): DrinkTV
Echoboom Sports ($6.00/mo): Echoboom Sports
FlixLatino ($3.00/mo): FlixLatino
Kartoon Channel! ($4.00/mo): Kartoon Channel!
Grokker ($7.00/mo): Grokker
Hallmark Movies Now ($6.00/mo): Hallmark Movies Now
Here TV ($8.00/mo): Here TV
Hi-Yah! ($3.00/mo): Hi-Yah!
Hopster ($5.00/mo): Hopster
UMC ($5.00/mo): UMC
IFC Films Unlimited ($6.00/mo): IFC Films Unlimited
Lion Mountain TV ($3.00/mo): Lion Mountain TV
Magolia Secrets ($5.00/mo): Magolia Secrets
MagellanTV ($5.00/mo): MagellanTV
Monsters & Nightmares ($3.00/mo): Monsters & Nightmares
Outside TV Features ($5.00/mo): Outside TV Features
Pantaya ($6.00/mo): Pantaya
Playkids ($5.00/mo): Playkids
Real Vision ($15.00/mo): Real Vision
Shudder ($6.00/mo): Shudder
Stingray Karaoke ($7.00/mo): Stingray Karaoke
Stingray Qello ($8.00/mo): Stingray Qello
Sundance NOW ($7.00/mo): Sundance NOW
Tastemade+ ($3.00/mo): Tastemade+
Tumblebooks ($5.00/mo): Tumblebooks
True Royalty TV ($6.00/mo): True Royalty TV
Up Faith & Family ($5/mo): UP Faith & Family
VSIN ($4.00/mo): VSiN
Warriors & Gangsters ($3.00/mo): Warriors & Gangsters
Watch It Scream! ($3.00/mo): Watch It Scream!
We TV+ ($6.00/mo): We TV+

International TV Packages

Watching live international television programming has never been easier. International TV is one of Sling TV’s greatest strengths compared to other services.

Subscribers can choose to pay monthly or can pay annually (on some packages). The monthly prices are very inexpensive but the annual plans will save cord cutters 30-50% depending on the language package. These foreign language streaming packages have to be added to the Sling Blue package.

There are 20 different language packages to choose from. Some of the most popular include Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, Polish, and others. We have written comprehensive reviews on all of them:

Devices Compatible With Sling TV

Sling TV is supported by a wide array of devices leaving subscribers with many options. Users have the flexibility to watch their favorite shows and movies in a variety of different ways such as at home on your television or on your phone while you’re on the go. If you don’t have a streaming device, don’t worry, Sling TV regularly offers free streaming devices in exchange for prepaying for a predetermined number of months. Sling works very well on all compatible devices and streams well on older devices too.

Here is a list of compatible devices:

• Amazon Fire Devices: All Amazon Fire TV devices, Fire Tablets on Android OS 4.4.2 or higher, Amazon Fire TV Edition by Element
• Android Tablets and Smartphones: OS KitKat 4.4 or newer
• Android TV: OS KitKat 4.4 or newer, Select Smart TVs – Sharp AQUOS, Sony Bravia, LeEco, AirTV Player, AirTV Mini
• Apple TV: 4th generation Apple TV or newer, tvOS 10.0 and higher
• Google Chrome Browser: Most recent version of Chrome, MAC OS, Windows 7 or 8.1
• Chromebook: Select Chromebook Devices
• Chromecast: All Chromecast devices, Vizio SmartCast TVs
• Google Nest: Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max
• iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch): iOS 11 or newer, iPhone XS, XS Max devices
• LG TV: WebOS 3.0 and higher
• Microsoft Edge Browser: Most recent version of Edge
• Oculus Go: Oculus Go 3.54 or higher
• Portal TV: Portal TV 6.11.967
• Roku: Roku LT and higher, Roku TVs from Hisense and TCL
• Safari Browser: Most recent version of Safari
• Samsung: 2016-2019 Smart TVs
• Windows 10: All Windows 10 computer and enabled deviced
• XBOX: XBOX One, XBOX One S, XBOX One X
• Xfinity X1: International and select Latino services only, Arris Xg1v1, Pace Xg1v1, Pace Xg1v3, Xg1v4, Xi5

Other Sling TV Features and Information

Streams

Sling Orange allows you to stream on one device. Sling Blue allows for three devices. Orange + Blue allows for up to four devices to be streaming concurrently.

DVR

Users get 10 free DVRs with any package but for an extra $5.00/month subscribers can get access to a cloud DVR. This DVR gives users 50 hours of recording space that can be used to record individual episodes, all episodes of a series, or only new episodes of series. Sling currently has one of the worst available hours to record. Cloud DVR functionality isn’t available on SEC Network +, Local Now, ACC Network Extra or ESPN3.

Features

One of the great features is Sling offers parental controls. Users can set a password and it has rating restrictions. You can also search for your shows, but this feature does a poor job sorting results. Another awesome feature is that you can rewind to the beginning of a show if you start late and for recorded shows, you can fast-forward in 30-second increments. They have a great selection of On-Demand content and you get logins for 18 different channel apps with the “TV Anywhere” feature.

Local Channel Restrictions

Like many other services Sling TV has limitations and restrictions depending on where you live and what package you subscribe to. The Sling Orange streaming plan does not include any locals. The Sling Blue package includes Fox and NBC in most major markets. Sling TV does not offer ABC, CBS, Telemundo, The CW, or Univision in any package.

Sling TV Review Conclusion

Sling TV is one of the best streaming services available although it isn’t as strong as it once was. The service allows you to watch live television or on-demand content. One of the best features of this service is “a la carte” style programming which allows users to subscribe to add-on packages based on categories such as sports or children’s programming. This service is one of the most affordable and reliable on the market. Compared to other services users may find the interface to be a bit awkward. Unique to this service is the bountiful international TV streaming packages which allow users to stream foreign TV channels in their native languages. Overall, it is still a great service and at its current price point, we absolutely recommend Sling TV.