YouTube TV vs DirecTV: Which Live TV Streaming Service is Better? - Global Trends, Breaking News & Viral Updates

YouTube TV vs DirecTV: Packages, Prices and Channels

YouTube TV and DirecTV offer a wide variety of plans, including all-inclusive packages with local channels (ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS) and national networks, as well as more affordable genre-specific packages.

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Short answer: DirecTV wins this battle.. DirecTV offers more packages and better channel availability. YouTube TV lacks A&E, Lifetime, History Channel and Vice, and most importantly, regional sports network (RSN) coverage that could compete with DirecTV. DirecTV has all the major channels and the best RSN coverage in the industry.

For more details, here’s a full overview of all the packages offered by both services and their costs.

Note. All prices are full price, although both services often offer significant discounts for new subscribers.

YouTube TV packages and prices

YouTube TV Basic Plan ($82.99 per month): Over 100 channels, including all local and national networks including ESPN, TBS, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Also includes sports channels such as NBA TV and NFL Network.
Sports Plan ($64.99 per month): Over 30 channels, including local networks, RSNs (in select markets), and national sports channels such as ESPN, FS1, TBS and NBA TV.
Entertainment Plan ($54.99 per month): Major cable entertainment networks such as HGTV, Bravo, ID and Discovery, as well as local networks, for a total of more than 60 channels.
Sports + News Plan ($71.99 per month): Everything included in the Sports plan, plus national news networks such as CNN, CNBC, Fox News and MSNBC.
News + Entertainment + Family Plan ($69.99 per month): Most of YouTube TV, excluding sports channels.
Sports + News + Entertainment ($77.99 per month): Almost all YouTube TV channels, except some family channels.

DirecTV packages and prices

Entertainment ($89.99/month): Over 90 channels including local, sports, entertainment and family channels. Also includes ESPN Unlimited, Disney+ and Hulu.
Choice ($94.99/month): Over 125 channels. All to choose from, plus additional national sports channels and RSNs (regional sports fee applies).
Ultimate ($124.99/month): Over 160 channels. Everything to choose from, plus additional movie and entertainment channels.
Premier ($169.99/month): Over 185 channels. Everything in Ultimate, plus premium networks including streaming services HBO Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ and Cinemax.
MyEntertainment ($42.99/month): Over 60 channels, including most major entertainment networks such as FX, Bravo, A&E and HGTV. Also includes HBO Max, AMC+, Disney+ and Hulu.
MySports ($64.99 per month): Over 20 channels, including local and major national sports networks such as ESPN, TNT, MLB Network and NFL Network. Also includes ESPN Unlimited.
MyNews ($44.99 per month): Over 10 channels, including national news networks such as Fox News, CNN, CNBC and MSNBC, as well as local channels.
MyKids ($20.99 per month): Over 20 channels, including kids’ channels like Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. Also includes Disney+.

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EDGE: DirectTV

YouTube TV vs DirecTV: Interface, DVR and Additional Features

While the service offerings are similar, the way you access content on DirecTV and YouTube TV differs significantly. DirecTV’s interface is more similar to that of traditional cable networks, which means it’s more familiar, but a little dated. On the other hand, YouTube TV’s interface looks more like a modern streaming app. YouTube TV still has the traditional live TV guide view, but overall it’s more streamlined, cleaner, and better looking than DirecTV.

Both DirecTV and YouTube TV also offer multi-viewing for watching different channels at the same time without switching between channels. DirecTV offers seven curated multi-channel channels, including sports, news, business and local networks. YouTube TV improves multi-channel viewing with a feature that lets you mix and match virtually every channel on your plan.

Both services also offer cloud DVR, but their capabilities are very different. YouTube TV subscribers get unlimited cloud DVR and recordings are stored for nine months. DirecTV subscribers only get 20 hours of recordings (unless you pay an extra fee), and recordings expire after 90 days.

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Another important feature to consider when subscribing to a live TV streaming service is the number of simultaneous streams allowed. Anyone who has family or roommates who share a streaming service account has encountered the “too many users” screen. DirecTV offers unlimited streams on one Wi-Fi network and three on different ones. YouTube TV limits the number of streams on the same Wi-Fi to three unless you pay for the 4K Plus add-on. YouTube TV allows you to create multiple profiles on one account, which opens up more simultaneous streams, although it’s still not as generous as DirecTV.

While DirecTV is a little more generous with simultaneous streaming, YouTube TV still wins this round thanks to its simple and straightforward interface, better multi-channel functionality, and significantly better DVR capabilities.

EDGE: YouTube TV

YouTube TV vs DirecTV: Additional Streaming Services

These days, many streaming services (especially live TV streamers) are actually packages with other services included. DirecTV is one of them, offering free additional streaming services on almost every plan. All of their Signature plans (comparable to the basic YouTube TV plan) include ESPN Unlimited, Hulu, and Disney+. Their MyEntertainment Genre Pack and Premier packages include HBO Max, and their MySports Genre Pack also includes ESPN Unlimited. In short, you get very significant added value no matter which plan you choose.

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However, YouTube TV does not include third-party streamers (no add-ons) in its plans. However, this could change, but for now DirecTV packages are much better than YouTube TV packages.

EDGE: DirectTV

Verdict: Is DirecTV or YouTube TV better?

To summarize, here’s how DirecTV and YouTube TV compare to each other:

DirecTV: More packages, better channel availability, and free third-party streaming services, but a worse interface.
YouTube TV: Great interface, multi-view feature, more DVRs and other features. However, channel availability (while excellent) isn’t as extensive as DirecTV, and you won’t get third-party streamers without purchasing add-ons.

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DirecTV is the best streaming service if you’re looking for the best channel availability and content lineup, but YouTube TV is better if you’re looking for experiences and features. Luckily, both of these services offer a free trial. Get a five-day free trial of DirecTV here and a 21-day free trial of YouTube TV here to try both options.

get a free trial on DirectV

get a free trial on YouTube TV

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