Sling TV Cost: How to Save the Most in 2024
There are a ton of streaming services and deals available these days, and while considering live TV streaming options can help to narrow your choices down, there are still plenty to compare to find the best option. One that might not be on your radar, though, is Sling TV. If you're looking for a streaming option that offers affordable prices, access to sports, and isn't overwhelming in its offerings, keep reading for all the details.
Top Sling TV Deal
SlingTV Subscriptions
Store: Sling TV
Price: From $20 for your first month
That's right, you can snag your first month of Sling TV for just $20 if you sign up now. Choose from the Orange or Blue plans — which both start around $20 and include different channels so you'll want to opt for the one that suits your tastes. Orange includes 35 channels, with ESPN and the Disney Channel, while Blue includes 45 channels with local ABC, Fox, and NBC news channels. Note that prices may vary by area.
Other Top Streaming Deals
Paramount+ Free Trial
Store: Paramount+
Price: Free 7-day trial
Take advantage of this free 7-day trial of Paramount+ and check out all the spooky offerings it has lined up for the month. (You can watch other, boring stuff too, but we say embrace the scare!) You'll have 7 days to get hooked, after which you'll be charged $7.99 per month for Paramount+ Essential or $12.99 per month for Paramount+ with Showtime; if somehow you aren't hooked, you can also cancel to avoid being charged.
Curious about the other Paramount Plus deals available? Be sure to check out our extensive coverage.
Instacart+ w/ Peacock Premium Membership
Store: Instacart+
Price: Free 2-week trial
Get a two-week trial of Instcart+ for free and while you're at it, enjoy access to a free trial of Peacock Premium. Instacart+ brings you free delivery on orders over $35, lower service fees, and more, while Peacock ensures you have plenty of entertainment to enjoy with your Instacart order, including things like live IndyCart races, PGA Tour golf, Premier League soccer, WWE events, and of course tons of TV show and movies. If you decide to keep the service, Instacart+ will set you back $99 for the year or $9.99 per month, but Peacock will still be included at no additional charge.
Peacock Premium Student Offer
Store: Peacock
Price: $1.99 per month for 12 months
Students will need to verify their status via SheerID first, but once you do, you can enjoy Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month for the first 12 months. You'll save $48 overall and have plenty of time to explore what Peacock has to offer to decide whether or not you'll continue your subscription afterwards.
Looking for other Peacock deals? We've got you covered!
Sling TV Pricing
How Much Is Sling TV?
Sling TV can be a bit tricky when it comes to prices. Unlike other services that have one price across the board, Sling TV's prices are determined not just by which plan you choose, but also by your location. For instance, in some zip codes you may see the regular monthly prices for the Orange plan as $40, the Blue plan as $40, and both for $55. However, other zip codes could see things like Orange for $40 per month, Blue for $45 per month, and both for $60 per month. Basically what that means is that pricing can vary and may even be based on if you're a new customer or a returning one. Keep this in mind when you start investigating your Sling TV options — maybe even use incognito browser sessions to see if you can get a better deal.
Sling TV Packages
As noted above, Sling TV makes things a bit easier by essentially offering two plans: Orange and Blue. And if you can't decide between those two, then you can bundle them to get the total package. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:
Package | Number of Channels | Notable Channels | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Sling Orange | 35 channels | ESPN, Disney, Freeform, ESPN4K, ESPN2, ESPN 3, Motortrend | From $40 per month |
Sling Blue | 43 channels | MSNBC, Bravo, NFL Network, FS1 4K, FX, USA, Discovery, TLC, SyFy | From $40 per month |
Sling Orange & Blue | 46 channels | A&E, AMC, BBC America, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, HGTV, MGM+ Drive-In | From $55 per month |
It's important to remember that pricing — and perhaps even channel availability — may vary by your location, so be sure to be thorough in your comparisons to ensure you're getting a good deal not just in price, but in entertainment offerings, too.
Sling TV FAQs
What Is Sling TV?
If you've made it this far and are still wondering "what is Sling TV", then here you go: It's a live TV streaming service that allows you to watch on-demand movies, live TV shows, and live sports on a wide variety of devices.
Sling TV Add-Ons
If the basic Sling TV plans aren't enough for you, the good news is that Sling offers some add-on packages. The bad news is that of course, it's going to cost you. But it could be well worth it since Sling TV add-ons offer true customization to build your perfect plan. These start at just $6 per month, but you can see the full breakdown below. Note that each add-on can vary a bit by plan.
Add-Ons | Monthly Pricing | What It Includes |
---|---|---|
Total TV Deal | $21 per month | Sports Extra, Kids Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, Entertainment Extra, Hollywood Extra, Heartland Extra, and DVR Plus |
4 Extras Deal | $13 per month | Kids Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, and Comedy Extra |
Sports Extra | $11 per month | 12 channels (Orange), 10 channels (Blue) |
Entertainment Extra | $6 per month | 12 channels (Orange), 11 channels (Blue) |
Kids Extra | $6 per month | 6 channels (Orange), 4 channels (Blue) |
News Extra | $6 per month | 8 channels (Orange), 10 channels (Blue) |
Lifestyle Extra | $6 per month | 10 channels (Orange), 11 channels (Blue) |
Hollywood Extra | $6 per month | 8 channels (Orange), 10 channels (Blue) |
Heartland Extra | $6 per month | 12 channels (Orange), 13 channels (Blue) |
Sling TV Premium Channels
In addition to the aforementioned add-ons, Sling TV also offers a selection of Premiums in the form of more than 25 packages. These include the following:
- Paramount Plus with Showtime for $10 per month
- Starz for $10.99 per month
- MGM+ for $5 per month
- AMC+ for $8.99 per month
- discovery+ for $4.99 per month
- discovery+ (Ad Free) for $8.99 per month
- Acorn for $7.99 per month
- ALLBLK for $5.99 per month
- BET+ for $10.99 per month
- Carnegie Hall+ for $7.99 per month
- CineFest for $5 per month
- Cocina On for $3 per month
- Comedy Dynamics for $5 per month
- CONtv for $5 per month
- Curiosity Stream for $4.99 per month
- Docurama for $5 per month
- DOGTV for $5 per month
- Dove Channel for $5 per month
- DOX for $3 per month
- FlixLatino for $3.99 per month
- Gallery for $5 per month
- Grokker for $7 per month
- Hallmark Movies Now for $7.99 per month
- Here TV for $8 per month
- Hopster for $5 per month
- IFC Films Unlimited for $6 per month
- Kartoon Channel! for $4 per month
- Magnolia Selects for $5 per month
- Monsters and Nightmares for $3 per month
- Outside TV Features for $4.99 per month
- ScreamFlix for $3 per month
- Shudder for $6.99 per month
- Sundance Now for $7 per month
- Tastemade+ for $3 per month
- True Royalty TV for $6 per month
- UP Faith and Family for $5 per month
- ViX Premium for $6.99 per month
- Warriors and Gangsters for $3 per month
Sling Cloud DVR
Sling TV has a couple of options for DVR. All subscribers automatically receive 50 hours of free DVR storage, but you can increase that to 200 hours of storage by adding DVR+ to your chosen plan for just $5 per month. Sling TV's DVR doesn't require any extra equipment — everything is saved on the cloud instead of a box that sits in your home.
It's important to note that there are some exclusions to being able to record anything with Sling TV. You won't be able to record from the following channels:
- Local Now
- ESPN3
- ACC Network Extra
- SEC Network+
Which Devices Are Compatible With Sling TV?
If you're curious about how you can watch Sling TV, the good news is that there's a wide range of compatible devices. Select TVs and streaming media players, phones and computers, and gaming consoles should all be able to stream Sling TV through the app. Here are the specifics you need to know.
TVs and Players
AirTV Mini: This device is from Sling, so of course it's perfect to stream whichever Sling TV plan and add-ons you choose. You simply need to plug it into an HDMI port and then activate your Sling TV account in order to watch all your favorites. Plus, if you add an AirTV Anywhere or an AirTV 2 and an OTA antenna, you can get free local channels integrated into your Sling channel guide.
Amazon Echo Show: You'll need an Echo Show 8, 10, or 15 in order to watch Sling, but if you have one of those, setup is simple. Just search for the Sling TV app and click download. Once you have all that set up, you can even use Alexa voice commands to launch the Sling app.
Amazon Fire: Much like the Echo Show devices above, you can search for the Sling TV app on your Amazon Fire TV Stick and download it. Once that's taken care of, you can also use Alexa voice commands to launch the Sling app from your Fire TV Stick for convenience.
Android TV and Google TV: You'll need to set up your Android or Google TV (or other Android device) and then search for the Sling TV app in the Google Play Store. From there, you'll need to install it, and then enjoy watching your Sling TV lineup at your leisure.
Apple TV: You'll have to download the Sling TV app from the App Store, then launch it. From there, you should be able to start streaming your favorites based on your Sling TV plan.
Chromecast: Like other devices, your first step with a Chromecast device is going to be to download the Sling TV app, but in this case, it needs to be on the device you'll be casting to. Then just ensure you're on the same WiFi network as your chosen screen and stream away!
Cox: You'll need the Contour Stream Player, but if you have that, you can download the Sling TV app and stream all your favorites from your plan.
Google Nest: The Google TV Nest Hub is a smart display that allows you to control compatible smart devices with a tap or your voice. You can also watch everything in your Sling plan's lineup when you install the Sling TV app.
LG: LG smart TVs are ready out of the box for things like Sling TV. Once you connect it to the internet, the Sling app should appear on your WebOS launcher bar and you're ready to watch.
Roku: If you have a Roku TV or device, you just need to search for the Sling TV app, download it, and log in. From there you can start watching all your Sling plan has to offer.
Samsung: Samsung smart TVs actually come preloaded with Sling TV, so all you have to do is ensure you're connected to the internet. Then open My Apps, click on the Sling TV app icon, and you're ready to stream.
TiVo Stream: If you have a TiVo 4K Stream device, then you already have Sling downloaded. You'll need to go to the TiVo account page to find instructions to get connected to Sling, but once your account is linked, you're good to go!
Vizio: With your Vizio smart TV, you'll need to sign in to the Sling TV app, but when you do, you'll be ready to stream all the goodness your Sling plan has to offer.
Xfinity: You'll need an Xfinity Flex streaming TV Box or X1 TV Box, but if you have either of those, you just have to download the Sling TV app and log in to your account. From there, you're ready to watch.
Phones and Computers
Amazon Fire Tablets: Much like other Amazon Fire TV devices, you'll want to first download the Sling TV app to your Fire tablet. Then you can open it up and stream all your favorites when you're ready. You can also use Alexa to launch the app on your device with your voice.
Android Mobile: If you have a device that uses Android OS, you need to set it up first. But after that you can download the Sling TV app and then log into your account. From there, you're ready to watch.
Chrome: While you can watch Sling from Chromecast devices, you can also watch Sling TV from a Chrome browser too. You don't have to do anything except navigate to the Sling website and then sign in to watch right from your browser.
iOS: You'll need iOS 11 or later on your devices in order to get Sling support. But as long as you have that, you can download the Sling TV app from the App Store. Then launch it and start streaming!
Safari: Make sure your browser is up to date, then just sign in to the Sling website and start watching all your favorites.
Gaming Consoles
Xbox Series X and S: You'll need to navigate to the Xbox Marketplace and download the Sling TV app. Then you just need to log in, and you're ready to watch!
How Does Sling TV Compare to Other Streaming Services?
Service | Cost | Number of channels |
---|---|---|
Sling TV | From $40 per month | 46+ channels |
DirecTV Stream | From $94.98 per month | 185+ channels |
Fubo | From $79.99 per month | 350+ channels |
Hulu + Live TV | From $76.99 per month | 95+ channels |
Philo | $28 per month | 70+ channels |
YouTube TV | From $72.99 per month | 100+ channels |
Xfinity Streamsaver | From $15 per month | Up to 185+ channels |
What Are the Pros of Sling TV?
These will obviously be subjective — some features of Sling TV could be huge for some users, while others might not care as much. So take these as they are and consider them within your own scope of needs.
Affordable prices. Overall, even with both packages, Sling TV is one of the more affordable streaming services available, especially when you consider it offers sports coverage and live programming that other standard streaming platforms often don't. And if you can get a discount on your first month (or even longer), that's just more points in its favor.
Customizable add-ons. Sling TV might seem like it's a bit basic, but the fact that you can essentially create your own lineup is a big plus. Add-on packages make it easy to customize your plan so that you're getting exactly what you want and less of the filler channels that others may offer. If you were overwhelmed by cable, this should make you breathe a sigh of relief.
No contracts. Thankfully, Sling TV isn't going to lock you into any contracts. So if you do get a free trial and decide you want to keep it, only to rethink that decision a couple of months later, you can easily cancel with no penalty.
Special offers. Occasionally Sling TV offers discounts, free trials, and other promotions to entice new users. That means things like saving 50% on your first month or getting a month of DVR PLUS for free — those kinds of things. This means getting to try out different features for less, or even for free, before deciding if you want to pony up the cash to keep them going.
No decision fatigue. Between the fact that there are a ton of streaming services and that each of those can offer multiple plans, it's refreshing to see Sling basically give you two options: Orange or Blue, and if you want it all, you get them both at a discounted rate. That simplifies the whole process of signing up immensely, and with the option to include add-ons, even if neither Orange or Blue speaks to you, you can still get a pretty perfect lineup.
What Are the Cons of Sling TV?
Like the pros, some of these may be deal-breakers for select users, while others can shake it off like they're nothing.
Channel lineups. So Sling TV offers a decent amount of channel options, with Orange offering 35 channels and Blue offering 43 channels. But the lineup might change based on your area, so you might find that you're missing some key channels you were really hoping to have access to. And while the add-ons can definitely help, in some cases it might not be enough.
Lack of unlimited DVR storage. Sure, you might be able to get a promotion that gives you a month of DVR PLUS for free (it's normally $5 per month as an add-on), but it still only provides you with 200 hours of recordings. And if you opt for the free tier, you get 50 hours. While some users might not care about DVR, knowing that some alternatives provide more DVR options can drop Sling down the list of possibilities.
Add-ons add to the cost. Okay, so this one isn't a surprise. The name of the game is Add-Ons, so of course to add them on, you're going to incur additional costs. The problem with that is if you find yourself adding on a lot of packages, you're driving up the cost of Sling TV to the point where it might be a better move to check out the other options that are out there.
Murky pricing in some cases. As we've addressed somewhat already, the pricing for Sling TV can be a bit hard to discern. The price you see will likely be dependent on your zip code, which means a friend could get a great deal and you... might not. On top of that, free trials can also be murky, in that sometimes they're available but sometimes they aren't. And if you do find one, the length of said trial can also be murky, so it can be difficult to know how long you're getting to try Sling for free.
How to Cancel Sling TV
While Sling is an affordable streaming service in the wide world of entertainment streaming options, that doesn't mean you'll always be happy with it. Maybe you need to save some cash, or maybe you don't get the same enjoyment out of it that you did before; either way, when you need to cancel Sling TV, here's what to do.
If you want to cancel your Sling TV subscription, you just need to log in to your account and head to your dashboard. Once there, you can follow the on-screen instructions to finish canceling your service. After that, you'll receive a confirmation email.
One thing to note is that if you don't want to cancel your subscription, but would rather pause it, that's an option too! You can find instructions for pausing here, and you can pause your subscription for up to three months.
If you're cancelling or pausing to save money, consider giving Sling Freestream a try. You'll be able to stream more than 500 channels of news, movies, and shows completely for free. You'll also receive the free tier of DVR and you could even win cash just for watching your favorites.
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