Sling TV Packages, Channels, Pricing, and More

With just shy of 2.2 million subscribers, Sling TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services available. It's easy to see why. With a lower starting price than most competitors, it offers more options for streamers who want to pick and choose their channel lineups. On Sling, you can watch a trimmed-down selection of your favorite sports, news, and entertainment channels or combine packages for an experience that's closer to cable.

Curious if Sling TV is right for you? Read on to learn everything you need to know about Sling's packages, channels, pricing, and more. 

How does Sling TV work?

Sling TV serves as a replacement for your cable service. You can choose from three different streaming plans and customizable add-ons to create a complete channel lineup of your choice. This wide range of options and more flexible pricing set Sling apart from such competitors as Philo. And, unlike cable, you pay only a monthly subscription fee with no long-term contract — meaning you can cancel at any time. 

You can also access your Sling subscription and stream live and on-demand shows and movies from most Apple, Android, and Roku devices, along with many web browsers and smart TVs.

How much does Sling TV cost? 

Sling TV starts at just $35/mo., which is more affordable than many of the other live TV streaming services. There are three different plans: Orange, Blue, and Orange & Blue. Both the Orange and Blue plans cost $35/mo. without any add-ons, while the Orange & Blue plan, which combines all the benefits of both plans, costs $50/mo.

You can also customize your Sling TV plan with several optional add-ons that range in cost from $5/mo. to $21/mo. There's even a Sling Free plan that offers a limited amount of live and on-demand titles, such as That Girl, Heartland, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and more.

Sling occasionally offers promos that get you a discount off your first few months or similar deals. There is not currently a Sling free trial advertised, but you can occasionally find one when signing up.

What top channels does Sling TV have?

Each of the Sling TV plans comes with its own channel lineup. Many popular channels are available across all three plans, including CNN, Food Network, HGTV, History Channel, Lifetime, TNT, Travel Channel, and more.

Some channels are only available on either the Orange or Blue plan. For example, Bravo, Discovery Channel, E!, FS1, FX, and NFL Network are just a handful of channels available on the Blue plan. The Orange plan offers exclusive channels as well, including Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, and more. The Orange & Blue plan includes all channels available on the other two plans.

What add-ons for premium channels and extras does Sling TV have? 

Sling TV allows subscribers to customize their plans with many optional add-ons. They range in price from just $5/mo. for their DVR Plus add-on to $21/mo. for their Total TV Deal that combines all of their extras in one discounted add-on.

What about local networks on Sling TV? 

Sling TV boasts that it's one of the few live TV streaming services that don't make you pay for local channels. And while it's true that Sling TV doesn't charge extra for local channels, they aren't exactly free, either. To watch local channels with your Sling TV subscription, you'll have to pair it with an HD antenna, which is sold separately. However, Fox and NBC are available for streaming in select markets.

Is Sling TV worth it?

Sling TV is one of the top live TV streaming services, and it has a lower price tag than most of its competitors. Its package options and wide range of add-ons also make it an appealing choice for many cord-cutters. At just $35/mo., it's easy to give Sling Orange or Sling Blue a try, even without a free trial.

If you prefer a larger channel lineup with more DVR storage and more straightforward packages and pricing, though, Sling may not be for you. Especially if you're leaning toward the more expensive Orange & Blue plan, it might simply be worth it to upgrade to one of the more expensive live TV streaming services, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV or fuboTV, which have a larger channel lineup and more features.