When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
DirecTV Stream has emerged as one of the best live TV streaming services on the market, thanks in no small part to its robust channel selection and new skinny genre package offerings.
We tested DirecTV Stream for weeks on several devices, including a Samsung TV, iPhone, and MacBook. Our comprehensive testing process evaluates channel lineups, on-demand offerings, user interface, DVR capabilities, and overall user-friendliness.
We’ll break down absolutely everything you need to know about DirecTV Stream, including a cost overview, a roundup of supported devices, and a brief comparison to similar live TV streaming services. Most importantly, we’ll outline whether it’s worth it to subscribe.
DirecTV Stream
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
What is DirecTV Stream?
Originally known as AT&T TV (which replaced AT&T Now), DirecTV Stream spun off into its own entity in 2021. If the name wasn’t already a giveaway, it’s DirecTV’s streaming counterpart. The streamer offers a similar experience to cable, but it most notably has a no-commitment, month-to-month structure for its plans, so subscribers can cancel anytime without being locked into a long-term contract with penalties. This also means that you can get most of the perks of cable without any equipment, like a cable box or satellite.
It’s important to note that DirecTV Stream does also have longterm plans through its regular DirecTV website, which offer a reduced monthly rate in exchange for a two-year commitment. We’ve tested the month-to-month Entertainment option and the review below will evaluate that.
How much is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers three signature month-to-month plans ranging from $86.99/month to $129.99/month. These options serve as genre-spanning cable alternatives. The streaming service also just introduced new genre packs, which focus on a special package of channels pegged to popular genres like sports and entertainment. Genre packs cost anywhere from $34.99/month to $69.99/month. All plans have unlimited Cloud DVR. Below, you can find a breakdown of each plan’s cost and minimum number of channels.
What channels come with the DirecTV Stream signature plans?
DirecTV Stream offers pretty much every major channel out there, and it’s just a matter of choosing the right plan and/or add-on. We’ve yet to find a pesky blackout, although you might have to subscribe to the highest tier of the service to get some of the more niche offerings.
DirecTV Stream Entertainment is the service’s original base plan. Plans include at least 90 live channels, including pretty much everything you’d find in a basic cable package, including broad local channel coverage (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS), ESPN, FS1, CNN, and TNT, among other channels.
DirecTV Stream Choice is the next step up and a great way to get extra sports channels, like the NFL Network, Golf Channel, NBA TV, and MLB Network, in addition to others. Most notably, Choice carries college sports and regional sports networks. Choice comes with at least 125 live channels, including everything already available in the Entertainment tier.
The service’s highest tier, DirecTV Stream Ultimate, lives up to its title. The plan includes everything you’d find in Entertainment and Choice, plus extra sports offerings and other niche channels, like the NHL Network and STARZ Encore channels. All in all, it offers a whopping 160+ live channels.
DirecTV Stream
What channels come with the DirecTV Stream genre packs?
MySports was DirecTV Stream’s first foray into genre packages. The package comes with 25+ sports channels, from basics like ESPN and TNT to niche offerings like the ACC and SEC Networks. While the lineup also includes a few non-sports channels — like CNN, NBC, and Fox News — it has almost all of the sports essentials found in DirecTV Stream’s more expensive packages. However, local channel coverage varies by region. While FOX and NBC are fairly widespread, ABC is only available in select regions, and CBS appears to be missing from the lineup altogether right now. The plan also comes with access to ESPN+ thrown in.
MyEntertainment’s 40+ channel lineup focuses on entertainment and lifestyle options. Channels include hit cable offerings like Bravo, FX, TLC, and more. The pack also includes the Disney Duo Basic bundle, which unlocks ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu at no extra cost.
MyNews has just 10+ key news channels from a variety of popular cable networks, including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Like MyEntertainment, MyNews offers select local channels, but these vary from region to region (FOX and NBC are available in most, ABC varies, and CBS is largely unavailable).
MiEspañol is DirecTV Stream’s Spanish-language pack. The package offers 50 to 60+ channels, including key networks like ESPN Deportes, TUDN, Telemundo, and CNN En Español.
DirecTV Stream add-ons
DirecTV Stream has several add-ons available, including the Sports Pack and Movies Extra Pack for their signature plans. While these niche channels are included in higher tiers, they’re great add-ons to the Entertainment tier.
The genre packs also have add-ons. MySports subscribers can tack on the MySports Extra, while any genre pack subscriber can add on MyCinema.
People can also subscribe to external streaming services through their DirecTV Stream subscription. The available add-ons include Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, STARZ, MGM+, Cinemax, Peacock Premium, AMC+, Discovery+, Fox Nation, ALLBLK, Acorn TV, BET+, MLS Season Pass, and NBA League Pass, among others. You can check out the DirecTV Stream add-ons page for more information.
Does DirecTV Stream have a free trial?
All DirecTV Stream plans offer a five-day free trial. This option is only for new subscribers. You’ll still need to input your credit card and billing info, but you won’t be charged as long as you cancel within those five days. The service also occasionally has other introductory offers, like discounts on the first few months of Choice and Ultimate.
Can I watch DirecTV Stream for free?
Beyond the free trial for the paid subscriptions, DirecTV Stream also has a free plan, MyFree DirecTV. It’s the service’s FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) option that offers 90+ channels. While you won’t find key networks like ESPN or CNN here, it’s a great option for niche offerings (or for those just looking to have something on the TV). Some of the MyFree DirecTV channels include Court TV, ABC News Live, T2, and True Crime Now. You just need to create an account and download the app to get started, but there’s no credit card required. From there, you’re welcome to upgrade to a paid package, but you can also just stick with the free option forever.
How do I watch DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream is compatible with various devices. We’ve outlined some of the most common ones below, but you can consult DirecTV’s website for a full list of compatible devices, models, and versions. For example, Apple iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches must run version 14+, and versions 13 and below cannot use the DirecTV app. Currently, DirecTV Stream is unavailable on gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation.
What is DirecTV Stream like to use?
DirecTV Stream functions a lot like cable, including the signature TV guide. When you open the app — whether on a TV, laptop, or cellphone — it automatically begins playing the most recent channel you’ve watched. You can play programming while you scroll on all devices we tested, an upgrade from most of the service’s live TV streaming counterparts, which usually don’t allow for streaming while scrolling.
While DirecTV Stream’s cellphone app and computer webpage versions have a standard landing page, the TV version of the app doesn’t. Instead, you must click the down button to get to options like Guide, Watch Now, My Library, Sports, and On Demand. These tabs are shown transparently over what you’re watching, so you can still watch programming while you browse (rather than having to click away from your show or have it forced into the corner of your screen while you search).
Lillian Brown/Business Insider
Within the IOS app, it’s a bit harder to navigate to the TV guide than its counterparts. Overall, the TV guide and navigation are a little bit less intuitive than some of DirecTV Stream’s competitors, but the above perks offset this. Plus, it’s something that you eventually get used to, but it might just be a bit jarring the first few times you use the service.
When watching recorded programming, we haven’t noticed any of the playback issues we’ve noted with some other similar streaming services. You can freely fast-forward and rewind without having the content glitch or restart.
Is DirecTV Stream worth it?
DirecTV Stream is definitely worth it. Our team has spent combined years testing live TV streaming services, and DirecTV Stream has the widest channel availability out of all the services we’ve tried. While it might cost a chunk of change to get you there, you can access pretty much any cable channel you can think of (and most outside streaming services) under one service, an asset in a streaming environment that often necessitates subscribing to a dozen different apps separately.
The bottom line
DirecTV Stream is the best cable replacement among the current slate of live TV streaming services. While it has many merits (and a few pitfalls), the robust channel offerings are undeniable and outweigh any hiccups when it comes to the interface. It’s the only live TV streaming service without any major blackouts. Sling TV is missing some local channels, Fubo (despite all of its regional sports offerings) lacks all Warner Bros. channels, Hulu + Live TV omits select cable staples like AMC and NBA TV, and even YouTube TV doesn’t have some of the basics like Lifetime and History.
DirecTV Stream’s starting price point of $86.99/month for its standard Entertainment package might have seemed like a stretch in October 2024 when the service initially hiked its prices and the closest competitors’ starting prices were Fubo at $79.99/month, Hulu + Live TV at $76.99/month, and YouTube TV at $72.99/month. But as of February 2025, all of the direct competitors have raised their prices, with Fubo hitting $84.99/month and both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV bumping up to $82.99/month.
The streamer’s foray into “skinny” genre packs has only bolstered its status as one of the leading live TV streaming services. The same can be said for the robust number of add-on options across all plans. In an era of skyrocketing streaming prices, DirecTV Stream’s new offerings keep consumer choice and personal taste in mind.
Overall, DirecTV Stream offers the most bang for your buck when it comes to channel lineups. While those who cut the cord because of price and don’t mind missing a few channels might want to check out Sling (starting at $45.99/month) or Philo ($28/month), DirecTV Stream is the way to go for those seeking a genuine cable replacement in their month-to-month live TV streaming service.
Interested in learning more about DirecTV Stream? The DirecTV Stream website has a full breakdown of all signature plans, genre packs, add-ons, and more.
Leave a Reply