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Best Sling TV Alternatives of 2026

Five live TV streaming services compared on monthly price, local channels and DVR, plus free antenna and ad-supported options, for people leaving Sling TV.

By BestGuide Editorial Team, Editorial Team. See their work.Updated October 16, 2026This page was compiled from primary sources: company disclosures and terms, the BBB and regulators. Our ratings method is described on the methodology page.
  • 5 companies compared
  • 12 sources cited
  • Prices checked October 2026
  • How we rate

The cheapest alternative is free: an antenna for local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus ad-supported services like Pluto TV or Sling Freestream. For a paid service, Philo is the lowest price at $25 a month for entertainment channels, and YouTube TV is the best fit if you left Sling for local channels and unlimited DVR. Choose by the channels you watch, then compare the price after any intro offer.

Our top picks
  1. Households replacing cable that want local networks, unlimited DVR and NFL Sunday Ticket in one app. YouTube TV BestGuide Score: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
    Read review
  2. Households that already pay for Disney+, Hulu or ESPN and want live local and cable channels on the same bill. Hulu BestGuide Score: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
    Read review
  3. Sports fans who need their regional sports network for local games and are willing to pay a cable-like price for it. DirecTV BestGuide Score: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
    Read review
  4. Households that watch cable entertainment, reality and lifestyle channels and want a cheap live TV service with a generous DVR. Philo BestGuide Score: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
    Read review
  5. Sports fans who want regional sports networks, lots of national sports channels and unlimited DVR in one app, and who are fine paying more than $100 a month in many areas. Fubo BestGuide Score: 3.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
    Read review

Sling TV is still the cheapest way to get ESPN or FOX News live without a contract, with Essentials and Select from $19.99 a month. But it carries local ABC, FOX and NBC only in select markets, includes 50 hours of DVR, and does not refund partial months.

We compared five live TV services a Sling customer would consider, on monthly price, channel count, local channels and DVR, all as listed in October 2026. We also cover the free options first, since they replace Sling for many viewers.

Sling price
Essentials and Select from $19.99; Orange or Blue $45.991
Free live TV
Pluto TV is free with ads and needs no credit card3
Cheapest paid alternative
Philo at $25 a month4
Local channels
YouTube TV covers over 98% of US TV households6
Sling subscribers
About 1.7 million as of June 30, 202612
On this page10 sections
  1. Our top picks
  2. Company reviews
  3. How we chose
  4. Free alternatives: antenna and free streaming
  5. Why people look for Sling TV alternatives
  6. How to choose a Sling TV alternative
  7. What Sling TV alternatives cost
  8. How to cancel Sling TV
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. Sources

Company reviews

Households replacing cable that want local networks, unlimited DVR and NFL Sunday Ticket in one app.: YouTube TV

4.3/5

Why we picked it. YouTube TV is Google's live TV streaming service: $82.99 a month for 100+ channels with local networks and unlimited DVR, plus cheaper Sports and genre plans added in 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in most markets
  • Unlimited cloud DVR with recordings kept 9 months
  • 6 household accounts, each with its own library
  • Cheaper Sports and Sports + News plans added in 2026
  • Only streaming service with NFL Sunday Ticket

Cons

  • $82.99 a month, more than double the 2017 launch price
  • Only 3 streams unless you pay $9.99 for 4K Plus
  • Fewer regional sports networks than Fubo
  • No refunds for partial months
  • Channels can disappear during carriage disputes
Read full review

Households that already pay for Disney+, Hulu or ESPN and want live local and cable channels on the same bill.: Hulu

4.2/5

Why we picked it. Hulu + Live TV costs $99.99 a month and bundles 100+ live channels with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select. Disney now runs it alongside Fubo, and customer reviews are harsh about price hikes and streaming glitches.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select included in the base price
  • Unlimited DVR with recordings kept nine months
  • Local channels in most markets with no regional sports or box fees
  • Cancel online anytime, no contract
  • Optional ad-free on-demand for $10 more

Cons

  • $99.99 a month costs more than YouTube TV's main plan
  • Only two screens at once without the Unlimited Screens add-on
  • Three-day trial is short
  • No refunds for partial months after canceling
  • Trustpilot score of 1.3 and 925 BBB complaints in three years
Read full review

Sports fans who need their regional sports network for local games and are willing to pay a cable-like price for it.: DirecTV

4.0/5

Why we picked it. DIRECTV streaming starts at $89.99 a month for 90+ channels, with regional sports on Choice ($94.99) and up. Satellite needs a 24-month agreement, and the Regional Sports Fee now runs up to $23.99.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Regional sports networks on Choice and higher, where available
  • Streaming has no annual contract and a 5-day free trial
  • Unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited streams at home
  • Up to 160+ streaming channels, 350+ on satellite Premier
  • 4.6 out of 5 app rating from about 624,000 App Store reviews

Cons

  • Costs more than YouTube TV, Sling or Philo
  • Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99 a month in many areas
  • Satellite needs a 24-month agreement with a $20 a month early termination fee
  • Promotional prices and free add-ons auto-renew at full price
  • 1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 4,183 BBB complaints in three years
Read full review
Show all 5 picks2 more, ranked 4 to 5

Households that watch cable entertainment, reality and lifestyle channels and want a cheap live TV service with a generous DVR.: Philo

3.9/5

Why we picked it. Philo costs $25 a month for 70+ entertainment channels, or $33 for Bundle+ with HBO Max Basic with Ads, AMC+ and discovery+. Recordings now last a year, but there are no sports or local channels.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • $25 a month for 70+ entertainment channels
  • Unlimited DVR on paid plans, with recordings kept for a year
  • Bundle+ adds HBO Max Basic with Ads, AMC+ and discovery+ for $8 more
  • 7-day free trial and a free channel tier with no credit card
  • No contract, box or equipment fee

Cons

  • No live sports, local broadcast channels or major cable news
  • Trustpilot score of 1.5 out of 5, mostly one-star reviews
  • No refunds for the current billing period after you cancel
  • Only 3 streams at once
  • Users report more ads than they expected
Read full review

Sports fans who want regional sports networks, lots of national sports channels and unlimited DVR in one app, and who are fine paying more than $100 a month in many areas.: Fubo

3.2/5

Why we picked it. Fubo Pro now lists at $88.99 a month and Elite at $98.99, before a regional sports fee in many ZIP codes. NBC channels are back, and Disney now owns about 70% of the company.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • One of the largest sports lineups, including regional sports networks
  • Unlimited cloud DVR on every plan
  • Up to 10 screens on home internet on most plans
  • 4K on Elite and Multiview on supported TVs
  • No annual contract

Cons

  • List prices of $88.99 and up, before a regional sports fee
  • 895 BBB complaints in three years and a B rating
  • Free trials are not always offered, and trial billing is a common complaint
  • NBC channels only in select markets
  • Some games still need add-ons or are blacked out
Read full review

How we chose

We started from the alternatives and complaint themes in our Sling TV review, then compared five paid live TV services on monthly price, channel count, local channels and DVR, plus free options. Prices and features come from each service's pages checked October 2026 and match our live TV streaming guide from the same day. Fubo's current price could not be confirmed on its plans page, so we show the figure from its own cost page dated November 2025. We did not test streaming quality. Read our full methodology.

Free alternatives: antenna and free streaming

  • An over-the-air antenna picks up local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS stations for free in most areas, which fills Sling’s biggest gap. It is a one-time purchase with no monthly fee.
  • Pluto TV is a free, ad-supported service with hundreds of live channels and no credit card required.
  • Sling Freestream, from Sling itself, offers 600+ free live channels and 40,000+ on-demand titles with no credit card, so you can cancel paid Sling and keep it.

These free options do not carry ESPN, FOX News or most cable networks, so sports and cable news fans will still need a paid service.

Why people look for Sling TV alternatives

  • Hard-to-reach support. Test any service during its free trial: YouTube TV offers 10 days, Philo 7 and DIRECTV 5.
  • Unexpected charges and refund trouble. Sling bills a month in advance and does not refund partial months. Cancel a few days before your billing date with any service.
  • Channels or games that need an extra or another plan. Sling splits ESPN (Essentials, Orange) and FOX News and NFL Network (Select, Blue). YouTube TV, Fubo and DIRECTV carry both in one plan.
  • Missing local channels. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV include locals in most areas, or add an antenna.
  • Freezing during live events. Use a free trial on your own internet connection during a game before committing.

How to choose a Sling TV alternative

  1. List the five channels you watch most. Check each service’s lineup for your ZIP code.
  2. Decide on local channels. An antenna may cover them for free and let you buy a cheaper streaming plan.
  3. Compare regular prices. Intro offers at YouTube TV, Hulu and DIRECTV end after one or two months.
  4. Check DVR and streams. Sling includes 50 hours; most alternatives include unlimited DVR.
  5. Use the free trial during a live game or event you care about.

What Sling TV alternatives cost

Service Monthly price DVR
Antenna, Pluto TV, Sling Freestream $0 (antenna is a one-time purchase) None included
Sling Essentials or Select From $19.99 50 hours; unlimited for $5
Philo $25 Unlimited, kept 12 months
YouTube TV $82.99 ($71.99 Sports + News) Unlimited, kept 9 months
Fubo $88.99 base plan (November 2025 page) Unlimited, kept 9 months
DIRECTV $89.99 to $129.99 Unlimited
Hulu + Live TV $99.99 with ads Unlimited, kept 9 months

Prices as listed October 2026, before taxes and add-ons.

How to cancel Sling TV

  1. Sign in to your account at Sling.com.
  2. Choose to cancel your subscription before your next billing date.
  3. Service runs to the end of the month you paid for. Sling does not issue credits or refunds for partial or prepaid months.
  4. If you still want free channels, keep using Sling Freestream, which needs no paid plan.

Terms to know

Live TV streaming
A service that streams cable-style channels live over the internet, without a cable box or contract.
Cloud DVR
Recordings stored online by the service instead of on a box in your home.
Local channels
Your area's ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS stations.
FAST service
Free ad-supported streaming TV, such as Pluto TV, with live channels and no subscription.
Over-the-air antenna
An antenna that receives free local broadcast signals.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Sling TV?

If you left Sling over local channels or DVR, YouTube TV, which includes local networks in over 98% of US TV households and unlimited DVR for $82.99 a month. If price matters most and you do not need sports, Philo at $25 a month.

Is there a free alternative to Sling TV?

Yes. An antenna brings in local broadcast stations for free, and Pluto TV and Sling Freestream offer hundreds of free live channels with ads and no credit card. None of them carry ESPN or FOX News.

How do I cancel Sling TV?

Cancel online in your account at Sling.com before your next billing date. Service runs to the end of the paid month, and Sling does not refund partial or prepaid months.

What is cheaper than Sling TV?

Free options like an antenna, Pluto TV and Sling Freestream. Among paid live TV services, Sling's $19.99 plans are the cheapest we found; Philo is $25 a month.

Which Sling alternative has local channels?

YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV include local channels in most areas. Philo does not carry ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC.

Which Sling alternative is best for sports?

Fubo and DIRECTV, which carry broadcast and sports networks together. DIRECTV includes regional sports networks on Choice and higher where available. YouTube TV is a strong middle option.

Does Philo have ESPN?

No. Philo's lineup has no ESPN or other major sports networks, and no local broadcast networks. It focuses on entertainment and lifestyle channels.

Can I keep Sling Freestream after canceling?

Yes. Sling Freestream is free with no credit card and does not require a paid Sling plan.

Sources (12)

Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards

  1. Sling TV: Compare plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
  2. Sling TV: Freestream (accessed October 12, 2026)
  3. Pluto TV (accessed October 12, 2026)
  4. Philo (accessed October 12, 2026)
  5. Philo: Channels (accessed October 12, 2026)
  6. YouTube TV: Welcome (accessed October 12, 2026)
  7. Hulu: Live TV (accessed October 12, 2026)
  8. Fubo: Welcome (accessed October 12, 2026)
  9. Fubo: Cost, deals and promos (accessed October 12, 2026)
  10. DIRECTV: Stream packages (accessed October 12, 2026)
  11. Sling TV: Home (accessed October 12, 2026)
  12. EchoStar: Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (accessed October 12, 2026)
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