Cutting cable TV cords in favor of more flexible and cost-effective streaming alternatives has become increasingly popular. Tech giants like Google now offer services like YouTube TV to replace your old cable box. Meanwhile, Dish Network‘s Sling TV pioneered the concept of customizable "skinny bundles" in this space years ago.
But should you choose YouTube TV or Sling TV for your household?
This comprehensive guide examines the core differences including:
- Content libraries and channels
- Streaming quality and device support
- DVR cloud capabilities
- Unique sports programming and features
- User interface and experience
- Pricing, fees and total cost of ownership
- Company history and background
We‘ll also simplify key advantages and disadvantages to steer you toward the best live TV streaming solution for your personal needs. Time to dive in!
A Brief Background on YouTube TV and Sling TV
Let‘s kick things off with a quick history lesson before comparing features.
The Rise of YouTube TV
Google launched YouTube TV publicly in February 2017 after several months of closed beta testing. It was their big expansion beyond the boundaries of traditional uploaded YouTube video into live television streaming.
The service markets itself as a bonafide cable TV replacement rather than a "skinny bundle" like Sling TV or Philo.
"Our goal is to give you the best of live TV…without the headaches or hassle."
Backed by the powerful YouTube infrastructure, Google aggressively secured partnerships with top networks out of the gates. Early biggets wins included ESPN, AMC and FX.
Significant content expansions followed over the next few years:
- March 2018: TNT, TBS, CNN and Cartoon Network added
- February 2019: Discovery, HGTV, Food Network and TLC onboarded
- July 2020: ViacomCBS networks like Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon joined
Simultaneously, YouTube TV adopted useful innovations like unlimited DVR storage and predictive recording recommendations to sweeten the pot.
This robust channel catalog and polished viewing experience catapulted YouTube TV‘s subscriber base to over 5 million members today.
Sling TV Disrupts Traditional Pay TV
Sling TV‘s parent Dish Network first unveiled their novel live streaming concept back in January 2015 at CES 2015.
The goal was not to duplicate expensive, bloated cable packages. Instead, Sling set out to create an affordable and customizable TV alternative.
"We invented streaming TV to give you control, choice and value."
Dubbed a "skinny bundle", Sling‘s initial packages were called Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Priced at just $20 per month originally, they targeted entertainment plus sports and news programming respectively.
Sling officially launched these offerings that February with support on Roku, Amazon‘s Fire TV and iOS/Android devices. That modest start blossomed into over 2 million subscribers over time.
Let‘s examine exactly what compelled that growth.
Content Libraries: YouTube TV vs. Sling
One of the biggest factors cord cutters weigh is channel availability. YouTube TV and Sling TV take vastly different approaches here.
YouTube TV Delivers Top-Tier Networks
Boasting over 100 channels in its lone $74.99 per month package, YouTube TV crushes competitors on network diversity:
| ABC | Cartoon Network | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| CBS | TBS | Fox News |
| NBC | TNT | MSNBC |
| Fox | USA | CNN |
These represent a sampling of popular stations available. Other highlights like AMC, HGTV, BBC America, BET and MTV further bolster the catalog.
But no service offers everything. While YouTube TV incorporates most major players, some networks are still missing including A+E channels (A&E, History, Lifetime) and those from ViacomCBS (Comedy Central, Nickelodeon).
Add-on bundles help fill gaps:
| Showtime ($11 p/month) | Fox Soccer Plus ($15 p/month) |
| Starz ($9 p/month) | NBA League Pass ($40 p/month) |
| AMC Premiere ($7 p/month) | MLB TV ($25 p/month) |
Diehard NFL fans may flock to YouTube TV for its exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket Max ($79 p/month) providing access to all out-of-market Sunday games.
Sling TV Focuses on Niche Channel Packages
Unlike YouTube TV attempting to be everything for everyone, Sling specifically streamlines channel offerings to encourage pick-and-choose customization without overspending on content you never watch.
Its main packages are:
- Sling Orange ($40 p/month): 32+ channels geared around sports, news and families. ESPN, ESPN2, Disney, Freeform, California News.
- Sling Blue ($40 p/month): 47+ channels with popular shows, movies, comedy and lifestyle programming. Fox and NBC in select markets. Also offers NFL Network, National Geographic, Discovery, Bravo and FX.
Sling Orange + Blue bundles both for $55 monthly.
From there, genre-focused add-ons cost:
| Sports Extra ($11 p/month) | News Extra ($6 p/month) |
| Comedy Extra ($6 p/month) | Kids Extra ($6 p/month) |
| Lifestyle Extra ($6 p/month) | Hollywood Extra ($6 p/month) |
Movie buffs can grab EPIX for $5 per month. Starz, Showtime and more represent other premium channel options.
This flexibility comes at the cost of missing heavy hitters though — No ABC, CBS, NBC or PBS here. But the customization and control over your personal channel lineup proves popular.
"We give subscribers unmatched control."
Streaming Quality and Device Support
Since Sling TV exclusively offers streaming access, maximizing video quality and device compatibility is crucial. YouTube TV performs well here too.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV makes itself available across a spectrum of platforms:
- Smartphones and Tablets: Android, iOS, iPadOS
- Streaming Devices: Apple TV 4K/HD, Amazon Fire TV, Roku
- Gaming Consoles: PS4, Xbox One
- Smart TVs: Android TV OS, Samsung/LG WebOS
- Web Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari
Video quality adjusts automatically based on your bandwidth, serving anywhere from 480p SD up to crisp 1080p Full HD. Most networks stream at 720p 60fps minimum.
Up to 3 simultaneous streams are permitted per $74.99 account making YouTube TV perfect for families and housemates.
Sling TV
Sling TV matches YouTube‘s broad device support, streaming on:
- iOS and Android mobile
- Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku
- Select LG and Samsung smart TVs
- Gaming consoles like PS4 and Xbox One
- Chrome, Edge and Safari browsers
Video quality similarly tops out at 1080p 60fps depending on your connection speeds. Expect most channels to deliver 720p quality or better.
Sling also allows 3 concurrent streams and stands out by letting you watch up to 4 channels simultaneously via MultiView mode on supported platforms. Fantastic for keeping tabs on multiple games or shows in one screen!
Cloud DVR Functionality
What about recording or pausing shows to watch on your own schedule? DVR capabilities differ greatly between the two streaming options.
YouTube TV DVR
YouTube TV truly innovates cloud DVR with unlimited storage for recordings. Any program or channel can be scheduled to record, even on-demand content from participating networks.
Your entire household sharing the membership can set recordings which are collectively stored for 9 months automatically before removed.
Scheduling works flawlessly whether choosing to grab a single episode or entire season. The predictive intelligence also makes superb suggestions customized to your watching habits.
Pausing live TV and continuing from where you left off works smoothly as well. Playback controls like fast forward and rewind will be familiar to DVRowners.
Sling TV DVR
Sling TV also offers cloud DVR access but puts limits in place to cut down on costs.
10 hours of content can be recorded for free. Paying another $5 per month unlocks 50 hours of storage, or $10 monthly for 200 hours.
Scheduling recordings is straightforward across both live programming and supported on-demand selections. Just tap the record icon.
When you run low on allocated DVR storage, Sling will delete your oldest watch recordings first. You get a 3-day window before permanent erasure to free up capacity as needed.
Live pause abilities remain inconsistent though. Certain channels let you rewind whereas popular primetime shows forbid it outright due to licensing constraints. A mild annoyance.
Fast forward often forcibly triggers ad breaks too. Downloading DVR content to watch offline also goes unsupported officially.
Special Features and Programming
Beyond just channels, YouTube TV and Sling incorporate exclusive sports packages plus clever functionality.
YouTube TV
As mentioned previously, diehard NFL fans relish NFL Sunday Ticket Max for $79.99 per month. This grants access to live out-of-market Sunday afternoon games plus NFL RedZone channel.
Google and YouTube Originals content also comes included like Cobra Kai, Step Up movie sequels and Rush: Inspired by Battlefield. Justin Bieber and BTS concert films represent other music exclusives.
The real differentiator here for cord cutters though is unrestricted access to YouTube Music Premium ($9.99 value) for ad-free, offline listening across YouTube‘s vast music catalog. Fantastic value-added perk!
Sports programming aside, YouTube TV offers bonuses like:
- Alexa voice commands enabling hands-free channel tuning, DVR playback control and content searches through Amazon Echo devices
- Deep-linking capabilities to jump directly into a program guide from any texted or emailed tune-in link
Sling TV
Don‘t care for the NFL? Sling TV lets you purchase access to prime NBA League Pass games for $18 monthly during the regular pro basketball season.
Pay-per-view events like boxing matches, MMA fights and niche sports offer one-off purchases. XYZ
Occasional free previews of premium channels keep things fresh too. For a 3-day weekend you might receive complimentary access to Showtime, EPIX and more without paying extra.
Sling‘s banner feature remains its MultiView mode allowing simultaneous streaming from four channels on one screen, with personal volume controls per feed. Supported channels include ESPN, AMC, A&E, HGTV and more. Competitors can‘t touch this!
The Sling TV interface also maintains consistency across devices unlike rivals — same channels, same menus and navigation paradigms across all platforms. Fantastic for households sharing an account.
Cost Breakdown and Bill Estimates
At the end of the day, wallet impact often determines which live TV streaming service you select. Let‘s compare base packages plus fully-loaded potential subscriptions.
YouTube TV Pricing
The lone YouTube TV plan clocks in at a hefty $$74.99 per month including taxes.
Supplementing with the "works" earns you:
- Showtime + Starz + AMC Premiere = ~$27 more
- HBO Max + Cinemax = ~$30 more
- NBA League Pass + MLB TV = ~$65 more
That‘s $197/month for everything imaginable!
Too rich for your blood? YouTube TV does occasionally offer 1-month free trials for new subs. Referral and gift card incentives also pop up. Don‘t expect much in the way long-term loyalty rewards though.
Sling TV Pricing
Sling TV gives budget-focused streamers far more financial flexibility.
Let‘s take the kitchen sink approach…
- Sling Orange + Blue = $55
- Sports Extra + Kids Extra + Lifestyle Extra = ~$18 more
- Showtime + Starz + EPIX = ~$23 more
$96 per month garners 70+ channels with the most popular programming covered from movies to sports.
Compare that to YouTube TV‘s $197 sticker shock! Even with identical add-ons, Sling TV saves households over $100 monthly. These costs obviously drop even lower if you cut back on niche channels.
For latest switchers, Sling TV frequently spotlights promotions taking 50% off your first month.
Current Subscriber Bases
YouTube TV has successfully attracted over 5 million paying subscribers at last count according to their corporate parent Alphabet Inc.
Sling TV sits around 2.15 million subscribers as of their most recent reported earnings statement.
So YouTube TV has more than doubled Sling‘s adoption. But when you consider Sling lacks mainstream networks like CBS, NBC and ABC, their traction remains impressive.
Cord cutters committed to sports, entertainment and niche lifestyle PROGRAMMING SIGN UP IN DROVES THANKS TO AFFORDABILITY. sLING CAPTURES VIEWERS UNINTERESTED IN PAYING FOR BROADER CHANNEL BUNDLES.
YouTube TV clearly boasts more customer scale. But don‘t underestimate Sling TV‘s appeal.
The Bottom Line: YouTube TV vs. Sling
So when presented side-by-side, which streaming TV provider makes the most sense for your viewing habits and budget?
YouTube TV pros:
- More major broadcasting networks
- Smoother streaming and device support
- Unlimited DVR without storage worries
- Innovative voice controls and linking
- Broader mainstream channel selection
Sling TV pros:
- Customizable add-ons catering to your interests
- Innovative multi-viewing capabilities
- 50% off promotions for new subscribers
- Much cheaper long-term costs overall
- Access niche channels other ignore
If having the most popular networks with polished access matters most, I recommend YouTube TV. Their larger platform fosters better reliability and viewing flexibility. Unlimited DVR only sweetens the pot.
However, if you want to judiciously trim costs and control your precise channel lineup, Sling TV delivers. Budget-focused customization keeps your bill lower as you tack on only what you actually watch.
Hopefully this detailed streaming TV comparison provided clarity deciding between YouTube TV vs Sling TV! I aimed to showcase all the core differentiators — channel availability, cloud DVR allowances, quality and platform support, unique features, long term value.
Feel free to trial either service firsthand before committing using the various discounts and promotions referenced earlier. Happy streaming!
