Having the courage to actually cut the cord comes with some major decisions. Viewers who leave cable or satellite behind often want to preserve access to their favorite live TV channels, and the best way to do so is with a subscription to a live TV streaming service that delivers these channels via a broadband connection.

YouTube TV and Sling TV are two of the top live TV streamers on the market, but there are some pretty major differences between each service. For a long time, YouTube TV had just one channel package, an all-in-one plan with sports, news, and entertainment networks. Sling, on the other hand, is more focused on smaller channel plans that come with a lower price tag.

But now, YouTube TV offers smaller, genre-specific channel plans, making the comparison between the two services more nuanced than ever. We’ll break down everything our readers need to know about the similarities and differences between YouTube TV and what you need to know to make an informed decision between the two.

YouTube TV vs Sling TV: Which should you choose?

The Essentials

Price

Sling TV and YouTube TV now overlap in price more than they once did. Sling’s channel packages cost between $20 and $61 per month before any additional fees or add-ons. For $20 per month, customers can get Sling Essentials or Sling Select plans, with 10+ channels each. Sling Essentials is built around ESPN channels, while Sling Select pulls channels from the Sling Blue plan.

The next level of Sling packages includes its Orange and Blue plans, with 30-50 channels each. Both cost $46 per month to start, though Sling Blue can cost more in markets where local channels are available. Finally, viewers can combine the channels of Sling Orange and Blue into a mega-package of 50+ channels for $61 per month.

Viewers can bundle Sling’s Essentials and Select packages as well, forming a package of 15+ channels for $35 per month — or $40 per month if viewers get local channels in their area with Sling.

YouTube TV’s core channel package costs $83 per month, but in 2026, the streamer launched its first genre-based channel packages. These include individual genres like sports, as well as combinations of genres like sports, family, and news channels.

Overall channel count

YouTube TV is the clear winner here; its core package tops out at over 100 total channels. No Sling TV plan exceeds 60 channels, and most have fewer than 50. But Sling TV’s smaller channel packages allow for more flexibility in pricing, so there is a trade-off to be had.

Top cable channels

For the most direct comparison here, we’ll show you the top cable channels available in Sling’s plans and in YouTube TV’s core channel package. Keep in mind, however, that as YouTube TV rolls out additional genre plans, it will give customers more options to find the specific channels they want and pay less by cutting out channels they won’t watch.

Local channels

Being able to watch ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, NBC, and PBS with your live TV package is a must for most customers. Local broadcast channels offer a wide range of live sports, local news, primetime titles, and other programming that can’t be found anywhere else!

YouTube TV carries locals in any genre plans that include sports or entertainment channels, as well as its core package, in essentially every market of the United States. Conversely, Sling TV offers locals in far fewer areas, and only carries ABC, Fox, and NBC — no CW, CBS, or PBS affiliates. See where Sling TV offers local channels in the table below:

Sports channels

Pro and college sports channels

ESPN and ESPN2 are found in both the Sling Essentials and Sling Orange packages, while Sling Blue and Sling Select come with FS1 and NFL Network. Sling Orange and Sling Blue both include access to TNT and TBS, but only Sling Blue will get you truTV and USA Network.

YouTube TV also carries those channels in its core package and sports genre plans, along with NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network. Sling customers will have to purchase the Sports Extra add-on for $11 per month to get most of those channels.

YouTube TV is also the only place to purchase subscriptions to the NFL’s out-of-market games package NFL Sunday Ticket. This can be found in bundles with YouTube TV plans, or as a standalone subscription.

Regional sports networks

YouTube TV only offers NBC Sports regional sports networks in applicable markets, with no fee attached to stream these channels. Sling TV does not include regional sports networks in any channel package or add-on anywhere in the U.S.

Top features

On-demand library

Both YouTube TV and Sling TV allow viewers to watch shows and movies found on their live channels on demand. However, both include unskippable ads in on-demand titles.

Add-on packages

YouTube TV’s Primetime Channels store allows customers to sign up for services like HBO Max, Paramount+, and 60+ others, and unite their bill with their YouTube TV package. It also allows customers to buy the NFL Sunday Ticket package, NFL RedZone add-ons, NBA League Pass, and more.

Sling TV has a long list of add-on packages that viewers can sign up for, and it will also allow you to add streamers like Paramount+ for an additional fee.

DVR

YouTube TV has unlimited Cloud DVR storage, which keeps your recordings for up to nine months. Sling TV only offers 50 hours of Cloud DVR with base subscriptions, but customers can purchase the DVR Plus add-on with Sling for an additional $5 per month to upgrade to unlimited. Like YouTube TV, Sling keeps your recordings for nine months.

Simultaneous streams and 4K

Sling Orange has just one simultaneous stream, but Sling Blue ups this number to three streams. The combined Sling Orange and Blue package increases the available number of streams at one time to four. Any 4K programming found in the Sling package will be available to stream for free.

YouTube TV has three simultaneous streams in the home, but viewers can upgrade to unlimited streams with a subscription to its 4K Plus add-on. It costs $10 per month on top of a YouTube TV package, and also allows viewers to watch any content broadcast in 4K in their YouTube TV plan.

Which is right for you?

Sling and YouTube TV serve different audiences for the most part. If you’re leaving traditional cable or satellite behind and want a cheaper experience that won’t leave you feeling like you’re paying for a huge number of channels you don’t want to watch, but still gives you the option to watch a little bit of everything, Sling TV’s various packages should be your first stop.

If, on the other hand, you want a channel plan that replicates the pay-TV package you just cut the cord to escape, YouTube TV is where you’ll want to start. And keep an eye on YouTube TV in the coming months; it has more genre-specific plans rolling out in additional areas all the time, giving customers the option to zero in on the channels they want more efficiently.

You’ll get a great streaming service either way, but the decision between Sling TV and YouTube TV is a lot like comparing a vending machine with a grocery store. One has fewer options but will cost you less, while the other will have many more choices but comes with a higher price.