YouTube TV vs Sling TV: which should you pick?

By Sam Barth · Prices checked November 9, 2026

YouTube TV is the full cable replacement with local channels for $82.99. Sling TV is the budget option at $45.99 per base plan, but it has few local stations, so plan on an antenna.

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How do YouTube TV and Sling TV compare?

	YouTube TV	Sling TV
Cheapest plan	$64.99/mo	$19.99/mo
Ad-free from	n/a	n/a
4K	With the 4K Plus add-on	No
Live sports	Broadcast networks plus ESPN, FS1 and other sports channels; NFL Sunday Ticket add-on.	ESPN channels on Orange; NFL Network and regional sports on Blue in some markets.
Kids and family	Kids channels included in the base plan.	Kids channels vary by plan and add-on.
Local channels	ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in most markets.	Limited. A few markets get FOX and NBC on Blue; most people pair Sling with an antenna.
Free trial	The welcome page showed a 21-day trial on November 9, 2026; offers change.	Offers vary.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on YouTube TV welcome page. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on Sling TV home page plan list. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

What are the key differences?

Sling Orange & Blue together: $60.99.
YouTube TV includes unlimited DVR.
Sling has $19.99 mini plans; YouTube TV's smallest plan is $64.99.

Which one should you choose?

Choose YouTube TV if you want

A full cable replacement with local channels
Unlimited DVR

Visit YouTube TV

Choose Sling TV if you want

The cheapest way to get ESPN and cable news
People with an antenna for local channels

Visit Sling TV

Can you have both?

Together they cost $84.98 a month on the cheapest plans. Try the cord-cutting calculator to see how that compares to a cable bill.

How was this researched?

This page is research-based, not a hands-on test. Prices and plan details come from each provider's own pricing or help pages, checked on the date shown. Feature and sports details come from provider pages and published news reports, which are linked. We do not assign star ratings. Read how we research.