Which Streaming Service Is Better?

As cutting cable has become increasingly common over the past decade, a variety of streaming services have emerged. From lesser known services like Pluto TV to mainstream offerings like Netflix and Prime Video, there’s plenty of content to suit any viewing habit and budget.

Two of our favorite streaming services are YouTube TV and Sling TV, and while they offer some of the same benefits in some ways, there are some important differences that cord cutters should be aware of before signing up for either service.

Related

7 Smart TV OSes, ranked from worst to best

For a “smart” platform, most TV operating systems are shockingly stupid.

Channel Lineup

Large selection and a la carte options

YouTube TV features over 100 live channels, including live news and on-demand content, right from the start, with no annual commitment. Popular channels like ABC, NBC and FOX offer a diverse mix of sports, news and other genres, ensuring comprehensive programming.

Sling TV, on the other hand, offers a more customized approach. Users start with either Sling Orange or Sling Blue, which offer 34 and 42 channels, respectively. From there, they can add on “a la carte” packages that focus on sports, news, entertainment, and even international content. The Orange package focuses on sports and family (ESPN, Disney Channel, Freeform, etc.), while the Blue package focuses on news and entertainment, featuring channels like NBC, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Sling TV’s approach allows users to avoid paying for channels they don’t want, a common complaint with traditional cable services like Comcast and DISH Network.

Related

What do you actually get from free channels on your smart TV?

All freebies come at a cost due to commercials, ads and tracking technology.

Streaming Quality and User Experience

YouTube TV and Sling TV both achieved their goals.

Sling TV/Pocket Lint

Both YouTube TV and Sling TV offer great streaming quality, delivering high-definition streams on your TV, smartphone, or laptop with minimal buffering even on average internet connections.

In terms of layout, Sling TV features neatly organized tabs and a horizontally scrolling grid-style live TV guide that mimics traditional TV. YouTube TV is similar, with a grid format and clear annotations of current and upcoming shows.

Both services offer a high degree of personalization, allowing users to pin their favorite channels and add content to their library for instant access, and prominent search bars make it easy to find both live and on-demand content.

If you had to choose, YouTube TV would edge out Sling TV slightly, but depending on your viewing habits, Sling TV’s customization options could negate this advantage.

Related

The best Prime Day TV deals are still on: Save hundreds of dollars on LG OLED TVs

There are still discounted TV sales available, but there’s not much time left to grab them.

DVR and On-Demand Content

Unlimited vs. Okay

One of YouTube TV’s standout features is its DVR functionality, which allows users to record and store content for up to nine months at no additional cost. For example, if you’re a big fan of 90-Day Fiancé, you can record the entire season (organized by episode) and watch it whenever you want, as long as you have a subscription.

The YouTube TV DVR experience is smooth, with the ability to fast forward through commercials, unlimited skips, and a small interface for managing your recordings. Plus, YouTube’s on-demand content seamlessly integrates with your DVR library.

In contrast, Sling TV’s DVR feature is less sophisticated. It comes with 50 hours of cloud storage, with the option to upgrade to 200 hours for an additional fee. Unlike YouTube TV, Sling TV recordings are only saved until you reach your storage limit.

To sum up, if you’re often on the go and need to record your favorite shows, YouTube TV might be a better choice with its unlimited storage and wide channel selection.

Related

Change 4 settings on your TV and instantly make conversations clearer

Unfortunately, crisp, intelligible dialogue falls victim to the default settings on many modern TVs. Here’s what to change to get crystal clear audio:

price

Budget-Friendly vs. Premium

At the time of writing, YouTube TV costs $72.99 per month, which may be a bit steep for budget-conscious users, but there are ongoing promotions, including a one-month free trial and $8 off the first four months ($64.99 per month), and the service has no annual contracts or hidden fees like traditional cable TV.

YouTube TV also offers a Spanish-language plan for $34.99 per month, while NFL Sunday Ticket starts at $349 total with four contract-free monthly payments of $87.25.

Sling TV, on the other hand, is much more affordable, starting at $40 per month for the Blue or Orange package. Current promotions often drop the price to $20 for a limited time and include a free DVR and DVR Plus (50 and 200 hours of storage, respectively). The biggest advantage of Sling TV is that it is an ala carte-focused service that allows users to add packages and features to fit their budget.

Related

Lost your LG TV remote? Your Android smartphone is the next best option

You can change channels and adjust the volume with your Android smartphone, so you won’t have to waste time searching for your LG remote.

Compatibility and number of profiles

YouTube TV allows up to six profiles per account, while Sling TV allows far fewer.

Both YouTube TV and Sling TV are compatible with almost all devices, including almost all smart TVs, streaming devices like the Roku and Fire Stick, and video game consoles like the PlayStation 5, so both services are pretty much on par when it comes to compatibility.

YouTube TV excels at user profiles and personalization, allowing you to create up to six profiles per account, perfect for large families with diverse viewing preferences. Switching between profiles is easy. Each profile benefits from Google’s AI and machine learning to provide relevant content recommendations. For example, if you recently watched The Walking Dead, YouTube TV will suggest similar content based on your activity.

Sling TV also offers customizable user profiles, but with fewer options, its recommendation engine is less advanced and relies more on your favorite channels than on sophisticated algorithms, plus profile switching is less intuitive and makes sharing accounts more difficult.

In short, YouTube TV does a better job of managing user profiles and personalization than Sling TV, offering more profiles per account and better content recommendations.

Related

4 useful WebOS features that LG TV users should try

These features make the user-friendly interface even more intuitive and feature-rich.

Device compatibility: Nearly identical

YouTube TV has a few advantages

Both YouTube TV and Sling TV are compatible with almost all devices, including streaming devices like Roku and Fire Stick, gaming consoles like PlayStation 5, and smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, etc. Both are cross-platform, meaning you can watch content anywhere and on any device.

But YouTube TV beats Sling TV in terms of device compatibility, thanks to its seamless integration with the Google Assistant, which lets you adjust the volume or change channels with voice commands. I also like the multitasking feature, which lets you check your email or browse recipes without having to stop watching.

Related

4 useful WebOS features that LG TV users should try

These features make the user-friendly interface even more intuitive and feature-rich.

Which service should you choose?

I vote for YouTube TV, but if you don’t watch much you can save money with Sling TV

Sling TV

Ultimately, choosing between YouTube TV and Sling TV comes down to your viewing habits.

For heavy TV watchers like me who value unlimited DVR storage and curated content, YouTube TV is the better option, as long as you can afford the higher price.

However, if you’re an occasional viewer with a few favorite channels, Sling TV’s customizable channel options and low price may be a better choice.

Related

4 useful WebOS features that LG TV users should try

These features make the user-friendly interface even more intuitive and feature-rich.