With a bunch of dwell TV streaming providers competing towards cable TV, the primary variations are worth and variety of channels. DirecTV Now wins the channels sport, with extra prime channels in its base bundle than each competitor. On the opposite hand its worth, now that AT&T’s steep reductions are at an finish, is just like the competitors. DirecTV Now prices $40 per thirty days, the identical as YouTube TV and $5 lower than rivals PlayStation Vue and Hulu with LIve TV. Among main options solely Sling TV prices much less at $25 per thirty days, nevertheless it lacks native channels like ABC and CBS in addition to Fox and NBC in most markets. Read extra: Compare the very best dwell TV streaming providers for cord-cutters DirecTV Now’s interface integrates the all-important cloud DVR provided by all of its rivals. The cloud DVR remains to be in beta, nevertheless, and it reveals with solely 20 hours of storage. If you prioritize DVR performance, YouTube TV is a more sensible choice. Roku is the preferred streaming machine platform however sadly for its house owners, DirecTV Now on Roku is hardly the zippy, dependable cable-cutter you may count on. For instance, there isn’t any pausing dwell TV in any respect, and “Record” might or might not work — even on channels the place it is out there. On the opposite hand, the Apple TV model is just about “cooked” and the whole lot works higher. View full gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
DirecTV Now: What it’s good to know Before we get too deep into it, this is the fundamentals on DirecTV Now ($35 at AT&T Wireless), together with the way it’s completely different from TV it’s possible you’ll know, pricing, machine assist and different necessary stuff. It’s separate from DirecTV, the satellite tv for pc service, however each are owned by AT&T.Unlike a cable field or satellite tv for pc service, DirecTV Now is streamed remotely from an web server, and you’ll entry it from a cellular machine, internet browser, media streamer or TV. Prices vary from $40 to $75 per thirty days, relying on channels.The worth features a DVR to report as much as 20 hours of programming, which is saved within the cloud.To watch on a TV, you may want an Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, a Roku streamer or Roku TV, an Apple TV ($169 at B&H Photo-Video), a Chromecast (Android and iOS), or a Google Cast-enabled TV (like Vizio SmartCast TVs).To watch on a pc, you need to use Chrome or Safari internet browsers. Firefox and Internet Explorer can handle your account settings however can’t stream content material.You may also watch on any any iPhone ($930 at Amazon), iPad ($280 at Amazon) (iOS 10 or higher) or Android (4.4 KitKat or higher) telephone or pill.Xbox One and Samsung Tizen Smart TV are “not yet available.” Subscribers to AT&T’s wi-fi service can watch with out utilizing their cellular information, however different providers use information as regular.There’s a free seven-day trial out there.There’s no contract or early termination payment, so you possibly can cancel at any time.It’s solely out there within the US.Big Five TV streaming providers in contrast
Hulu with Live TV
YouTube TV
Sling TV
PlayStation Vue
DirecTV Now
Base worth
$45/month for 60+ channels
$40/month for 60+ channels
$25/month for 30+ channels
$45/month for 55+ channels
$40/month for 60+ channels
Free trial
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC channels
Yes, in lots of markets
Yes, in lots of markets
Fox and NBC solely in choose cities
Yes, in lots of markets
Yes, in lots of markets
Video on demand from native channels
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Step-up packages with extra channels
No
No
Yes, an additional $5/month every
$50/month, $60/month or $80/month
$55/month, $65/month or $75/month
Simultaneous streams per account
2 ($15 choice for limitless)
3
1 or 3
5
2 ($5 choice for 3)
Family member/person profiles
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Pause, rewind, fast-forward
Yes
Yes
Yes, apart from Disney or ESPN channels
Yes
Yes
Record reveals for later (cloud DVR)
Yes
Yes (maintain for 9 months)
Yes ($5 per thirty days, cannot report Disney or ESPN channels)
Yes (maintain for 28 days)
Yes (20GB, maintain for 30 days)
Fast-forward by means of or skip commercials with cloud DVR
No (Yes with $15 choice)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
DVR present changed by on-demand model
No
Yes
No
No
No
Video on demand/3-day replay
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Parental controls
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Bandwidth limiter
No
No
Yes
No
No
View full gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
What does DirecTV Now have going for it? DirecTV’s lengthy historical past of operating a satellite tv for pc service reveals by means of on DirecTV Now. Our favourite instance of this heritage is the flexibility to swipe left or proper to alter channels rapidly (or not so rapidly for Roku customers — see under). If you need the complete “flip” expertise, you could possibly even program left and proper arrows into your Ch +/- buttons on a common distant. Beyond the service’s sturdy channel lineup, together with most native broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) in 99 of the nation’s main TV markets, an enormous deal is the flexibility so as to add HBO or Cinemax for simply $5 further (every) to any bundle. That’s a considerable low cost ($10) off the conventional premium channel fee, and one thing rivals do not supply. Unlike a service like HBO Go or HBO Now, nevertheless, not each episode of each HBO sequence is included on demand. You can use your DirecTV Now login credentials to register (authenticate) the HBO Go app, nevertheless, and achieve entry to the complete library of reveals that method. DirecTV Now at the moment authenticates with greater than 60 different apps, together with NBC, ABC, ESPN and Showtime. AT&T subscribers who stream DirecTV Now on their telephones will not have the information rely towards their month-to-month cap. You may also run two unbiased simultaneous streams on a single DirecTV Now account, or pay an extra $5 per thirty days to get a 3rd simultaneous stream. More streams means extra folks can watch on completely different gadgets utilizing the identical account on the similar time.