Sling TV is the best live TV streaming service for cord cutters on a budget

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• Starting at $35 a month, Sling TV is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services.
• Despite a tricky user interface, Sling TV's streaming quality and channel offerings are excellent.
• Sling TV plans come with networks like ESPN, CNN, TBS, Food Network, and BBC America.

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When stacked up to other live TV streaming options, Sling TV is one of the most affordable in the industry. The Sling Orange and Blue plans each cost just $35 a month, offering a solid selection of live channels.

That comes out to just over $1 a day each month. For the money, Sling TV provides live streaming access to networks like FX, CNN, AMC, ESPN, Disney, and more. It's nearly half the cost of competing services like Hulu + Live TV, but you don't get quite as many channels as those more expensive options.

As an added bonus, new customers can even get their first month for only $10. But, does more affordable translate to better value compared to other streaming platforms? We put the service to the test to see if Sling TV is a viable alternative to cable and satellite.

What is Sling TV?

Sling TV is one of the cheapest options to stream live TV, and it features a selection of many popular channels. The service also includes access to a library of on-demand shows, along with support for recording programs to watch later.

Sling offers a few different plans, as well as add-on channels and packages. The main options are Sling Blue ($35/month), Sling Orange ($35/month), and the Sling Orange/Blue bundle ($50/month).

Orange features the least amount of channels at 33, while Blue includes 44 channels overall. The bundle combines both plans, but since some networks overlap between Orange and Blue, the bundle ends up including a total of 50 channels.

How much is Sling TV?

Sling TV comes in three plans: Orange, Blue, and an Orange/Blue bundle. Orange and Blue each cost $35 a month, while the bundle costs $50 a month.

As part of a special promotion, new members can get their first month of Orange or Blue for just $10. New members can also get a discount on their first month of the Orange/Blue bundle, bringing the price down to $25.

Sling's promotion tends to alternate between a $10 introductory month and a $25 introductory month, so it's unclear how long the better deal will last.

Compared to other live TV streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, Sling TV subscriptions can cost as much as $30 less per month. You get fewer channels with Sling, but the savings make it a better option for budget streamers.

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What channels come with Sling TV?

Both Orange and Blue come with a base package of the same 27 channels, including CNN, BBC America, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, and many more. In addition to the base package, both plans have their share of unique channels.

Orange has six unique channels including Disney Channel, ESPN networks, FreeForm, and Motortrend. Blue, on the other hand, has 17 unique channels including Discovery, Fox and NBC (in select markets), NFL Network, USA, and more.

In addition to live TV, Sling comes with an extensive selection of on-demand content from its channel lineup, including titles like "Real Housewives'' and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Sling also has several genre-based add-ons starting at $6 a month.

Before signing up for Sling, we recommend you check out our full breakdown of all the Sling channels and extra packages available to ensure that your favorite networks are included.

How do I stream Sling TV?

Sling TV lets you use a number of devices to stream channels including Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, iOS and Android devices, Xbox Series X|S, web browsers, and more.

For a full list, the streaming service details all of its supported devices on its website.

Is Sling TV worth it?

Despite Sling TV being cheaper than most other live TV streaming options, it maintains great channel offerings and quality playback on par with the competition.

On that front, the service is easily worth the $35/month cost of admission. With over 30 channels on its Blue and Orange plans, Sling TV is one of the most economical ways to stream live TV.

When it comes to cheaper live TV streaming options, Philo offers 66 channels for $25 a month – $10 less than Sling's base plans. Though Philo includes more storage and its catalog features some networks missing from Sling, like Animal Planet and MTV, it doesn't offer any local channels. Philo is also lacking in sports coverage since it doesn't carry channels like ESPN or NFL Network.

With those factors in mind, we think Sling is the better budget option for most people who want a cheaper alternative to cable. That said, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind when choosing Sling.

Sling's current interface could use some work

One downside is the user interface Sling uses on the majority of its apps. In short, it isn't particularly attractive or intuitive.

The interface lacks a channel-surfing option, which means you can't flip through stations like you would on cable. This limits you to a home page broken into horizontal sections, starting with your "Favorite" channels if you've selected any.

It's a useful shortcut, but depending on the size of your screen you'll only see three to five channels at a time, and you'll be doing a lot of side-scrolling. Below that you get access to your DVR recordings – Sling TV offers 50 hours of free DVR storage in its base package although you can get 200 hours for an extra $5 a month.

If you're looking for a more traditional channel guide interface, you'll find it in the "Guide" tab, but since there are no numbers associated with the channels, you'll once again find yourself doing a lot of scrolling.

An updated interface is in on the way with key improvements

Sling TV is set to launch a number of changes to its app soon. The streaming service announced a beta app in May 2021. The updated app first became available on select Fire TV devices and features a new home page and a vertical sidebar with a DVR tab. It will be added to more devices throughout 2021, according to a press release.

We got to try the new app with a Fire TV Stick 4K and it's a clear improvement. The home screen now includes a number of title recommendations based on shows and movies you've watched.

Additionally, Sling TV's channel guide – which you can find on the app's sidebar – now lets you surf dozens of channels just like a traditional cable plan. You can also choose to record shows as you navigate through the guide.

You can scroll between tabs like "Favorites" and "Recents" on the top of the guide to find certain channels easier. While there still aren't numbers associated with channels, you can easily find what you're looking for with other tabs like "A-Z," "Sports," "News," "Movies," and more.

Aside from the guide, each channel has "Info" and "Explore" options. The "Info" option lets you see on-demand content and programs set to air on a channel in the future. Meanwhile, the "Explore" option lets you navigate all upcoming shows and movies.

The bottom line

With plans starting at $35 a month, Sling TV remains one of the best options there is to stream live TV on a budget. New members can even get $25 off their first month, making it an affordable service to test out if you're on the fence.

Even though the current app's interface is less than ideal, an upcoming update should alleviate any worries you might have about navigating through your favorite channels.

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