Our readers love to save money – and we love helping people trim their bills down wherever possible. One big spending area that people don’t necessarily have optimized is their entertainment budget – and namely, their cable TV budget.
Cable TV prices have skyrocketed in recent years, with many people paying $100 per month or more just for cable! If you’re in this boat and looking for a way to save some money, you should look into Sling TV – a cable alternative that can save you hundreds a year on your TV bill. Keep reading our Sling TV review to learn more!
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV is an online streaming service that lets you watch LIVE TV without cable. It works on all your favorite devices, from computers to smartphones to streaming players like Roku and Apple TV. Similar to cable, it offers various packages of channels to enjoy live. The main difference between Sling TV and cable is the price – as Sling TV starts at just $30 per month since the December 2019 price increase!
In many ways, Sling offers a similar experience to cable. You can choose a package ranging from 30 to 100+ channels, and you can customize your lineup to fit your family’s preferences. You can enjoy all these channels – sports, news, entertainment, movies and more – all live, just like if you had cable. There are also some on-demand options available, as well as a DVR option for recording.
Unlike cable, however, Sling TV offers a very affordable experience. It also is far more flexible. There are no contracts with Sling, so you can cancel at any time. And it’s more flexible in the ways you watch – you can catch the game at home, binge watch shows on the train to work, or record that movie to enjoy later with the family!
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
Since this site is all about saving money – let’s get right down to the Sling TV pricing details.
Sling TV has three different packages, which admittedly can seem a bit confusing at first:
Sling Orange – $30 per month for 30+ channels
Sling Blue – $30 per month for 40+ channels (different selection than Orange)
Sling Orange +Blue – $40 per month for the combination of the two packages
Currently, there are deals to get 40% off the price of the first month of service, although these type of promotions change frequently. Check the deals during the signup process to see what’s currently available.
There are also a variety of add-on packages, most of which are $5 to $10 per month extra. These are optional, but they allow you to further expand your channel lineup.
So, in the end, Sling TV will cost between $30 and $50 per month for most people, depending on the packages you choose. If you want all the bells and whistles, you can get up into the $50-$80+ range per month (which is still cheaper than most cable bills!)
Sling TV Channel List
What channels does Sling TV come with? Again, this depends on the package(s) you choose – here’s an overview:
Sling Orange comes with 30+ channels for $30 per month. It includes ESPN, Disney Channel, A&E, TNT, AMC, HGTV, CNN, TBS, Comedy Central, History, IFC, Food Network, BBC America, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Epix Drive-In, Lifetime, Viceland, AXS.TV, Fuse, Newsy, ESPN2, ESPN3, Freeform, Bloomberg Television, MotorTrend, Cheddar Business, Cheddar News, Local Now, Comet, and Stadium.
Sling Blue comes with 40+ channels for $30 per month. It includes USA, NFL Network, Bravo, TNT, AMC, HGTV, CNN, TBS, Comedy Central, History, A&E, IFC, Food Network, BBC America, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Epix Drive-In, Lifetime, Viceland, AXS.TV, Fuse, Newsy, Bloomberg TV, Cheddar Business, Cheddar News, Local Now, Discovery, NBC, NBC Sports, FX, TLC, NBCSN, FXX, NickJr, SyFy, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, BET, TruTV, Stadium, Comet, E!, and Paramount Network.”
Sling Orange & Blue comes with 50+ channels for $40 per month. It includes ESPN, TNT, AMC, TBS, USA, TLC, CNN, HGTV, Comedy Central, History, A&E, IFC, Food Network, BBC America, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Epix Drive-In, Lifetime, Viceland, AXS.TV, Fuse, Newsy, ESPN2, ESPN3, Freeform, Bloomberg Television, MotorTrend, Disney Channel, Cheddar Business, Cheddar News, Local Now, Discovery, NBC, NBC Sports, FX, NFL Network, NBCSN, FXX, NickJr, SyFy, Bravo, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, BET, TruTV, Stadium, Comet, E!, and Paramount Network
Sling TV Add-Ons
There are also some various add-on packages, most of which are $5 or $10 per month extra. These add specific types of channels to your lineup. For example, the $10 Sports Extra adds channels like MLB Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, ESPNU, and more, while the $5 Kids Extra package adds Disney Junior, Disney XD, TeenNick, Boomerang, and more.
This is one big benefit of Sling TV – it really lets you customize your channels. And with such a low starting price point, it’s still affordable even when you add some expansions!
Sling TV Features
We’ve covered the basics, but what does Sling TV offer in terms of specific features?
Live TV Streaming without cable TV, covering most of your favorite channels!
On-Demand Streaming is available with an online library of select on-demand content to watch anytime.
Mobile Viewing means you can watch when on-the-go, via a Sling TV app on your smartphone or tablet.
Cloud DVR lets you record live TV to watch later. Costs $5/month extra.
Broad Device Compatibility means you can watch on just about any device, including smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, mobile devices, computers and more.
Channel Customization lets you fine-tune your channel lineup to meet your exact preferences.
Premium Channels are available, allowing you to add networks like HBO and Showtime for an extra fee.
No Contract means that you can cancel at any time, without penalty. It’s easy to cancel Sling TV online or by calling in!
So, despite its low price, Sling TV is a feature-rich service. There’s a lot to love about Sling TV already- and it’s constantly expanding and adding new channels/features for users to enjoy!
Sling TV Review: Bottom Line
At a glance, here’s what you need to know. Sling TV is an affordable, easy-to-use service for watching live TV without a cable subscription. It starts at only $30 a month, and you can cancel at any time. You can customize your channel lineup to get anywhere from 30+ to 100+ networks to stream live, any time – just like cable (at a fraction of the price).
Sling TV has apps for all your favorite devices, so you can watch it at home and on-the-go. And if it doesn’t work out for you, you can cancel without penalty, as Sling TV is non-contract! It’s definitely worth a try if you’re looking to cut the cord and try a cable TV alternative.
Ready to test it out? Try Sling TV today!
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