YouTube TV is simpler and usually cheaper: $82.99 a month for 100+ channels, with no hidden fees. DIRECTV's streaming packages start lower on paper, but required fees and short-lived discounts push them up, with Choice at $100.98 a month including fees for months 2 and 3.
DIRECTV has dropped the DIRECTV STREAM name on its own site and now calls the service streaming live TV from DIRECTV, though most people still search for the old name. Everything below comes from YouTube TV's sign-up page and DIRECTV's streaming pages, checked in October 2026.
YouTube TV vs DIRECTV streaming at a glance
| YouTube TV | DIRECTV streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Main plan, Sports, Sports + News and other genre plans | Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate |
| Main plan price (as of Oct 2026) | $82.99 a month | Choice: $64.99 for the first month before taxes and fees |
| Price with required fees | YouTube TV says there are no hidden fees | Choice: $80.98 for month 1, $100.98 for months 2 and 3 |
| Sports extras | NFL RedZone with Sports Plus, $10.99 a month | DIRECTV Sports Pack with 35+ regional and specialty sports networks |
| ESPN Unlimited | Listed in the main plan's lineup | Included with streaming packages, DIRECTV says |
| Free trial | $0 start for eligible new users | DIRECTV advertises five days free |
| DVR | Unlimited, recordings kept 9 months | Not stated on DIRECTV's packages page |
DIRECTV's streaming packages, with and without fees
This is the part to read slowly. DIRECTV shows a headline price for the first month, then a second figure with required fees. Here's what its packages page lists, as of Oct 2026:
| DIRECTV package | Headline price | With required fees |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $59.99 a month for the first month | $59.99 for the first month |
| Choice | $64.99 a month for the first month | $80.98 for month 1, $100.98 a month for months 2 and 3 |
| Ultimate | $99.99 a month for the first month | $115.98 for month 1, $135.98 a month for months 2 and 3 |
Each price reflects $30 off the first month, and Choice and Ultimate also include $10 off for months 2 and 3. So the headline price is the lowest you'll pay, not the ongoing monthly price. DIRECTV's page doesn't spell out the price after the discounts end, so check it at checkout before you commit.
DIRECTV's five-day trial has its own rules, which I go through in my DIRECTV STREAM free trial guide.
YouTube TV's prices for comparison
YouTube TV's sign-up page lists the main plan at $82.99 a month for 100+ channels, Sports + News at $71.99 and the Sports Plan at $64.99. New users pay $59.99 a month for 2 months on the main plan, or $49.99 a month for 5 months on Sports + News, until 16 November 2026.
YouTube TV also says it has no hidden fees: no box rental, DVR, broadcast or cancellation fees. That makes the sticker price much closer to the bill. The YouTube TV cost guide covers the add-ons that can raise it.
Sports: where DIRECTV pushes ahead
DIRECTV leans hard on sport. Its pages say streaming packages include ESPN Unlimited and access to NFL, NBA and NHL networks, and the optional Sports Pack adds 35+ regional and specialty sports networks, naming NFL Network, ACC Network, NFL RedZone and ESPNEWS.
YouTube TV's main lineup already has NFL Network, NBA TV, ACC Network, ESPNEWS and the rest of the ESPN family, and RedZone is part of its $10.99 Sports Plus add-on. What YouTube TV's national lineup doesn't show is regional sports networks, so local team fans should check both services with their ZIP code.
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Devices and extras
DIRECTV sells its own Gemini streaming device, though it says you can also use Apple, Roku, Google, Amazon and Samsung devices. It also advertises over $40 a month of streaming apps included when you add the Gemini device. YouTube TV works on most smart TVs, streaming sticks, game consoles, phones and the web, with no box to rent.
My verdict
For most people YouTube TV is the better value: the price you see is close to the price you pay, it has unlimited DVR and it carries the national sports networks. DIRECTV makes sense if you follow a local team through a regional sports network, or you want its Sports Pack. Just compare the with-fees figures, not the headline ones, because that's where DIRECTV's real price shows.
DIRECTV Stream's line-up is only one side of the choice; the YouTube TV side is in the YouTube TV channel lineup in full.
Frequently asked questions
Is YouTube TV cheaper than DIRECTV STREAM?
Usually, once fees are counted. YouTube TV's main plan is $82.99 a month with no hidden fees. DIRECTV's Choice package is $64.99 for the first month before fees, but $100.98 a month including required fees for months 2 and 3, as of Oct 2026.
Is DIRECTV STREAM still called DIRECTV STREAM?
DIRECTV's own site now calls it streaming live TV from DIRECTV, formerly DIRECTV STREAM, with packages called Entertainment, Choice and Ultimate.
Which has more sports, YouTube TV or DIRECTV?
Both carry the ESPN networks and NFL Network. DIRECTV adds an optional Sports Pack with 35+ regional and specialty sports networks, while YouTube TV offers RedZone and extra sports networks through its Sports Plus add-on.
Does DIRECTV have a free trial?
DIRECTV advertises its streaming packages as free for five days. YouTube TV lets eligible new users start for $0.
