If you want cable without the box, DirecTV is what you’re after. It’s only fitting that the only familiar satellite service on this list is the best cable replacement, and DirecTV lives up to its name—for better and worse. On the plus side, there’s a massive channel selection, particularly on the Choice plan and above. DirecTV includes most of the top 100 channels I looked at, along with major regional sports networks like FanDuel and NBC Sports.
And just like the satellite plans of yore, DirecTV charges a pretty penny. Plans climb all the way to $170 per month if you want movie channels like Starz and Showtime, and even DirecTV’s cheaper Choice and Entertainment plans come in $10 to $15 more than Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV.
Still, you get quite a bit for your money. In addition to a broad channel lineup, DirecTV includes ESPN Unlimited with every plan, along with ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Hulu with the Choice plan and above. Unlimited DVR also comes standard, as does unlimited streams at home (and up to three outside of your home).
You can build your own plan with DirecTV’s Genre Packs, though the cost ends up being more expensive than just picking up one of the full plans from the get-go. For most people, the Choice plan is the best option. It includes quite a few more channels than the cheaper Entertainment plan, including the NFL and MLB Networks, along with truTV, Pop, and Science. The more expensive Ultimate plan has more channels, but they’re mainly secondary channels like Disney Junior and Nat Geo Wild.
The DirecTV app is available on Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung TVs (2017 and newer), and you’ll also find apps on mobile devices and in your browser. Notably, there aren’t any apps for game consoles, which is a shame because DirecTV’s app feels sluggish. It’s great in the browser, but testing on my TCL QM8K TV, there was always a bit of a hang as I navigated through channels. I suspect this will only be exaggerated on less powerful devices, like a cheaper Roku Streaming Stick.
I don’t love the interface, but there are solid features. You can favorite channels and sports teams to easily find them, as well as turn on live scores. The most frustrating aspect is the home screen. It’s useful for seeing your favorite channels, but leaving a channel will return you to this home screen rather than the guide.