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Most live content, from sports to major news shows, is still only available on traditional TV. I realized this quickly after cutting the cord on cable, and, like many, entered the world of live TV streaming services. It’s a confusing space (which is why I now write about it often), but two services stand out: Fubo and Sling.
Sling
Sling offers customizable, budget-friendly packages with almost every top channel.
➤ Pros: Affordable, almost every major channel, package customizability
➤ Cons: Limited local channel availability, no CBS, limited simultaneous account usage
Fubo
Fubo offers an extensive channel lineup, including great local coverage and RSNs, at a reasonable price.
➤ Pros: Huge channel lineup, great local coverage, RSNs, watch on 10 screens
➤ Cons: No Warner Bros. channels (TNT, CNN, TBS, etc.), pricier than Sling
But after reviewing both Sling and Fubo, I realized that their pricing, channel lineups, and features are all significantly different. If you’re deciding between the two services, read on. Ahead is my full Sling vs. Fubo comparison review after spending time with both.
Channel Lineups, Packages, Pricing
The trickiest part of deciding between Fubo and Sling is understanding their different channel lineups and pricing options.
We’ve put together a full breakdown below, but here’s the short and sweet: Fubo offers massive 150+ channel lineups in both of its packages (Pro and Elite), and these start at $84.99 a month. Sling’s three packages are more streamlined with up to 45+ channels, but their pricing starts much lower at $45.99 a month. Fubo does not carry Warner Bros. Discovery Channels (TNT, TBS, CNN, truTV, etc) in any of its packages, and Sling does not carry CBS.
Here’s a further breakdown of Fubo’s packages and pricing. Note that channel availability varies depending on your region, and regional sports fees are sometimes required at up to $15.99 a month extra.
Fubo Pro ($84.99 a month): Fubo’s entry-level plan is the Pro package, which costs $84.99 a month. It carries 150+ channels, but that can go up to 250+ depending on your region. The Pro plan offers almost every major network, minus Warner Bros. Discovery channels. You’ll find local channels, national and regional sports networks, news channels, and plenty of entertainment channels. Overall, it’s a great value with very few channels missing.
Fubo Elite ($94.99 a month): Fubo Elite bumps up the channel count to 200+, including channels from Fubo’s Sports Plus add-on like NBA TV, Fubo News channels, and more entertainment channels. The Elite plan also makes some sports content available to watch live in 4K UHD.
Fubo Latino ($14.99 a month): Fubo also offers a Latino package that carries 50+ Spanish channels, including Telemundo and Fox Deportes.
Fubo Add-Ons: Fubo subscribers can also upgrade their base packages using several add-ons. The most straightforward is the Fubo Extra add-on, which tacks 50 channels onto your lineup, including significant ones like NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, ESPNU, and BBC World News.
Here’s a further breakdown of Sling’s packages and pricing. Note that channel availability varies depending on your region.
Sling Orange: Sling Orange is the streamer’s most affordable package, starting at $45.99 a month. The plan carries 34 channels, including seven “exclusive” channels, which means channels not available in the Blue plan below. These exclusive channels are Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN 4K, ESPN2, ESPN3, Freeform, and MotorTrend. The other 27 channels, which are also available in Sling Blue, include major networks like AMC, TNT, HGTV, Lifetime, and CNN.
Sling Blue: Sling Blue is similar to Orange, starting at $45.99 a month. Sling Blue offers 14 exclusive channels, including Fox News, Bravo, NFL Network, and USA. Additionally, it shares the same 27 standard channels that Sling Orange also carries.
In certain regions, Sling Blue also offers live local channels ABC, Fox, and NBC. If you live in an area where these channels are offered, the price of Sling Blue increases to $50.99 a month.
Sling Orange + Blue: If you want all the channels that Sling can offer in your area, check out the Orange + Blue plan. This package is $60.99 if you live in an area where Sling doesn’t carry local channels and $65.99 a month if you do.
Sling Add-Ons: Sling also offers a few add-ons, including options for extra sports channels, entertainment networks, and premium channels.
Interface, Device Compatibility
Fubo and Sling both feature a familiar interface that works like a traditional cable TV channel guide. Both are easy to navigate, especially if you’ve recently cut the cord. Both also have shortcut options at the top for certain categories (movies, sports, news, etc.) and ways to favorite shows you like, making it easier to navigate to them in the future.
Device compatibility is also virtually the same with Sling and Fubo. Both work with all major smart TVs, streaming sticks, tablets, and smartphones. Both are also available on Xbox consoles, although not on PlayStation or Nintendo devices.
One of the most important features of any streaming service, in our opinion, is the number of screens you can stream on simultaneously. Fubo is the clear winner in this department, letting both Pro and Elite subscribers watch on up to 10 screens. That means you, your roommates or kids, and anyone else in the house can watch at the same time on one account.
Sling allows one screen at a time with Orange, three with Blue, and four with Orange + Blue.
Fubo also beats Sling for recording shows, offering unlimited cloud DVR in every package. Sling offers 50 hours of DVR storage standard, and unlimited DVR will cost you an extra $5 a month.
Deals & Free Trials
Sling and Fubo both offer introductory deals to new subscribers. Fubo takes the edge here with a seven-day free trial and $20 off your first month of Fubo Pro or Elite, or $5 off your first month of Fubo Latino.
Sling doesn’t offer a free trial, as of writing, but they do offer a steep introductory discount of 50% off your first month. This brings the starting price of Sling Orange and Blue down to just $23, and the starting price of Sling Orange + Blue down to $30.50.
Verdict: Sling vs. Fubo
Sling and Fubo are very different streaming services, built for different kinds of users.
If you want a massive channel lineup, the ability to watch on several screens, and plenty of DVR at no additional cost, Fubo is the way to go. It offers far more channels than any of Sling’s packages and better coverage of local channels and RSNs. We also love that you get a seven-day free trial to check it out. The one big drawback is Fubo’s lack of TNT, TBS, and other Warner Bros. Discovery properties.
If you want a more minimal, affordable live TV streaming service, go with Sling. You get almost all of the necessary channels for major sports games and other live events, with the only exception being CBS. We also wish Sling offered a free trial to check out risk-free, but its 50% introductory deal makes your first month very cheap.
For my needs, Sling makes more sense. I only need the major channels for sports and big live events (like awards shows), and I want to pay as little as possible. I also don’t have a big household, so I rarely need to watch on more than one screen at the same time.
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