Short answer: if you're leaving DirecTV's streaming service because of the price, YouTube TV at $82.99 is the easiest landing spot and saves roughly $12 to $50 a month depending on which DirecTV tier you had. The catch is regional sports. DirecTV's Choice tier is one of the few places that still carries most regional sports networks, and almost nothing cheaper does. If your local NBA, NHL or MLB team is the reason you're there, check whether your team sells a direct app before you cancel.
At a glance
Leaving DirecTV streaming
| Best overall swap | YouTube TV, $82.99 |
| Stay with DirecTV, pay less | A genre pack, $20.99-49.99 |
| Need your regional team | Fubo, or the team's own app |
| Already pay for Disney+ | Hulu + Live TV, $89.99 |
| Watch out for | Losing your recordings on cancel |
Side by side
DirecTV prices vary by promotion and region more than most. The figures below are published starting prices as of September 2026; check your own bill for what you actually pay.
| Service | Monthly | Locals | Regional sports | DVR | Streams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DirecTV Entertainment (streaming) | about $95 | Yes | No | Unlimited | Unlimited at home |
| DirecTV Choice (streaming) | about $107 promo, more after | Yes | Most RSNs | Unlimited | Unlimited at home |
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | Yes | Very few | Unlimited | 3 |
| Hulu + Live TV | $89.99 | Yes | Very few | Unlimited | 2 (more with add-on) |
| Fubo | about $85-95 | Yes | Some, by market | 1,000 hrs | 10 at home |
| Sling Orange + Blue | $60.99 | Partial | No | 50 hrs | 4 |
| DirecTV MySports pack | $49.99 | Varies | Add-on | Unlimited | 10 at home |
Why people leave
Price, mostly. DirecTV's streaming tiers took another increase in late 2025, and once the three-month promotional rate ends, Choice and above cost well over $100. That's more than any rival for a similar channel count.
The second reason is that DirecTV used to be the only way to get NFL Sunday Ticket. That ended in 2023 when the package moved to YouTube. Anyone who stayed for football has less reason to now; where the NFL is on this season lays out the current map.
YouTube TV: the default pick
For most people leaving DirecTV, YouTube TV is simply the better-value version of the same thing. All four local networks in nearly every US market, ESPN and the rest of the cable basics, unlimited cloud DVR that keeps recordings for nine months, and six household profiles.
Where it's weaker: three simultaneous streams against DirecTV's much looser home limit, and almost no regional sports networks. It's also the home of NFL Sunday Ticket, which gets a discount when bundled.
If you don't need all 100 channels, YouTube TV's 2026 genre plans cut the price further: $64.99 for the Sports Plan, $54.99 for Entertainment. More on how YouTube TV stacks up.
The regional sports problem
This is the one thing DirecTV still does better than everyone. Its Choice tier carries most of the FanDuel Sports Network channels, NBC Sports regionals and team-owned networks. YouTube TV and Hulu carry very few.
Before assuming you're stuck, check three things:
- Does your team sell a direct app? A growing number of NBA, NHL and MLB teams now sell in-market streaming directly, often around $20 a month or less for a season. The FanDuel Sports Network app sells subscriptions too in its markets.
- Is your team on local broadcast TV? Several teams moved games to free over-the-air stations after the regional network collapses of 2023 and 2024. An antenna then does the job.
- Does Fubo carry your RSN? Fubo has some regional networks by market. Its channel lookup by ZIP tells you in a minute.
If all three are no, DirecTV Choice may genuinely be the cheapest way to watch your team, and it's fine to stay. Just move down to the MySports genre pack with the regional add-on if that combination exists in your market.
The option inside DirecTV
You don't have to leave DirecTV to pay less. Its genre packs, launched in 2025, run on the same app:
- MySports $49.99, includes an ESPN Unlimited subscription
- MyEntertainment $42.99, includes Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max in the price (September 2026)
- MyNews $44.99
- MyKids $20.99
- MiEspañol $37.99
MyEntertainment is the sleeper. Three streaming services you might be paying for separately, plus 60-odd cable channels, for $43. If you'd cancel Disney+ and Max anyway, that's an unusually good deal. The packs don't all include local channels, so pair them with an antenna.
Hulu, Sling and the rest
Hulu + Live TV ($89.99) makes sense only if you'd otherwise pay for Disney+ and Hulu. The bundled on-demand libraries are the reason to pick it. As a pure live TV service it's a little worse than YouTube TV.
Fubo is sports-heavy with more regional networks than most, but it's usually priced above YouTube TV and has dropped channels in carriage disputes before.
Sling is the budget option. Orange + Blue at $60.99 has ESPN, TNT and news, but only partial locals and a small DVR. Good for a household that mainly watches cable news and the odd game.
Philo at $25 if you're done with sports entirely.
What we wouldn't do: replace DirecTV with a cheap unlicensed IPTV seller. They do sell "every RSN for $20," and they're the ones that go dark in the middle of the playoffs. Warning signs.
Match the replacement to the household
Big family, lots of TVs. DirecTV's generous home stream limit is a real loss here. YouTube TV allows three streams; its 4K Plus add-on ($9.99) has historically unlocked unlimited streams at home. Hulu + Live TV needs an unlimited-screens add-on too. Fubo allows up to 10 at home on most plans, which makes it the closest match.
Sports household that follows national games. YouTube TV, or its $64.99 Sports Plan if you don't watch the entertainment channels. Pair with NFL Sunday Ticket if you follow an out-of-market team; the cheapest ways to get it can save you a few hundred dollars.
Sports household that follows a local team. Check the regional sports steps above before cancelling. This is the one case where staying with DirecTV can be the right call.
Mostly news and lifestyle. Sling Blue for news, or Philo for lifestyle channels, plus an antenna for locals.
Only watch a couple of shows and the news. Free options go a long way. An antenna, free ad-supported apps and one on-demand service may be all you need. Cable alternatives at every budget walks through the cheaper setups.
How to switch without losing a weekend
- Start the new trial first. YouTube TV, Hulu and Fubo all run free trials, typically 5 to 7 days in 2026. Run both services side by side.
- Watch your recordings. Your DirecTV cloud DVR goes when you cancel. Watch anything you care about first; there's no export.
- Check your device. If you rented a DirecTV Gemini box, it goes back. A Roku, Fire TV or Google TV Streamer runs every service above. Device picks.
- Cancel at the end of the billing cycle. DirecTV's streaming service is month to month on most plans, but check whether you agreed to a price lock with an early termination fee.
Quick answers
What's the best DirecTV Stream alternative? YouTube TV for most households. It's cheaper, carries all four locals and has unlimited DVR.
What's cheaper than DirecTV Stream? YouTube TV ($82.99), Sling ($45.99 to $60.99), Philo ($25), or DirecTV's own genre packs ($20.99 to $49.99).
Which alternative has regional sports networks? Fubo carries some, by market. Otherwise check for a direct team app or free over-the-air games.
Do I keep my recordings if I cancel? No. DirecTV cloud DVR recordings are deleted when the account ends.
Is DirecTV Stream still called that? DirecTV folded the name into its main brand; the internet-delivered service is now sold as DirecTV via internet, but it's the same product.
Can I get Sunday Ticket without DirecTV? Yes. It's been on YouTube and YouTube TV since 2023.
Is there a contract? Most streaming plans are monthly, but promotional price locks can carry terms. Check before cancelling.
DirecTV pricing varies by promotion, region and account history; figures shown are published starting prices. Regional sports availability changes by market and season. Checked September 2026.