DIRECTV Stream Review for 2024

Despite the decline of cable TV, it’s still a prevalent member of US households. In fact, according to Leichtman, a little bit over 70% of US homeowners still pay for cable TV. But in 2024, is cable TV still worth it?

Given the affordability and feature-rich nature of streaming, a cable TV contract might be a hard pill to swallow.

Enter DIRECTV Stream. Thanks to its wealth of content and premium features, it makes cable TV look like an expensive paperweight in comparison. But is it really the best deal out there for you and your family? In this review, we’ll look at DIRECTV Stream to show you if the streaming platform is worth your time.

What is DIRECTV Stream?

In the late 90s to early 2000s, satellite cable was one of the mainstays of American homes. One of the big names in the satellite cable business was DIRECTV. Now, DIRECTV Stream is an evolution of the original satellite cable provider.

It all started in 2017 when DIRECTV's parent company, AT&T, decided to dip its toes in the cloud-based DVR streaming business. The service first began as an Android-based TV service known as DirecTV Now. Then, it was rebranded to AT&T Now and offered services aimed at cord-cutters that featured cable TV-like features without tying the customer to a contract.

Fast forward to today, and now we have DIRECTV Stream, an online streaming service that allows you to watch your favorite content seamlessly across multiple devices. Additionally, DirecTV Stream features unlimited cloud DVR, enabling you to save your favorite TV moments for offline viewing or endless rewatches.

On top of that, DIRECTV Stream subscribers can say goodbye to those awkward fights over the TV screen. With its simultaneous streaming feature, you can watch different content across 3 devices at the same time!

To sum up, DIRECTV Stream is a streaming service offering competitive features that make it a viable cable alternative.

What are the DIRECTV Stream plans?

When setting up your DIRECTV account, you’ll get a choice between 4 different subscription tiers. The main difference across each subscription is the price and the number of channels you can watch. The subscription plans are:

Regardless of your plan, you’ll still get access to the unlimited cloud DVR features and the 3-device simultaneous stream limit.

What can you watch on DIRECTV Stream?

Now we get to the most pressing issue—the channel lineup. After all, what’s the worth of a cable alternative if you can’t watch your favorite content?

Luckily, DIRECTV Stream has a healthy channel lineup across all of its subscription plans. From live news coverage to sports networks to even kid-friendly cartoons, you can watch them all on this streaming platform.

Here’s a small sample of what you can expect to find on DIRECTV Stream:

• A&E HD
• AMC
• Animal Planet HD
• BBC America HD
• Cartoon Network HD
• CNBC
• CNN HD
• Comedy Central
• Discovery Channel
• Disney Channel
• E! HD
• ESPN HD
• Fox News HD
• FX HD
• Lifetime

Additionally, higher subscription tiers have exclusive access to select channels. For instance, you can watch these channels on the Choice subscription and above.

• MLB HD
• MTV Classic
• NBA TV
• Nick Jr.
• Nicktoons
• SEC ESPN

And finally, there are some premium channel add-ons worth noting. You can watch these channels for an additional monthly fee:

• Cinemax
• EPIX
• Hallmark Drama HD
• HBO Max
• MGM HD
• MTV Live
• Showtime
• STARZ

All in all, you’ll get a healthy number of channels to watch even on the most affordable DIRECTV Stream plan. And if you’re still looking for more content to watch, you can always chip in a little extra for some add-on channels.

Can I stream DIRECTV Stream on my devices?

Device support is another important factor when choosing between different streaming platforms. After all, if you couldn’t watch the content you paid for on your phone or PC, it would feel like a rip-off, wouldn’t it? But since most modern devices have access to the DIRECTV Stream app, device support should be the least of your concerns.

These devices are guaranteed to work with DIRECTV Stream:

• Web Browsers - Safari and all Chromium-based browsers
• Streaming Devices - Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast
• Mobile Devices - Phones and tablets on Android 7.1 and up, and Apple devices on iOS 11 and up
• Smart TVs - Select LG, Sony, Samsung, and Vizio models
• And more.

As you can see, DIRECTV Stream has a healthy amount of device support. While currently, no game console has access to the DIRECTV Stream app, we will update this article if DIRECTV Stream adds it in the future, so stay tuned!

How do you watch DIRECTV Stream outside the US?

If you’re outside the US and are interested in DIRECTV Stream, you might think you’re out of luck. But you don’t have to worry. You can still access DIRECTV Stream, regardless of where you live, with the help of a VPN. With just the click of a button, VPNs can stream anything your heart desires.

And if you’re looking for a good VPN, ExpressVPN is your ticket to streaming freedom.

Enjoy hassle-free TV with DIRECTV Stream

While cable is still popular among most American homes, it’s gotten far too expensive—especially when compared to most streaming services. So, your cable bill should be the first to go if you’re looking to cut costs, especially with things like gas prices on the rise.

Luckily for you, streaming services like DIRECTV Stream offer an affordable alternative. With DirecTV Stream, you’ll get all you want out of cable TV at a more affordable price and additional features.

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