DirecTV Stream vs. DirecTV via Internet: Which is the best value?

You don’t need a satellite dish to watch DirecTV anymore, but before you sign up for a DirecTV streaming plan, make sure you pick the right one.

DirecTV offers two streaming services today, one called DirecTV Stream and the other called DirecTV via Internet. They have nearly identical branding and many of the same channel packages, but they’re different in several important ways.

The short version: If you want to avoid sneaky fees and long-term contracts, sign up for DirecTV Stream. But if you’re after a more traditional pay TV service with lower up-front costs, DirecTV via Internet might be worth a look.

Let’s break down those differences in more detail:

Channel lineups are the same, but prices vary

If you’re looking for a big bundle of pay TV channels, DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream offer the exact same channel lineups:

• Entertainment includes local stations, cable news, national sports channels, and entertainment channels. The total, non-promotional price is $87 per month with DirecTV Stream and $90 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet.
• Choice adds more sports channels and regional sports networks. The total, non-promotional price is $115 per month with DirecTV Stream and up to $123 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers).
• Ultimate adds more sports and movie channels. The total, non-promotional price is $130 per month with DirecTV Stream and starts at $153 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers).
• Premier adds premium networks such as Max and Starz. The total, non-promotional price is $170 per month with DirecTV Stream and starts at $198 per month with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers).

For an in-depth comparison of the two services’ channel lineups, consult these PDFs for DirecTV Stream and DirecTV via Internet.

DirecTV via Internet has long-term contracts with early termination fees

If you take only one thing away from this article, it’s that DirecTV via Internet has contracts, while DirecTV Stream does not.

Read the fine print on DirecTV’s plan selection page, and you’ll see that the advertised price requires a 24-month commitment. Cancelling early invokes an early termination fee of $20 for each month left on your contract, up to $480 in total.

By contrast, DirecTV Stream allows you to cancel anytime without penalty, the flip side being that prices aren’t locked in, so they can increase at any time.

DirecTV via Internet has extra fees

DirecTV via Internet has a couple of notable fees:

• Advanced Receiver Service: This mandatory $15-per-month fee covers the cost of a DirecTV set-top box for a single TV. Each additional box costs $7 per month, although you can use DirecTV’s streaming apps on third-party set-top boxes like Roku at no extra charge.
• Regional sports fees: These vary by market but can cost up to $18 per month.

With DirecTV Stream, the advertised price is what you get, with no additional fees for equipment or regional sports channels–albeit with no guarantee that prices won’t go up in the next two years.

Only DirecTV Stream has cheaper “Genre Packs”

DirecTV Stream now offers a handful of cheaper TV bundles that are focused on specific genres:

• MyEntertainment ($35 per month) includes a broad mix of entertainment channels and cable news, but no local or sports channels. Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) are also included, and Max will be added soon at no extra charge. Notable channels include HGTV, History, Discovery, and Bravo.
• MyNews ($40 per month) has the big three major cable news networks along with local NBC and Fox stations, plus CNBC, CNBC World, Fox Business, CNN International, i24, and Newsmax.
• MySports ($70 per month) has local ABC, Fox, and NBC channels, plus ESPN channels, Fox Sports channels, Turner channels (TNT, TBS, TruTV), all four league-specific channels, and USA, along with cable news. ESPN+ is included as well.
• MiEspañol ($35 per month) includes Univision, Telemundo, and dozens of other Spanish-language channels.

DirecTV Stream’s bundle picker page has a full channel list for each genre pack, along with some optional add-ons.

As of now, these cheaper genre packs aren’t available with DirecTV via Internet.

DirecTV via Internet includes a streaming dongle, DirecTV Stream is bring-your-own

So far, DirecTV via Internet doesn’t seem to have much going for it. Compared to DirecTV Stream, the service is more expensive, it locks you into a long-term contract, and you can’t take advantage of DirecTV’s more flexible genre packs.

The one advantage DirecTV via Internet has is its Gemini Air streaming dongle that you’ll plug into your TV’s HDMI port. It closely mimics the cable TV experience, jumping right into live TV when you turn it on, and its remote is loaded with shortcuts for things like recording, channel-flipping, and the grid guide. It even includes number keys for jumping to your favorite channels. The dongle provides access to streaming apps such as Netflix and Hulu as well.

With DirecTV Stream, you supply the hardware. DirecTV offers apps for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV/Google TV, Samsung TVs, iOS, and Android (there is currently no DirecTV Stream app for LG’s WebOS). It also works on the web and supports casting via Google Cast. On these devices, DirecTV Stream will behave like any other streaming app that you’d launch from the home screen.

Can you buy a Gemini Air box to use with DirecTV Stream? Officially, no. But it is available from SolidSignal for $220, and many eBay sellers offer it for less. Once installed, it will work the same way with DirecTV Stream as it does with DirecTV via Internet, and you can still use it with other streaming apps if you cancel service.

Still, the set-top box does represent an additional up-front expense with DirecTV Stream, whereas with DirecTV via Internet it’s rolled into your monthly bill. Depending on your choice of channel package and your level of commitment to DirecTV, you might come out ahead choosing DirecTV via Internet instead of DirecTV Stream.

What about satellite?

DirecTV still offers satellite service for new subscribers. The costs are mostly the same as DirecTV via Internet, and new subscribers get a Gemini box that’s similar to the Gemini Air model for internet customers. The only notable difference—aside from the delivery mechanism and the need to install a satellite dish—is that DirecTV via Satellite allows you to opt out of local channels for a $12-per-month discount.

Which DirecTV should you choose?

Most folks who are considering DirecTV should opt for DirecTV Stream. It’s cheaper in most cases, offers more flexible channel packages, and it doesn’t lock you into a long-term commitment.

DirecTV via Internet is only worth considering if you don’t plan to change your TV habits for the next couple of years and want to use DirecTV’s own streaming dongle to access the service. Even then, you may still come out ahead choosing DirecTV Stream and buying a Gemini dongle on your own.

Of course, there are lots of other ways to get TV these days. Check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services, or consider going bundle-free to maximize your savings.

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