Starting at $40 per month – this is how much Sling TV costs for its basic plan. The exact price you pay depends on which package you pick and what add-ons you want.
People ask me about streaming costs all the time. They want to cut the cable bill but don’t know where to start.
I tested Sling TV myself for months. I looked at every plan and extra charge.
This guide will show you the real numbers. You’ll see exactly how much Sling TV costs for different setups.
What is Sling TV and How Does It Work?
Sling TV is a live TV streaming service. It sends channels over the internet to your devices.
You don’t need a cable box or a contract. Just sign up online and start watching.
It works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. I use it on my living room TV and my phone when traveling.
The big question is always about the price. How much does Sling TV cost compared to cable?
Let me break it down for you. The base price is just the beginning of the story.
You can add sports, movies, and more channels. Each addition changes your final monthly bill.
Understanding how much Sling TV costs means looking at all these pieces. I’ll show you every part.
Sling TV Base Plan Prices
Let’s start with the main plans. Sling TV offers two basic packages right now.
Sling Orange costs $40 per month. It gives you over 30 channels including ESPN and Disney.
Sling Blue also costs $40 per month. It has a different channel list with Fox and NBC.
Many people want both packages together. How much does Sling TV cost for the combined plan?
Sling Orange & Blue together cost $55 per month. This gets you the channels from both basic plans.
These prices are for the standard service. They don’t include any premium channels or extras.
When you ask how much does Sling TV cost, this is where you begin. The $40 or $55 plan forms your foundation.
Breaking Down the Channel Lineups
What do you get for that $40? Let’s look at the channel lists.
Sling Orange focuses on Disney-owned channels. You get ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and Disney Channel.
It also includes news channels like CNN. There’s some entertainment like AMC and HGTV too.
Sling Blue has more local channels in many areas. You might get Fox, NBC, and NFL Network.
It includes news from Fox News and MSNBC. There’s entertainment from Bravo and USA Network.
The combined plan gives you everything from both. How much does Sling TV cost for all these channels?
Again, it’s $55 monthly for the Orange & Blue combo. This is Sling’s most popular package.
Add-On Packages and Their Costs
Here’s where the price can grow. Sling offers many add-on packs.
The Sports Extra costs $11 per month. It adds more ESPN channels, NHL Network, and SEC Network.
How much does Sling TV cost with this sports add-on? Your $40 plan becomes $51 monthly.
The News Extra costs $6 per month. It gives you BBC World News, Newsmax, and Weather Nation.
The Kids Extra costs $6 per month too. It adds Boomerang, DuckTV, and BabyFirst.
The Lifestyle Extra costs $6 monthly. You get Cooking Channel, DIY Network, and FYI.
You can mix and match these add-ons. Each one increases your final bill.
I recommend starting with just the base plan. See what you miss before adding more.
Premium Channel Add-On Prices
Want movie channels? Sling offers those too for extra money.
Starz costs $9 per month on Sling TV. It gives you all the Starz channels and on-demand movies.
Showtime costs $10 per month. You get Showtime East, West, and their streaming library.
EPIX costs $6 per month. It’s another movie channel with recent films.
How much does Sling TV cost with two premium channels? Let’s do the math together.
A $40 base plan plus Starz and Showtime would be $59. That’s before any other add-ons.
These premium channels often have free trials. Try them for a week before you commit.
DVR Service and Cloud Storage Costs
Sling includes some DVR features for free. But there are limits.
The free DVR gives you 50 hours of storage. This works for most casual users.
Want more space? DVR Plus upgrade costs $5 per month. It gives you 200 hours of storage.
How much does Sling TV cost with this DVR upgrade? Add $5 to whatever plan you choose.
The DVR lets you record live TV. You can watch it later on any device.
I use the free 50 hours and it’s enough for me. I delete shows after watching them.
Think about your recording habits. Do you keep shows for months or watch them quickly?
Comparing Sling TV to Cable Prices
Let’s put this in context. How does Sling compare to traditional cable?
The average cable TV bill is over $100 per month. That’s according to FCC reports.
How much does Sling TV cost in comparison? Even with add-ons, it’s usually under $80.
Cable often has hidden fees too. There’s the broadcast fee, sports fee, and equipment charges.
Sling shows you the price upfront. The monthly fee is what you pay, plus tax.
You save on equipment since there’s no box. Use your own streaming device or smart TV.
The FTC warns about hidden TV fees. Sling avoids most of these problems.
Special Deals and Promotional Pricing
Sling often runs sales and promotions. These can lower your first month’s cost.
Right now, new users can get half off their first month. How much does Sling TV cost with this deal?
The $40 plan becomes $20 for month one. The $55 plan becomes $27.50.
Sometimes they offer free premium channels. You might get Starz free for three months.
These deals change throughout the year. Check their website for current offers.
I signed up during a promotion. It gave me a chance to test the service cheaply.
Remember that prices go up after the promo. Budget for the regular rate after month one.
Additional Fees and Taxes
Let’s talk about the extra charges. Every streaming service has some.
Sling adds state and local taxes to your bill. These vary by where you live.
How much does Sling TV cost with tax? Usually $2 to $4 more than the listed price.
There are no equipment rental fees. That’s a big saving over cable.
There’s no contract cancellation fee either. You can leave anytime without penalty.
Your total bill will be the plan price plus tax. It’s simple math each month.</p
I appreciate this transparency. Cable bills have too many surprise charges.
Cost-Saving Tips for Sling TV Users
Want to keep your bill low? I have some tricks.
Start with just the base plan. See what channels you actually watch for a month.
How much does Sling TV cost if you skip add-ons? Just $40, which is quite affordable.
Share your account with family. Sling allows multiple streams on some plans.
Turn off premium channels when not watching them. You can add and remove them monthly.
Look for bundle deals. Sling sometimes partners with other services for discounts.
The USA.gov consumer tips page suggests comparing services yearly. Check if you still need all your add-ons.
Comparing Sling to Other Streaming Services
How does Sling stack up against competitors? Let’s look at the numbers.
YouTube TV costs about $73 per month. It has more channels but costs more.
Hulu + Live TV costs $77 monthly. It includes the Hulu streaming library.
How much does Sling TV cost compared to these? The $40 plan is much cheaper.
But Sling has fewer local channels in some areas. Check your local availability first.
DIRECTV Stream starts at $80 per month. That’s double Sling’s base price.
Each service has different channel lineups. Price isn’t the only factor to consider.
Is Sling TV Worth the Cost?
This is the big question. Is the service worth your money?
How much does Sling TV cost versus what you get? For cord-cutters, it’s often a good deal.
If you watch mostly cable news and sports, Sling delivers. The ESPN access alone justifies the cost for some.
If you want lots of local channels, check availability first. Sling Blue has more locals than Orange.
The price flexibility is a huge plus. You can change your plan every month if needed.
I think it’s worth trying for a month. Use the half-off deal to test it risk-free.
The Consumer Reports streaming guide suggests testing services before committing. Sling makes this easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sling TV cost per month?
Plans start at $40 monthly. The Orange & Blue combo costs $55 per month.
How much does Sling TV cost with all add-ons?
With every add-on, your bill could reach $100. Most people spend $50 to $70.
How much does Sling TV cost for sports fans?
Sports fans might pay $51 to $62 monthly. This includes the base plan and sports add-ons.
How much does Sling TV cost compared to cable?
It’s usually $30 to $50 cheaper than cable. You avoid equipment fees and contracts.
How much does Sling TV cost with DVR?
The basic DVR is free. The 200-hour upgrade costs $5 extra per month.
How much does Sling TV cost for new users?
New users often get half off the first month. So $20 for Orange or Blue, $27.50 for both.
Conclusion
So how much does Sling TV cost? The simple answer is $40 to $55 for most users.
Add-ons can increase your bill. But you control what extras you include each month.
Compared to cable, Sling saves most people money. The flexibility is worth the switch.
Start with the basic plan during a promotion. See if it meets your TV watching needs.
You can always add channels later. Or cancel anytime without fees.
How much does Sling TV cost for you? Only one way to find out – try it yourself.