Sling vs Spectrum TV Choice: which is better?

Cable company Spectrum has a cord-cutting offering that allows you to pick 15 channels from a wide array of networks.

Sling TV is also the work of a cable company - Dish - but it offers a different approach. You get to pick from two base packages (blue and orange), each with a set of channels, and then add on packs of extra channels.

You can also combine both packages from Sling. Blue and Orange each cost $35 / month, combining them will cost $50, or $20 less.

Accessibility: Sling's offer is easier to understand

To decide which service to get, first you have to understand the offering. 

Sling TV is more of a pure cord-cutting service with clear prices and a clear channel lineup. Spectrum TV choice might still be too attached to the company's cable ways: you have to be "localized" to know which "offer" you're eligible to. The service is not available everywhere and the pricing will depend on where you are based.

Usability: Sling has a better interface

Spectrum is notorious online for having a horrible DVR interface. This makes it hard (or impossible) to rewind or forward live programming. When you record shows, they don't seem to offer thumbnails which makes it difficult to figure out what is what. 

With Spectrum watch out for the "local broadcast" fee

Spectrum TV has a very attractive price offer, allowing you to pick 15 of your favorite channels for $30 / month. However, depending on your location, they might also charge you $13 which is what's called a "broadcast tv surcharge", and which they themselves pay to local CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, and PBS affiliates.

With Sling TV, you might not get many local channels (if any)

Sling does not charge a "local broadcast" fee but they have solved the problem in a less than ideal way: they just don't offer many local channels. They only have NBC and FOX in select markets.

Why get Sling Orange + Blue?

Sling is a great option if you want to cut the cord but keep access to many channels. If you don't watch sports, you don't have to get the package for them.

Go to Sling Orange + Blue

Why get Spectrum TV Choice ?

Low price: Priced at $29.99, Spectrum TV is good value for money compared to other internet TV services (like, for example, Youtube TV which starts at $64.99).

Non-live programming: If you love sitcoms, dramas and other pre-recorded programming and are not so interested in live broadcasts, Spectrum TV offers a great array of choices.  

Go to Spectrum TV Choice

Price: Spectrum TV Choice is cheaper than Sling Orange + Blue

Spectrum TV Choice 's costs $30 whereas Sling Orange + Blue costs $55. Getting Sling Orange + Blue instead of Spectrum TV Choice will set you back $25 more every month.

Devices: Sling Orange + Blue is more widely available than Spectrum TV Choice

Sling Orange + Blue is available on AirTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox, iOS, iPhone, LG TV, Mi Box, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Vizio Smart TV, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox or Xbox One.

Whereas Spectrum TV Choice is available on Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV or Xbox. That's 13 less devices than Sling Orange + Blue.

Channel count: Sling Orange + Blue has 34 channels more than Spectrum TV Choice

Sling Orange + Blue's lineup includes 49 channels whereas Spectrum TV Choice has only 15 channels. Getting a subscription to Sling Orange + Blue will give you access to 34 more channels than Spectrum TV Choice . That's quite a bit of channels.

Trial: Sling Orange + Blue does not offer a trial

Sling Orange + Blue does not offer a free trial.

Find out more on Sling Orange + Blue

Trial: Spectrum TV Choice offers a trial

Spectrum TV Choice has a trial. The trial duration is 7 days.

Find out more on Spectrum TV Choice

Sling Orange + Blue's specialty

The specialties of Sling Orange + Blue are: Lifestyle, News, Science fiction, Sports, True Crime.

Spectrum TV Choice 's specialty

The specialties of Spectrum TV Choice are: Lifestyle, News, Sports.

Channels on Sling Orange + Blue and not Spectrum TV Choice

The channels that Sling Orange + Blue has and which are not available on Spectrum TV Choice :

Channels on Spectrum TV Choice and not Sling Orange + Blue

The channels that Spectrum TV Choice has which are not available on Sling Orange + Blue:

Channels on both Spectrum TV Choice and Sling Orange + Blue

The channels that are available on both Spectrum TV Choice and Sling Orange + Blue are:

If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.

You need to already be subscribed to Charter Spectrum internet services in order to access Spectrum TV Choice and other services under Spectrum TV umbrella. That includes broadcasts and on-demand content from over 60 major channels networks including Viacom, Discovery, A&E, AMC and Hallmark.

On the other hand, you won’t be able to custom add  any extra channels, and you can’t access other major TV broadcasters like ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and NBC, nor the many ESPN and Fox Sports channels––the absence of which helps keep the cost of the service down.

Price: Varies depending on your location and account history.

What is the cheapest way to watch ?

Is it possible to watch for free?

You can get a limited time free trial to by subscribing to .

How to get a live stream?

The platforms that will get you a live stream are .

How to watch on Roku?

You can watch on your Roku device by subscribing to .

How to watch on an Amazon Fire TV?

can be accessed on an Amazon Fire TV device by subscribing to .

How to watch on iOS (iPhone or iPad)?

You can watch on an iPhone or iPad by subscribing to .

How to watch on an Android phone?

You can watch on an Android device such as Samsung or Google Pixel by subscribing to .

How to watch on an Android TV?

You can watch on a Smart TV that runs on Android by getting a subscription to .

How to watch on an Xbox?

You can watch on an Xbox console through .

Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 12 cheapest Live TV streaming services for cord-cutting.

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The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.