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Sling TV Streaming Service Review (2024)

Customizable Plans for All Your Streaming Needs
By Katy WardBy Katy Ward -
Last Updated: Jun 30, 2024
logo-SLING TV
Visit Site
Base price
From $40 per month
Bundle options
3 devices
Number of titles
ABC, FOX, and NBC local affiliates

Our Verdict

Is Sling TV Worth It?

With 3 plans, Sling TV provides access to more than 85,000 on-demand movies and shows and over 200 channels. As well as offering 50% off for the first month, it also allows non-members to watch thousands of hours of content for free. Although Sling TV’s regional content offering is limited, its reasonable fees could mean the company represents good value for viewers who prioritize access to high-profile sports and entertainment programs.

Base price
From $40 per month
Bundle options
3 devices
Number of titles
ABC, FOX, and NBC local affiliates

Sling TV at a Glance

9.8
Editorial Score

Content

Stream live television and on-demand content, live sports including ESPN and news channels like FOX News, local channels available (depending on area)
10.0

Affordability

Base level packages starting at $40 per month, discounts available
9.0

Add-Ons

Sling Orange, Blue, or Orange + Blue, extras include Sports, Kids, News, Lifestyle, Comedy, Hollywood, Heartland and DVR Plus
10.0

Flexibility

No long-term contracts, upgrade, downgrade, or pause anytime, easy cancelation
10.0

Multiple Screens

Sling Blue subscribers can watch on up to three devices at once, while the Sling Orange & Blue plan allows up to four
10.0

Sling TV Pros & Cons

PROS

200+ channels and 85,000+ on-demand movies and shows
50% off the first month
Thousands of hours of free content

CONS

Poor reviews on Trustpilot
Limited local channels available

Top Sling TV Reviews

STEVE BERNSTEIN
Sling provides great sports news and business
Sling provides great sports and news content for an affordable price. I enjoy watching ESPN. CNN & Bloomberg for $40 per month all in. They also let me switch between packages easily, if I want to watch a sporting event on a different package. Customer service seems irrelevant as everything is easily completed thru Sling TV settings, or via their online app. You can also watch TV on your phone using the app. Free live sports, news and business would be great, but until then, $40 per month is the next best thing.
GA
Ginny Armagh
Unplug it to clear the cache
Sling works great and you can customize the channels you want. The downside is that it will cache in your smart TV, which can cause it to freeze intermittently every few seconds. I regularly have to unplug my tv for about 20 seconds to clear the cache. I plug it back in, then it works perfectly again.
Alex Woodies
Sling is an excellent streaming service.
Sling is an excellent streaming alternative to cable. The channels all run smoothly, the price is quite fair, and the channels included are varied and solid. I highly recommend Sling over other services, like Fubo. I had fubo for over a year and unfortunately the streaming is somewhat glitchy. Sling works much better as it never glitches or freezes. The customer service is very good here as well, highly professional.
See all Sling TV reviews

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Sling TV Sling TV Visit Site

Overview

Is Sling TV Safe and Reliable?

Yes, Sling TV is generally safe to use. It's a reputable live TV streaming service that is commonly used as an alternative to traditional cable television. Among the Top 10 Best TV Streaming Services, Sling TV has a mixed reputation for reliability.

Sling TV currently has a rating of 1.3/5 on Trustpilot. While satisfied customers mention its value for money and ease of use, others complain of difficulties in canceling their plans and of their service freezing when in use.

The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a rating of A+ with the body, although it has a score of just 1.11/5 based on customer reviews.

As with any online service, you should make sure to use strong, unique passwords and take other standard security precautions.

How Sling TV Works

How to Get Started With Sling TV 

If you’d like to sign up for Sling TV, visit the company’s website and click on the 'Try It Free' button for the plan you’re considering. You’ll then need to enter your email address, create a password, and provide your billing information. Then you can add premium channels or extras to your subscription. Unless you cancel your membership during the trial period, you’ll become a paid member and get charged on a monthly basis.

You can watch Sling TV via a wide range of devices, including the following:

  • Amazon Fire

  • Android TV, Google TV

  • Apple TV

  • Chromecast

  • Google Nest

  • Oculus

  • Roku

Find a full list of supported devices here.

In addition to high-profile channels and networks, you can also watch local channels through Sling TV. To do so, you’ll need to purchase an HD antenna (available for free if you prepay for 2 months of Sling TV). Note, the availability of local channels is not as extensive as some of Sling TV’s competitors and will depend on the area you live in. You can find a list of channels available in your region here.

With a strong focus on international programming, Sling TV also provides content in languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, and Polish. 

Overall, we found Sling TV’s website extremely easy to navigate, with a clear explanation of all its customization options.

Sling TV Customer Support

You can contact Sling TV through phone, online chat, social media, or 24/7 virtual assistant. Its phone support hours are 7 days a week, 9.30AM-12AM (ET), while its social support hours are 8AM-1AM.

When we contacted the company over Twitter, we received an extremely helpful reply within 30 minutes.

Sling TV also has a wide selection of FAQs on its website, which provided most of the details we needed. You can also consult a range of articles and how-to guides in its online help center, which also include a great deal of information about the service.

Is There a Sling TV App?

If you’d like to watch and stream TV directly to your mobile device, you can download the Sling TV app from Google Play or the App Store and access all the features on your account.

To download the app on Android, you’ll need version 5.0 and above, while Apple requires iOS 11 or later.

Sling TV Pricing

With the inclusion of ESPN and channels such as Nick Jr. and Lifetime, Sling Orange offers excellent value for families who love sports and have young children. If you are interested in current affairs and showbiz, Sling Blue offers channels such as E!, FX, and Fox News. For families who can’t decide or have eclectic viewing tastes, the combined Sling Orange and Blue plan could be the best choice as it offers access to all available channels.

How Much Does Sling TV Cost?

At present, the company has several deals available. For example, you can receive a free Chromecast with Google TV if you sign up for Sling TV and prepay for a month’s service. Likewise, you can receive a free HD antenna (worth $44.99) when you prepay for 2 months of Sling TV. You can find a full list of deals here.

The company also provides access to thousands of hours of free live and on-demand content through Sling Free. You can create a free account from the website without having to enter any credit card details.

Overall, Sling TV is one of the most affordable streaming services on the market and is especially good value if you opt for a base plan without extras. (See below for more information on those.)


Sling Orange


Best for sports fans and families

Sling Blue


Best for showbiz and news

Sling Orange and Blue


Best for full bells-and-whistles viewing

Cost Per Month

$40

$40

$55

Number of channels

31

41

47

Number of simultaneous streams

1

3

1-3

Notable channels*

ESPN

Disney

CNN

TNT

Comedy Central

Bravo

Discovery

E!

Fox News

CNN

Bravo

Discovery

E!

ESPN

FOX news

* Full channel list available here

Optional Add-Ons

Once you’ve chosen your base plan, you can then customize your subscription with Sling Extras, which are packages of additional channels.

  • Sports Extra ($11 per month): includes SEC Network, NBA TV, beIN Sports, and more

  • Comedy Extra ($6 per month): includes MTV, TruTV, CMT, Paramount Network, and more

  • News Extra ($6 per month): includes reporting from HLN, plus leading networks in Europe and India

  • Lifestyle Extra ($6 per month): includes VH1, WE, Hallmark Drama, FYI, and more

  • Heartland Extra ($6 per month): includes World Fishing Network, Insp, Outdoor Channel, and more

  • Hollywood Extra ($6 per month): includes Cinémoi, Sundance TV, TCM, HDNet Movies, and more

  • AMC+ ($7 per month): includes AMC+, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited

  • 4 Extras ($13 per month): includes Kids Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, and Comedy Central

  • Total TV ($21 per month): includes all extras 

The company also offers a choice of 26 premium channels that you can add to your subscription. Here’s a list of some of the most notable:

  • Showtime ($10 per month)

  • Starz ($9 per month)

  • Epix ($5 per month)

  • Cinémoi ($3 per month)

  • Hallmark movies ($6 per month)

  • Bet+ ($10 per month)

  • Dove Channel ($5 per month)

  • Magnolia Selects ($5 per month)

You can find a full list of available premium channels and networks here.

Sling TV also offers a DVR Plus upgrade for $5 per month that allows you to record up to 200 hours to your DVR. Without the upgrade, you’ll receive 50 hours of free DVR storage.

Sling TV Sling TV Visit Site

Bottom Line  

If you’re seeking a streaming service that will allow you to personalize your subscription for an affordable fee, Sling TV could be an attractive solution. We were impressed by the availability of its free content, which could provide a great insight into whether you would benefit from a paid subscription. Although Sling TV is one of the most budget-friendly streaming options on the market, whether it offers value for money will depend not only on the base plan you choose, but also any optional extras you add. 

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel Sling TV?+-

Yes, you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. However, Sling TV will not refund you for any prepaid or partially used months.

What internet speed will I need?+-

Sling TV recommends a minimum download speed of 3MBPS if you’re using a portable device such as a smartphone or tablet, 5MPS for devices such as PCs or Macs, and 25MBPS or higher if your household uses the internet on multiple devices.

How do I add or remove channels to my plan?+-

You can make changes to your package, including adding or removing channels, by clicking on the 'Edit Subscription' button in your online account. Payment for any premium channels or extras bundles is taken immediately. If you’re removing channels, the extra will be removed on your next payment date and you’ll no longer be billed for this service.

Oxford graduate Katy Ward is a seasoned journalist and editor covering personal finance and software topics for Top10. Over a 15-year career, Katy has worked with several finance titans, including Barclays, Tandem Bank, and Yahoo! Finance.

Sling TV reviews

Bad • Reviews 2,277
on
Excellent
29%
Great
20%
Average
12%
Poor
6%
Bad
34%
We upload 100 to 400 Trustpilot reviews daily to our website, displaying them by default from "best to worst." You have the option to adjust the sorting criteria. If you wish to see all reviews you can go to the Trustpilot website, here.
Sort by
STEVE BERNSTEIN
5 months ago
Sling provides great sports news and business
Sling provides great sports and news content for an affordable price. I enjoy watching ESPN. CNN & Bloomberg for $40 per month all in. They also let me switch between packages easily, if I want to watch a sporting event on a different package. Customer service seems irrelevant as everything is easily completed thru Sling TV settings, or via their online app. You can also watch TV on your phone using the app. Free live sports, news and business would be great, but until then, $40 per month is the next best thing.
GA
Ginny Armagh
2 years ago
Unplug it to clear the cache
Sling works great and you can customize the channels you want. The downside is that it will cache in your smart TV, which can cause it to freeze intermittently every few seconds. I regularly have to unplug my tv for about 20 seconds to clear the cache. I plug it back in, then it works perfectly again.
Alex Woodies
2 years ago
Sling is an excellent streaming service.
Sling is an excellent streaming alternative to cable. The channels all run smoothly, the price is quite fair, and the channels included are varied and solid. I highly recommend Sling over other services, like Fubo. I had fubo for over a year and unfortunately the streaming is somewhat glitchy. Sling works much better as it never glitches or freezes. The customer service is very good here as well, highly professional.
Donna Williams
2 years ago
My roommate would not let me get Cox…
My roommate would not let me get Cox cable TV. I am a tv person so I was bummed. But then I thought about Sling TV & checked it out last night. I ordered the blue package. It would cost me $120 a month for Cox & I didn't watch half the channels. When I saw that Sling TV offered me the channels I watch for only $40 a month I IMMEDIATELY ordered & installed it. Also the picture is so much clearer & bright. I really LOVE my Sling TV. I'm a brand new customer & so far no problems. I should have gotten Sling TV years ago. Just thinking of the thousands of dollars I have spent on Cox cable makes me sick!!! I LOVE SLING TV!!!

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