DirecTV Stream vs Fubo — Two Routes for US Live TV
Updated 2026-04-24
TL;DR
DirecTV Stream ($86.99 base) is positioned as a 'full-featured cable replacement': 75+ channels + unlimited cloud DVR + unlimited home streams + 3 mobile. Biggest setback: lost NFL Sunday Ticket on 2023-04-04 (now YouTube TV). Fubo ($79.99 base) is 'sports-first': 195+ channels (the higher count includes lots of niche fillers) + 1000hr DVR + 10 home / 5 away. Fubo exclusively has Premier League + Serie A US rights; DirecTV does not. Both have RSNs (Regional Sports Networks) but with different coverage. Average household for entertainment + drama → DirecTV. Heavy sports (Euro football + NFL + American sports) → Fubo.
| Dimension | DirecTV Stream | Fubo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $86.99/mo (Entertainment tier) | $79.99/mo (Pro tier) |
| Total channels | 75+ (Entertainment) / 150+ (top tier) | 195+ (Pro tier) |
| ESPN / sports channels | ESPN + ESPN2 + ESPNU + ACC Network, etc. | ESPN + ESPN2 + ESPNU + many niche sports nets |
| NFL Sunday Ticket | No (lost 2023-04-04 to YouTube TV) | No (no Sunday Ticket but includes NFL Network + RedZone) |
| Premier League / Serie A | No | Exclusive Premier League US rights + Serie A US |
| DVR capacity | Unlimited cloud DVR (9-month retention) | 1000hr cloud DVR |
| Simultaneous streams | Unlimited at home + 3 mobile | 10 home / 5 away |
| Free trial | 5 days | 7 days |
Verdict
Entertainment / drama / general sports + want unlimited home streams → DirecTV Stream (unlimited home streaming is the killer feature). Watching European football (Premier League / Serie A) + heavy American sports + care about RSN coverage → Fubo ($79.99 is $7 cheaper than DirecTV $86.99 and has more channels). DirecTV's competitiveness fell sharply after losing NFL Sunday Ticket — for Sunday Ticket you must go to YouTube TV. Both require US IP; Fubo is slightly stricter (active VPN detection at the carrier level).