Short answer: Sling TV is the budget end of licensed IPTV: Orange or Blue at $45.99 a month, both for $60.99, smaller Select and Essentials plans from $19.99, and day passes from $4.99. The catch most comparisons skip is local channels: Sling carries few of them, and only in some cities, so most Sling households need an antenna alongside it. Cheap unlicensed IPTV lists undercut it on price only because they pay nothing for the channels.
At a glance
IPTV vs Sling TV
| Orange or Blue | $45.99/month each |
| Orange & Blue | $60.99/month |
| Select or Essentials | From $19.99/month |
| Day passes | $4.99 (1 day), $9.99 (3), $14.99 (7) |
| Local channels | Limited; pair with an antenna |
| Cheap IPTV lists | Usually unlicensed, no guarantees |
What Sling TV is
Sling TV, owned by EchoStar, was the first major US live-TV streaming service when it launched in 2015. It remains the most modular: rather than one big package, it sells smaller bundles you combine with add-ons.
Like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, it is IPTV in the technical sense, delivered over the internet, and it holds licences for every channel it carries. That is the fundamental difference from the IPTV playlists sold online for a few dollars a month.
Sling's plans in 2026
| Plan | Price | Main content | Streams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel, TNT, TBS, CNN | 1 |
| Sling Blue | $45.99 | FS1, NFL Network, USA, Fox News, local Fox/NBC in some cities | 3 |
| Orange & Blue | $60.99 | Both line-ups | 4 (1 Orange + 3 Blue) |
| Sling Select | From $19.99 | Smaller mix, including some ESPN networks | Varies |
| Sling Essentials | From $19.99 | Smaller general entertainment mix | Varies |
| Day passes | $4.99-14.99 | Access for 1, 3 or 7 days | Varies |
Prices from Sling's site as of September 2026. New customers are often offered a discounted first month, and channel line-ups vary by market, so check your ZIP code before subscribing.
The Orange/Blue split matters. ESPN is on Orange; Fox Sports and NFL Network are on Blue. Sports fans often end up needing both.
DVR: 50 hours of cloud storage is included, with more available as a paid upgrade. That is modest compared with the unlimited DVR on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.
Day passes: Sling's answer to flexibility
One of the pitches for cheap IPTV lists is that you can pay for a short period around a big event. Sling now offers a licensed version: 1-day, 3-day and 7-day passes.
For someone who wants to catch one big game or a weekend tournament on a cable channel, a $4.99 day pass is a legitimate alternative to a full month of anything. Check that the event airs on a channel included in the pass before buying.
Monthly plans are also contract-free and can be cancelled at any time, though Sling does not refund partial months.
Sling TV vs a typical IPTV list
| Sling TV | Typical unlicensed IPTV list | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 day pass to $60.99/month | $10-20/month |
| Licensed | Yes | No |
| Local channels | Few markets; antenna recommended | Arbitrary feeds from other cities |
| DVR | 50 hours, upgradable | Rare |
| Apps | Official app stores | Often sideloaded |
| Risk of shutdown | Very low | High |
| Payment protection | Card, standard consumer protection | Often crypto or intermediaries |
Where Sling falls short
Local channels. ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are only partly available and only in some markets. This is Sling's biggest weakness, and the reason its price is lower.
Regional sports networks. Sling carries very few, so local NBA, NHL and MLB team coverage is usually missing.
Streams. Orange allows only one stream at a time, which rules it out for many households unless paired with Blue.
DVR. 50 hours fills up quickly if you record sport.
None of these is a reason to consider an unlicensed list, which has its own and more serious gaps. They are reasons to plan the setup properly.
Sling against the other licensed services
Sling's selling point is price, so the fair comparison is with what the extra money buys elsewhere.
| Service | Monthly | Locals | DVR | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Orange or Blue | $45.99 | Few | 50 hours | Budget cable channels |
| Sling Orange & Blue | $60.99 | Few | 50 hours | Wider cable mix |
| YouTube TV Entertainment | $54.99 | Yes | Unlimited | Locals plus lifestyle, no sport |
| YouTube TV Sports | $64.99 | Yes | Unlimited | Locals plus sport channels |
| Fubo Sports | $55.99 | Mostly (no NBC) | Included | Sports-first households |
| ESPN Unlimited + Fox One | $39.99 | Fox only | Fox One only | ESPN and Fox sport |
Once you add local channels, the gap narrows. YouTube TV's genre plans cost only slightly more than a single Sling package and include your local stations and unlimited DVR. Sling still wins for households that already have good antenna reception and just want a few cable networks.
Add-ons worth knowing
Sports Extra (from around $11) adds channels such as NFL RedZone, NBA TV and MLB Network, depending on your base plan.
News Extra (from around $6) adds extra news networks.
DVR upgrade expands storage beyond the included 50 hours for a few dollars a month.
Premium channels such as Starz and others are available individually.
Add-ons are where Sling's price creeps up. Total the whole setup before comparing with an all-in service.
The usual Sling setup
Sling plus an antenna is the classic budget combination. The antenna provides local networks free, including most NFL Sunday games and network primetime, while Sling supplies the cable channels.
Some streaming devices and TVs, and Sling's own AirTV hardware, integrate antenna channels into the same guide as Sling's streams, which makes the combination feel like a single service.
For sport, Orange & Blue plus the Sports Extra add-on covers ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL Network and RedZone at a total well below YouTube TV Base. Our cord cutting guide walks through other combinations.
Why the unlicensed alternative is not really cheaper
Unlicensed IPTV lists advertise thousands of channels, including everything Sling carries and more, at a fraction of the price. The saving comes entirely from not paying rights holders.
The costs arrive later: services shut down without refunds, apps get blocked on major platforms including Amazon Fire TV, payment details go to anonymous sellers, and sideloaded apps can carry malware. For most people, a Sling day pass or monthly plan is the legitimate way to get low-cost live TV. Our US IPTV legality guide sets out the difference.
Who Sling suits
Good fit: budget-conscious households with an antenna, people who want a handful of cable channels such as ESPN, CNN or TNT, and occasional viewers who can use day passes.
Poor fit: anyone relying on streaming for local channels, fans of regional sports teams, and large households wanting many streams and a big DVR. YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV suit them better, at a higher price.
Quick answers
How much is Sling TV in 2026? Sling Orange and Sling Blue each cost $45.99 a month, Orange & Blue together cost $60.99, and the smaller Select and Essentials plans start at $19.99. Day passes cost $4.99 for one day, $9.99 for three and $14.99 for seven.
Is Sling TV an IPTV service? Yes. Sling delivers live TV over the internet, which makes it IPTV, and it is licensed to carry its channels.
Does Sling TV have local channels? Only partly. Sling Blue includes local Fox and NBC in some cities, and ABC and CBS are largely missing. Most Sling users add an antenna for local channels.
Which Sling plan has ESPN? Sling Orange carries ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3. Sling Blue does not include ESPN but has FS1 and NFL Network.
Can I get Sling TV for one day? Yes. Sling sells day passes for one day, three days or seven days, which suit single events.
Is Sling TV cheaper than cheap IPTV? Unlicensed IPTV lists are cheaper on paper because they do not pay for their channels, but they carry risks of shutdown, blocked apps and payment fraud. Sling is one of the cheapest licensed options.
How many devices can watch Sling at once? Sling Orange allows one stream, Sling Blue three, and Orange & Blue four in total.
Sling's plans, prices, channel line-ups and day-pass options change frequently and vary by market. Check Sling's site for your ZIP code before subscribing. Checked September 2026.