Sling TV is one of your best options for live TV streaming, but it can be difficult figuring out how to get started. The service offers three different base packages—Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue—and your choice of package carries a lot of weight. It will determine not only which channels you’ll receive, but also how many devices you’ll be able to stream on at once and which add-on packages you’re eligible for. And when it comes to Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue, one is clearly better than the other. Here’s everything you need to know about Sling TV packages.
Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue cost
While there used to be a slight discrepancy in the cost of Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue, that’s no longer the case. Both start at $30 per month, or you can opt for Sling Orange + Blue, which consolidates the two packages, for $45 per month.
Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue price breakdown
- Sling Orange: $30 per month
- Sling Blue: $30 per month
- Sling Orange + Blue: $45 per month
WATCH: Is SlingTV worth it?
Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue devices
It doesn’t matter which Sling TV package you select; they all work with the same streaming devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices. (You can find a complete list of Sling TV compatible devices and specifications here.)
There are, however, big differences in how many devices you can use Sling TV with at any given time based on your base package. You can only use one device at a time with Sling Orange, while you can use Sling Blue with three devices at once. That means you can be watching on mobile, someone else can be streaming on Roku, and another user could be using the desktop version all at the same time. Orange + Blue essentially combines the number of allotted devices for a total of four.
Sling TV devices:
- Sling Orange = 1 device
- Sling Blue = 3 devices
- Sling Orange + Blue = 4 devices
Sling Orange channels
Sling Orange is the smaller of the two entry-level packages, and there’s very little that distinguishes it from Sling Blue. In fact, only six of its channels are exclusive to the package: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, ACC Network Extra, and FreeForm. It’s almost as if Sling TV purposely separated the block of ESPN channels to force sports fans to upgrade to the Sling Orange + Blue plan. Also worth noting: You can’t access local channels in Sling Orange. For those, you’ll need either Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue.
Note: Your location may impact your channel lineup. For this guide, I’ using the ZIP code 20003 for Washington, D.C. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)
Sling Orange Channel List | ||
|---|---|---|
| A&E | AMC | AXS TV |
| BBC America | Bloomberg Television | Cartoon Network |
| Cheddar | Cheddar Big News | CNN |
| Comedy Central | Comet | Disney Channel |
| Epix Drive-In | ESPN | ESPN2 |
| ESPN3 | Food Network | FreeForm |
| Fuse | HGTV | History Channel |
| IFC | Investigation Discovery | Lifetime |
| Local Now | Motortrend | Newsy |
| Stadium | TBS | TNT |
| Travel Channel | Viceland |
Sling Blue channels
The Sling Blue package is more comparable to what you’ll see from other live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, and Hulu with Live TV. It comes with more than 40 channels, 14 of which you won’t find on Sling Orange, and you’ll get a lot of secondary channels as well, meaning you’ll get both FS1 and FS2 and FX and FXX, as well as some specialty channels like NFL Network, which broadcasts every Thursday Night Football game.
Depending on your area, you’ll also get Fox, NBC, and any regional sports networks those two channels provide. If they’re not available in your location, you’ll get an on-demand version of the channels, which means you won’t be able to watch live sports but you will be able to catch up on your favorite shows. Before you go any further, check what’s available in your area by entering your ZIP code in here.
Sling Blue Channel List | ||
|---|---|---|
| A&E | AMC | AXS TV |
| BBC America | BET | Bloomberg Television |
| Bravo | Cartoon Network | Cheddar |
| Cheddar Big News | CNN | Comedy Central |
| Comet | Discovery Channel | E! |
| Epix Drive-In | Food Network | FOX |
| FS1 | FS2 | Fuse |
| FX | FXX | HGTV |
| History Channel | IFC | Investigation Discovery |
| Lifetime | Local Now | National Geographic |
| Nat Geo Wild | NBC | NBC Sports Network |
| NBC Sports | Newsy | NFL Network |
| Nick Jr | Paramount Network | Stadium |
| SYFY | TBS | TLC |
| TNT | Travel Channel | TruTV |
| USA | Viceland |
Sling Orange + Blue channels
There are a couple of reasons why you might be interested in Sling Orange + Blue. If you’re a sports fan, you can’t live without ESPN. It shows too many big games to ignore. And we’re not just talking about Monday Night Football, either. It’s essential for streaming college football, some NHL, college basketball, MLS, and more, to say nothing of shows like SportsCenter. You might always need the Disney Channel for your kids or an extra device to stream on. Is all of that worth $15 per month? That depends entirely on your budget.
Sling Orange + Blue channel List | ||
|---|---|---|
| A&E | AMC | AXS TV |
| BBC America | BET | Bloomberg Television |
| Bravo | Cartoon Network | Cheddar |
| Cheddar Big News | CNN | Comedy Central |
| Comet | Discovery Channel | Disney Channel |
| E! | Epix Drive-In | ESPN |
| ESPN2 | ESPN3 | Food Network |
| FOX | FreeForm | FS1 |
| FS2 | Fuse | FX |
| FXX | HGTV | History Channel |
| IFC | Investigation Discovery | Lifetime |
| Local Now | Motortrend | National Geographic |
| Nat Geo Wild | NBC | NBC Sports Network |
| NBC Sports | Newsy | NFL Network |
| Nick Jr | Paramount Network | Stadium |
| SYFY | TBS | TLC |
| TNT | Travel Channel | TruTV |
| USA | Viceland |
Sling Orange and Sling Blue channel add-ons
Sling TV really muddies the waters with its add-on packages. There are 15 different packages available focused on topics like sports, comedy, kids, and Spanish TV. If there’s something specific you’re looking for, they’re worth a closer look, but they’re also frustrating. That’s because most of the packages come in either a Sling Orange or Sling Blue grouping, and they offer different channels and sometimes have different prices. The Sling Blue version of the Sports Pack, for example, costs $10 per month and includes NFL RedZone, but that’s not included in the Sling Orange version, which is just $5 per month. You can find a complete list of add-ons and premium channels in our comprehensive Sling TV channel guide.
OTHER LIVE TV STREAMING OPTIONS:
Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue: Which one is better?
By the numbers, there’s really no comparison: Sling Blue is superior to Sling Orange in every conceivable way, including how many devices you can stream simultaneously with it. If you’re on a budget or just have no interest in ESPN, Sling Blue gives you almost everything you’re looking for in a modern cable package—AMC, FX, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, FS1, TBS, TNT, FX, NFL Network, and Syfy—at a price point that’s hard to beat. In fact, with the noted exception of the far-more-limited streaming service Philo and free service Pluto TV, Sling TV is the cheapest option around and certainly the best value.
But if you need more channels, you can always upgrade to Sling Orange + Blue, and Sling TV offers plenty of premium channels and add-on packages as well.
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Golf Channel, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, the CW, BBC, NBA TV, MTV, the Weather Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.
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