DISH vs. DIRECTV
What’s better, DISH or DIRECTV?
Better is in the eye of the beholder—but if we may say so, DISH provides better value over time and better equipment.
DISH Network vs. DIRECTV Satellite TV Pricing
Ditch DIRECTV's rising prices and get inflation-free TV, only with the DISH 3-Year TV Price Guarantee. With prices increasing all around, DISH stays constant, offering you the same price with better value than DIRECTV for 36 months. For almost all its packages, DISH offers a lower out-of-pocket cost and higher value than DIRECTV, even when DIRECTV advertises similar or lower starting prices. DISH TV packages start at $79.99/mo. for 190 channels, and you can customize each package to add on any channel pack.
Need more? DISH's America's Top 250 package starts at only $109.99/mo. and comes with nearly 300 channels, including The Movie Channel and many more, for an extensive channel library. DISH packages include your favorite sports and entertainment, and pricing is guaranteed for three years—that's more than DIRECTV can say.
When Watching Football—DISH or DIRECTV?
Never miss a touchdown or field goal again. While DIRECTV used to be the home of football, times have changed, and you can now enjoy the hard-hitting sport with DISH. The DISH Hopper 3 DVR lets you add streaming apps, including YouTube** and Amazon Prime Video**, to catch every professional football game this fall. (**Separate sub. required) From Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime to out-of-market games on YouTube TV, DISH is the place to catch it all.
NFL RedZone is also staying put with DISH, allowing you to watch seven hours of commercial-free highlights from around the league during Sunday afternoon's early and late games. ESPN, available with every DISH package, rounds out your complete at-home football experience.
DISH Network vs. DIRECTV Prices and Channel Packages
"There are just too many channels," said no one ever. Luckily, DISH offers more channels for a more affordable price than other competitors. Packages start at $79.99/mo. and include favorites like ESPN, Fox News, and The Food Network. Every DISH package includes a 3-year price guarantee, a reliability guarantee*, and free installation, so you get more bang for your buck. And with the DISH Hopper DVR, you can record countless hours of entertainment and stream live and recorded TV on the DISH Anywhere mobile app. Simply put, DISH packages include it all for a fraction of DIRECTV prices.
| DISH Network | DIRECTV | |
|---|---|---|
| Package name | DISH America’s Top 120 | Entertainment |
| Channel count | 190 | 165+ |
| Year 1 price | $79.99/mo. | $64.99/mo. |
| Year 2 price | $79.99/mo. | $64.99/mo. |
| Price protection | 3-year TV price guarantee | 24-month pricing |
| Contract | 2 years | 2 years |
| HD service fee | FREE | Extra |
| Local channels | Included | Limited |
| Premium channels | FREE 3 months* | FREE 3 months–1 year |
| DISH now has access to every professional football game this fall.(YouTube** - Amazon Prime** - ESPN) **Separate sub. required. | Yes | No |
| On Demand library | 80K titles | 65K titles |
| HD DVR receiver | Included or $5/mo. upgrade | Included |
| Secondary receivers | Start at $5/mo. | Start at $7/mo. |
| Installation | FREE in up to 6 rooms | Free for first room, $99+ for additional rooms |
| Activation fee | FREE | $19.95 |
Comparing DISH AT120 Package to DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT Package April 6, 2023. Apps vary by eligible DVR.
3-year price guarantee requires credit qualification and 2-year commitment and covers core programming, local networks, and equipment. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
*After 3 mos. you will be billed $20/mo unless you call to cancel.
DISH vs. DIRECTV Equipment Differences
DISH's most powerful receiver on the market, the Hopper 3 DVR, beats the Genie for recording capability and extra features. The DISH Hopper 3 DVR’s storage is unbeatable, giving you 2,000 hours of recording space to save your favorite shows—10 times more than the Genie. That's ten times more TV shows, ten times more sports, and ten times more news.
The DISH Smart Remote now comes with the Google Assistant, allowing you to speak entertainment into existence. Ask it to play a funny movie for nights you're in a laughing mood, or ask for movies featuring your favorite actor. The Google Assistant listens to you as a good friend would. And when you compare DISH Network vs. DIRECTV for how smoothly you can extend your system to other rooms, DISH offers more types of secondary receivers, at better pricing, with free installation.
| DISH Hopper 3 Whole-Home DVR | DISH Hopper 2 Smart HD DVR | DIRECTV Genie HD DVR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First receiver price | $5/mo. upgrade | $0/mo. | $0/mo. |
| Simultaneous recordings | 16 | 2 | 5 |
| HD storage hours | 500 | 125 | 200 |
| Supported TVs per DVR | 7 | 2 | 4 active, 8 total |
| Secondary receiver price | $5+/mo. each | $5+/mo. each | $7+/mo. each |
| Smart home integration | ✔ | ✔ | Amazon only |
| Wireless receiver options | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 4K Ultra HD | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| View multiple channels at once | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Room-to-room playback | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Integrated Netflix app | ✔ | ✔ | x |
| AutoHop commercial skips | ✔ | ✔ | x |
| Easy primetime recording | ✔ | ✔ | x |
| Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ | x |
| Remote finder | ✔ | ✔ | x |
| Voice Remote | ✔ | ✔ | Only via mobile app |
| Mobile streaming | 100% of live, DVR, and On Demand content | 100% of live, DVR, and On Demand content | Select live TV, DVR, and On Demand content |
| App users supported | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Watching 4K requires a 4K TV
Compare DISH Network and DIRECTV Satellite Services
DIRECTV and DISH Network provide similar overall satellite service quality. Both provide highly reliable popular programming and HD channels to cities large and small. The big difference—DISH offers a Reliability Guarantee*, giving you credit for any outage caused by weather conditions or technical errors. That's how confident DISH is about its satellite service.
In terms of customer interaction, DISH takes a slight edge. With a more reliable, transparent, and affordable installation process, DISH makes the transition to satellite TV seamless. Their award-winning service placed them at the top of J.D. Power's Customer Satisfaction list in 2022+. And with 24/7 customer support, you're sure to get technical assistance any time of the day (or night).
| DISH Network | DIRECTV | |
|---|---|---|
| Signal reliability+ | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| TV and internet availability outside densely populated areas | ✔ | ✔ |
| Installation appointments as soon as tomorrow | ✔ | ✔ |
| FREE standard professional installation in 1–6 rooms | ✔ | x |
| 75-minute service window and track-your-technician | ✔ | x |
+99% signal reliability based on data from set-top boxes. Not a guarantee of signal in all weather conditions.
+For J.D. Power 2022 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards
*Limited time offer, subject to change. Available only to new or returning former customers. Guarantee covers signal loss outages due to normal weather and/or technical issues. Does not cover signal loss outages due to user error. Does not cover changes in programming content. To receive outage credits, you must contact DISH customer service by phone or chat within 72 hours of the outage. Upon verifying the outage, DISH will issue bill credits in daily increments from the time of the outage until the outage is restored. Not available to DISH Outdoors customers.
Mobile Viewing with Satellite TV Provider Apps
Like the DISH Anywhere app, the DIRECTV App lets you take your TV subscription on the go. The key difference between DIRECTV and DISH: the DISH app acts as a true extension of your home DVR, letting you stream 100% of your live channels, recorded shows, and On Demand library anywhere you have internet access.
The DISH Anywhere app lets you watch your recorded shows even offline—just download them beforehand. If you forget to set your DVR before leaving home, you can do so on the go with the DISH Anywhere app. The season finale you missed live but recorded last night? Watch it on your mobile device from wherever you are!
**Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an internet-connected Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 and compatible mobile device.
Compare DISH and DIRECTV Internet Service
Neither DISH nor DIRECTV runs an internet service. However, both partner with certain internet providers to make switching your telecom services easier. DISH works with Frontier to bring you high-speed internet at up to 2,000 Mbps, letting you connect multiple devices with virtually no slow-down. Stream, game, and work all on the same network with Frontier Fiber.
DISH also partners with Viasat, a satellite internet service, for homes in rural areas. Available nationwide, Viasat offers speeds up to 100 Mbps with no data caps or overages. And with a 2-year price guarantee, it's another bill you won't have to worry about changing on you for 24 months. Depending on your location, you can bundle your DISH service with one of these internet providers to bring the whole online entertainment experience into your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: DIRECTV or DISH?
Call us biased, but DISH offers greater signal reliability, equipment quality, and channel packages. You won't need DIRECTV anymore to catch every out-of-market professional football game. You can enjoy the gridiron games through YouTube**, Amazon Prime**, and ESPN—all with DISH. **Separate sub. required.
What are the biggest advantages DISH has over DIRECTV?
DISH offers a 3-year price guarantee, one year more than DIRECTV, to ensure no price hikes for 36 months. DISH also offers more channels for a more affordable price than DIRECTV, with packages starting at $79.99/mo. Learn more about what DISH has to offer by giving us a call.
What is the difference between DISH and DIRECTV?
DISH equipment includes the Hopper 3 DVR and the DISH Smart Remote with Google Assistant. The Genie HD DVR from DIRECTV only offers 200 hours of storage, while the DISH Hopper 3 gives you ten times as much with 2,000 hours!
Is it easy to switch from DIRECTV to DISH?
DIRECTV might not take it lightly, but we're here to help. Call us, and we'll walk you through the process of switching from DIRECTV to DISH!