DirecTV Stream review: Lots of channels, but at what cost?

DirecTV Stream has the distinction of being the most expensive live TV streaming service.

So if it's the most expensive, it stands to reason that it should be the best to justify its high price point.

But is it?

Well, that's a complicated question. If you want a cable replacement with as many channels as your typical cable package, including regional sports networks (RSNs), DirecTV Stream has you covered. It also now offers Genre packs that give you niche offerings with fewer channels but a more affordable price.

DirecTV also comes with some great features, including unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited streams at home, regardless of which plan you get.

Ultimately, though, what matters the most is the viewing experience, and this is where DirecTV underwhelms. The interface on smart TVs takes some getting used to, and if your WiFi isn't excellent, the performance can notably dip. You also can't tell what resolution you're streaming at and the DirecTV app isn't available everywhere you'd like it to be.

So does the sheer amount of channels, shows, movies and live sports you can stream with DirecTV Stream outweigh the negatives? Let's dive in to find out.

DirecTV Stream: Pricing and Availability

DirecTV offers two types of packages: Genre packs and Signature packages.

Signature packages are most comparable to your traditional cable experience, as well as cable TV alternatives like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

The Entertainment package costs $86.99 a month and includes 90-plus channels, including ESPN, CNN and local channels (where available). You also get Unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited streams on your home network (3 concurrent streams outside of your home network) with this package.

For $28 more, you can get the Choice package for $114.99 a month. This add some specialty sports networks like MLB Network, NBA TV and more, as well as regional sports networks.

The good news here is that, unlike cable or DirecTV proper, there are no hidden regional sports network fees for DirecTV Stream. The bad news is that those RSN fees are baked into your monthly subscription price, so you're still not necessarily saving any money.

Need more channels? There's the Ultimate package for $129.99 a month. For $15 more than the Choice package, you get even more channels, including CBS Sports Network, FX Movie Channel and Starz Encore.

Finally, there's the Premier package, which is $144.99 a month. While it's $15 more than the already expensive Ultimate package, it does add Max, Cinemax, Paramount Plus with Showtime and Starz proper. So you're at least getting your money's worth for that extra $15.

Sometimes, DirecTV offers discounts on its monthly subscription prices for these Signature packages, though typically only for the more expensive packages. You do get a five-day free trial on all Signature packages.

Genre packs, meanwhile, are a relatively new addition to DirecTV Stream, and these compete more directly with Sling TV or Philo. These packs give you a smaller, genre-focused selection at a lower price. But they still include features like unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited streams at home.

The four main Genre packs are MyEntertainment ($34.99 a month), MyNews ($39.99 a month), MiEspañol ($34.99 a month) and MySports ($64.99 a month).

The two of these you'll probably consider are MyEntertainment and MySports.

MyEntertainment includes 40-plus entertainment channels as well as the streaming services Disney Plus (with ads), Hulu (with ads) and Max (with ads).

MySports includes 20-plus sports and news channels, as well as local Fox and NBC affiliates and an ESPN plus subscription.

So if you're someone who is only looking for a particular set of channels, Genre packs may be the better solution for you than Signature packages.

DirecTV Stream is only available in the U.S., and taxes, fees and your channel offering can change depending on your zip code.

Whether you have a Genre pack or a Signature package, you watch through the same DirecTV app on Fire TV devices, Roku devices, Apple devices, Google TV devices, Android devices, Samsung smart TVs and Apple TV. You can also watch on a desktop or a laptop via a web browser.

Unfortunately, there is no DirecTV app on game consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X.

DirecTV Stream vs other live TV streaming services

Here's an overview of what you get with DirecTV Stream (Signature packages) and how it compares to other live TV streaming services:

As you can see, DirecTV is on the pricier end of the spectrum, though it doesn't lack features and does offer select 4K content included in your subscription.

Given that YouTube TV charges extra for 4K streaming and Hulu + Live TV doesn't even offer it at all, that is something to consider when picking the right live TV streaming service for you.

DirecTV Stream: Channels and add-ons

When it comes to channels, plenty of cable TV alternatives offer you dozens — if not hundreds — of channels.

But as we all know from cable, just because you get hundreds of channels doesn't mean that there's anything worth watching on them.

So, I've put together a list of 35 channels that I think most people (myself included) want from a live TV streaming service. It's not comprehensive, but it's a good mix of news, sports, entertainment, local and popular channels.

The good news? DirecTV Stream offers all 35 channels. The bad news? It doesn't offer them on all Signature packages.

If you have the Entertainment package, you'll miss out on CBS Sports, Lifetime, NFL Network, The History Channel and truTV. If you want CBS Sports, you'll need to spend more to get Ultimate or Premier.

Of these, having to pay extra for CBS Sports, NFL Network and truTV is a bit of a surprise, given these channels are available on some competing live TV streaming services for less.

As always, there are some caveats worth mentioning. Channel availability is dependent on your zip code.

This means that some channels that are available to a majority of subscribers, including local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates, may not be available in your area. But most likely, you're covered.

In terms of premium add-ons, DirecTV Stream has plenty of options. Here are some of the most popular premium add-ons you can add to your subscription:

• Max ($16.99 a month)
• Paramount Plus with Showtime ($12.99)
• Starz ($10.99)
• Cinemax ($10.99)
• MGM Plus ($6.99)
• DirecTV Sports Pack ($14.99): Adds NFL RedZone, NFL Network, ESPNews, select college sports networks, and more
• Movies Extra Pack ($4.99): Adds Hallmark Family, Hallmark Mystery, HDNet Movies, INSP, Sony Movies, Smithsonian Channel, Crime + Investigation, MTV Live, and ShortsTV as channels to your plan
• Peacock Premium ($4.99)
• AMC Plus ($8.99)
• Discovery Plus ($4.99)

There are some hidden benefits here. Peacock Premium, AMC Plus and Discovery Plus are all cheaper through DirecTV Stream than a la carte directly from the streaming services.

Plus, depending on your subscription, some of these may be included in your package. The Premier package includes Max, Cinemax, Paramount Plus with Showtime and Starz ($51.96 in value!) as part of your $144.99 a month subscription price.

DirecTV Stream: Interface

When talking about the DirecTV Stream interface, it's important to note that the interface on web browsers and mobile devices, while containing most of the same features and comprised of the same core components, actually differs significantly from the user interface on a smart TV or streaming device.

Which is a shame, because I found using DirecTV Stream on a web browser to be simple and easy to use.

Let's start with the stuff that is the same.

The DirecTV interface is largely broken into five components: Watch Now (or Home), My Library, On Demand, Guide and Search. On smart TVs/streaming devices, you also get a Sports Central section.

The purpose of each section is largely self-explanatory.

Watch Now shows you what you're currently watching (or autoplays the channel you were watching last) and also shows you several curated collections of shows and movies you can start watching right now.

Home operates slightly differently. If you have selected your favorite channels during setup or in your settings, it'll display these first.

Unfortunately, if you did this during setup, it shows the channels in the reverse order you selected them, which eliminates a lot of the utility of the feature. I much prefer Watch Now to Home in terms of DirecTV Stream landing pages.

My Library is where you'll find your DVR content. This is sorted by all recordings and upcoming recordings.

This section is also where you'll find your purchases and where you'll find your bookmarked on-demand content.

Speaking of On Demand, that's another self-explanatory section. You'll find on-demand shows and movies here, and you can search for content within this tab by network or by curated collections.

Guide will be familiar to anyone who has ever had DirecTV satellite, but also a familiar sight for most people who've used cable or a live TV streaming service.

The DirecTV Stream Guide is a bit barebones, but that's okay. There's no video preview of what you're selecting, like you get on YouTube TV, but that's not a dealbreaker.

Search is the final main component of the interface, and this allows you to search using show or movie titles or by keywords.

I found that the keyword search was hit or miss, but I also found that YouTube TV's keyword search was far from perfect as well.

Now, let's get into the thing I dislike most about DirecTV Stream — watching it on a TV.

If that sounds like a problem to you, it should be. Watching DirecTV on a smart TV was a surprisingly frustrating experience, especially given that when using it on a web browser or phone, I essentially had no complaints.

My issues with the smart TV/streaming device interface largely come down to the remote controls. If I've selected something to watch, I want to watch it. I don't want to be taken away from what I'm watching.

And yet, most of the remote controls will take you away from what I'm watching. Hit left or right on the directional pad, and it changes the channel. Hit down, and it'll take you back to Home.

Having largely used YouTube TV's interface before this, I found this to be confounding. I did eventually start to get used to it, but by then, my mood had already soured and I still greatly preferred the YouTube TV user controls and interface, which I find more in line with your typical streaming service app.

Maybe as I test more and more live TV streaming services, I'll find that maybe DirecTV's remote controls aren't insane. If that happens, I'll update this review accordingly. But for now, when combined with the price of DirecTV Stream, it's borderline a dealbreaker.

DirecTV Stream features: Tons of price points, RSNs and more

There's no killer feature on DirecTV Stream like YouTube TV's multiview or key plays. But there are lots of features worthy of praise.

Chief among these is that by offering Genre packs, you can customize your channel selection in a way that no other live TV streaming service can.

Fubo and Sling come close, but Fubo doesn't quite have the same variety of packages. Sling TV, meanwhile, can compete with the Genre packs but doesn't offer a channel selection on par with DirecTV Stream's Signature packages.

Plus, you still get a ton of great features standard with the genre packs. Despite spending significantly less, you still get Signature package features like unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited streams at home.

You even get some streaming services included with some of these Genre packs, which is a major selling point of Hulu + Live TV.

At present, they don't have a genre pack with RSNs included, but that is reportedly in the works.

So, despite being the most expensive live TV streaming service if you go with the most expensive Signature package, DirecTV's level of customization and included standard features are genuinely impressive.

DirecTV Stream: DVR

Like a lot of its competitors, DirecTV Stream offers unlimited cloud DVR storage. This used to be an uncommon feature, but now it's only Sling TV that doesn't offer unlimited DVR as part of your subscription.

Saving shows and movies to your DVR is simple.

On a web browser, there are two ways to add recordings. You can click on a show page and click "Record episode," or if you're watching live, there's a record button you can click as part of the interface.

On your Android or Apple mobile device, things are similarly simple. You can either tap record on the show page or tap the record icon while watching live.

On a smart TV or smart device, you'll want to add via searching for a show or movie or by hitting record in the viewing interface while watching live.

DirecTV Stream video and audio: 4K streaming, 5.1 surround sound and more

When it comes to streaming video and audio quality, there's good news and bad news.

First, the good news. Unlike some of its competition, namely YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream doesn't charge extra for its 4K content.

There's not a ton of 4K content — just two channels — but live TV streaming services don't typically offer much 4K content, if any.

Now, the bad news. For content that isn't in 4K, there's no way of telling what resolution you're streaming at. Instead, DirecTV Stream offers you the following options: Good, Better, Best.

None of these options is guaranteed to hit 1080p HD resolution, nor are they guaranteed to hit 60fps. That's a major negative aspect of DirecTV Stream, given that other live TV streaming services can hit both these marks.

In terms of audio features, I wasn't able to find anything specific, but research I've done indicates DirecTV Stream does support Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound with the appropriate hardware.

Should you cut the cord with DirecTV Stream?

While I didn't love DirecTV Stream, this might actually be the right cord-cutting option for some people.

If money isn't an object and watching local sports is your biggest priority, then DirecTV Stream gives you the channels you need.

You'll also likely appreciate the included 4K streaming channels and if you pay for the Premier signature package, the sheer amount of streaming services included starts to make this cable TV alternative a decent value for your money.

But ultimately, I struggle to recommend this live TV streaming service because the user interface on smart TVs and streaming devices simply isn't good enough. It certainly isn't good enough for a service that costs as much as $144.99 a month.