With so many streaming services available nowadays, there’s no reason to financially choke oneself with a $100-month cable bill. In this Sling TV review, we will talk about one of the latest to enter the market. It promises to be a viable alternative to more expensive TV streaming services that cost $50 a month or more.
The question is; is it worth the hype and how will it stand up to other TV streaming apps out there? Read on as we answer these and other questions in our Sling TV review.
Sling TV Review - What is It?
Okay, so we’ll start our Sling TV review by explaining what exactly this TV streaming service is and why it’s worth your time and money. Although it’s not as well-known as competitors such as Hulu, AT &T TV Now and YouTube TV, Sling TV was first introduced in 2015.
Although the platform saw a price increase in December 2019, it’s still much cheaper than most competitors at its level. It costs just $30 per month. Included in this fee is access to dozens of popular broadcast and cable channels with no hidden costs or rental equipment required.
1. Packages and Channels
Next in our Sling TV review is an analysis of their available packages. First, you have Sling Orange which costs $30 a month. It comes with 30 channels including Lifetime, A&E, TNT, Disney Channel, CNN and ESPN to name but a few.
Sling Blue also costs $30 per month. It offers 50 channels many of which are different from those found in Sling Orange. For instance, Sling Blue swaps ESPN for the NFL Network.
Lastly, you have Sling Orange + Blue which gives you the best of both worlds for $45 a month. This includes local broadcast channels like NBC and FOX. But, if you’re really looking for long-term value for money, then you should probably opt for a digital antenna instead.
It’s worth noting that while you can watch content on three different screens at once through Sling Blue, Sling Orange restricts you to only one screen.
2. DVR
Regardless of the Sling TV package you purchase, you will get 10 hours of cloud DVR included. You can also purchase 50 hours of additional storage for $5 extra per month.
The DVR function can really come in handy if you want to be able to pause, fast-forward and rewind shows.
3. Compatible Streaming Devices
Sling TV is available to stream on smartphones, tablets, and computers, allowing you to enjoy content from just about anywhere in and outside of your house.
You can watch live TV in a matter of minutes by casting content through your Google Chromecast using the Sling TV app.
Sling TV offers app support for the following devices and operating systems:
- Windows 10
- XBOX One
- Samsung Smart TV
- Roku
- LG TV
- iOS device
- Chromecast
- Apple TV
- Android TV
- Android devices
- Amazon Tablet
- Amazon Fire TV
You need a high-speed Internet connection in order to stream content via Sling TV. You’ll need a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps though. If you have multiple people streaming content on different devices under the same roof, then you’ll need a minimum speed of 25 Mbps.
4. User Interface
The Grid Guide comes highly recommended because it makes it easy to find content than if you were using the platform’s many different menus, which are also easy to navigate. It’s super easy to browse content through this method and it works similarly to your normal cable TV guide.
5. Offers
While new Sling TV subscribers start out with a 7-day free trial, the platform often offers incredible specials like 40% off for the first month etc.
The platforms often release device offers as well, such as a free Roku Express when you sign up for a one-month service. But, you have to sign up for the paid version and not the free trial in order to partake in their specials.
Should You Use a VPN?
As you may know, VPN stands for virtual private network and it’s a protective measure that keeps your data, privacy, and identity safe when streaming or downloading content online. But, Sling TV has been known to block VPN users according to Sling TV reviews. That’s because VPNs allow you to access geo-restricted content and that may contradict some of the platform’s policies.
Because Sling TV is only available to US and Puerto Rican users, it’s blocked to users from other countries who may try to access it through a VPN. But, since no service is perfect, there are some VPNs that are able to get through the company’s strict security protocols.
While some VPNs might be able to get you through to access certain streaming services, most platforms are able to close the loopholes exploited by VPN servers.
Still, you might find that a few VPNs such as IPVanish have different servers for each streaming service. If that’s the case, then you should make sure that in addition to granting you access to geo-restricted content, your VPN of choice is also able to protect you from common cyber security threats.
Conclusion
We end our Sling TV review by saying that Sling TV is not for everyone. If you’re someone who doesn’t need a lot of channels, then it’s probably not for you.
But hey, they do offer a 7-day free trial so maybe try it out and see how it works out?
One way to figure out if a streaming service is for you is to make a list of all your favorite shows and movies and the channels they air on. Then, search for a streaming service that offers those shows and channels so that you’re satisfied.
It’s also important to shop around and compare different options and don’t settle for the first application you come across.
What was your biggest takeaway from this Sling TV review? Sound off in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
