Both start at $94.99 a month with a 2-year agreement, but DIRECTV adds a required $10/mo TV Access Fee, so its cheapest package really costs about $105, and up to about $134 once a regional sports fee applies from CHOICE up.
Pick DIRECTV for sports: regional sports networks (from CHOICE), more sports channels and add-ons. Pick DISH for a predictable bill, the bigger Hopper 3 DVR (2,000 hours, 16 shows at once) and free standard installation.
Prices and fees checked October 2026. The table below updates automatically when providers change prices.
DIRECTV and DISH are the only two satellite TV services in the US. Both need a dish with a clear view of the southern sky, both include local channels in most areas, and both lock your price for two years in exchange for a 2-year agreement. Where they really differ is fees, sports and the DVR. Here is how they compare on the things that change your bill and what you can watch.
DIRECTV vs DISH at a glance
| DIRECTV Satellite | DISH | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $94.99 ENTERTAINMENT | $94.99 America's Top 120 |
| Estimated monthly | About $105–$129 cheapest plan plus required fees (box, broadcast TV, regional sports where they apply) | $94.99 no required extra fees listed |
| Type | Satellite | Satellite |
| Plans | ENTERTAINMENT: $94.99 · 175+ channels CHOICE: $99.99 · 215+ channels ULTIMATE: $129.99 · 280+ channels PREMIER: $174.99 · 350+ channels | America's Top 120: $94.99 · 190 channels America's Top 120 Plus: $104.99 · 190+ channels America's Top 200: $114.99 · 240+ channels America's Top 250: $124.99 · 290+ channels |
| Extra fees | TV Access Fee (required, per receiver/device): $10.00/mo per device (one required; $10/mo for each extra device, plus a one-time $49 fee for each extra Gemini) Regional Sports Fee (CHOICE and higher): Up to $23.99/mo, depends on ZIP code (one get.directv.com disclaimer says up to $17.99/mo) Activation fee (one-time, satellite): $49.95 one-time Early termination fee: $20 for each month left on the 24-month agreement (up to $480) | Hopper 3 Smart DVR for 1 TV: Included in advertised price (per retailer offer terms) Equipment for additional TVs (Joey receivers): Broadcast TV fee: Regional sports fee: |
| Contract | 24-month agreement required for satellite. Price is guaranteed for 2 years, then month-to-month at the current rates. Early termination fee is $20 for each month left (up to $480). | 2-year commitment with the 2-Year TV Price Guarantee. CableTV.com says this requires credit qualification. |
| Screens at once | unknown | unknown |
| DVR | Not confirmed on directv.com. CableTV.com (Oct 2026): Genie DVR stores 200 hrs with 5 recordings at once; Genie 2 stores 450 hrs with 7 recordings at once. Reported at about $15/mo, but the current official offers list a $10/mo TV Access Fee per device instead. | Hopper 3 Smart HD DVR included for 1 TV (from retailer offer terms). dish.com says it records up to 2,000 hours and 16 shows at once, and offers Whole Home DVR and AutoHop commercial skipping on some primetime recordings. Free live and recorded TV streaming with DISH Anywhere. |
| Local channels | directv.com: "Local channels included, where available" (some markets excluded). | Included in every package, according to dish.com ("your local favorites") and the retailer usdish.com. Which local stations you get depends on your market. |
| Only on this one* | — | — |
| Full lineup | DIRECTV Satellite guide | DISH guide |
* Among popular channels our guides list as missing on the other service. Data from our lineup guides. Confirm prices with the provider before you sign up. Compare with your channels
Price: what you will really pay each month
The advertised prices look identical at the bottom: DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT and DISH America’s Top 120 are both $94.99 a month. The difference is what gets added on top.
- DIRECTV: a required TV Access Fee of $10/mo per receiver, a Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99/mo on CHOICE and higher (it depends on your ZIP code), and a one-time $49.95 activation fee. ENTERTAINMENT works out to about $104.99/mo; CHOICE ($99.99) to between $109.99 and about $133.98/mo.
- DISH: America’s Top 120 $94.99, Top 120 Plus $104.99, Top 200 $114.99 and Top 250 $124.99, sold with a 2-Year TV Price Guarantee. DISH advertises no hidden fees and free standard professional installation. Extra TVs need a Joey receiver, so ask for that price if you have more than one TV.
- After two years both move to their regular rates. Retailers list DISH Top 120 at about $136.99 after 24 months, so put a reminder in your calendar to renegotiate or switch.
Taxes are extra with both. Prices can vary by area, so confirm the total on your quote before you sign.
Contracts, price guarantees and cancelling early
Both providers ask for a 24-month agreement, and both guarantee the package price for those two years. DISH’s guarantee requires credit approval. Leaving DIRECTV early costs $20 for each month left on the agreement, up to $480, so check the early termination terms in your DISH agreement too before you commit.
If you move a lot or might want to cancel, a streaming service with no contract is the safer choice. DIRECTV also sells DIRECTV STREAM, the same channels over the internet with no annual contract.
Sports: DIRECTV has the edge
- Regional sports networks: DIRECTV includes them from CHOICE up (with the Regional Sports Fee), based on your ZIP code. On DISH they are reported from America’s Top 120 Plus, the sports tier, but check your team’s network before you buy.
- National sports: DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT already has ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TNT and TBS. NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, Big Ten, SEC and ACC Network start at CHOICE. NFL RedZone is only in PREMIER.
- DISH has ESPN and TBS in America’s Top 120 and adds more sports in Top 120 Plus. CableTV.com notes that DISH carries beIN Sports, which DIRECTV does not.
- NFL Sunday Ticket is no longer a DIRECTV exclusive: it is sold through YouTube. See Fubo vs YouTube TV if out-of-market NFL games are your priority.
DVR and equipment: DISH has the bigger DVR
DISH’s Hopper 3 records up to 2,000 hours and 16 shows at once, and its AutoHop feature can skip commercials on some prime-time recordings. DISH includes a Hopper DVR for one TV; some reviews report a monthly charge to upgrade to the Hopper 3, so check which receiver your quote includes.
DIRECTV’s Genie stores about 200 hours with 5 recordings at once, and the Genie 2 about 450 hours with 7, according to CableTV.com. Every DIRECTV receiver carries the $10/mo TV Access Fee.
Both have free apps for watching live and recorded TV on your phone: DISH Anywhere and the DIRECTV app.
Channels: what each cheapest package includes
DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT (175+ channels) has local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX where available, plus CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ESPN, TNT, TBS, HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and more. A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and The Weather Channel start at CHOICE.
DISH America’s Top 120 (190 channels) includes locals, ESPN, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, TBS, AMC, Disney Channel and Newsmax. Use the table above or tick your channels in our comparison tool to see exactly which ones each package has.
Is satellite TV still worth it in 2026?
Satellite makes the most sense when you live where cable is not available and your internet is too slow or capped for streaming, which is common in rural areas. If you have reliable broadband, a no-contract streaming service such as YouTube TV ($82.99/mo, unlimited DVR, no box fees) usually costs less in total and can be cancelled any month. Compare streaming services before you sign a two-year agreement.
Which should you pick?
Pick DIRECTV if
- You follow a local team and need its regional sports network (CHOICE or higher).
- You want the most sports channels and add-ons on satellite, including NFL RedZone in PREMIER.
- You want CNN, TNT, TBS and ESPN in the cheapest package.
Pick DISH if
- You want a predictable bill: a 2-year price guarantee and no per-receiver TV Access Fee.
- You record a lot: the Hopper 3 holds 2,000 hours and 16 shows at once.
- You mainly watch entertainment, kids and news rather than regional sports.
Bottom line
Sports fans, especially those who need a regional sports network, should lean DIRECTV and budget for the fees. Everyone else usually gets a simpler, cheaper bill and a better DVR with DISH. If you have good internet, compare both with a no-contract streaming service first. Compare them with your own channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is DIRECTV or DISH cheaper?
Both start at $94.99 a month. DISH is usually cheaper in practice because DIRECTV adds a required $10 TV Access Fee per receiver and, from the CHOICE package up, a Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99 a month depending on your ZIP code.
Which is better for sports, DIRECTV or DISH?
DIRECTV. It includes regional sports networks from the CHOICE package, has more sports channels and add-ons, and offers NFL RedZone in PREMIER. DISH covers national sports well and carries beIN Sports, which DIRECTV does not.
Do DIRECTV and DISH require a contract?
Yes. Both satellite services ask for a 24-month agreement and lock the package price for those two years. DIRECTV charges $20 for each month left if you cancel early, up to $480.
Which has the better DVR, DIRECTV or DISH?
DISH. The Hopper 3 records up to 2,000 hours and 16 shows at the same time. DIRECTV's Genie stores about 200 hours with 5 recordings at once, and the Genie 2 about 450 hours with 7.
Do DIRECTV and DISH include local channels?
Yes. Both include your local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations in most markets. Which stations you get depends on where you live.
Can I get DIRECTV without a satellite dish?
Yes. DIRECTV STREAM delivers the same packages over the internet, with no satellite dish and no annual contract. Packages start at $89.99 a month.