This article will provide you with a Sling TV Review. You can find instructions on how to install the app on Firestick/Fire TV, Android, NVIDIA Shield, Roku, iPhone, and more.
We also provide registration instructions using a Windows PC, which you can find below.
Sling TV is a popular Legal IPTV Service that hosts news, entertainment, and sports channels.
Sling can be installed on any device including the Amazon Firestick, Fire TV, Fire TV Cube, NVIDIA Shield, and more.
For these reasons and more, we have included Sling within our list of Best Firestick Apps.
For those unfamiliar with Live TV services or IPTV, these streaming services offer live TV channels at a set time delivered over the internet.
To stream Live TV, you need a high-speed and stable internet connection, streaming devices such as a smart TV or Amazon Firestick, and a subscription to a streaming service.
Viewers can watch the latest sports events, news, sitcoms, and other entertainment channels on an affordable subscription-based service without the hassle of cable.
This makes Sling a great option for those looking to Stream Local Channels Without Cable.
You can also install a digital antenna should your live TV provider offer no over-the-air TV networks such as NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, and others.
This provides you with the flexibility and a full entertainment experience that other types of service providers cannot offer.
For more information on Live TV (IPTV), best streaming services, devices, and more, I highly recommend viewing our IPTV Guide below.
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV started offering affordable IPTV services in January 2015 after its parent company, DISH Network relaunched its 2012 version called DishWorld (which was made available through a Roku app).
It had earlier carriage deals with Sundance TV, BBC America, IFC, and AMC and then further expanding its partnerships with other networks in the coming years.
The company claims that it’s the first IPTV service to offer all five major networks (Cinemax, Showtime, STARZ, Epix and HBO) when it formally inked partnerships in 2017.
Sling TV is compatible with most popular devices such as the Firestick/Fire TV, which is perfect for cord-cutters.
Overall, Sling TV is a great choice for cord-cutters who want to watch sports, movies, news, and children’s programming at a very competitive monthly fee.
We have also included Sling TV within our Best Live TV Streaming Services list.
Sling TV Review – Highlights
- 3 package plans (Sling Blue, Sling Orange, or a combination)
- 50+ channels depending on the subscriber’s area and plan
- 3-day free trial available
- Standard plans cost $30/month (currently 40% discount on the first month)
- Local channels (limited) Compatible with most popular streaming devices
- Three devices allowed for simultaneous streaming (Sling Blue plan)
- 10 free hours of cloud DVR recording (paid add-on up to 50 hours)
- Stereo audio
- 1-minute live delay
- Less than 5 seconds in channel switching time
- Parental controls
Sling TV Screenshots
Sling TV Review – How to Register
Prior to using the Sling TV service, you will need to register for an account. Luckily they are currently offering a 7-day free trial for new users.
Use the link below for a Free 3-Day Trial:
Follow the quick steps below to sign up for a Sling TV account.
1. Register for a Sling TV account if you haven’t done so already.
2. Once on the Sling website, click Sign Up Now.
3. Next, enter an email address and password. Then click Register.
4. Choose any plan you prefer, but for this example, we just chose the Sling Blue Service option.
5. Choose any extras if you prefer, but for this example we left this blank and scrolled down.
6. Click Continue
7. Next, fill out the required billing info.
8. After filling out billing information, please scroll down and select Finish & Submit.
That’s it! You have successfully completed the registration for a Sling TV account.
Important Note: You will receive a confirmation email after registering with your account information. It is recommended to save this information, as you will need it when logging in.
Explore our guides below for instructions on how to install the Sling app on Firestick/Fire TV, Roku, and iPhone.
How to Install Sling TV on Firestick/Fire TV
One of the great features of Sling TV is its availability for installation on Firestick/Fire TV devices.
Follow the simple steps below to install the Sling TV app on Firestick.
1. On the home screen of your Firestick/Fire TV, move your cursor over the search icon on the left side of the menu.
2. Type in “Sling TV” and select the first option that appears.
3. Click on the Sling TV app located under Apps & Games.
4. Click on Get.
5. Please wait for the installation of the Sling TV app to complete.
6. Click on Open if you prefer.
7. Sling TV will launch
8. That’s it! When launching Sling TV you can either select Start 3 Days Free Trial or Explore Free Content.
9. Choose the Explore Free Content option to browse Sling prior to purchasing or starting a trial.
10. Notice the two free content options available within Sling – My TV and Guide.
Sling TV Review – How to Install on Roku
Sling TV is also available to install on Roku devices as well. Follow this quick guide below to install on any Roku device.
1. On the home screen of your Roku device, scroll down and click Search.
2. Enter in “sling tv” within the search bar
3. Scroll to the right and select Sling TV
4. Click Add channel
5. Wait for Sling to be added to your channels.
6. Click OK
7. Return back to the home screen on your Roku device and locate the Sling TV app
8. Click the star icon (*) on your remote and select Move channel
9. Move the Sling TV app wherever you prefer on your Roku channels list
10. Launch the Sling app
11. That’s it! When launching Sling TV on your Roku device you can either select Explore Free Content or Watch 3 Days Free
How to Install Sling TV on iPhone
1. Open the Apple App Store and select Search on the bottom menu
2. Enter “Sling tv” within the search bar
3. Locate the Sling app and select GET
4. Click Install
5. Wait a few seconds for the Sling app to install
6. Click Open to launch the Sling app
7. Sling TV will launch
8. That’s it! You have successfully installed Sling TV on your iPhone.
Sling TV Review
If you want a cheaper alternative, Sling TV is a good choice with three plans that you can purchase separately or combined.
As mentioned previously, Sling is currently offering a 3-Day Free Trial for new users as of this writing.
NOTE: TROYPOINT’s Sling TV subscription was personally purchased for the purpose of this review and was therefore not sponsored by the service provider. The views expressed in this post reflect the author’s objective opinion.
Channel Lineup
Sling TV subscribers can access entertainment, kids, lifestyle, movies, news, sports, and premium channels. Availability depends on the plan, location, and network restrictions, however.
For the same monthly fee, the Sling Blue plan offers more channels but does not include Disney and ESPN like Sling Orange, which might disappoint some sports fans and kids.
However, it provides other channels such as NBC Sports, NFL Network, Nick Jr, Discovery, and SYFY to make up for it.
Due to its array of sports channels, Sling is an excellent choice for Watching the NBA or Watching the NFL Online.
Local programming is quite limited. Sling TV suggests using an HD antenna (which they also offer) to watch live local networks like Fox channels.
If it lacks in local programming, Sling TV compensates by offering some of the best international channels from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America in my perspective. This even includes live sports in select countries.
For a reasonably priced monthly plan, I found the channel lineup impressive. I had access to NBC, FX, ESPN, AMC, Food Network, History, and National Geographic.
Note: For potential subscribers, be prepared for possible frustration with Sling TV’s website for not allowing you to enter your zip code to check available channels in your area.
While its local channel page offers this search feature, it might not yield results sometimes.
CLICK HERE for the complete channel lineup.
Pricing Packages and Inclusions
Subscribers have three options: Sling Blue, Sling Orange, and Sling Orange & Blue. All plans come with a 40 percent discount for the first month.
Both Sling Orange and Sling Blue are priced at $30 per month ($20 for the first month). Sling Orange & Blue, the plan I chose, costs $40 per month ($25 for the first month).
However, these affordable prices come with certain limitations. For example, simultaneous streaming is only available with Sling Blue and Sling Orange & Blue plans.
The number of channels also varies per plan. Sling Blue offers over 50 channels, Sling Orange has over 30, and Sling Orange & Blue provides over 50 as well.
To broaden your selection, you can opt for add-ons like Sling’s A La Carte Channels, which enable you to curate your list of channels and pay only for those you prefer to watch.
Selections include STARZ, Showtime, and Flix Latino, with prices starting at $3 per month and a 7-day free trial included.
Additional features such as Sports Extra ($10), Cloud DVR ($5), Kids Extra ($5), News ($5), Lifestyle Extra ($5), Heartland Extra ($5), Hollywood ($5), International (which includes live sports for $5), Spanish TV ($5), and Comedy ($5) have separate fees.
Sling TV offers a unique movie rental service. Note that this feature (as well as Pay-Per-View events) may not be available on all devices, so research before renting. I found some rentals available for just $3.99.
As part of its promotions, Sling TV includes complimentary devices like Roku Express and AirTV Mini when you subscribe and prepay two months of your bill (limited time offer).
User Interface
Sling TV’s web and mobile interfaces are user-friendly. For instance, the web interface showcases MY TV, ON NOW, GUIDE, SPORTS, and RENTALS on the top menu.
The MY TV section on the web interface lists my DVR recordings, previously watched TV programs, and favorite movies for quick access.
The Continue Watching feature shows a yellow line below the thumbnail to indicate how much of an episode you’ve watched, a helpful reminder for busy individuals like myself.
The mobile app is equally straightforward with no complicated features, making it easy to download.
One minor drawback of the mobile app is occasional bugginess, which can be resolved by restarting the app promptly when encountered.
Streaming and Picture Quality
SlingTV require at least 25 Mbps for streaming needs. It’s beneficial to have a 200 Mbps internet connection to ensure smooth streaming over a reliable network. The streaming quality and picture are satisfactory for cord-cutting purposes. However, when comparing to services like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV might need to upgrade its 720p/60fps resolution as it currently offers this resolution for most channels only.
The cloud DVR function, known as First Look, is not included in any plan and cannot record Disney and ESPN channels. To test this feature, users need to pay an additional $5, even with the most expensive plan. Despite this, the recording capability is decent, allowing users to record shows without issues. The closed captioning feature may have a slight delay. Users might find it unnecessary to pay $5 monthly when YouTube TV provides unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost. Other IPTV services offer limited storage hours without additional charges.
Regarding other issues with Sling TV, there are very few local channels available, and there is no local sports event coverage without using the antenna provided. For sports fans, fuboTV or Hulu + Live TV might be better options. Sling TV lacks original programming, unlike competitors like Hulu and YouTube TV, which have ventured into this area. Sling TV also experiences longer live delays compared to others, and its search capability is not very effective, providing irrelevant search results. YouTube TV, on the other hand, excels with a more advanced search algorithm.
Lastly, the streaming on multiple devices is limited depending on the plan. For instance, Sling Orange allows streaming on only one device, whereas Sling Blue permits streaming on three. Combined packages may allow more device streaming, like in the case of plans that blend Orange and Blue.
In conclusion, Sling TV was launched amidst hype for its affordability catering to cord-cutters. However, the service comes with limitations such as fewer channel options and the need for add-ons to make up for shortcomings like limited programming and missing features like free cloud DVR services from other IPTV providers. If the mentioned features are not essential for users, Sling TV could still be a suitable choice for Live TV streaming. The service receives a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.