There's a streaming TV service for everyone, and for those of you out there who like the satellite TV experience but hate dealing with the satellite itself, there's DIRECTV STREAM. As the name implies, this is pretty much just a streaming version of the DIRECTV experience. And, yes, that includes several different gigantic packages of channels.
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There are four DIRECTV STREAM packages to choose from, ranging from the Entertainment plan ($80/mo.) to the Premier plan ($165/mo.). Each package offers a broad range of live and on-demand titles, including news, sports, entertainment, and more. It's also one of the only streaming service that provides access to regional sports networks like Bally Sports. Not sure if it's the right service for you? Try signing up for the five-day DIRECTV STREAM free trial first.
If you're thinking about cutting the cord and switching to DIRECTV STREAM, there are a few things you should know -- including which devices are compatible with the service. Keep reading to find out if your favorite device works with DIRECTV STREAM, so you can start streaming today.
After signing up, you can watch DIRECTV STREAM on a number of compatible devices, including smartphones, web browsers, smart TVs, and streaming devices. If you don't already have one of these products, you can either buy one or purchase DIRECTV STREAM's proprietary streaming device.
DIRECTV STREAM works with the most popular streaming sticks and devices, including products in the Amazon Fire TV range (such as the Amazon Fire TV Cube and the Amazon Fire TV Stick), Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Android TV devices, and Roku. Once you've set up one of these devices on your TV, just download the DIRECTV STREAM app and log in – then you're ready to stream!
If you have an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, you'll be able to use it to watch DIRECTV STREAM. All you need to do is download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store, sign in to your account, and begin watching your favorite programs. For the best viewing experience, DIRECTV recommends OS 8 (Oreo) or newer for Android users and iOS 12 or later for Apple users--if your device is less than five years old it'll almost certainly work.
If you prefer to watch TV and movies on a laptop, you can use a compatible web browser to access all of the DIRECTV STREAM channels in your package, which all include popular networks like CNN, ESPN, and TLC. Supported browsers include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. Unfortunately, other, more niche browsers -- like Mozilla Firefox and Opera -- are not compatible.
| DIRECTV STREAM | Hulu + Live TV | fuboTV | Sling TV | |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ (second generation and newer) | ✓ | ✓ (Android OS 5.0 and newer) | ✓ |
| Android TV (Google TV) | ✓ (select models) | ✓ (select models) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ (fourth generation and newer) | ✓ (fourth generation and newer) | ✓ (fourth generation and newer) | ✓ (tvOS 11 and newer) |
| Google Chromecast | ✓ (second generation and newer) | ✓ | ✓ (second generation and newer; Chromecast Ultra; Google Cast TVs) | ✓ (Latest browser) |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ (version 8.1 and higher) | ✓ | ✓ (Newer models) |
| Apple iPhone/Apple iPad | ✓ (Apple iOS 11 and newer) | ✓ | ✓ (Apple iOS 13.0 and newer) | ✓ (Apple iOS 11 and newer) |
| Android smartphones/tablets | ✓ (Version 7.1 and newer) | ✓ | ✓ (Android OS 5.0 and newer) | ✓ (Android OS 5.0 and newer) |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | |||
| Sony PlayStation | ✓ (Sony PlayStation 3 and newer) | |||
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ (Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X) | ✓ (Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and all Xbox One models) | |
| Mac | ✓ (Version 13+ of Safari recommended) | ✓ | ✓ (Latest version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari) | ✓ (macOS 11.1 and newer) |
| PC | ✓ (Latest version of Microsoft Edge) | ✓ | ✓ (Latest version of Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) | ✓ |
| LG Smart TVs (webOS) | ✓ (webOS 3.5 and higher) | ✓ (2018 models and newer) | ✓ (webOS 3.0 and higher) | |
| Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen) | ✓ (2017 models and newer) | ✓ (2016 models and newer) | ✓ (2015 models and newer) | ✓ (2016 models and newer) |
| Vizio Smart TVs (SmartCast) | ✓ (Casting only) | ✓ | ✓ (2016 models and newer) | ✓ |
If you've decided that DIRECTV STREAM is the right streaming service for you, you'll have plenty of options in terms of supported devices (unless you prefer to watch through gaming consoles, which aren't compatible with the platform). Here are our top recommendations, depending on what you're looking for.
There are a number of Roku devices to consider, ranging from affordable to high-end options. If you're on a budget, however, we recommend choosing something like the Roku Express, which retails for $30.
With it, you'll be able to download popular apps like DIRECTV STREAM, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix, browse titles with a remote, and connect your Apple phone to your TV through AirPlay.
DIRECTV STREAM doesn't support as many smart TVs as some of its competitors, but it is compatible with Samsung Smart TVs from 2017 and later. If you have one of these TVs, you can download the DIRECTV STREAM app and start viewing movies and TV shows without connecting any extra equipment to your TV.
To start using DIRECTV STREAM on your Samsung Smart TV, you'll first need to make sure that your TV is connected to your home's wireless network. From there, you can download the DIRECTV STREAM app, sign in to your account, and begin watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
