Sling TV keeps cord-cutting cheap, but local channels are the catch
Rolling Stone’s 2026 review says Sling TV remains a low-cost live TV option, with plans from $19.99 and limits around local channels.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Sling TV is still pitching itself as the bargain route out of cable, and Rolling Stone’s 2026 review says the service mostly delivers, as long as viewers know where the gaps are.
In a review published July 23, Rolling Stone writers Sage Anderson and Oscar Hartzog described Sling as one of the more affordable and flexible live TV streaming services, especially for households that want to build a channel lineup instead of paying for a larger bundle.
The review notes that Sling does not require the long contracts associated with traditional cable. It also offers add-on channel packs, cloud DVR, select 4K streaming and sports coverage, though its local channel support varies by market.
What Sling costs in 2026
According to Rolling Stone, Sling now has four main paid packages: Essentials, Select, Orange and Blue.
- Essentials starts at $19.99 a month and includes more than 10 channels, led by ESPN, ESPN2 and Disney Channel.
- Select also starts at $19.99 a month and includes more than 10 channels, including Fox News, FS1, FX and NFL Network.
- Essentials and Select can be bundled from $34.99 a month.
- Orange starts at $45.99 a month and focuses on sports and family programming, including ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel and Freeform.
- Blue starts at $45.99 a month and leans toward news and entertainment, with channels including FOX News, MSNBC, Bravo and FX.
- Orange + Blue starts at $60.99 a month, or more in markets where local ABC, NBC or FOX affiliates are included.
The review says Orange allows one simultaneous stream, while Blue allows up to three. The reviewer tested the Orange + Blue bundle and reported getting four simultaneous streams, enough for a four-person household.
Sling also sells short-term access to Sling Orange through Passes, according to the review: $4.99 for one day, $9.99 for three days and $14.99 for seven days. Rolling Stone framed those passes as useful for individual events, games or tournaments.
Add-ons, DVR and the local channel problem
Rolling Stone says Sling offers more than 70 premium add-ons, including Sports Extra, Kids Extra, News Extra and Hollywood Extra. Those add-ons range from $5.99 to $13.99 a month each.
The review also says subscribers can bundle Max with Sling and save $5 a month on the cost of Max. Sling does not carry many Paramount-owned channels, including CBS and MTV, though Comedy Central is listed as an exception.
Every Sling plan includes 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, according to Rolling Stone. An unlimited DVR upgrade costs $5 a month and allows ad-skipping on recordings. The DVR includes sections for recordings, auto-recorded shows, scheduled recordings and trash, where deleted recordings can be restored for 48 hours.
Rolling Stone’s review says Sling streams select broadcasts in 4K at no extra cost, including some ESPN and FOX sports programming.
The biggest downside in the review is local TV. CBS is not available through Sling, while ABC, NBC and FOX are limited to certain markets and may cost extra. Sling offers an AirTV device that can connect to an over-the-air antenna and fold local channels into the Sling guide, according to Rolling Stone.
How it compares
Rolling Stone compared Sling with YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV and Philo. The review listed Sling as starting at $19.99, YouTube TV at $64.99 and up, Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 and up, Fubo at $64.99 and up with a $19.99 Latino TV option, DirecTV at $20.99 and up, and Philo at $25 and up.
The review’s bottom line: Sling is a strong value for viewers who want to control costs and choose add-ons, but it may require another service or antenna setup for people who want a fuller local-channel package.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.