Sling TV Orange vs. Sling Blue

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Best known as the original over-the-internet alternative to cable TV, Sling is still unique among competitors like Hulu, Fubo and YouTube TV with its smaller, trimmed down packages that don't require you to pay for tons of channels you'll never want or need. While nearly all the other live-TV streaming services only offer you a massive bundle of channels for way too much money, Sling offers an alternative approach with a pair of smaller, more granular plans.

While there is a fair amount of overlap between the two plans, each includes some unique channels to fit different audiences. Sling Orange is designed for sports fans and families, featuring channels like ESPN and Disney, while Sling Blue is geared toward viewers seeking news and entertainment. And, if you want it all, you can combine them in Sling Orange & Blue for a package that's a little closer to the traditional cable experience.

Wondering which of these plans is right for you? Read on to learn more about Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue — including key channels, plan features, and more.

Which Sling TV Plan is Right For You?

Sling Orange

Sling Orange is tailored to family and sports viewing. While it has many popular channels that overlap with Sling Blue, it has fewer channels overall and a heavier emphasis on those two genres. In the realm of family viewing, Sling Orange offers channels like Nick Jr., Disney Channel, FreeForm, and more.

For sports, highlights include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, MotorTrend, and TNT. Like Sling Blue, Sling Orange package also offers 50 hours of free DVR space. However, you can only stream content on one device at a time. That particular feature could be a big drawback for families or roommates who might be sharing their Sling TV account. 

Sling Blue

Sling Blue, on the other hand, is an ideal option for news and entertainment. It includes several unique channels that you won't find on Sling Orange, including Fox News, Discovery, FX, MSNBC, Syfy, and USA Network. And though Sling Blue isn't geared toward sports fans, it still features some sports channels, such as NFL Network and FS1, neither of which can be found on Sling Orange.

The Sling Blue package offers more channels than Orange in general, but not by too many. The channel selection can slightly vary based on your location, but Orange offers somewhere around 30 channels, whereas Blue gives you over 40. Sling Blue also offers 50 hours of free DVR storage, but can be streamed on three devices at once, which makes it a better option for multiple people sharing an account.

Who is Sling TV Best For?

If you're simply looking for more bang for your buck, Sling Blue gives you more channels for the same price as Sling Orange. Price aside, the fact that you can watch on three devices at once makes Sling Blue a more fitting option for families, roommates, or friends sharing one account. This way multiple people can watch at once on different devices or in different rooms.

This is one drawback of Sling Orange (which has more family-oriented and sports channels), as it can only be viewed on one device at a time. If you're on your own, though, and want a channel package with the most popular sports channels, Sling Orange is a great choice. It still gives you some standard channels, like CNN and TNT, but also sports networks.

What About the Sling TV Orange & Blue Combined Plan?

When in doubt, consider the $60/mo. combo package that gives you Sling Orange and Sling Blue together. With the combined channel package, you get all the Sling TV channels that Blue and Orange offer, plus you can stream them on three devices. There's a catch on multi-device streaming with this plan, though: Orange channels can only be streamed on one device at a time, while Blue channels can be viewed on three devices. 

This combined package is ideal for a house of people with all different tastes, because you'll have access to family-friendly channels, as well as news and sports. And while Sling Orange bills itself as the sports package, with the combined package, you'll get even more sports channels, because Sling Blue offers some sports networks not available on Orange. 

The combined Sling Orange & Blue plan is also a good way to go if you've freshly cut the cord from the cable company and want a solid replacement. While not all Sling TV local channels are built into the plan, you can get some local access based on your location and availability and you can get a free HD antenna to tap into more local channels.

Sling TV Extras

Sling TV offers a number of add-ons, including DVR space and specialty channels. These extra channel packages allow you to expand your lineup and supplement your Sling lineup with other genres.

Say you subscribe with the Sling Orange plan to get the sports channels you want but you really want some extra movie channels. For just a few extra dollars per month, you can get that specialty selection of channels. The add-ons vary slightly between the Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages, but Sling's website has a complete breakdown of which channels fall under each selection. 

Here's an overview of these add-ons

Total TV ($21/mo.)

Sling TV offers a Total TV add-on package on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue for $21/mo. This includes all of the extra packages and Sling's DVR Plus service, which provides 200 hours of DVR space.

4 Extras ($13/mo.)

Sling TV offers the 4 Extras Deal for $13/mo. on Sling Orange and Sling Blue. This service provides Kids Extra, Entertainment Extra, News Extra, and Lifestyle Plus Extra.

DVR Plus ($5/mo.)

You can get 200 hours of DVR space for an extra $5/mo. on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue. 

Sports Extra ($11/mo.)

Sling Blue and Sling Orange both offer a Sports Extra plan for $11/mo., but the packages differ. With Sling Blue, you get 11 channels, including NFL RedZone, NBA TV, NHL Network, Golf Channel, beIN SPORTS, Big Ten Network, Pac-12, FS2, Tennis Channel, and MLB StrikeZone.

On Sling Orange, you get 14 sports channels, including NBA TV, SEC Network, SEC Network+, Pac-12, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, NHL Network, beIN SPORTS, Longhorn Network, MLB Network, MLB StrikeZone, Tennis Channel, ACCN, and ACCNX. You can also get Sports Extra on the combo Sling Orange & Blue plan for $15/mo. This is ideal for a sports fan who wants a comprehensive selection of channels. 

Entertainment Extra ($6/mo.)

Both Sling Blue and Sling Orange offer an Entertainment Extra package with extra laughs for $6/mo.. Both offer channels including MTV, Paramount Network, MTV2, CMT, Logo, GSN, TV Land, and more. The only difference is that Sling Orange offers one more channel than Sling Blue, and it's truTV (but this channel is already included in the basic Sling Blue package).

Kids Extra ($6/mo.)

While Sling Blue and Sling Orange both offer a Kids Extra package for $6/mo., the packages differ. Both packages offer Nick Toons, Teen Nick, Boomerang, and BabyTV, but only Sling Orange's Kids Extra has Disney Jr. and Disney XD. This is a good option for families who want plenty of kid-friendly viewing.

News Extra ($6/mo.)

You can add extra news channels to either Sling Blue or Sling Orange for $6/mo. Sling Blue offers 11 channels like BBC News and Fox Business, whereas Sling Orange offers just nine news channels like News Nation and HLN. If you want to have world news available, this is a good add-on option.

Lifestyle Extra ($6/mo.)

Sling Orange offers nine lifestyle channels for $6/mo., and Sling Blue offers 10 lifestyle channels for $6/mo. Both offer VH1, Hallmark, and others, but only Sling Blue's add-on includes Oxygen.

Hollywood Extra ($6/mo.)

On Sling Orange's Hollywood Extra package, you'll get eight entertainment channels, like Reelz and TCM. On Sling Blue, you'll get 11 entertainment channels for $6/mo. including FXX, FX Movies, and Sundance TV. If you want more movie channels than you're already getting, this is a decent way to expand your Sling channel lineup.

Heartland Extra ($6/mo.)

The Heartland Extra package provides channels for lifestyle and outdoor sports for $6/mo. Sling Blue offers 12 channels and Sling Orange offers 11 channels. 

Premium Channels ($3/mo. and up)

You can also simply add standalone channels like MGM+, Starz, or Showtime starting at $3/mo. But HBO is not an option.

Our Final Take

For the sheer size of the channel lineup, Sling Blue is a better option. Sling Orange has a very narrow catalog of channels, only around 30, while Sling Blue provides almost 40. Sling Blue also allows you to stream on three devices at once, which is valuable for people who are sharing their account with family or friends. However, if you're a sports fan who just wants to watch your favorite teams, you might be happier with Sling Orange. 

In the end, though, you can't go wrong with the combo Sling Orange & Blue package that will give you everything. While there's not currently a Sling TV free trial, the streamer does offer those from time to time so you can try before you buy. You can also learn more about all of the Sling TV packages, channels, and pricing here.