DIRECTV Packages for Seniors, Tested and Reviewed

DIRECTV Packages at a Glance

*Price with a two-year contract, autopay, and paperless billing. It does not include taxes, installation, equipment rental fees, or the Advanced Receiver Service (ARS) Fee ($15.00 per month).

DIRECTV (Satellite) or DIRECTV Streaming: What’s the Difference?

If you live in a rural area or your internet connection isn’t strong enough (DIRECTV recommends speeds of at least 24 Mbps for streaming packages), you’ll want to explore DIRECTV’s satellite option. Otherwise, you may get a poor viewing experience (meaning: lots of loading and buffering), especially if you’re streaming two programs simultaneously. If DIRECTV streaming isn’t available in your area, you might consider one of Xfinity’s TV packages, as they have greater nationwide availability.

You’ll likely want to commit to two years of service with DIRECTV, regardless if it’s streaming or satellite. If you choose DIRECTV satellite TV, which requires installing heavy equipment on your roof, you must sign a two-year contract. DIRECTV streaming doesn’t require a two-year contract, but you only get better deals on streaming plans by signing up for two years in advance. So, if you want to save, a long-term commitment makes sense. If you don’t like the idea of long-term contracts, see if Spectrum or Cox are available in your area, as they offer contract-free options.

If you opt for the more expensive month-to-month streaming plan, you can stop your service whenever you like without cancellation fees. Streaming can be the way to go if you live in an area where DIRECTV streaming packages are available, you have fast internet, you want to avoid long-term contracts, and it fits your budget.

Our tech team tested out the Choice streaming package, and we had no issues streaming live HD shows and movies. It was also simple to set up right out of the box. We chose the DIY installation option, and it only took about 20 minutes to get everything up and running. Had we opted for satellite TV, we would have had to make an appointment for a professional to come out and install the satellite dish before we could watch anything. We also had the option to get professional help with the streaming setup (for an extra $99), but we think it’s simple enough for most seniors to handle on their own.

Which DIRECTV Package Is Best for You?

Here’s a look at what each DIRECTV package includes: who they’re for, how much they cost, and how they compare to competitors.

Entertainment: Best for Seniors Satisfied with the Basics

Do 40,000 on-demand titles and 90+ channels sound like enough TV for you? If so, the Entertainment plan is likely a good fit. Remember that if you go with DIRECTV’s starter package, you won’t get any regional sports on demand. However, you will get ESPN, ESPN2, NBC Sports Network, and TNT Old favorites are also included: CNBC, CNN, Animal Planet, Discovery, and the Disney Channel, just to name a few.

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If you’re addicted to your favorite HBO series, consider upgrading to a Choice plan or higher (see below). DIRECTV’s Entertainment plan starts at $74.99 per month. (A cheaper, satellite-only plan (without local channels) is available for $62.99 per month.) For comparison, that’s around $2 more than an Xfinity Ultimate TV plan that offers even more channels than DIRECTV. There’s a $13 difference between DIRECTV’s entry-level plan and a basic plan from Cox TV, which costs around $61 per month for a similar number of channels.

Choice: Best for Sports Fans Who Want Variety

The big perk of DIRECTV’s Choice plan, which starts at $89.99 per month and features 125+ channels, is regional sports. It is a plan for serious sports fans who want complete coverage of their local teams, plus a little more variety in channels and on-demand titles. The Choice package also includes three free months of premium channels, including HBO Max and STARZ, but you won’t have any premium channels after those three months unless you pay for separate plans for each channel.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Regional sports programs are the most expensive cable television offerings because the rights to broadcast local sports cost more than the rights to any other content.

However, you don’t have to be a huge sports fan to enjoy the Choice plan. In our experience, it’s a fantastic all-around package that balances price with a solid number of channels and on-demand titles (roughly 45,000). The package includes the most popular channels and programs on TV, plus older shows and movies. We could watch our favorite content on TV or easily stream it to any of our devices through the DIRECTV Stream app.

However, you don’t have to be a huge sports fan to enjoy the Choice plan. In our experience, it’s a great all-around package that balances price with a solid number of channels and on-demand titles (roughly 45,000). The package includes the most popular channels and programs on TV along with older shows and movies. We could watch our favorite content on TV or easily stream it to any of our devices through the DIRECTV Stream app.

The Choice package includes 125+ channels and lots of on demand content, as seen on our tester's TV

For comparison, the Choice plan costs the same as getting the Internet + NOW TV bundle from Xfinity. While this does allow you to bundle your internet and TV together, it only gives you 40+ channels, which is far less than you can get with DIRECTV’s Entertainment or Choice plans.

Ultimate: Sports Fans and Movie Buffs

The Ultimate plan is a step above the Choice plan regarding content. You get 160+ channels and 55,000 on-demand titles. However, it also comes with a hefty price increase from the Choice plan. The price jumps from $89.99 per month for the Choice plan to $119.99 per month for the Ultimate plan. While you could justify the price difference with the additional channels and on-demand content, we think the Choice plan is sufficient for seniors who want great value.

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One of the biggest perks of the Ultimate plan is the inclusion of STARZ ENCORE. That comes with nine distinct movie channels that play new movies, classics, and everything in between — all commercial-free. So, if you want more out of your plan and commercial-free movies at all times of day and night, the Ultimate plan could be the ideal choice for you. Otherwise, you might want to save by opting for the Entertainment or Choice plan.

DIRECTV offers several premium movie channels that come included with some packages or can be added for a monthly fee, as seen on our tester's DIRECTV mobile app

Premier: Best for Cinephiles Who Want It All

This package is for older adults who want the TV equivalent of a self-service buffet. With 65,000 on-demand titles, the best regional sports networks (RSNs), HBO Max, Cinemax, SHOWTIME, and STARZ, DIRECTV’s Premier package offers a tremendous selection for households that see a lot of traffic (e.g., children, grandkids, neighbors, friends, etc.) and want to make sure there’s something for everyone. This top-of-the-line package costs $164.99 per month, making it DIRECTV’s most expensive plan. This is also the only plan without a cheaper satellite version.

Since we’re discussing deals, we also suggest DIRECTV’s Choice package + AT&T Fiber 1 GIG bundle if you can make do with HBO alone. AT&T owns DIRECTV, and bundling services from both companies offers a superb way for older adults to save on monthly entertainment fees. You’ll get lightning-fast internet from AT&T, plus DIRECTV’s Premier plan for just $5 more monthly. Once again, this might be a lot for your budget. However, if you spend a lot of time watching TV (especially at home), splurging on more channels and a fast internet connection for better streaming could be well worth the money.

» Learn More: AT&T internet review

DIRECTV DVR Equipment and On-Demand Content

DIRECTV has tons of on-demand content — up to 65,000 titles, including the big three RSNs (SportsNet, NBC Sports, and Bally Sports), and a nearly unlimited selection of new releases, TV shows, and network offerings.

Some of that on-demand content will require extra subscriptions. DIRECTV throws in three free months of HBO Max, SHOWTIME, Epix, and Cinemax with their premium packages, for example, but after that, you’ll be paying by the month. And if you want to keep those subscriptions, the cost will increase. Depending on the chosen plan, HBO Max alone can range from $9.99 to $19.99 monthly.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

You can set DIRECTV’s DVR to record directly from your phone (one of my favorite features!). That means if you’re out of the house and realize you forgot to record your favorite show or the big game, you can easily set up the recording from your phone.

Whichever extra entertainment you decide to bundle with your DIRECTV plan, you won’t be able to watch it all simultaneously, which is where DIRECTV’s DVR storage comes in handy. Let’s say you’re out to eat with friends and realize you forgot to set your favorite show to record. You can open the app, search for the program, and tap the record (REC) button. It was super easy, and we never missed our favorite shows.

The Ultimate plan is a step above the Choice plan regarding content. You get 160+ channels and 55,000 on-demand titles. However, it also comes with a hefty price increase from the Choice plan. The price jumps from $89.99 per month for the Choice plan to $119.99 per month for the Ultimate plan. While you could justify the price difference with the additional channels and on-demand content, we think the Choice plan is sufficient for seniors who want great value.

DVR With DIRECTV Satellite

DIRECTV generously offers 200 hours of HD storage. That’s over 500 GB of content, watchable on up to five screens simultaneously. (You can record up to five programs simultaneously, too.) While Spectrum charges an equipment rental fee ($8.99 per month) plus a monthly fee of $4.99 for the DVR service, DIRECTV gives you the first device for free and charges $15 for the DVR service. If you have multiple TVs in your house, you’ll need a separate DIRECTV DVR device for each extra TV. Those receivers cost $7 per month per device.

DVR With DIRECTV Streaming

If you’re streaming, DIRECTV gives you “unlimited” cloud storage, but there are a few caveats. First, it only stores recordings in the cloud for up to nine months. After that, they’ll be erased, whether you had time to watch them. We didn’t like this feature as much, especially for busy seniors who might take a while to watch TV shows and movies stored on their DVRs.

Additionally, you can only record up to 30 episodes from any given series (although we never came close to this number). Thus, the cloud storage still felt unlimited. For comparison, Spectrum TV only keeps recordings for up to 90 days (the total number of recordings and hours vary by plan), and Cox offers up to 100 hours of HD recordings with its starter package. They can be saved for up to a year.

DIRECTV Cable box

DIRECTV’s remote also makes recording and accessing shows, browsing channels, and pulling up menus a breeze. Similar to Xfinity’s remote, it has a voice-control feature. We simply pressed the microphone button, spoke into the remote, and asked it to pull up channels or content.

DIRECTV's remote is easy to use and includes a voice control feature, as seen on our tester's remote

Lookback and Restart

We all miss live shows we want to watch from time to time. DIRECTV’s Lookback feature lets you watch any live programming you missed for up to three days. Fans of sports, soap operas, or late-night talk shows will love this feature, as it ensures that you can still catch up on your favorite programs up to 72 hours after they aired. Remember to check channel compatibility first, as Lookback isn’t available for all content.

DIRECTV’s Restart feature is also pretty great. Imagine you’re 10 minutes into a live program when your friend walks in and wants to know what’s happening. Instead of pausing and delivering a verbal recap (ugh!), you can just hit Restart on the remote and play the show from the beginning. Again, this feature may not be available for every channel you watch.

DIRECTV Bundles to Help You Save

If you like what DIRECTV offers, it makes sense to bundle in your internet and save. Here’s a quick breakdown of our favorite DIRECTV bundles for older adults.

An internet bundle and streaming plan with Spectrum, for comparison’s sake, provides access to almost the same number of channels (155+) as DIRECTV’s Ultimate plan for $179 a month.

Streaming and Satellite Bundles Breakdown

DIRECTV operates differently than most television providers with bundling. They only offer bundles of their TV packages with internet service. Customers aren’t confined to only one choice for internet. Instead, you can pick from a large list of internet providers.

The available options cover the gamut of fiber and satellite internet. AT&T, Frontier, and WOW! are some of the more recognizable names, but plenty of smaller, local providers are offered. If you only have access to brands like Hawaiian Telcom or Viasat, you can still take advantage of DIRECTV’s bundles.

The main bundle they advertise is a combination of the Entertainment Package (detailed above) and a starter internet plan. However, there’s not a noticeable discount, unlike most competitors. The Entertainment Package is still listed at $74.99 per month for the streaming package. The included internet begins at $55 per month, the same as AT&T’s base fiber plan. You also cannot order the bundle online – interested customers must call a special phone number. Simply using DIRECTV’s normal number will not work.

It may not be the most affordable deal, but the convenience is still a positive. The variety of internet providers is also a boon, as it allows users a degree of customization not found with other bundles. Having a cheaper satellite option may also appeal to those in rural areas.

Bundling AT&T Phone and Internet is a great way to save money

Does DIRECTV Offer a Senior Discount?

DIRECTV doesn’t currently offer any discounts for seniors. But you can trim your DIRECTV bill and get a price lock lasting at least a year. Here are our top tips for saving on a DIRECTV package.

1. Save With Your Own Streaming Devices (for Streaming Plans Only)

You can erase DIRECTV’s streaming device fee by using your device. Remember, leasing DIRECTV’s device (beyond the first one included with your plan) is $7 per month. Google Chromecast, which is fully compatible with DIRECTV, costs about $35. Google TV, which gives you a remote control, is about $50. You’ll start saving money after a few months if you decide to purchase your equipment!
your equipment!

2. Order Online

DIRECTV charges a $19.95 activation fee. But they’ll often waive it if you order online. If you’re more of a phone person, we hear you, but in this case, it makes sense to fire up your laptop. Overall, we had a great experience chatting with DIRECTV’s customer support. They were always quick to respond, and we never felt like they were trying to “upsell” us to a package or service we didn’t need. And we never experienced any wait times to connect with a real person. So, even if you order your plan over the phone or frequently need help from a DIRECTV representative, you’ll get top-notch support.

3. Enable Autopay and Paperless Billing

Another way you can economize with DIRECTV is to let them deduct your monthly payment automatically. It’s a small compromise for $10 monthly savings. When you sign up online, autopay and paperless billing will be enabled by default. If you don’t want them later on, you can disable them from your account page in the app. Remember that this will increase your premium on the next monthly statement.

The Fine Print With DIRECTV

DIRECTV touts “no hidden fees” loud and clear. Most aren’t technically “hidden.” But when paying fees, it’s better to be aware of even the “mildly camouflaged” ones.

Activation and Equipment Fees

Regardless of which DIRECTV service you choose, you’ll pay a one-time $19.95 activation fee (see above for a trick to waive that fee). Your satellite subscription has an HD DVR, but that device only covers one TV. So, if your DVR is in the TV room and you want to watch in the bedroom, you’ll need a second receiver for that room at an additional $7 monthly per TV.

Regional Sports Fee

DIRECTV’s Regional Sports Fee can be up to $14.99 monthly, depending on where you live. Streaming local sports is included with DIRECTV’s premium streaming plans. So, if sports are your thing and you’ve got a strong AT&T signal, this may be a great incentive to ditch the dish and choose a higher-tier streaming plan.

Cancellation Fees

If you cancel before your two-year contract ends, there’s a rather stiff early cancellation fee (also known as an early termination fee) of $20 per month for every month left on your DIRECTV contract – remember that. You can avoid the contracts and early termination fees by opting for a monthly streaming package.

DIRECTV vs. the Competition

In the table below, we’ll see how DIRECTV stacks up to some of its top competitors.

DIRECTV is one of the most expensive TV providers on the market. There are more affordable options from cable providers such as Spectrum, Cox, and Xfinity. But if more channels and on-demand content are your concern, DIRECTV offers more with its starter plan than these providers.

While Cox is arguably the best cable provider for bundling, DIRECTV is a better option for seniors in rural areas. That is because it is the only provider of the four we examined above that offers satellite TV. If you have slow internet speeds or don’t have access to cable TV in your area, DIRECTV might be your best option. Regardless of the provider you choose, you won’t be able to get senior discounts.

» Compare Providers: Best cable TV for seniors

If you opt for the DIRECTV Genie DVR, you can turn on Picture-in-Picture (PiP), a fun feature that lets you view two screens simultaneously. DIRECTV provides instructions on its website about how to turn on PiP. If this feature is super intriguing to you, check out DISH if it’s available in your area. With DISH, the other sizable satellite TV provider in the U.S., you can watch four screens simultaneously. Another note about Dish: the company provides up to 2,000 hours of DVR storage. So, if a lot of storage is critical, you might want to see if you can get Dish in your area.

The Bottom Line on DIRECTV

Starting at $74.99 monthly, DIRECTV is ideal for sports fans looking for complete local sports coverage. DVR features like Restart and Lookback, plus a free Genie or Gemini video recorder with 200 hours of storage, give you even more control over your live viewing. As you move up in pricing tiers, you’ll be tempted by premium entertainment channels that will eventually bump you into some pricey terrain — until you consider those attractive AT&T TV and internet bundles. If you’re interested in bundling internet with your streaming service, you might want to consider going with a different provider if one is available in your area. Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox might have cheaper bundled deals.

Keep an eye on your statements, especially at the beginning, to avoid “bill shock.” (We’re thinking particularly of the Regional Sports Fee and Advanced Receiver Service Fee.) And don’t forget that while streaming will be seamless with a fast internet plan, you’ll still need streaming devices or receivers to connect to each TV you want to stream. Those, of course, will cost money. But beyond this, you’ll have fun with your DIRECTV plan. In fact, with all that programming, you may never want to leave your couch again.

Want to learn more? Check out our video below.

Our Methodology: How We Reviewed and Tested DIRECTV

Our tech experts spent a week testing DIRECTV’s service, comparing costs, features, and reliability to help you figure out if it’s right for your budget and lifestyle. Below are additional factors we used in our evaluation:

• Contracts: We consider whether cable companies require signing a long-term contract plus their duration, pricing changes, and cancellation policies.
• Cost and value: In addition to monthly costs, we researched DIRECTV’s equipment fees, installation costs, any additional fees, and seasonal promotions. We assessed these prices and their value, comparing them to competitors.
• Channel selection and plan features: We consider the number of channels and extras, such as DVR features, for each DIRECTV plan.
• Plan customization and flexibility: We like when companies offer flexibility in picking channels and services so seniors on tight budgets can get what they want.
• Service reliability: We considered our testing experience, along with online reviews and ratings, to accurately gauge the overall reliability of DIRECTV service in different geographic areas.
• Customer service: The importance of good customer service can’t be overstated! Our tech experts always considered how easy it was to get ahold of customer service reps and how courteous and helpful they were when we needed help.