We took a look at these three services to see how they stack up to each other.

The companys base plans are among the cheapest, starting at $20/month for a selection of basic channels.

Sure enough, it had the same issue.

This makes sense, since theyre both rebroadcasting the same channel.

Playstation Vue and DirecTV Now take an approach to bundling reminiscent of traditional cable packages.

You cancompare Playstation Vues plans here, which range from $30/month to $65/month.

Unlike Playstation Vue, HBO and Cinemax are an extra $5/month add-on.

However, say you want the basic package plusBoomerangbecause youre really into Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes.

On Playstation Vue, you have to go up to the $45/month tier.

This doesnt do much to help you feel like youre only paying for the stuff you want.

Sling, on the other hand, takes a different approach.

You canexplore Slings plans here.

Each one gives you a different selection of channels, with some significant overlap between them.

If you want channels from both, you’re free to get Orange + Blue for $40.

If you go for the combo package, you could stream to four different places at once.

For example, the Kids Extras includes Nicktoons, TeenNick, and Boomerang for $5/month.

Comedy Extras gives you MTV, Spike, and TV Land for $5/month.

you could also add premium channels like HBO ($15/month) or Cinemax ($10/month) separately.

This model gives Sling a lot more flexibility than Playstation Vue or DirecTV Now.

With the other services, youll have to accept whatever tier they offer that includes the channels you want.

You cant mix and match.

The flipside, however, is that Slings prices can add up.

On this front, Sling and Playstation Vue lead the pack.

Additionally, Sling has an Xbox app while Playstation Vue naturally has a Playstation app.

you could findlinks to Slings apps hereandmost of Playstation Vues apps here.

DirecTV Now, on the other hand, only offers mobile apps forAndroidandiOS, plusApple TVand Chromecast support.

DirecTV Now was a little more direct in helping me find what I was looking for.

The app has buttons for Shows, Movies, and Networks.

A convenient Add to Watchlist button will keep your selection for later.

Under the Networks tab, you might scroll through an alphabetical list of channels.

Simply tap one to start playing it.

While youre watching, you’ve got the option to swipe left and right to flip through channels.

Of all the apps, this felt the closest to old-school style channel surfing.

Frustratingly, the Android TV app was pretty different.

DirecTV Now was most friendly to couchsurfers who want to flip through channels until they find something they like.

When you add a show to your watch list, it doesnt just bookmark it for later.

It will record every new episode of that show that comes out.

it’s possible for you to keep the recordings for up to 28 days after their original air date.

Some shows and channels dont allow DVR, but fortunately most do.

On top of that, Playstation Vue will compare your recordings to On Demand offerings.

As for Sling and DirecTV Now, both promise that DVR is coming, but neither are available yet.

Sling startedoffering an invite-only beta, but theres no guarantee youll get in.

That being said, Playstation Vue gets full marks for including DVR support.

On that basis alone, it already stands out from the pack.

On the other hand, Slings best asset is its pricing.

DirecTV Now is harder to recommend, but it may come down to your preference.

Its slightly more expensive than Playstation Vue and it doesnt have DVR.

I also appreciated the ability to flip through channels like I was tapping a button on a remote.

DirecTV Now is the newest kid on the block, so naturally it has some room to grow.

It may also face a challenge when Hulu releases its own streaming service later this year.