When deciding which half of the popular live TV streaming services to use, Sling Orange vs Blue is a common question. Both plans have different features, but Sling is the single best cable TV alternative thanks to its $35 Blue and Orange packages. Depending on the week (it seems) you sign up, you’ll receive either $10 off or 50% off your first month. The latter is better, and it’s happening now.
There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to picking the right Sling Blue or Orange. Even though the NFL is currently off-season, pigskin fans know that NFL live streams require both, as FOX and NBC are on Blue while ESPN is on Orange. Are you looking for NBA live streams? If you want ESPN and TNT, as well as ESPN3 for the ABC games that will be simulcast, Orange is the best choice for you.
Sling Blue is perfect for viewers looking for a mix of news, entertainment, and NFL Network channels. A great option for ESPN and family-related viewing is Sling Orange. You can, however, get a package that includes both if you want it all.
Compare Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue plans
| Sling Orange | Sling Blue | |
| Monthly price | $35/mo. (50% off) | $35/mo. (50% off) |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | NA | NA |
| Number of channels | 30+ | 40+ |
| Number of simultaneous streams | 1 | 3 |
| DVR storage | 50 free hours | 50 free hours |
| Offline viewing | No | No |
| Popular Channels | Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Nick Jr. | Bravo, E!, Discovery |
Sling Orange vs Blue: What is the Sling Orange plan?
As of now, Sling Orange costs the same as Sling Blue – $35 per month. With Orange, you’ll have access to 32 live channels, including ESPN, Freeform, Disney Channel, and CNN.
Sling Orange focuses on family and sports viewing. It has many popular channels that overlap with Sling Blue, but it emphasizes those two genres more. Sling Orange offers channels such as Nick Jr., Disney Channel, FreeForm, and more for family viewing.
There is an even broader selection of sports programming, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and MotorTrend. Sling Orange offers 50 hours of free DVR space, but can only be streamed on one device at a time. Families or roommates sharing Sling TV accounts may find that particular feature a big drawback.
Sling Orange vs Blue: What is the Sling Blue plan?
With Sling Blue, you get access to 47 live channels for $35 a month. Blue does not include every Orange channel by default, for example, Disney and ESPN are not included. The service is multi-streaming, so you can access it on up to three devices at once with Sling Blue. A single account could be used by three people simultaneously, or you could record three shows while away, or you could mix and match.
NBC stations, such as NBC, USA, Bravo, and SyFy, are also available to Sling Blue subscribers. Fox News and MSNBC, which never agree on anything, are both available only on Sling Blue.
Sling Orange vs Blue: available channel
| Sling Blue | Sling Orange | Sling Blue + Orange | |
| ESPN | No | Yes | Yes |
| AMC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNN | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FOX News | Yes | No | Yes |
| MSNBC | Yes | No | Yes |
| HLN | Yes | No | Yes |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cartoon Network / Adult Swim | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney | No | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN2 | No | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN3 | No | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Freeform | No | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A&E | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viceland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fuse | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AXS TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Newsy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cheddar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bloomberg Television | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local Now | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox | Yes | No | Yes |
| NBC | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fox Sports | Yes | No | Yes |
| NFL Network | Yes | No | Yes |
| NBA League Pass* | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* |
| FX | Yes | No | Yes |
| USA | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bravo | Yes | No | Yes |
| FS1 | Yes | No | Yes |
| FS2 | Yes | No | Yes |
| NBCSN | Yes | No | Yes |
| NBC RSN | Yes | No | Yes |
| FXX | Yes (with Blue’s Hollywood Extra) | No | Yes |
| Tribeca Shortlist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SyFY | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tru TV | Yes | No | Yes |
| BET | Yes | No | Yes |
| National Geographic | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nat Geo Wild | Yes | No | Yes |
Conclusion
Consider the $50/month when in doubt. A combo package that includes Sling Orange and Sling Blue. In addition to getting all the channels that Orange and Blue offer, you can also stream them across four devices with the combined channel package. However, the streams still break down the same way. Channels can only be viewed on one device at a time while Blue channels can be viewed on all four devices.
Most people would be better off opting for the $35 a month service that offers the most content for the money. That’s Sling Blue in this case.
