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Entertainment · head to head

DirecTV Stream vs Kodi

DirecTV Stream logo

DirecTV Stream

Entertainment

Cable-replacement live TV streaming with local channels, RSNs and the widest premium channel tiers

From
$89.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kodi logo

Kodi

Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kodi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DirecTV Stream it is priced at or above fuboTV across comparable tiers, and its entry tier alone costs close to three times what Philo charges for households that do not need sports.; Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
  • They diverge on capability: DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, Kodi covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DirecTV Stream and Kodi actually diverge.

Attributes where DirecTV Stream and Kodi differ
AttributeDirecTV StreamKodi
Starting price$89.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv
FoundedUnknown2003

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DirecTV Stream

  • Tiered channel plans
  • Local broadcast affiliates
  • ESPN Unlimited
  • Regional sports networks
  • Cloud DVR
  • Multiple simultaneous streams

Only in Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DirecTV Stream

  • A former DirecTV satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habitsnot Kodi
  • A household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundlesnot Kodi
  • A sports fan who wants regional sports networks priced into the plan rather than as a separate add-onnot Kodi
  • A family replacing full cable service that specifically does not want to trim down to a smaller entertainment-only bundlenot Kodi

Kodi

  • Media centernot DirecTV Stream
  • Home entertainmentnot DirecTV Stream

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DirecTV Stream

  • It is priced at or above fuboTV across comparable tiers, and its entry tier alone costs close to three times what Philo charges for households that do not need sports.
  • Regional sports network and local channel availability still vary by zip code, so the exact channels and price a household gets cannot be confirmed until they enter their address.
  • Reaching the widest channel and premium movie selection requires the Ultimate tier, which pushes the monthly cost well past $120.
  • Historically frequent price increases across DirecTV streaming and satellite products mean the signup price is not a reliable guide to cost a year later.
  • The interface and channel guide have drawn more mixed reviews than some competitors, with slower app updates on certain streaming device platforms.

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

Pricing, plan by plan

DirecTV Stream

$89.99/month
  • Entertainment$89.99/month
    • 90+ channels
    • Local affiliates in most markets
    • ESPN Unlimited included
  • Choice$94.99/month
    • 125+ channels
    • Adds regional sports networks and specialty sports channels
  • Ultimate$124.99/month
    • 160+ channels
    • Additional sports and movie channels

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

Which should you pick?

Choose DirecTV Stream if

  • You need tiered channel plans.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs.
  • You also want local broadcast affiliates.
DirecTV Stream review

Choose Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi review

Questions people ask

Is DirecTV Stream or Kodi better?
Neither clearly leads. DirecTV Stream starts at $89.99/month and Kodi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DirecTV Stream or Kodi?
Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $89.99/month for DirecTV Stream and Free for Kodi.
Does DirecTV Stream or Kodi run on more platforms?
DirecTV Stream runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Yes. Kodi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DirecTV Stream starts at $89.99/month.
What is DirecTV Stream best used for?
DirecTV Stream is most often used for a former directv satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habits, a household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundles, a sports fan who wants regional sports networks priced into the plan rather than as a separate add-on, a family replacing full cable service that specifically does not want to trim down to a smaller entertainment-only bundle. Of those, a former directv satellite customer moving to streaming without wanting to change channel habits and a household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundles are not what Kodi is typically brought in for.
What can DirecTV Stream do that Kodi cannot?
DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, Local broadcast affiliates, ESPN Unlimited, Regional sports networks. Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DirecTV Stream: Is DirecTV Stream the same as satellite DirecTV?

No, it delivers the same brand and much of the same channel lineup over the internet instead of a satellite dish.

DirecTV Stream: Does the entry tier include local channels and sports?

Yes, the Entertainment tier includes local affiliates in most markets and ESPN Unlimited, unlike Philo which excludes both entirely.

DirecTV Stream: Are regional sports networks included or an add-on?

They are included starting at the Choice tier and priced into that plan, rather than sold separately the way fuboTV prices its RSNs.

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