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Entertainment · head to head

DirecTV Stream vs Maya

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
Maya logo

Maya

Entertainment

3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Maya 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.; Maya complex interface that requires significant training and experience
  • They diverge on capability: DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, Maya covers 3D modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where DirecTV Stream and Maya differ
AttributeDirecTV StreamMaya
Starting price$89.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsWindows, macOS, Linux
FoundedUnknown1982

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 Maya

  • 3D modeling
  • Character animation
  • Visual effects
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Arnold renderer
  • Mental Ray
  • V-Ray

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 Maya
  • A household wanting the widest premium and sports channel selection among mainstream streaming bundlesnot Maya
  • A sports fan who wants regional sports networks priced into the plan rather than as a separate add-onnot Maya
  • A family replacing full cable service that specifically does not want to trim down to a smaller entertainment-only bundlenot Maya

Maya

  • Film productionnot DirecTV Stream
  • Game developmentnot DirecTV Stream
  • TV animationnot DirecTV Stream
  • VFX creationnot DirecTV Stream
  • Architectural visualizationnot 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.

Maya

  • Complex interface that requires significant training and experience
  • Software crashes and stability issues reported by users
  • Heavy system requirements and resource-intensive processing

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

Maya

Free
  • Monthly Subscription$245/month
    • Full features
  • Annual Subscription$1945/year
    • Full features
  • Indie License$305/year
    • Full features for revenue under $100k
  • Student LicenseFree
    • Free for 3 years (watermarked)

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 Maya if

  • You need 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want character animation.
Maya review

Questions people ask

Is DirecTV Stream or Maya better?
Neither clearly leads. DirecTV Stream starts at $89.99/month and Maya at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DirecTV Stream or Maya?
Maya has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $89.99/month for DirecTV Stream and Free for Maya.
Does DirecTV Stream or Maya run on more platforms?
DirecTV Stream runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. Maya runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Maya for free?
Yes. Maya 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 Maya is typically brought in for.
What can DirecTV Stream do that Maya cannot?
DirecTV Stream covers Tiered channel plans, Local broadcast affiliates, ESPN Unlimited, Regional sports networks. Maya covers 3D modeling, Character animation, Visual effects, Simulation.

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.

Maya: What is the cost of an annual Maya subscription?

A standard annual Maya subscription costs $1,945 per year, with a monthly option at $245 per month. Indie users with revenue under $100k USD qualify for $305 per year. Educational licenses are free for 3 years but watermark output.

Source
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.

Maya: Does Maya include rendering capabilities?

Yes. Maya includes Arnold, a high-quality rendering engine built into the software for producing photorealistic renders directly within Maya.

Source
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.

Maya: What platforms does Maya run on?

Maya runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Maya 2027 supports Windows 11, macOS versions 26.x through 14.x, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Rocky Linux.

Source
Maya: Can students use Maya for free?

Yes. Maya is free for students at registered educational institutions. The license lasts 3 years but is non-commercial only and watermarks exported files.

Source
Maya: Does Maya integrate with other software?

Maya supports many plugins including ZooTools Pro for rigging, RealFlow for simulation, ngSkinTools for character skinning, and MASH for motion graphics, extending its capabilities for production workflows.

Source
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