DISH TV: Channels, Packages, and How You Can Save Money with Our Expert Review
For the third straight year, our TV experts gave DISH our Editor's Choice Awards for best overall TV provider and best TV provider for families—learn why in our review.
Is DISH Network worth it?
For the third straight year, DISH Network is our pick for the best overall TV provider and the best TV provider for families.
You’ll like its wide availability, prices, price guarantee, parental controls, and powerful Hopper 3 DVR, which beats the poofy pants off of its main rival, DIRECTV’s Genie.
One drawback to DISH is its lack of bundling opportunities, but you can always sign up for DISH and choose any other internet provider in your area.
Overall, we think you and your family will be happy with DISH TV prices and packages. We go deeper into why in this DISH review.
DISH often offers free premiums, auto-pay discounts, and deals for seniors
When you sign up for DISH TV service, you’ll find more deals and promotions than with other TV providers. These can include free installation, free premium channels, an auto-pay discount, and special packages for military, seniors, and more.
Some of these promos are automatic, but most are under the “Special Offers” section (scroll to the middle of the checkout page)—just check the box to get the deal.
To see more money-saving offers from DISH check out our DISH deals page.
Compare DISH Network plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Channels | DVR* | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex Pack | $62.99/mo.† | 50+ | 500 hrs. | View plan |
| America’s Top 120 | $84.99/mo. | 190 | 500 hrs. | View plan |
|
Best for sports America’s Top 120+ |
$99.99/mo.** | 190+ | 500 hrs. | View plan |
|
Best value America’s Top 200 |
$104.99/mo. | 240+ | 500 hrs. | View plan |
| America’s Top 250 | $114.99/mo. | 290+ | 500 hrs. | View plan |
| America’s Everything Pack | $142.99/mo.† | 290+ (incl. premiums) | 500 hrs. | View plan |
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary with location and are subject to change. † Existing customers only. * Not included in packages. Requires additional free of $10/mo.
**All offers require credit qualification, 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers.
The table above shows the four core DISH packages, plus two packages available only to existing customers.
The best DISH TV package is America’s Top 200 ($104.99 a month, 240+ channels) because it has the most channels for the best price. We recommend the slightly cheaper America’s Top 120+ ($99.99 a month, 190+ channels) to devout sports fans for its wealth of sports channels.
Current DISH customers considering whether to renew their contract or switch providers should ask DISH about the two existing customers–only DISH packages. They might give you a reason to stick around.
The DISH Flex Pack has 50 popular channels for $62.99 a month, and you can customize your package with add-on packs (priced $7.00–$16.00 a month) that’ll give you either local, kids, movie, or premium channels. The America’s Everything Pack. It has everything in America’s Top 250 plus premium channels like SHOWTIME®, FLIX®, STARZ®, and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ for $142.99 a month.
Once more for the cheap seats: DISH is our Editor’s Choice for the best overall TV provider and the best TV provider for families. Here are other good reasons to choose DISH:
- Pricing: DISH and DIRECTV both have a 2-year price guarantee, but DISH is cheaper overall.
- Channels: DISH has the fourth largest channel count we’ve found, behind Verizon Fios, Optimum, and DIRECTV.
- Hopper 3 DVR: DISH’s Hopper 3 ($10/mo.) records up to 16 shows at once and stores up to 500 hours of HD movies and shows. The Cox Contour Record DVR might have more storage and tuners, but the Hopper 3 has the most of both features for the best price.
- Parental controls: DISH partnered with Common Sense Media for its parental controls, which block inappropriate content and help your kids find educational value, positive messages, and good role models.
- Availability: Satellite TV providers like DISH have about 99% coverage in the US, whereas cable TV providers like Optimum and Spectrum cover smaller regions.
DISH has many popular channels
DISH TV packages come with up to 290+ channels, including many of the most-watched cable channels, tons of kids and family channels, and almost as many sports channels as DIRECTV. DISH also carries several affordable premium movie channels and add-on packs. That’s a lot of information to cover in this DISH review, so we’ve compiled a separate article for you: our DISH Channel Lineup Guide.
DISH Network has top-notch equipment and features
So, other than packages, pricing, contracts, and stuff—what else stands out about DISH? Well, you’ll have a tough time finding a better DVR/receiver than the Hopper 3. Also, DISH has excellent whole-home TV options like the Joey and a mobile app, DISH Anywhere, that lets you take pretty much all your DISH content wherever you go.
DISH DVRs and receivers
There are three DISH Hopper DVRs, but you’ll hear more about the DISH Hopper 3 DVR because it’s frequently called the best in the industry. DISH also offers other receivers like the Joeys (for multiroom TV service) and the Wally (which goes with the DISH Tailgater (sold separately) for mobile satellite TV service).
| DISH device | Price | Leased receiver fee (due at signup) | Storage | Simultaneous recordings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISH Hopper 3 DVR | $10.00/mo. | $50.00 | 500 hrs. | 16 |
| DISH Hopper Duo DVR | $5.00/mo. | n/a | 125 hrs. | 2 |
| DISH Wally | $7.00/mo. | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| DISH Joey receiver | $7.00/mo. | $0 for first three, then $50.00 each | n/a | n/a |
| DISH Joey 4K receiver | $7.00/mo. | $50.00 each | n/a | n/a |
| DISH Wireless Joey receiver | $7.00/mo. | $25.00 each | n/a | n/a |
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary with location and are subject to change.
DISH Hopper 3
Some would say the Hopper 3 is overpowered. After all, how many other cable or satellite TV providers’ DVRs can do all of this?
- Record up to 16 channels simultaneously
- Power up to 7 TVs (with auxiliary Joeys)
- Store up to 500 hours of HD DVR recordings
- Pair with Bluetooth speakers or headphones
- Display 4K resolution
- Allow you to watch 4 shows or games at once with quad split-screen
- Built-in Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube (separate subscriptions required)
Top to bottom: DISH voice remote, DISH Joey, DISH Hopper 3 DVR. (Image: DISH Network)
If you don’t need for this much power, or if you don’t wanna spend $10 a month for a DVR, there are cheaper, more modest options.
DISH Hopper Duo
The Hopper Duo is DISH’s basic model DVR. It’s still available, and offered to households with DISH service on fewer than three TVs, and it costs $5 a month.
The Duo can record two channels simultaneously (when paired with an auxiliary Joey receiver, which we cover in an upcoming section) and store up to 125 hours of HD recordings. It also has Alexa compatibility, built-in Netflix (sorry, no Prime or YouTube), and Bluetooth—but no 4K support.
DISH Wally
An old-school receiver with no recording capability, the Wally can be used at home or with DISH outdoor TV equipment like the Tailgater and Playmaker (sold separately). The Wally is $7 monthly.
The DISH Wally receiver (Image: CableTV.com)
DISH Joey
If you have multiple TVs, you’ll want a Joey ($7 monthly per device). A smaller receiver powered by a Hopper or Wally, the Joey has all the functionality of the main DVR/receiver. DISH has three types of Joeys: standard, 4K, and wireless.
Beware of the leased receiver fees DISH charges at signup. For standard Joeys, you’ll pay a $50 leased receiver fee if you choose more than three Joeys. Wireless Joeys have a $25 fee per device and 4K Joeys have a $50 fee per device—in both cases, you’re charged for every device, starting with the first one. So multiroom viewing with DISH can get expensive.
The DISH Joey receiver (Image: CableTV.com)
DISH Voice Remote
Hoppers and Joeys come with the DISH Voice Remote, which features backlit keys (handy), a remote locator (even handier), and programmable shortcut keys (handiest of all). Remote models with built-in Google Assistant are also available.
In our tests, the remote’s voice recognition was about 95% accurate. It seemed to fail mostly due to human error, like when we mumbled, talked with our mouths full (how rude), or forgot to hold down the mic button.
The DISH voice remote (Image: CableTV.com)
DISH Anywhere app
Finally, there’s the DISH Anywhere app for Android and iOS, which allows you to watch live, on-demand, and recorded content away from home.
Bonus: the app can function as a remote for Hoppers and Joeys, and you can use DISH Anywhere to set and manage DISH’s top-notch parental controls—which is super handy for remotely controlling what the kiddies watch.
You can learn more about the app in our DISH Anywhere app guide.
What do real DISH customers think of DISH Network?
In CableTV.com’s annual TV Customer Satisfaction Survey, we asked more than 7,000 TV customers to share their real feelings about of 11 top cable and satellite TV providers, including DISH.
DISH finished fourth (tying with Xfinity and Sparklight) in overall customer satisfaction, with 64% of customers saying they’re “very” or “completely satisfied” with DISH TV service. On the poll’s other 19 questions, DISH earned mostly middling satisfaction scores. The provider did snag a handful of top-three scores—mainly in customer support, but also in user experience.
DISH’s lowest scores came on questions of price and reliability. On price, DISH finished 8th on overall price (51% satisfaction) and whether or not the customer would increase spending with DISH in the coming year (24%, tying for last place with Optimum). On reliability, only 59% of customers indicated satisfaction.
Dish Network will take care of you as real customers. They don't blow you off; they will literally go above and beyond to help you out.
DISH Network FAQ
How much does DISH cost?
DISH TV pricing by package (new customers only):
- America’s Top 120: $84.99 a month for 190 channels. This is the cheapest DISH package for new customers.
- America’s Top 120+: $99.99 a month for 190+ channels—including more sports channels.
- America’s Top 200: $104.99 a month for 240+ channels. This is the package with the best value.
- America’s Top 250: $114.99 a month for 290+ channels.
Current DISH customers who have completed their 2-year contracts can access these packages:
- Flex Pack: $62.99 a month for 50+ channels. This is the cheapest DISH Network package for current customers.
- America’s Everything Pack: $142.99 a month for 290+ channels—including free premium channels.
What is the cheapest DISH package?
America’s Top 120 is the cheapest DISH TV package available to new customers. The package includes 190 channels for $84.99 per month with a 2-year service agreement. But if you’re a current DISH customer, you’re eligible for the Flex Pack ($62.99 a month, 50+ channels).
If you’re wondering about the DISH Welcome Package, it’s no longer for sale.
Which is better, DIRECTV or DISH Network?
DISH is better, offering more transparent pricing—including a 2-year price guarantee—plus superior DVR equipment and parental controls. DIRECTV has a few more sports channels and a 2-year price guarantee. For a more detailed comparison of these two satellite TV providers, check out our DISH vs. DIRECTV review.
Does DISH Network offer senior discounts?
There is no DISH senior discount, but Dish55 is a DISH package for seniors or, more accurately, DISH customers aged 55 and older. It offers benefits like a free monthly movie rental and channel pack discounts. To get Dish55, check the box under “Special Offers” at checkout. Be ready to provide proof of age.
Does DISH Network have hidden fees?
Common DISH fees include an early termination fee if you need to end your service contract, local channel fees, equipment fees (for the Hopper Duo, Hopper 3, Joeys, etc.), and late payment charges.
Why you should trust us
Our TV experts spend hundreds of hours watching and reading about DISH Network. For this DISH review, we compared it with other cable and satellite TV providers based on channels, pricing, features, and more. We then share our finding with our readers to help you in your search for TV service. For more information on how we work, check out our “How We Rank” page.
