Top 8 best Slingbox alternative in 2023

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Slingbox alternatives

Sling Media officially announced that it will shut down Slingbox on November 9, 2022. So while you still have over a year to enjoy streaming content on your favorite set-top box that lets you connect your streaming apps, and TV channels to make them accessible on all your devices, you would still need a long-term solution which is why I have curated this guide about the best Slingbox alternatives.

Every user would require a certain set of features so keeping that in mind I have listed down the pros, cons, and features of every alternative on this list for you to decide which one is most compatible with your device.

Why replace Slingbox quickly  

You would be better off replacing Slingbox beforehand as Sling Media has already announced that the app is due to be discontinued, this means that releasing Slingbox software updates is completely out of the question, which leaves your device at the risk of being vulnerable to future security bugs that will never be patched. 

Best SlingBox alternatives for android 

If you aren’t still convinced with the alternatives we mentioned above, here are some other options you can switch to when replacing your discontinued Slingbox.

Roku Ultra 2020

If you’re looking for something apart from DVR solutions but still want to watch live TV channels, the Roku Ultra 2020 is the next best sling TV alternative to a DVR box. The Roku Ultra 2020 offers live TV channels through the Roku channel service along with content from streaming apps and services.

The device comes along with the Roku remote that allows users to give commands through voice control and assistance with the help of Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. When it comes to the video quality this sling TV alternative offers 4K video resolution which is perfect for ultra HD smart TV that supports Dolby Vision and Atmos for HDR playback.

The Roku ultra 2020 has dedicated shortcut buttons for Disney Plus Hulu Netflix and sling TV as well as programmable shortcut keys which can be used for other apps or programs making it convenient for users to navigate through the content. The remote comes with a 3.5 mm headphone jack which can be used for private listening.

TiVo EDGE for cable

TiVo is one Sling TV alternative that has always been a competitor. TiVo gives its users the great advantage of having full control over the recorded content, making it extremely convenient to view live TV.

The company’s latest service TiVo Edge for Cable offers everything and more than what you get from a DVR. With Edge for Cable, you can record and view up to 6 channels simultaneously. This Sling TV alternative also offers 200 GB of inbuilt storage in which you can store 300 HD hours of Live TV. 

With the TiVo Edge for Cable packs, you can get a cinematic home theatre experience with the Dolby Vision 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. The sling tv alternative also offers a “SkipMode” option that allows you to skip whole commercial ads with the click of a button. TiVo Edge for Cable is tied up with TiVo VOX Remote which has a OneSearch option that lets you search across every single cable Tv channel, streaming app, and recorded content.

When it comes to connectivity, this sling tv alternative has an HDMI port, 2x USB ports, optical audio output, coaxial input, and ethernet. As a great sling tv alternative, it also offers you streaming services with apps for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Go.

SiliconDust HDHomeRun Connect Quatro

HDHomeRun’s Connect Quatro is a recommended alternative to TV sling TV for those who prefer a wide range of device support. If you use Android Android TV, PlayStation, windows PC, Mac, Xbox, and Amazon Fire TV device, you will be able to use Connect Quatro on your system.

Along with this alternative to sling TV comes 4TV tuners that allow you to watch live TV on 4 devices simultaneously. Connect Quadro also offers multi-device functionality through the HDHomeRun app which can be downloaded on Windows, Android, and Mac. Also, it also offers you controls for recording and pausing, and a new Slice View that provides you with the maximum screen real estate while surfing channels.

Tablo Quad OTA Digital Video Recorder

Tableau quad as a great alternative to sling TV  is a DVR box that converts a single antenna and sends the video and audio signals to your TV without using an HDMI cable. This is a recommended alternative to sling TV as it transmits content through a wireless router to laptops, smartphones, smart TV, streaming devices, and gaming consoles

You can not only watch live TV but also record and pause content provided it is connected to Wi-Fi or a router. As a Sling TV alternative, you will have access to major TV networks from FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, CW, and PBS, along with a few free OTA TV channels.

Tablo’s subscription costs around $5 per month but also gives you the option for a yearly or lifetime subscription which is $50 or 150 dollars respectively. A downside of tablo quad as compared to the other sling TV alternatives is that it doesn’t offer native storage. However, you can avail of expandable storage support of 8TB via connecting an external hard drive to a 2.5-inch internal drive that can be plugged in.

Xfinity X1

If anyone is still looking for a DVR player in this current day and age, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 is a good alternative to Sling TV. This goes beyond being a Sling TV alternative as it can be used to control your smart home devices and lights around you. However, you’ll find better features equipped on TiVo.

With Xfinity X1 you get 500 GB of storage space in which you could store up to 60 HD or 300 SD hours of Live TV shows and movies. Similar to TiVo Edge, you can simultaneously record up to 6 channels at once.

You can also control live tv playback with the native remote that also has hands-free voice control.

X1  also lets you categorize their content into sports scores, news, and weather in addition to the streaming apps offered for Netflix, YouTube, Hulu,  prime video, iHeartRadio, and others.

Youtube Tv

Youtube is one of the biggest content watch platforms for free. Billions of users from around the world watch youtube from entertainment to sports. Talking about sports Youtube does not have live sports tv but streams live sports and live tv on Youtube TV.

Youtube tv has over 80 channels which are very good when compared to Slingbox tv. It comes with 80 channels and is priced at $64.99 per month. The overall user experience and user interface are one of the best.

Hands down Youtube tv is one of best slingbox alternatives with nothing bad to talk about. The only drawback is the price and Youtube needs to work on it. We have covered every small detail about Youtube tv and everything you need to know about it.

Hulu

Hulu was founded in 2007 and is one of the oldest streaming services on this list. The streaming service has over 43 million subscribers with thousands of hours of content. It not only contains live channels but also has popular movies and tv shows on its platform.

On Hulu, users can not only get some original content but also content from Disney which makes it even better. Hulu has over 75 channels on its platform and is available across many countries.

Hulu ad-supported plan costs $69.99 per month or $6.99 per month the free and without ads cost $12.99 per month for users in the United States.

Hulu + Live Tv + Disney plus + ESPN cost $69.99 per month with ads while you would need to spend $10 more for the ad-free plan. For streaming live sports ESPN is better than Slingbox. We would give it a rating of 9/10.

Apple TV 4k

Apple TV 4k is a streaming device like Sling box buts it’s more expensive. The 32GB variant cost $179 and 64GB variant cost $199.

The streaming device is very powerful and comes with an A12 Bionic chip. A user of Apple TV 4k gets a better viewing experience and viewing experience.

Apple TV 4k is programmed to run apps like Amazon Prime Video, Disney, Netflix, Apple TV, and many more streaming apps.

The only drawback about Apple TV 4k is its price and has the same features as Amazon Firestick.

Best Slingbox alternatives for internet streaming service users

If you choose to use the internet streaming services much like Sling TV or YouTube TV over satellite or cable connections, it’s a wise solution to use an Nvidia shield or PC that runs a Plex server.

Getting this set up sounds a lot more complicated than just using Sling TV and shuffling between more apps but with the right equipment, it’s the perfect alternative.

With this setup, you can watch and record satellite tv, watch any media that you’ve saved on the Plex hard drive, and use apps like YouTube TV, Netflix, and Hulu.

Best Slingbox alternatives for Cable TV users 

For cable TV users I would reckon that you continue with your TV provider’s set-top receivers. Another good option to stream prerecorded or watch live content is X1 by Comcast( Xfinity Stream app) or Hopper by Dish Network.

For users looking for an efficient alternative to Slingboxes for satellite TV, the quickest fix would be to connect any DVR and affordable tuner to your HD antenna. But if you have a generous budget go for the Amazon Fire TV Recast that comes with multiple tuners to record and watch multiple channels simultaneously along with free 500GB space for recording.

Amazon Fire TV Recast also has the added benefit of connecting with other Fire TV streamers along with several supported apps.

Final Thoughts Can Slingbox be replaced by any alternative?

While I have given you a list of streaming services and DVRs that should give you a satisfying media-watching experience the truth is that there simply isn’t any direct alternative solution to replace Slingbox.

Stay tuned and enjoy the services of Slingbox while it lasts, I will update this space if a new platform that allows users to stream content directly from their TV to their smartphone or computer is released.

Safdarali Rizvi

Safdarali Rizvi

Safdarali Rizvi the management graduate. Has been an avid book reader all his life so naturally loves playing with his words. His curiosity for discovering futuristic opportunities drives him to enlighten the entire Geekymint team with exclusive and intriguing news. He has a real passion for calisthenics and sports. His management abilities and hunger for learning brings tremendous value to our team.

45 Responses

  1. I think this article correctly summarized the issue in the last paragraph….that there really is no alternative to slingbox at this time.
    Most, if not all articles that discuss this, ask why a slingbox is needed when you can stream anything.
    Actually, you can’t stream everything. Maybe in the States you can, but as any traveler may know, almost everything is geoblocked these days. Everything. (and let’s not talk about vpn’s that don’t fool any of the big streaming networks. I bought a movie CD in America and tried to play it in Europe. First thing that popped up on the screen? Can’t watch this movie in this country)
    I have cable in my house and want to keep cable. It’s connected to a TiVo and slingbox, so when I travel, I can watch anything. People say to just get your cable providers app and stream it when you travel. Umm….no. It’s geoblocked.
    Slingbox is an amazing product with a very specific use….and it works extraordinarily well. Plug it in and forget about it.
    Hopefully some manufacturer will see the continued appeal to making a product like this and create a product that does the same thing.

  2. I too am struggling to find an alternative to my sling box. We use it to access our Bell satellite receiver and PVR. Streaming tv is not our issue it’s the ability to access our paid for programs from anywhere. Hope to find something before our SlingBox quits.

  3. Sling box is an awesome product. I have it since it first came out to watch everything on my home DVR any time and anyplace on my iPad or iPhone. I wish they would have offered a subscription trial to see how many people were willing to pay to continue service. I know I would have. There isn’t anything to compete with Slingbox. I have Directv and their similar service for remote viewing is a joke!

  4. I agree with all of the above. I use Slingbox capability while in Canada for 8 weeks in the summer. I am devastated that it will go away.

    I have Verizon Fios Cable at my home in Massachusetts and don’t know how I will be able to watch my television in Canada. I can’t imagine not being able to watch television for 8 weeks while I am away in Canada and honestly cable or satellite is way too expensive to have in Canada.

    1. We are sorry to hear that, 8 weeks is indeed a long time. You can check out our article on Cable TV alternatives to find a solution. We hope this helps, in case you still want any assistance, feel free to contact us with the specifics, we would be delighted to cater to your streaming requirements.

      1. I need a replacement for slingbox now that it is defunct . I used sling box to watch and record programs and open apps (/Acorn, MHZ )from my California Tv ( with xfinity) on my ipad while in Italy . What can i use now ?

  5. I for one would be happy to pay a fee if I could continue to use my Slingbox. Too bad some company has not thought of a way to may Slingbox a paid subscription service.

  6. Witbox is a replacement that is better than a slingbox but finding a price isn’t easy. Apparently each box can take input from four devices and can be remotely controlled like slingbox. The hard to swallow part is the$2500 they are said to be asking. Very overpriced. Slingboxes sold for two to five hundred bucks.

    1. They will not sell Witbox to a private person for personal tv viewing. I had sent a request. They called me back. I would pay anything at this point. I travel extensively and want to watch my DVR recordings. Have been doing it for years. Along with you all

  7. As an ex-new Yorker living in California, I have happily used my slingbox for the past 12 years to watch NY local tv stations. Does the witbox do that?

    1. Witbox is not as good as Slingbox and would not be the right substitute. We would recommend you to try Roku Ultra or Xfinity X1

    1. Both Roku Ultra and Xfinity X1 have their pros and cons. You can choose the best Slingbox replacement as per your budget

  8. As an ex-Philadelphian living in CT, I have been using Slingbox for about 10 years to watch my Philly channels while I travel. I just found out the Slingplayer servers are coming down and I will not have my Slingbox service available. I have spent the day looking for alternatives and the Witbox people gave me the same answer as stated above that they will only deal with businesses and searches indicate a cost of $2,500.00 also. That is not feasible. I will continue to look here for Slingbox solutions before Nov shutdown. The FuBu streaming service for $80.00 a month and with horrible reviews does not look workable either.

    1. Hello Mike, thank you for sharing your views, could you let us know if you found any slingbox alternatives that we’ve mentioned here helpful? If not let us know your requirements and we would do our best to provide a better solution

  9. I am not an attorney, but I am trying to remember purchasing any product where the product is rendered useless and therefore worthless. When I purchased my slingbox it wasnt with the expectations that it would only be for a limited time. I wouldnt buy a car, computer, cell phone or anything else if the manufacturer could force it to become inoperable. Can anyone give me an example of another product where this can happen?

  10. I use slingbox while traveling to Europe. Nothing works like this. So sorry no other company picked it up

    1. If you are a frequent traveller across Europe try using Xfinity X1, the platform also offers a free trial which should help you decide better.

  11. Hello,
    Well as today, the Slingbox 500 stopped operating.
    The Xfinity X1 does not work if you are outside their market area.
    I used to use Slingbox 500 when I was traveling overseas.
    Do you know of any other alternative?
    Thank you

  12. I retired over 12 years ago, and we used Slingboxes to monitor TV translators (repeaters) so when getting trouble calls from viewers we could check. Like other broadcast techs probably did, I purchased a combo infrared (IR) keyboard/mouse) and an IR receiver to teach Dish Network remote controls all the keyboard shortcuts, but used the “aux” position. In the motel room I hooked up a USB IR receiver to my laptop and a laptop to motel TV cable and my wife and I were able to watch our TV/PVR as if we were using the remote control at home. Have any of you figured out an alternate system that doesn’t require Slingbox servers?

  13. retired over 12 years ago, and we used Slingboxes to monitor TV translators (repeaters) so when getting trouble calls from viewers we could check. Like other broadcast techs probably did, I purchased a combo infrared (IR) keyboard/mouse) and an IR receiver to teach Dish Network remote controls all the keyboard shortcuts, but used the “aux” position. In the motel room I hooked up a USB IR receiver to my laptop and a laptop to motel TV cable and my wife and I were able to watch our TV/PVR as if we were using the remote control at home. Have any of you figured out an alternate system that doesn’t require Slingbox servers?

  14. So a friend was using Slingbox to watch tv in Saudi Arabia. Mainly USC, and So Cal sports teams. Today he messaged me regarding Slingbox no longer working.
    Anyone know if an alternative for doing this? He has Dish and Spectrum subscription in the USA.
    Will appreciate any suggestions.

    1. Why do folks keep saying try Roku Ultra as a replacement?
      It’s absolutely not the same thing.
      If you’re out of state and You want to watch your local programs from afar, what the heck is Roku Ultra going to do for you?

  15. As an unhappy owner of 3 new boat anchors, I must ask why is witbe a recommended slingbox alternative? It costs $2,500. and is apparently not sold to individuals. Did Dish even consider continuing with a subscription based business model? If I ever need streaming or satelite TV, it won’t be with Sling or Dish.

  16. First, my slingboxes have been unreliable for some time — I have had several and finally was left with two 500’s hooked up to two FIOS DVRs. The FIOS app is fine for tablet, but they actually intentionally will not let you use it on a PC. One of my slingboxes died a year ago; the other periodically rebooted. I sometimes couldn’t connect to it even after manually rebooting the box. They finally stopped connecting to it about a week before the official date.

    Note: I started with the Slingbox classic — was it 100-100? I forget now. In between they had cheap power cables that got so hot I couldn’t touch them or the outlet, I found out when I traced radio interference to the cable. So they had serious issues.

    I’ve done some reading and THINK the TIVO Edge might combine the DVR and the Slingbox, if it holds up to its hype. Same 6 programs, can have two boxes work with each other (can even copy recorded programs between them and/or schedules (or maybe only season passes). They have a deal now saving $500, paying $450 for a box and lifetime service. 30 day return; I will be on vacation for a while and will test out one, then either return it or get a second. Uses a cable card. It may even pay for itself by turning what I was paying for 2 DVRs and multiroom capability with this plus 2 $5 cable cards. Has nice features (VOX, commercial skip — not sure if that’s on everything, I think a person marks the breaks), 1.3x play option (sadly no 1.2x for when 1.3x is too fast). The remote is expensive and from my DVR experience, they do wear out. Also concerned — instead of much of a warranty, they have increasing costs for a replacement unit up to 5 years (suggest maybe they expect them to die by 5 years?) Oh, and it can be watched on PCs, phones, tablets (applie, android I believe). AND it gets streaming services, although limited, and I think only for live watching — who needs that, my TV does that and for the PC, I can get apps or go to web sites… or even use programs to record from there.

  17. Just spend almost 3 hours with Roku Cust Serv. concerning the features of the Roku Ultra.
    Spoke with several people, the a CS Supervisor.
    The Roku Ultra doesn’t work like the old Slingbox 500.
    The Roku Ultra has, as their other models, a selected numbers of channels. The device has to be with you, at your location. It will not work from overseas. For instance, I asked, what channels I can connect from the Caribbean, was told only Netflix.
    Then, we need to still looking.

    1. Thank you for your input, from what we understand you have two main concerns: 1. You need a better alternative than Roku Ultra to replace Slingbox 500 & 2.You need more channels than Netflix in the Caribbean? Kindly confirm this so we can help you better 🙂

    2. Thank you for your input, from what we understand you have two main concerns: 1. You need a better alternative than Roku Ultra to replace Slingbox 500 & 2.You need more channels than Netflix in the Caribbean? Kindly confirm this so we can help you better 🙂

      1. Yes, that’s correct.
        If Wibte has the same capabilities of the Slingbox 500 and be offered to individuals, that would be a great alternative. Don’t you think?

  18. The closure of the Sling servers is a disaster for those who, in recent years, have been able to follow the television broadcasts of their own country while being elsewhere. I have a brother who lives in Caracas and has used digital terrestrial and satellite television broadcast in Italy for all the years of the Slingbox’s existence. At home, I changed three, a Classic, a Solo and a 500, all connected to a Dvb-T and Dvb-S combo decoder. Today he makes do with Iptv providers who, unfortunately, are not always up to par with Sling broadcasts. I wonder how there is no one who can replace the company that destroyed the Slingboxes and allow the use of the devices, perhaps with a modest fee. I’ve written to Witbe a couple of times but they are dedicated only to companies and sell their service for Usd.2,500.00 A real absurdity. Pity. I put the three Slingboxes in one box. Maybe in a couple of generations they’ll come back in fashion like vinyl.

  19. I can’t believe that I’m losing my favorite Device after all these years since it was first introduced,,
    I loved it so much that we have three cable boxes and we bought Three SLINGBOX for each box so when my Family was on vacation we could all watch the program we liked,
    We even when to Paris in 2014 I was able to see the Stanley cup playoffs , streaming from New Jersey, with no glitches,,
    We’re going to miss this,, wait,, we’re already missing it,,
    Please come Back ,,,
    or Guide us to a Device that will do exactly what SLINGBOX Did,,
    And the best part it was no fee,,
    Just spend a one time purchasing and that’s all,,
    If there’s anything that comes out please let me know,
    And thanks again SLINGBOX for making our Vacations like we were home watching Tvs,

  20. Find a cable service that uses an Android or iOS app. Buy an ASUS router and set up the VPN server. I recommend the WireGuard VPN. Install the WireGuard client on your secondary devices. Turn on the VPN on your secondary device to watch your cable TV.

  21. My travels were always enhanced with my being able to watch the shows on my sling box. Please let me know if there is an alternative that you have been able to find

  22. The simplest way to explain what we lost: “PLACE SHIFTING” – taking the same experience watching TV at home to ‘someplace else”. I’m not an entrepreneur but I find it very hard to believe there is no ‘business model’ for ‘place shifting’. Facebook has a small group that has discussed this for the past few years, but their solution is way above my technical capabilities.

  23. An alternative is to have an always on PC at home.
    Use a Remote Desktop connection to dial into it.
    Control the PC at home to watch all the TV apps you can normally get to from your home.
    The geofencing is to stop piracy and is all the providers are legally obliged by licensing to enforce. I’m sure the business model terminated because of this – it’s not legally viable to provide the service.
    The other thing everyone is forgetting is that cyber attacks are becoming ever more common and remote services may be becoming a bigger risk all the time with the open incoming access.

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