6 streaming services that offer unlimited DVR (and why it's still useful in 2025)

If you’re someone thinking about recording shows, movies, or sports, you might be considering DVR. Yes, it’s a relic of the past, but surprise, surprise — it’s still hanging around. It’s just been rebranded as “cloud-based unlimited DVR” by many of today’s live TV streaming services.

Now, you can record as much content as your heart desires and watch it whenever you please, whether it’s that big game or the latest episode of your favorite guilty pleasure. But here’s the real question: Is DVR still as helpful in 2025 as it once was, or is it just another gimmick to get you to sign up for yet another service?

Let’s look at what the top streaming platforms are offering and why their unlimited DVR features might actually matter.

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1 Sling TV

Auto recording and skip the ads

Sling / Pocket-lint

Sling TV is a solid streaming option that offers live TV, movies, and on-demand content over the internet. For an additional $5 a month, Orange or Blue subscribers can upgrade to Sling’s unlimited DVR. With this, you can record as much content as you want and store it for up to months — plenty of time to catch up on everything.

What makes Sling stand out is its “Auto Record” feature. It automatically records your favorite sports, TV shows, or movies, so you don’t have to remember to set it up. Miss a recording? No problem — Sling’s got you covered. Plus, you get the added bonus of ad-skipping, which means you can fast-forward through commercials when watching your recorded content.

Here are some Sling TV unlimited DVR features:

• Unlimited recording space for all your shows and movies
• Recordings saved for up to nine months
• Expiration alerts for recordings nearing 30 days left
• Auto Record captures sports, shows, and movies automatically

Sling TV

Sling TV is a live streaming service that offers a variety of channels, including sports, movies, and on-demand content, starting at $45.99 per month.

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2 DirecTV Stream

Multi-device flexibility

DirecTV Stream / Pocket-lint

DirecTV Stream is a streaming service that gives you access to live TV and on-demand content. Its unlimited DVR feature stands out for its flexibility, letting you record shows from the guide, browsing carousel, or even on your mobile device. You can manage your recordings across multiple devices, and the service allows you to store recordings for up to nine months. Plus, you can record multiple shows at once, and if you’re watching live sports, recordings can be extended in case games run longer than scheduled.

New customers who sign up online get unlimited cloud DVR storage included at no extra charge, and there are four plans available, ranging from $75 to $155 per month.

Here are five key features of DIRECTV STREAM’s Cloud DVR:

• Record shows from the guide, carousel, or any device
• Store for up to nine months with alerts before expiration
• Multiple recordings at once until storage is full
• Easy playback from any device via My Library

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is a subscription-based service that offers live TV and on-demand content, with plans starting at $74.99 per month.

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When internet-based streaming services first hit the scene in the late 2000s, they were heralded as being a sort of ‘anti-cable.’ The newfound flexibility in watching content on demand was a revelation for many — it undercut the need to suffer through extensive ad breaks, and it eliminated the age-old problem of having hundreds of channels to sift through, each with their own uninteresting or inopportune show broadcasts.Over the next several years, movie and TV fans ‘cut the cord’ so to speak, waving goodbye to cable boxes, satellite dishes, broadcast fees, and guide-based user interfaces. Netflix introduced video-on-demand content in 2007, and in a rather short period of time, streaming became a force to be reckoned with. These days, just about every major network and intellectual property (IP) owner has launched a bespoke streamer: Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount +, and Amazon Prime Video, to name just a few.Of course, traditional cable or satellite-based TV remains a ubiquito

3 YouTube TV

Start a program from the beginning, even if you record late

Erik Mclean / Unsplash / Pocket-lint

YouTube TV offers live TV from over 100 broadcast, cable, and regional sports networks, making it a great choice for anyone who wants to keep up with everything. One of the best perks of YouTube TV is its unlimited DVR, allowing you to record as many shows, movies, and sports events as you want without worrying about storage limits. Once recorded, all current and future airings will be automatically added to your library, and you can even start watching a program from the beginning, no matter when you added it.

You get unlimited DVR with YouTube TV’s $83 per month plan, which also includes access to national and local networks, on-demand movies, shows, and more. However, Google does note that some sporting events may occasionally be unavailable.

Some of the YouTube TV unlimited DVR features include:

• Unlimited storage for recording shows, sports, and events
• Easily record by adding programs to your library
• Replace partial recordings with full episodes on reruns
• Flexible playback options: start from beginning, resume, or watch live

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a streaming service that offers live TV from over 100 networks, including sports and on-demand content, for $82.99 per month.

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4 Hulu with Live TV

Organized and easy-to-use

Hulu 

Hulu with Live TV offers live TV, on-demand content, and access to both Disney+ and ESPN+. Its unlimited DVR feature is one of the easiest to use, with all your recordings neatly organized in the “My Stuff” section. This makes it super simple to browse and manage your shows. You can record as much live TV as you want, from news and sports to movies, and your recordings are kept for up to nine months and grouped by airdate so that the most recent ones are always easy to find.

Hulu with Live TV costs between $82 and $96 per month, depending on your plan and whether you opt for ads.

Some of the Hulu with Live TV unlimited DVR features include:

• Unlimited recording of live TV, sports, movies, and events
• Store recordings for up to nine months with an active subscription
• Fast-forward through ads in cloud DVR recordings
• Organized recordings by airdate in the “My Stuff” section

Hulu With Live TV

Hulu with Live TV is a streaming service that offers live TV, on-demand content, and access to Disney+ and ESPN+ for $81.99 to $95.99 per month, depending on the plan and ad preferences

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5 Philo

Unlimited storage for one year

Philo

Philo is a budget-friendly streaming service that gives you access to live TV, movies, and on-demand shows. One of its standout features is its unlimited DVR, which lets you store recordings for up to one year — longer than most other services, which typically offer only nine months. This makes Philo a great option for people who like to hold onto shows or movies for a while before watching. Plus, there’s no cap on how many programs you can record, so you can capture all the content you want — live or upcoming.

Philo’s unlimited DVR is included with its $28-per-month Philo Core plan. With the Free plan, you get a 30-day DVR on select titles.

Some of Philo’s unlimited DVR features include:

• Unlimited recording for shows, sports, and events
• Record upcoming shows directly within Philo or using a task scheduler
• Record multiple shows simultaneously without specific limits
• Easy to manage recordings in the “Saved” section

Philo

Philo is a streaming service that offers live TV, movies, and on-demand shows for $28 per month.

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6 FuboTV

No extra cost and great for sports fans

FuboTV

FuboTV is a streaming service that gives you access to live TV and on-demand content, including sports, news, and movies. One of the best features is its unlimited DVR storage at no extra cost. You can record as much content as you want, and your recordings are available for up to nine months, just like some of the others I’ve mentioned thus far.

Plus, you can skip commercials, making it easy to fast-forward through ads. With access on multiple devices, FuboTV is a top pick for sports fans, allowing you to record and watch games whenever and wherever you want. Plans range from $33 to $110 per month, and all of them include DVR.

Some FuboTV’s unlimited DVR features include:

• Unlimited cloud DVR storage with all plans
• Record live programs before or during their airing
• Immediate playback from the beginning of the recording
• Store recordings for up to nine months

FuboTV

FuboTV is a streaming service that offers live TV, sports, news, and on-demand content, with plans ranging from $32.99 to $109.99 per month.

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FAQ

Q: Why is unlimited DVR still useful in 2025?

Unlimited DVR is still super useful in 2025 because it gives you the flexibility to record as much content as you want and watch it whenever you like. Whether it’s live sports, TV shows, or movies, you won’t miss a thing. Plus, the ability to store content for months without running out of space makes it a must for anyone who prefers to watch on their own time instead of tied to a set schedule.

Q: Should you subscribe to a streamer just for DVR in 2025?

Whether unlimited DVR is a “must-have” really depends on how much you value the freedom to record and watch content when it fits your schedule. If you watch a lot of live TV or want to capture every moment of a show or game, DVR can be a game-changer. But if you prefer watching things as they air, it might not be as important.

Q: How long can you store content with unlimited DVR?

Most services with unlimited DVR let you store content for up to nine months or longer, giving you plenty of time to catch up on recordings. For example, Philo Core offers up to a full year of unlimited DVR storage.

Q: Can you record multiple shows at the same time?

Yes, many services with unlimited DVR, like DirecTV Stream, let you record multiple shows at once — perfect for when your favorite shows overlap.

Q: Do you have to pay extra for unlimited DVR?

It depends. Some services include unlimited DVR in their basic plan, while others, like Sling TV, charge a small extra fee to upgrade to unlimited DVR.

Q: Can you skip ads on DVR recordings?

Yes. Many services that offer unlimited DVR, such as Sling TV and FuboTV, allow you to skip ads during your recorded content.