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Compare DIRECTV and DISH DVRs (Hopper)

Last updated on March 22nd, 2023 by George Levint

The most used piece of equipment for any satellite TV subscriber is their DVR (Digital Video Recorder). They’ve come a long way over the years and with heavy competition from both DIRECTV and DISH, they’ll only be getting better. For us, a top tier DVR has to deliver on the following: large hard drive, speed, ease-of-use, intelligent on-screen display, remote usage, multi-room capabilities and more.

In this comparison, we’ll examine the features of each of the leading DVRs and let you decide which is most important. For DISH, we’ll be using the newly released Hopper, their first whole-home DVR system. New generation DVRs typically get released every year, so keep that in mind as you evaluate your short and long term needs.

DVR Feature

DIRECTV (Genie)

DISH (Hopper 3)

# Simultaneous recordings

5 (for most setups)

16 (Joeys required)

Commercial Skipping

Manual fast-forwarding only

One-click AutoHop (great little feature)

Room-to-room

Takes a couple steps to pause & resume from each room

Less steps than DIRECTV

Between DVRs

Schedule a program from any DVR to any other

Picture-in-Picture?

Yes, plenty of features

Yes, about the same features

SLING compatibility

Yes

Portable, external drives?

Yes

Search Capabilities

Ton of features & generally more robust

Good and getting better

Radio Integration

Includes Pandora and Over-the-air

Remote Flexibility

Either IR or RF on same receiver (choose one)

IR and RF works on same receiver

Stability

Extremely stable

Stable and Robust

Cost

Free with every plan

FAQ

Do I keep or lease my DVR?

For both DIRECTV and DISH, you'll rent the equipment (the main reason for the credit check). If your credit isn't so hot, you may be offered an option to put down a deposit on the DVR. In some cases, you can purchase a new or used DVR on your own (e.g., DISH's prepaid Flex option).

Can I access my DVR when away from home?

Yes. With both DIRECTV and DISH, their app lets you view, schedule and manage your DVR library from anywhere. You can stream movies and shows in your library as well (good internet connection required).

About the author

George Levint

George is the senior editor at DigitalFind and an expert in how technology at home impacts our lives. From funky analog radios to AI devices that try to out-think you, he's usually unfairly critical until proven otherwise. He also enjoys spending the occasional weekend off-grid to keep Skynet guessing.