Deciding which satellite television company will work best for your needs can be a confusing and intimidating process. The top two providers on the market, DirectTV and Dish Network in the US, offer a lot of overlapping programming and features, but they do have several differences. While you can get excellent prices, fast installation and a wide variety of channel options from both of these satellite companies; you won’t necessarily get them under the same terms or plan.

Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours on research when you could be enjoying yourself. Here’s a look at the similarities and differences between these two major satellite television companies. When you know the basics, deciding which company is right for you becomes simple.