When it comes to sports streaming, there is a range of options available, with some companies covering only sports, such as ESPN+, while others, such as Youtube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV, offer a cable experience without a cable box.
Finding the greatest sports streaming service, on the other hand, is a difficult task. Searching around for the best one for your needs and location might still be difficult because not every service carries your local sports network. We’ve compiled a list of the finest sports streaming providers to help you get a sense of your sports coverage alternatives.
For instance, Boston-area hockey fans expecting to see the Bruins or Major League Baseball fans hoping to catch the Red Sox rely on NESN to watch the majority of their games. This is true even if they subscribe to a league-sponsored, sport-specific subscription like MLB TV, which excludes in-market games.
Generally, streaming services do not carry these RSNs, except DirectTV Stream.
The Best Sports Streaming Service in 2023
There are numerous sports streaming sites available, but it is difficult to select the best ones until they are laid out and compared. The number of channels, the number of concurrent streams allowed, and the pricing are the most significant factors to consider when choosing a sports streaming service.
| Category | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | FuboTV |
| Best for Recording Games | YouTube TV |
| Best for Regional Sports Networks | DirecTV Stream |
| Best Sports Add-Ons | Sling TV |
| Best for NFL Games | Hulu + Live TV |
| Best for NHL Games | ESPN+ |
| Best for Premier League Soccer | Peacock |
Which is the right sports streaming service for you?
Each streaming service has its pros and cons, making different platforms the perfect fit for different people.
FuboTV
Cost: $9.99 per month
FuboTV is an excellent choice for cord-cutting sports enthusiasts. FuboTV’s entry-level plan provides 250 hours of DVR storage, and FuboTV maintains your recordings for the duration of your subscription.
FuboTV can be accessed through the web or via apps for Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku devices. FuboTV’s live feeds are limited to 720p, although it is one of the few platforms that offer live 4K streaming. The majority of its on-demand programming is available in 1080p.
Cost: The base plan allows you to stream on up to three devices at once, but the Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99 per month) expands that limit to ten devices on a home network. To increase your storage limit to 1,000 hours, you can purchase the Cloud DVR 1000 add-on ($16.99 per month). Lookback, which allows you to watch select sports programs up to 72 hours after they aired, and Startover, which allows you to replay some live events from the beginning, are two more unique features of fuboTV.
Leagues Available: National sports events are broadcast on CBS, FOX, Golf Channel, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, TBS, and TNT. AT&T and some Comcast RSNs are available on fuboTV, but Sinclair RSNs are not.
FuboTV is certainly one of the top options for international sports. It provides several add-ons with foreign sports networks in addition to channels such as beIN Sports, Fox Deportes, GOL TV, and TUDN. FuboTV now has ESPN, although it has lost Turner channels such as TNT.
YouTube TV
Cost: $65 per month.
When it comes to sports, YouTube TV is the best choice for live streaming. If you’re a sports fanatic like me, YouTube TV has you covered with the ESPN collection, Fox Sports 1 and 2, NBA TV, and both the MLB and NFL Network. In addition to professional sports networks, YouTubeTV provides collegiate sports fans with the ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network.
At a monthly cost of $64.99, you receive over 100 channels and unlimited DVR storage. If you’re ready to pay more, you can subscribe to their Sports Plus Add-on or choose from a variety of networks.
In addition to the outstanding sports channel selection, the Google-owned service has plenty of entertainment and news options, including local stations, CNN, Fox News, and FX. YouTube TV genuinely has a channel for everyone and speaking as someone who uses this program regularly, you get a lot of stuff for only $64.99 per month when compared to the competitors.
Leagues available: NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, WNBA, NCAA, Premier League, FIFA World Cup, Liga MX, golf, tennis, and more, per YouTube TV’s full directory.
DirecTV Stream
Most live TV streaming services make it hard to be a fan of your local team. Fortunately, DIRECTV Stream allows you to have access to Bally Sports, so you can watch your home MLB or NBA team based on your zip code.
With the “CHOICE” package, subscribers will have access to 105+ channels, including the ESPN collection of channels, an assortment of collegiate conference networks, and FS1. But for non-sports fans, this package includes plenty of channels in entertainment, local channels, and kids channels, so there’s a channel for the whole family.
This add-on gets you up to 40 out-of-market games, so you won’t miss a single layup, three-pointer, or buzzer-beater this NBA regular season.
Cost: The service offers an array of packages ranging from $74.99/mo to $/mo for live TV streaming. For the hard-core NBA fans out there, DIRECTV Stream offers NBA League Pass Premium for an additional fee.
Leagues available: NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, MLS, La Liga, Europa League, Champions League, golf, college sports, plus a wide swath of regional sports that you might otherwise need cable to get.
Sling TV
Cost: Starting at $40 per month, with multiple add-on options.
Sling TV offers the best value for money, with packages starting at $40 a month for a 31-channel package.
As a sports lover, you’ll most likely need to subscribe to the $55/mo. Orange and Blue bundle, which is still $10 less than YouTube TV. Sling TV’s Orange and Blue package includes sports channels such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, FS1, and the NFL Network. Furthermore, the membership includes TNT, truTV, and TBS, ensuring that you don’t miss a single minute of the upcoming NCAA March Madness Tournament.
Subscribers can add on the Sports Extra plan for $11 more to watch the NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network, among other collegiate networks. If you want to watch your favorite sports at the cheapest price and don’t mind missing out on CBS and some regional NBA and MLB games, Sling TV is a great option.
Leagues available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Premier League, Ligue 1, Liga MX, golf, tennis, college football and basketball, and more, depending on the plan or add-ons you opt into.
Hulu + Live TV
Cost:$70 per month ($83 for no ads when watching its on-demand library).
Hulu’s live-TV service is similar to Sling in that it offers 65 channels, 14 of which are completely dedicated to sports, as well as its streaming library and a bundle that includes Disney+ and ESPN+.
Among the local broadcast channels are FOX for the Super Bowl, ESPN, FS1, FS2, CBS Sports, TNT, NFL Network, Golf Channel, TBS, and truTV for college basketball. Depending on where you reside, you may have access to a regional sports channel; for example, if you live in New York, you will have access to SNY, the Mets’ home. The NFL RedZone, Outdoor, Sportsman, and TVG channels for horse racing are all available as add-ons. But New Yorkers will not be able to access the NFL Network, MLB Network, or NBA TV.
Leagues available: NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, EPL, MLS, NASCAR, WWE, and UFC; major tournaments in the WNBA, golf, tennis, and more.
ESPN+
Cost: It’s now $10 per month, up from $3 in the summer.
You can get ESPN+ separately, but keep in mind that it is not the same as watching ESPN on TV. Its live sports options are fairly restricted, more of a welcome addition or a cost-effective add-on if you’re a hockey fanatic than a full-fledged live-streaming package. Yet, for the price, it packs a punch, hosting numerous popular leagues for soccer, hockey, tennis, golf, cricket, lacrosse, and a variety of collegiate sports. It includes all of ESPN’s original documentaries, including the 30 for 30 series.
Leagues available: featured leagues include the NHL (and several other hockey leagues), 180-plus MLB games, college football and basketball, international soccer leagues such as the Bundesliga and La Liga, lacrosse, multiple cricket leagues, a variety of combat sports, and more, according to ESPN+.
Peacock
Cost: $5 per month or $50 a year.
In addition to Premier League soccer and the Olympics, NBC’s streaming service covers a wide range of sports. During football season, you’ll get the Sunday night games plus the Football Night in America pregame program, and Peacock will air Sunday morning baseball, with a select slate of games beginning at 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. ET, returning after last season’s premiere.
So it’s a cheap alternative if you’re looking for specific sports or if you just want to spend $5 for a single month to watch the Olympics the next time they come around.
Leagues available: The Olympics (in full), NFL (including the Super Bowl), MLB (on Sundays), WWE, IndyCar racing, Premier League, rugby, cycling, and more.
How did we choose these sports streaming services?
When selecting which sports streaming service was the best overall, YouTube TV was an easy pick. The base bundle includes not just over 100 channels but also some of the most popular sports networks on television.
The majority of the streaming platforms mentioned in this guide include YouTube TV, ESPN+, and Hulu + Live TV. Using prior experience with the platforms, I was able to rate them based on how well they met my sports viewing requirements.
For those I haven’t had hands-on experience with, I did extensive research to ensure their ranking in the top seven was correct based on their features.
Also Read: Best Apps to watch NFL Games Online
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I access free live sports streaming?
Although there is no legal method to watch live sports for free, you can surely benefit from the free trials that live TV streaming sites provide.
Several services, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirectTV Stream, and Sling TV, offer the most sports channels.
Is YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV better for sports?
There are a few differences between Hulu Live and YouTube TV’s sports channels:
There is ESPN College Extra on Hulu Live. NFL Sunday Ticket will be available on YouTube TV beginning in the 2023 season, in addition to NBA TV.
How do I get these services on my devices?
All of the services on this list have applications that you can download. To watch the video on your TV, you’ll need a smart TV or a streaming device. Simply search for the name of the service on your smart TV or device, download the app on your TV, and input your sign-in information, and you should be ready to stream.
