If you’re a sports fan looking to cut out cable, you’re in luck. Today, there are more sports streaming services than ever. Whether you love the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, soccer, combat sports, or anything else, you’ve got tons of options when it comes to sports streaming services.
But what are the best sports streaming services? With so many options out there, it can be hard to tell what’s right for you. So in this guide, we’ll break it down. Read on, and get a look at our full list of the top 10 best sports streaming services available to cord-cutters today.
Cable replacement sports streaming services
We’ve split this guide into two sections. First, we’ll discuss “cable replacement” sports streaming services. These are internet-based streaming services that are meant to be an alternative to cable and satellite TV.
This means that they work basically in the same way – you pay a subscription fee, then get access to top sports channels like Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, and so on. The great thing about these types of services is that they don’t ever have long-term contracts or cancellation fees – so you’re free to try any of them out, cancel, and switch if they're not right for you.
With all that being said, our top picks for cable replacement streaming services are Sling TV, fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Vidgo, and YouTube TV. Read on for more details about each one.
Sling TV is the best on a budget
Sling TV is probably your best option if you’re a sports fan on a budget. It’s quite a bit cheaper than the other services on this list. Sling Orange comes with ESPN, ESPN2, and quite a few sports channels, while Sling Blue has Fox Sports, USA, and some local broadcast networks. You can also combine both packages to get all available channels in your area.
Sling Orange
$10 off your first month
- 30+ channels
- ESPN
- Stream on one device
$40/month
Sling Blue
$10 off your first month
- 40+ channels
- Local channels in select cities
- News and entertainment
- Stream on three screens
$45/month
Sling Orange & Blue
$10 off your first month
- General cable replacement
- 45+ channels
- Stream on three screens
$60/month
With Sling TV, you can watch one device with Sling Orange, or three simultaneously with Sling Blue. It supports just about every major streaming platform, and you also get a free 50-hour DVR. Take a look at our Sling TV review for more details.
fubo is the best for international sports
The cheapest fubo package comes with 100+ channels including ESPN, Fox Sports, USA, Golf Channel, local broadcast networks, and more. It also has a massive amount of international sports coverage, thanks to international channels like beIN Sports. Whether you’re an expat or just a sports fanatic, fubo provides excellent bang for your buck, and is one of the best sports streaming services.
Fubo Pro
Try 7 days free
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Stream on ten screens
- 180+ channels
$74.99/month
Fubo Elite
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
$84.99/month
Fubo Premier
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Showtime included
$94.99/month
With fubo, you can also watch on up to 10 devices at once, record 1000 hours of DVR content, and watch TV on all major streaming devices. Check out our fubo review for an in-depth breakdown.
Hulu + Live TV is the best for add-ons, bundling
Hulu + Live TV offers a pretty good base package of channels for sports fans, including local networks, ESPN, Fox Sports, Golf Channel, TBS, SEC Network, BTN, and more. It also has a great sports add-on and comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for no extra fee – which makes it a great option for big sports fans who need to please the whole family.
Hulu Live TV (with ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$76.99/month
Hulu Live TV (no ads)
Disney+ and ESPN+ included
- Stream on two screens
- ESPN+ and Disney+ included
- On demand content
- 90+ live channels
$89.99/month
You can watch Hulu + Live TV on every popular streaming device, and stream on up to two screens at once, upgradeable to unlimited screens for an extra fee. It also has a free unlimited DVR, with your oldest recordings only being deleted after nine months. Read our Hulu + Live TV review for a deep dive into this cable replacer streaming service.
DirecTV Stream is the best for regional sports networks (RSNs)
If you love the NHL, MLB, MLS, or NBA, DirecTV Stream may be the best sports streaming service for you. This is because, despite being a little more expensive, its Choice package includes Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) like Bally Sports, NBC Sports, and more. It has more RSNs than any other sports streaming service on this list by far, as well as ESPN, Fox Sports, Golf Channel, and tons of other national channels.
DirecTV Stream Entertainment
Pay $49.99 for the first 2 months
- 75+ channels
- Stream on unlimited devices at home
- Unlimited DVR space
- Three months of Max free
$79.99/month
DirecTV Stream Optimo Mas
- 100+ live TV channels
- Spanish and English programming
- Three months of Max free
- Unlimited DVR space
$79.99/month
DirecTV Stream Choice
Pay $49.99 for the first 2 months
- 105+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$108.99/month
DirecTV Stream Ultimate
Pay $49.99 for the first 2 months
- 140+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$119.99/month
DirecTV Stream Premier
- Unlimited DVR space
- 150+ channels
- Includes Max Cinemax SHOWTIME and STARZ
- Includes regional sports networks
$154.99/month
Like the other services on this list, you can stream DirecTV Stream with pretty much any device. You can also watch on 20 devices at once, which is the most allowed in the industry. The company also offers an unlimited nine-month DVR, so you can store as much content as you want. Get more details from our DirecTV Stream review.
Vidgo has the best mix of value and sports
Vidgo sits somewhere between Sling TV and fubo when it comes to value. You’ll get 110+ channels, including lots of great sports channels like local broadcast networks, ESPN, ESPNEWS, Fox Sports 1 and 2, PAC-12 Network, SEC Network, and a few others.
Vidgo Mas
Only $10 for your first month
- 45+ live Spanish channels
- On demand content
- Cloud DVR
- Stream on three screens
$39.99/month
Vidgo Plus
Only $10 for your first month
- On demand content
- Cloud DVR
- 110+ channels
- Stream on three screens
$69.99/month
Vidgo Premium
Only $10 for your first month
- 150+ channels
- On demand content
- Cloud DVR
- Stream on three screens
$84.99/month
Vidgo Ultimate
- All English and Spanish channels
- The most live sports
- News and local shows
- Stream on three screens
$99.99/month
Vidgo also lets you stream on up to three devices at once, and you can use most modern streaming devices with this service. There’s also a 20-hour DVR, though this is only included free of charge for Premium members. Check out our Vidgo review to learn more information.
YouTube TV is best for local broadcast networks
YouTube TV is our top choice for the best sports streaming service if you want local broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. They have the most extensive lineup of local broadcast networks, which makes this service particularly good for NFL fans. With YouTube TV, you also get ESPN, Fox Sports, BTN, NBA TV, MLB Network, NFL Network, and tons of other channels, for 85+ in total.
YouTube TV Spanish
Only $24.99 for the first 6 months
- Unlimited DVR space
- 6 accounts to share at home
- Stream on three screens
- 30+ Spanish channels
$34.99/month
YouTube TV
Only $54.99 for the first 3 months
- Unlimited DVR space
- 6 accounts for one price
- Stream on three screens
- 100+ live TV channels
$72.99/month
You also can watch on three devices at once, and stream on all of your favorite devices. A free nine-month DVR also comes with this service. Read our Youtube TV review if you’d like to dive deeper into what this streamer has to offer.
Standalone sports streaming services
Our second category of the best sports streaming services is what we’d call “standalone sports streaming services.” Rather than replacing cable, these services are meant to provide supplemental sports coverage – and they usually air sporting events and leagues that can’t be found elsewhere.
This means that they're a little more specialized, so they may not be the best sports streaming services for every fan. But if you’re interested in what these standalone sports streaming services have to offer, they may still be a great option. The best options for cord-cutters include ESPN+, Paramount+, Peacock, and DAZN. Let’s get into the details.
ESPN+ is the best for UFC and second-tier sports
ESPN+ has a unique mix of programming. It’s the new home of the UFC, so it’s a must-have if you’re a big MMA fan. It also carries lots of soccer, lacrosse, rugby, boxing, hockey, golf, and tennis events, though not always in the top-tier competitions.
However, it’s still one of the best streaming services due to its low price and sporting events that you can’t watch anywhere else. You can even bundle it with Hulu and Disney+ to save some money – or get ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of Hulu + Live TV.
You can watch ESPN+ on pretty much any device, with up to three simultaneous streams. With ESPN+, you also get access to tons of VOD content and original shows, as well as game replays and more. For more information, read our ESPN+ review.
Paramount+ is the best for CBS and Champions League soccer
Paramount+ is one of the best sports streaming services for the NFL on CBS, since it includes a CBS live stream with its Paramount+ w/ Showtime plan. This is also the home of Champions League soccer, so it’s a must-have if you’re interested in this top-flight European soccer competition, starring teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Juventus, and more.
Along with all that, you also get access to a huge library of non-sports-related on-demand content from Paramount Global, including licensed shows and movies as well as Paramount+ Originals. Considering the relatively low cost of this service, that’s not a bad deal at all. Paramount+ lets you stream on three devices at once, and has very comprehensive device support, too. Read our full Paramount+ review.
Peacock is best for wrestling and Premier League soccer
Peacock is the exclusive home of the WWE, the largest wrestling promotion in the United States. It also airs most soccer matches in the English Premier League – though, frustratingly, some top matches don’t air on Peacock, but instead are broadcast on NBC or USA. Still, if you’re interested in either WWE or the EPL, Peacock is a must-have.
Peacock is also free to use, but you will need a paid subscription to watch the WWE and Premier League soccer. Of course with your subscription, you also get access to tons of original content and NBC shows from Peacock, like Chicago PD and The Blacklist. You can watch Peacock on up to three devices at once, and it has great device support. Read our Peacock review if you can’t get enough details about this streamer.
DAZN is best for combat sports
DAZN is one of the best sports streaming services for combat sports. Only ESPN+ comes close. DAZN broadcasts MMA and boxing matches from lots of different promotions. It also broadcasts some extreme sports like skateboarding, as well as the Supercopa de España and some other sports.
Fubo Pro
Try 7 days free
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Stream on ten screens
- 180+ channels
$74.99/month
Fubo Elite
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
$84.99/month
Fubo Premier
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Showtime included
$94.99/month
It’s not as cheap as the other streamers in this category, but it does have a unique mix of sports programming. You can watch DAZN on up to two devices at once, and it supports most modern streaming devices and platforms. Check out more about this service in our full DAZN review.
Pluto TV is a great free option
Pluto TV is a free live TV streaming service. It offers more than seventy news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle channels. Most of these channels are pure-digital streaming sources like Nerdist and Tastemade.
You can find eight sports-only channels on Pluto TV.
- Sports Networks: Fox Sports
- Sport-Specific Networks: Fear Factor, Pro Wrestling, Fight, Xtreme Sports, New World Poker Tour, Glory Kickboxing
- College Networks: Big Sky Conference
Our verdict for the best sports streaming service
As we’ve explained, it’s a bit hard to narrow down the very best sports streaming service. All of the services on this list are a little bit different – and we hope this guide has helped explain those differences.
But if we had to pick a single winner, we’d go with Hulu + Live TV. You can watch most top sports with this service and it also has tons of other top non-sports channels like Fox News, HGTV, Food Network, CNN, and many more.
Hulu + Live TV also comes with Hulu’s on-demand library, ESPN+, and Disney+ for no extra charge, so it’s a really good value. Add great device support and solid features like an unlimited DVR, and that’s our top pick for the best sports streaming service.
However, all of the services mentioned above don’t have any long-term contracts or subscriptions required. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, you can try each one out – and simply cancel it if it’s not what you’re looking for. So don’t just take our word for it. Try one of our picks for the best sports streaming services now, and spend less for the sports coverage you need.
Eric Liston • Author
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
How To Watch
Flixed.io's contributors and editorial team will often recommend products we believe to be useful for our readers. We may receive an affiliate commission from product sales generated through these affiliate links.