This post was written in partnership with Sling TV.
Viewers have never had so many options for watching live sports. Nowadays, figuring out where to watch your favorite team or league can make your head spin. Streaming services make it easy to watch from anywhere without expensive contracts, but how do you choose the right streaming service to get the sports you can’t miss?
It can be a lot to sort out, but we’ve got you covered. There’s a sports streaming option for every type of fan — it’s just a matter of deciding what’s most important to you. Gearing up for NBA or NHL playoffs or just getting ready for the MLB season? To help you make your choice, we’ve highlighted five standouts for a few key categories.
How we chose our list
To offer you our thoughts on the best sports streaming services of 2024, we explored the ins and outs of many of the most popular options on the market. We considered not only their sports lineup but other key features like costs, unique content, and add-on options.
Ultimately, we landed on a few services that offer a nice overall mix (but each with its own emphasis), plus a couple of surprising contenders that may grab fans who are looking for specific sports. Read on to find out our top five sports streaming services of 2024.
Top sports streaming services
- Best for a customized sports package: Sling TV
- Best for sports extras: Hulu + Live TV
- Best for soccer fans: Paramount Plus
- Best for sneaky-good sports content: Peacock
- Best for overall sports fans: Fubo
Best for a customized sports package: Sling TV (Featured partner)
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive live TV plans | No regional sports networks |
| Customizable plans with add-ons | Smaller overall channel lineup |
| Offers many popular sports networks | Limited DVR and simultaneous streams |
About Sling TV
Sling TV is designed for cord-cutters who want to keep costs down or build their own customized package. Sling Orange and Sling Blue each start at just $40 per month, and even though Sling Orange targets more sports and family programming, both plans offer a few major sports networks. Sling Blue also includes local ABC, Fox, and NBC affiliates in some markets. The combo plan — Sling Orange & Blue — is our pick, as it features all 46 channels for $55 a month. Whichever Sling plan you choose, you’ll get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage to record matchups you can’t watch live.
Why is it the best?
If you want more control over your sports package, Sling TV is a great choice. The basic plans feature staple networks like ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and Fox Sports 1 (FS1). That may be all you need, or you can add more with the Sports Extra add-on. It costs $11 to $15 per month and features anywhere from 10 to 17 extra sports channels, depending on which base plan you have. All told you can build a fairly complete sports package — minus any regional sports networks (RSNs) — for a max of $70 a month.
Best for sports extras: Hulu + Live TV
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| 12 sports channels, plus extra live sports on ESPN Plus | Missing regional sports networks |
| Unlimited cloud DVR storage | Very few sports channel add-ons |
| Tons on-demand entertainment | Only 2 simultaneous streams |
About Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers a unique mix of content compared to its competitors. All plans (except the discounted Live TV only option) include not only a lineup of over 90 channels but also the Disney Bundle. That adds all of Hulu’s on-demand content, plus the full Disney Plus library and loads of extra sports content on ESPN Plus. Plans start at $76.99 a month, and you only need to pay more if you want to cut down on ads or choose from a few add-ons. All Hulu + Live TV plans include unlimited cloud DVR storage.
Why is it the best?
We often highlight Hulu + Live TV for its outstanding blend of live TV and on-demand content, and that’s worth repeating here. Even further, the platform offers a surprising amount of sports content. Not only do you get around a dozen sports networks in the live TV plan, but ESPN Plus also offers a wealth of live action, sports analysis, and award-winning shows and documentaries. You can watch contests from the NHL, MLB, UFC Fighting, NCAA football and basketball, European soccer, and much more. ESPN’s “30 for 30” series may be enough to suck some fans in for hours. You won’t get RSNs, and the two-simultaneous-stream limit is disappointing, but Hulu + Live TV is still a great deal for fans who want a wide range of action from pro and college leagues across the world.
Best for soccer fans: Paramount Plus
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Live soccer from the top leagues | No coverage for other major sports |
| NFL football matchups featured throughout the season | Limited live channel selection |
| Less expensive than a full live TV platform | Limited on-demand content |
About Paramount Plus
If live TV streaming services are still too pricey or overloaded with channels for you, you’ve still got some great options for live sports. First among these is Paramount Plus. This platform, formerly known as CBS All Acces, starts at just $5.99 a month (and there is a seven-day free trial). Plans include popular shows and movies from key Paramount networks like CBS, BET, MTV, Comedy Central, and more. The top-tier plan also includes SHOWTIME and your local CBS station for $11.99 a month.
Why is it the best?
Paramount Plus is much more than just an on-demand platform — it’s actually great for live sports, too. Soccer fans, in particular, may find it’s a must-have. You’ll find contests from major competitions like the UEFA Champions League, Italian Serie A, Women’s Super League, and the National Women’s Soccer League, not to mention U.S. national team showdowns in CONCACAF Nations League. You’ll also find NFL matchups throughout football season (Paramount Plus will even stream the Super Bowl in 2024) plus plenty of sports commentary, analysis, and documentaries. It may not fit sports fans who want a diverse mix of action, but it’s a great fit for soccer and football lovers.
Best for sneaky-good sports content: Peacock
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Surprisingly diverse sports lineup | Limited live channel lineup |
| Excellent on-demand library | Many leagues still not featured |
| Less expensive than a full live TV platform | Movie lineup is constantly changing |
About Peacock
Looking for a broader mix of sports action but still don’t want to spend big on a full live TV streaming service? Peacock may be just right for you. NBC’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform offers two plans. The basic plan costs $5.99 a month and gives you full access to Peacock’s vast on-demand library of films and shows from NBC Universal, along with all the live sports the platform has to offer. The premium plan costs $11.99 a month and eliminates most ads from on-demand programming and allows you to download content to watch offline.
Why is it the best?
We called Peacock’s sports lineup “sneaky good,” and it’s an apt description. What began as an outlet for NBC to take control of classic shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” has become a legitimate option for some of the best in live sports. On Peacock, you can watch select NFL games, Premier League soccer matches, MLB contests, college basketball, the Olympics, and more. It doesn’t have the depth of content from these leagues as what you’ll find on a full live TV service, but Peacock may satisfy a lot of fans with a strong lineup of games and analysis — especially for the price.
Best for overall sports fans: Fubo
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Massive sports channel selection and add-ons | Missing some popular sports channels |
| Regional sports networks included in main plans | Hidden “regional sports fee” |
| 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage | No parental controls |
About Fubo
Fubo is first and foremost a sports streaming platform, but that’s not to say it won’t win over plenty of other cord-cutters. With more than 260 channels on offer — and over 180 in its basic Pro plan, Fubo features more live TV than any of its competitors. Its three main plans range from $79.99 to $99.99 a month, but you’ll also have to pay a market-specific regional sports fee of up to $14.99 per month. All plans come with 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage and allow you to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously at home. You can try it for free for up to a week.
Why is it the best?
It may have more than just live sports, but Fubo is still the reigning champ in that department. The Pro plan alone carries over 30 sports channels, including RSNs to watch your local teams. You can also expand your sports lineup significantly by upgrading your plan or tacking on add-ons like Sports Plus with NFL RedZone, NBA League Pass, or MLB TV. However, it’s worth noting that there are some serious holes. For instance, Fubo doesn’t carry TBS, TNT, or TruTV, and that leaves out a lot of MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA basketball action. The lack of parental controls is also a serious flaw. Nonetheless, Fubo offers the best options and pricing for getting the most international, national, and regional coverage in one platform. If you really need Turner networks, it’s worth considering pairing Fubo with the B/R Sports add-on for Max.
Final thoughts
Sports fans have no shortage of choices for where and how they watch their favorite teams and leagues these days. Many streaming services include sports content — from a focused few matchups to a smorgasbord of live action. It all comes down to your preferences and your budget, so consider your must-haves as you look for the best sports streaming service for your needs.
FAQ
How can I stream live sports for free?
A few streaming services with live sports offer free trials. Check out DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, YouTube TV, and Paramount Plus to watch sports for free for up to two weeks.
Can I cancel my subscription after a sports season?
Yes. Streaming services don’t come with long-term contracts, so you can cancel anytime without a fee. However, many offer discounted pricing if you pay for a full year upfront.
How much do sports streaming services cost?
It depends on how much sports and other live TV you want. Basic over-the-top platforms like Peacock or Paramount Plus start at $5.99, but full live TV streaming services like Sling TV and Fubo can range from $40 to over $100 a month.
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