Sports season is finally here and it’s time to choose a streaming service for sports. For us and fans around the world, we could not be more excited. With so many options to watch the 2024 NFL Season , MLB Playoffs, or the upcoming NBA season, you’ll want to have a streaming service locked in to make sure you don’t miss a second of the action.
The best sports streaming service for you will primarily depend on what networks you need to watch your favorite sports. National networks, regional sports networks, league networks, out-of-market packages, and more are all important to consider. For example, watching every NFL game has gotten difficult unless you have the NFL Sunday Ticket package even if your live TV streaming services offers regional and national sports networks.
How our picks made the list
We researched the ins and outs of every streaming service on the market like DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and more. We considered not only their sports channels but other key features like price, add-on packages, on-demand content, and more. We analyzed each streaming service to understand coverage across all sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, college sports, soccer, and more.
Best sports streaming services breakdown
- Best for All Sports Fans: DIRECTV STREAM
- Best for NFL Sunday Ticket: YouTube TV
- Best for Year-Round Entertainment: Hulu + Live TV
- Best for Sneaky-Good Sports Content: Peacock
- Best for UFC and NHL Fans: ESPN Plus
- Best for Sports Extras and International Sports: Fubo
- Best for Budget Sports Packages: Sling TV
- Best for Soccer Fans and CBS Sports: Paramount Plus
Best for all sports fans: DIRECTV STREAM
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Largest selection of sports channels | Most expensive option |
| RSNs from Spectrum, Comcast, and Sinclair | Upgraded plans are much better |
| Cloud DVR options |
DIRECTV STREAM tops the list for its extensive coverage sports networks, specifically regional sports networks (RSNs). It’s one of the few services that offer Bally Sports, formerly Fox Sports, as well as AT&T SportsNet and NBC Sports regional channels. This gives fans the chance to watch a variety of local teams in markets that many other streaming services don’t support.
The Entertainment package, priced at $86.99 per month, covers major networks like ESPN, TNT, FS1, and TBS. However, we recommend signing up for the Choice plan for $114.99 per month to get regional sports networks (RSNs) and additional league-specific channels like MLB Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, Golf Channel, and NBA TV. And the best part? All plans come with a free trial.
Best for NFL Sunday Ticket: YouTube TV
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Massive channel list | Limited RSN availability |
| Popular user interface and features | Only one plan |
| Easy connectivity with Google |
YouTube TV is another top choice for sports fans, specifically NFL fans. It is now the premier streaming service that offers NFL Sunday Ticket, but it comes at an expensive price tag. For NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV, the package costs four monthly payments of $159, totaling $636 for the season. After these four months, you’ll continue paying $72.99 per month for YouTube TV’s base plan. If you want to include NFL RedZone, you can add it for an additional $11 per month, or $44 for the entire season.
For NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV, the standalone price is four payments of $120, totaling $479 for the season. You can also add NFL RedZone for an extra $10 per month, amounting to $40 for the season.
YouTube TV is also great for other leagues, offering an impressive range of live sports channels in addition to unlimited cloud DVR storage. All that makes it a strong contender for the best sports streaming service. It includes most of the major networks, like ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports, ensuring coverage of national sporting events across most leagues.
Best for year-round entertainment: Hulu + Live TV
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Access to ESPN Plus | Missing regional sports networks |
| Unlimited cloud DVR storage | Very few sports channel add-ons |
| Tons on-demand entertainment | Only 2 simultaneous streams |
Hulu + Live TV offers a fantastic balance of sports and entertainment, making it a great option for households that want to catch all the action but also enjoy a variety of non-sports content. With a subscription to Hulu + Live TV, you get access to an attractive list of live channels, including all the major sports networks like ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports. If you love all sports, you won’t worry about missing any key sporting events or matchups.
Hulu + Live TV offers a unique mix of content compared to its competitors. All plans (except the discounted Live TV only option) include a lineup of over 95 channels and the Disney Bundle which includes 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 $82.99 per 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.
Best for sneaky-good sports content: Peacock
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Surprisingly diverse sports lineup | Limited live channel lineup |
| Excellent on-demand library | Many leagues not featured |
| Less expensive than a full live TV platform | Movie lineup is constantly changing |
Looking for a broader mix of sports action but still don’t want to spend big on a full live TV streaming service? Peacock’s channels may be just right for you. NBC’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform offers two plans. The basic plan costs $7.99 per 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 $13.99 per month and eliminates most ads from on-demand programming and allows you to download content to watch offline.
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 UFC and NHL fans: ESPN Plus
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| UFC PPV and Fight Nights | Limited live NFL games |
| Loads of NHL | Best with the Disney Bundle |
| Original content |
ESPN Plus is an excellent option for fans looking for exclusive sports content and live coverage of less mainstream sports like the UFC and NHL. While it doesn’t offer live streaming of ESPN’s cable channels, ESPN Plus focuses on streaming live events in sports in UFC, soccer, tennis, and college sports. For UFC fans, ESPN Plus is a must-have, as it’s the exclusive provider of UFC pay-per-view events.
In addition to live events, ESPN Plus offers original programming, including shows like Peyton’s Places and Detail that give in-depth analysis and behind-the-scenes looks at your favorite sports. The service also includes access to an extensive library of past games, documentaries, and exclusive interviews.
For soccer fans, ESPN Plus is a treasure trove, with coverage of the English Football League (EFL), Bundesliga, Serie A, and MLS. College sports fans will appreciate the exclusive coverage of NCAA events, particularly in basketball and football. With a relatively low cost compared to other services, ESPN Plus is a great supplement to a traditional sports package for fans of niche sports or exclusive content.
Best for sports extras and international sports: Fubo
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Massive sports channel selection and add-ons | Missing some popular sports channels |
| Regional sports networks included in some plans | Need add-ons for some channels |
| Unlimited Cloud DVR storage | No parental controls |
With more than 190 channels available, Fubo has one of the largest channel offerings compared to its competitors. Its three main plans range from $79.99 to $109.99 per month, but you’ll also have to pay a market-specific regional sports fee of up to $15 per month if you’re in an area where RSNs are available. All Fubo plans come with unlimited cloud DVR storage and allow you to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously at home. You can try the Fubo free trial for 7-days of free streaming.
The Fubo 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.
Nonetheless, what sets Fubo apart from other services is its inclusion of niche sports channels like beIN Sports, GolTV, and TUDN, making it ideal for fans of international sports like soccer and rugby.
Best for budget sports packages: Sling TV
| 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 |
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 per month. Whichever Sling plan you choose, you’ll get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage to record matchups you can’t watch live.
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 per month.
Best for soccer fans and CBS sports: 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 |
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 $7.99 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 $12.99 per month.
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.
Our final thoughts
Choosing the best sports streaming service in 2024 depends on your viewing preferences, budget, and favorite sports. DIRECTV STREAM and Hulu + Live TV can be perfect for those needing regional sports networks, while Fubo and YouTube TV offer a strong mix of sports and entertainment. ESPN Plus stands out for niche sports content, and Sling TV provides a budget-friendly alternative with customizable options. Paramount Plus and Peacock round out the list, offering valuable access to major events at lower price points.
Sports streaming is changing rapidly and becoming more and more fragmented. The network-wars for where channels will be shown is a constant battle. But as there is increasing demand for cord-cutting and flexibility, these services will continue to keep you connected to the action, no matter where you are or what sports you love.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to stream sports?
When looking for the cheapest way to stream sports, look for a streaming service that includes a free trial to test out the service. If you time this right, you’ll be able to gain access to some of the biggest events of the year with your free trial. Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, and Hulu + Live TV are a few services that currently offer free trials.
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 $8, but full live TV streaming services like Sling TV and Fubo can range from $40 to over $120 a month.
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