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Sarah Lord Writer
Sarah Lord covers TVs and home entertainment. Prior to joining CNET, Sarah served as the tech and electronic reviews fellow at Insider, where she wrote about everything from smart watches and wearables to tablets and e-readers. She began her career by writing laptop reviews as an intern and subsequent freelancer at Tom's Hardware. She is also a professional actor with many credits in theater, film and television.
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What to consider
Channels
Price
RSNs
Our Picks
Best for RSNs, ESPN and major networks like ABC, FOX, TBS
DirecTV Stream
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Best channel lineup for live sports
YouTube TV
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Best for NHL, soccer, UFC, tennis
ESPN Plus
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Best for ESPN, live network games, soccer, variety of RSNs
Fubo
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Best for live network channels and ESPN subscription
Hulu Plus Live TV
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Best budget option for live sports
Sling TV
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Best for CBS Sports, NFL games, Champions League, women's soccer
Paramount Plus
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Best for Sunday Night Football, WWE, Olympics, soccer, golf
Peaco*ck Premium
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What is the best sports streaming service overall?
You can experience the thrill of watching your favorite sports and cheering for your favorite teams, all from the coziness of your own home. Gone are the days of needing a cable or satellite TV subscription, as there are now countless live TV streaming services that offer what you want across the sports universe. Among these options, DirecTV Stream stands out as a top choice for its regional sports networks and channels, but other services are less expensive and may be better for casual fans.
Choosing the best streaming service for sports can be a harrowing process, though -- especially when you take into consideration that not every service carries your regional sports network. Case in point: Boston-area hockey fans looking for the Bruins or Major League Baseball fans hoping to catch the Red Sox need NESN to view the majority of their games. That's even if they subscribe to a sport-specific, league-sponsored package like MLB TV, which doesn't cover in-market games.
Streaming services generally don't carry these RSNs, butDirecTV Streamand Fubo are the exceptions. They're the only two services that offer the Bally Sports (formerly Fox Sports) channels from Sinclair. Fubo lets you watch your RSNs on its $80 Pro tier. Meanwhile, you'll have to spring for DirecTV Stream's $109-a-month plan to access its full RSN offerings.
Also, some sports, likeFormula 1 racing, feature all of their contests on one national network, such as ESPN. When it comes to the NBA, you have to bounce around to watch every game. Out-of-market games are available on NBA League Pass, and some teams have their own ways to stream their games, such as YES Network, MSG Plus or SportsNet Plus. Read CNET's guide for more on where to stream basketball.
Depending on location, diehard sports fans might ultimately save more money by getting a cable subscription, as your RSNs come bundled with ESPN, TBS, TNT and other local channels. This could especially make sense if the package is bundled with the home internet you'll likely be getting anyway. If you're a determined cord-cutter or know that you need only one or a few channels to get your sports fix, here are the best streaming services for you.
Read more: Best Streaming Devices for 2023
Best sports streaming services of 2024
Pros
- Carries large selection of sports channels/networks
- Ideal for channel surfers
- Live pause feature
Cons
- Expensive
- Must upgrade to access most RSNs
Full Review Read full review
DirecTV Stream is expensive. It's the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services, but it's also the one with the most RSNs and offers the most for sports fanatics. Its cheapest, $80-a-month Entertainment package includes the major networks as well as ESPN, TNT, FS1 and TBS. You'll need to move up to the Choice plan to get any available RSN and many league channels such as the Big Ten network and NBA TV. You can use itschannel lookup toolto see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area.
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Pros
- Robust live channel selection
- Excellent cloud DVR
- Great interface and useful search bar
Cons
- Not a lot included in 4K upgrade
Full Review Read full review
Editors' choice
YouTube TV costs $73 a month, though it's currently $10 off for the first three months, and offers four RSNs, along with FS1, FS2, ESPN, TBS, TNT and all of the major national networks. The standard package includes just about every league channel with the exception of the NHL Network. There is an additional Sports Plus package, but it doesn't offer much other than BeIn and NFL Red Zone, so you might be able to skip it. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV'swelcome pageto see which local networks and RSNs are available in your area.
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Pros
- Lots of live NHL and other sports
- Original content
- Team-centric features
Cons
- Pricey without bundle
- No live NFL or NBA games
Full Review Read full review
ESPN's stand-alone streaming service is great for casual sports fans and is a must-have accessory for hockey zealots. It costs $11 a month or $110 a year and shows all out-of-market NHL games. It's also included as part of the $15-a-month Disney bundle, as well as in the Hulu Plus Live TV package.
ESPN Plus is heavily invested in global soccer, hosting LaLiga games from Spain and Germany's Bundesliga. It's also the home of some English soccer: the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Community Shield, along with the EFL Championship -- which is the league below the Premier League. The company used to carry all out-of-market MLS games, but lost the package to Apple after the completion of the 2022 season.
ESPN Plus doesn't show any live NBA basketball or NFL football games, but it does offer coverage of Wimbledon and the US Open. During the MLB baseball season, the service carries select out-of-market Major League baseball games as well as unlocking the MLB Archives of classic games. It also offers some NCAA football and basketball, as well as the Little League World Series for fans looking to watch up-and-coming athletes. Some UFC matches are included as part of the subscription, with pay-per-view matches usually requiring an extra fee.
The service is also home to exclusive shows, such as Peyton's Places starring Peyton Manning, and the vast 30 for 30 library. As an added inducement, the subscription removes the paywall on the ESPN website, giving you access to all online articles and reporting.
There's something here for most sports aficionados and it's almost a necessity for hard-core hockey and UFC fans.
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Pros
- Great for soccer fans
- Easy to navigate
- Lots of channels for live sports
Cons
- Lacks TNT, TBS and other Turner channels
- Expensive
Full Review Read full review
Fubo costs $80 per month and offers over 35RSNs, but tacks on an extra RSN fee up to $15 per month. It includes ESPN, but not TBS and TNT -- which might be a problem for some sports fans. It also has most of your local networks like ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, along with FS1, FS2, BeIn Sports, the Big 10 and the Golf channel.
You'll have to pay an extra $8 a month for the Fubo Extra Package or pay for the $90-a-month Elite streaming tier that includes Fubo Extra for the NHL, NBA, MLB, SEC, PAC 12 and Tennis channels. Check out whichlocal networks and RSNs FuboTV offers here.
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Pros
- Solid channel lineup
- Hulu on-demand, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus included
- Unlimited DVR
Cons
- Fewer channels than YouTube TV
Full Review Read full review
Hulu Plus Live TV offers an interesting middle ground for sports fans. On the one hand, the service lacks the ability to get many league-owned channels, but on the other, it comes automatically bundled with an ESPN Plus subscription.
Hulu Plus Live TV costs $77 a month and carries four RSNs along with all the major networks plus ESPN, TBS, TNT, FS1 and FS2. It does come with the NFL network, but even the Sports add-on lacks the MLB, NHL, NBA or Tennis channels. The biggest appeal of the add-on is the inclusion of NFL Red Zone. Otherwise, it doesn't bring much value to the package.
The inclusion of the Disney bundle might make Hulu Plus Live TV more appealing than some of the other services on this list. Not only do you get full access to the sports on ESPN Plus, but you also get Disney Plus as well. Perhaps Hulu Plus Live TV could be a good compromise for sports fans who are also Disney lovers or who share a house with those who are.
Click the "View all channels in your area" link at the bottom of Hulu Plus Live TV's to see which local networks and RSNs are available where you live. You can snag the first three months at a discounted rate right now.
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Pros
- Inexpensive live TV option
- Can use AirTV 2 tuner for local channels
- Offers ESPN, TBS, FS1
Cons
- Little access to local stations
Full Review Read full review
The Sling TV packages don't have a ton to offer any but the most casual fan. Sling Blue currently lacks a single RSN, but you can use it to watch some national broadcasts. Sling TV's Orange plan includes ESPN, while the Blue plan has FS1 and the NFL network. While both plans offer TBS, none of them gives you access to ABC, which could be a problem for many fans. The Sports Extra add-on, which costs $11 a month for either the Blue or Orange plan or $15 for the combined Orange and Blue plan, offers the NBA, NHL and MLB channels, along with the PAC 12, BeIn and Tennis channel, among others. The individual plans start at $40 a month each, and the combined Orange and Blue plan starts $55 a month (in some regions, it's $60). And right now, you can get your first month for half off. You cansee which local channels you get here.
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Pros
- Affordable monthly price
- Live NFL games
- Carries AFC games, UEFA Champions League, NWSL soccer
Cons
- Must have premium to get local CBS stations
Full Review Read full review
Best for CBS Sports, NFL games, Champions League, women's soccer
Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus gives its subscribers access to NFL football games during the season, along with some UEFA Champions League soccer, college basketball, as well as most matches from the NWSL women's soccer league.Upgrade to Paramount Plus with Showtime for $12 a month for access to live, local CBS feeds.
Users are able to access the AFC games in their local market, which might be a good option for anyone looking to grab CBS without spending a ton of money. You could also just get an over-the-air antennaand get all your local channels for free.
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Pros
- Low price
- Offers Sunday Night Football
- Live WWE, Olympics broadcasts
Cons
- More sports content available elsewhere
Full Review Read full review
Peaco*ck, owned by NBC, offers some live sports to go along with its on-demand entertainment. The $6-a-month Premium tier gives users access to English Premier League soccer, the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, select WWE events, Indy Car races and some PGA golf tournaments. The service also airs a few other less popular sports, such as rugby, figure skating, cycling and track and field. Access to Sunday Night Football is great during the season, but for most of the year the platform is best suited for soccer and wrestling fans.
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Sports streaming services compared
Live sports streaming
| Monthly price | Sports/channels | RSNs | Simultaneous streams | Cloud DVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DirecTV Stream | $80 | ESPN, ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, TBS, TNT, F1, RSNs | Yes | 20 at home (3 outside home) | Unlimited |
| Hulu with Live TV | $77 | ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, TBS, TNT, FS1, FS2 | Limited | 2 (Pay an extra $10/month for more) | Unlimited |
| Fubo | $80 | ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN FS1, FS2, Big 10, RSNs | Yes | 10 at home (2 outside home) | 1,000 hours |
| YouTube TV | $73 | ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, TBS, TNT, FS1, FS2, league channels | Limited | 3 | Unlimited |
| Sling | Starts at $40 | ESPN, TBS, FS1, some major networks | No | 1 for Orange, 3 for Blue, 4 for Orange & Blue | 50 hours (pay $5/month for 200) |
| ESPN Plus | $11 | NHL, soccer, UFC, MLB, tennis, golf | No | 3 | -- |
| Peaco*ck | Starts at $6 | Sunday Night Football, English Premier League, WWE, Olympics, golf, rugby, skating | No | 3 | -- |
| Paramount Plus | Starts at $6 | CBS sports, AFC NFL games, soccer | No | 3 | -- |
Streaming services we also tested
Max: The video-on-demand streaming service launched a sports add-on package called B/R Sports, and right now, it's free to access. After the promotional period ends, you'll have to pay an extra $10 a month to stream content such as NBA, NHL, NCAA and US Soccer games. Because it's an add-on option, we left the service off this list, but if you're a Max subscriber -- and cord-cutter -- who wants to watch live games from TBS, TNT and truTV, it's a great option.
How we test sports streaming services
You many know many of the services on this list, but it's not fully reflective of every sports streaming platform available. There are separate apps out there for Fox Sports, NBA, NFL, DAZN, F1 TV and more that may offer what you want. There are plenty of other ways to stream and other options to choose. As we analyzed these streaming platforms, we considered a few things, including price, content availability and user-friendly navigation.
We considered which platforms provide live channels across the spectrum for football, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, wrestling and other fields. We also analyzed which ones offer access to RSNs and the most budget-friendly platforms for you to stream major sporting events. Some services are worth the cost for access to live broadcasts, and while the less expensive platforms are better for a single games or seasonal runs.
Factors to consider
- Availability of sports programming: Some services offer greater access to live broadcasts on major networks , while some platforms are better for specific leagues or sport types.
- Local channels/RSNs: You'll need a live streaming service to watch most RSNs without cable, but if you want to watch games on a local station, an antenna or basic live TV streaming package could meet your needs.
- Simultaneous streams: Services usually charge more for more streams. Be sure you're covered for yourself and other members of your household and consider whether you have to pay extra to share your account.
Sports Streaming Service FAQs
Don't some on-demand streaming services show live sports too?
Yes. Hulu and Prime Video air live sports once in a while, but their sports offerings are currently fairly limited.
Hulu has started streaming select NHL hockey games on its regular service, but it tends to save most of its sports streaming for its Hulu Plus Live TV package.
Prime Video has partnered with the NFL to exclusively stream Thursday Night Football. This means that anyone who wants to watch their team play on Thursday night will need to have a Prime Video subscription. If you're not an Amazon Prime member and only want a standalone streaming subscription, it's $9 per month. This could be important for fans while the season is in action who may only want to use the streaming service for sports. Prime airs a few WNBA games over the summer, but that's about it.
While these services do air some sports offerings, they focus mainly on on-demand entertainment. This might change in the future, but right now they don't offer too much specifically for sports fans.
Is there a lag or delay when streaming sports live compared with cable?
There is. The streaming delayis often as long as 40 seconds, compared with around 5 seconds for cable and satellite.
This might be particularly worrisome for those with Twitter, group chats and phone push notifications, where a delay of this length can lead to spoilers of big plays. It could also potentially make it difficult for sports bettors to get in on the action. If you plan on betting, it might be a good idea to watch your game via cable or satellite.
Turning off your phone's notifications and staying away from Twitter will let you stream your games without spoilers. Sure, your friends might try to call and text to brag about the score, but you can always choose to ignore them while you watch.
Can I cancel my subscriptions when the season is over?
Yes. All of these services are free of contracts and you can cancel at any time. Some offer free trials or special introductory discount memberships, which you will only get to use once. If you cancel and return at a later date, you will most likely have to pay full price. That said, you might not need a particular service year-round, which might make temporary cancellation an appealing way to save a few bucks.
How do I access these services on my devices?
All of the services on this list have apps that you can download. You will need a smart TV or a streaming deviceto watch the content on your TV. Just search for the name of the service on your smart TV or device, download the app on your TV and enter your sign-in information, and you should be ready to stream.
You can also download the apps of these services on your phone, iPad or Android device for streaming around the house or on the go.
