Best sports streaming services: Watch live games without cable in 2025

From live TV packages to network-specific services, we'll show you all the best sports streaming services to watch your favorite teams.

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Apr 21, 2025 - 15:41
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Best sports streaming services: Watch live games without cable in 2025

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A composite image of Shohei Ohtani playing baseball, Caitlin Clark playing basketball, and Jalen Jurts playing football
The MLB, WNBA, and NFL are just some of the leagues spread across multiple networks and streaming services.

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images; Steph Chambers/Getty Images; Cooper Neill/Getty Images

No matter your sport, it can be hard to tune into every game, especially if you've given up cable. Fortunately, some of the best sports streaming services can help you start watching your favorite teams today, although it's not always easy to figure out which app you need.

Whether you're into football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, boxing, or something else entirely, we've combed through some of the most popular sports streaming services and identified the very best of the bunch. Our highlights range from four live TV packages that serve as wide-spanning cable alternatives to seven cheaper options that focus on one specific channel or a handful of popular sports. Even if you have cable, some streaming services have exclusive rights to games, so you might still need to sign up for an app to ensure full coverage.

Keeping in mind a variety of budgets and sports, we've scoured the top streaming services to identify some of the best options for live streaming sports. For each service, we've outlined basic specs, including starting prices, relevant free trial information, and any notable missing channels. Plus, we've highlighted a few add-ons that sports fans might find helpful.

Directly below, you can find a cheat sheet of which leagues and sports have (select) coverage on each streaming service, although you should consult each app's exact channel lineups in our guide to see which (if not all) games you can stream. These are just some of the most popular sporting events available on each service, but most apps have some additional hidden gems. If you're interested in learning more about the ongoing sports streaming debacles, you can scroll down to our FAQ.

DirecTV

If you're looking for something just like cable but don't want to lock into a contract or have any hardware, DirecTV is a great option. Signature plans start at $84.99 a month and feature more than 90 channels — including ESPN, TNT, and local networks — in the base Entertainment subscription. A helpful thing about DirecTV is that you can get almost every cable channel with an upgrade or add-on, but this also means that it can quickly become one of the priciest live TV streaming packages out there.

DirecTV's new MySports package makes watching sports even cheaper. The plan, which costs $69.99 a month, carries 25+ key sports networks, including several popular cable channels typically only found in the higher tiers of DirecTV's signature packages. It also includes access to ESPN+. The only catch comes with the local channels. FOX and NBC are pretty broadly available, but ABC varies by region and CBS isn't included in the package (although all signature plans carry those channels).

Fubo

Fubo is a sports fan's best friend when it comes to streaming, especially if you're into football, baseball, soccer, golf, or women's basketball. It was initially started as a soccer streaming service, but it has morphed into one of the most robust live TV packages out there. Standard Pro plans cost $84.99 a month and offer over 150+ channels right off the bat. From there, fans can get add-ons for additional channel packages. This includes the $9.99 monthly Sports Lite add-on for NBA TV, MLB Network, and the Tennis Channel, among others. All plans include regional sports options, which come with their own additional monthly fees, so you'll most likely be paying a bit more than the initial price tag.

Given that it's catered toward sports, the only notable flaw is the omission of TNT and TBS, eliminating a batch of NBA, NHL, and Unrivaled games each season. Otherwise, it is one of the best true cable alternatives out there, given its broad catalog of channels and comprehensive local network coverage (like ABC, NBC, FOX, and, notably, CBS), the latter of which is often missing from live TV services.

Sling TV

Sling TV is one of the more affordable live TV packages, with an adaptable slate of plans that can easily be tailored to your budget and specific sports needs. Sling Orange and Blue, the two base plans, each cost $45.99 a month. Each includes anywhere from 35-43 channels, with certain options exclusive to each plan (Orange carries several ESPN channels, while Blue has FS1 and the NFL Network). If you combine the two for the Sling Orange + Blue plan, you can find some savings at just $60.99 a month and get the most out of Sling's sports offerings. The Blue and combo plans cost $5 extra in select areas with robust local channel coverage.

Where Sling differs from some of its pricier live TV counterparts is in the local channel coverage. A Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue combo plan can provide some local channels (like NBC, ABC, or FOX) in certain regions, but coverage is selective, and Sling is missing CBS altogether. Fortunately, if you live in a region that cannot stream local channels on Sling, the streaming service has a fairly generous offer that will send you a free HD antenna if you prepay for a few months, which should allow you to supplement any major missing local networks.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is a great live TV package for sports fans who don't have other streaming services since it includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand bundled in. Plans start at $82.99 a month and offer more than 95 channels upfront, as well as ad-supported plans for the aforementioned streaming services. Hulu + Live TV only has one upgrade, for $95.99 a month, which gives you the same live TV channels and Disney+ and Hulu ad-free.

The service has sports-centric add-ons available, but its base plan is pretty sports-friendly on its own, with lots of local channels and only a few missing elements, like NBA TV and ION. The Sports Add-on, which costs $9.99 a month extra, includes FanDuel Racing, NFL RedZone, and the Tennis Channel, among other perks.

ESPN+

If you're not looking for a live TV package and want something more ESPN-specific, you can try out ESPN+. There's just one plan (for $11.99 a month, although you can bundle with other services) that gives subscribers access to select live games and on-demand content. ESPN+ isn't a direct live stream of the ESPN channel, and the games the service covers are fairly selective. In addition to select ESPN games, the streamer also carries live coverage of certain ESPN2 and ABC games.

Where ESPN+ truly shines is with its event-specific coverage. The streaming service often offers live coverage of niche tennis and golf tournaments. Additionally, the app has an impressive selection of collegiate-level games, including several basketball match-ups that aren't available nationally anywhere else. It has popular pay-per-view (PPV) content, most notably with UFC. People without cable who want to watch UFC main events must have an ESPN+ subscription and pay an additional PPV fee through the service.

Paramount+

CBS is a fixture in most major sports leagues, so access to the network has become paramount (no pun intended) to the average sports fan's viewing experiences. Enter Paramount+, formerly CBS All Access, which is best known for its on-demand catalog of original CBS broadcast series and several of the latest film releases from Paramount Pictures.

Paramount+ Essential plans cost $7.99 a month, but you should upgrade to Paramount+ with Showtime for $12.99 a month if you're hoping to tap into CBS and CBS Sports Network live streams. This will give you access to select NWSL, PGA, WNBA, Big Ten Football, and March Madness coverage. Fortunately, both available Paramount+ plans allow you to live stream the NFL on CBS and the UEFA Champions League.

DAZN

DAZN is a truly global sports streaming service, with select coverage available in more than 200 regions. The service carries tons of sports, but it's best known for its PPV boxing events. Subscription prices vary from region to region, but in the US, you can get a subscription for $29.99 monthly for the flexible pass, or $19.99 monthly when you lock in for 12 months. PPV prices are a bit steeper, but they are the only way to watch the big events, with most major fight cards costing around $50 to $80.

The service also offers MMA, Esports, and women's football, among other sporting events, although exact offerings are specific to each country, and not all events are available on a global scale. International viewers can also purchase packages like the NFL Game Pass, which offers every regular game of the NFL season, in addition to the Playoffs and Super Bowl.

Peacock

If you purchased a Peacock subscription for the Olympics, it could be worth holding onto. While the service is often thought of for its catalog of popular NBC sitcoms like The Office and Parks and Recreation, it also offers ample sporting coverage of select events broadcast on NBCUniversal networks. Thanks to live streams of NBC Sports and other channels, including designated sports hubs, coverage of most major cycling races and golf tournaments can be found here. The app also carries select college sporting events from the Big Ten Conference.

If you upgrade from Premium ($7.99) to Premium Plus ($13.99), you can live stream NBC 24/7. While you can watch Sunday Night Football and select sports live with either plan, the Premium Plus option will also unlock additional options via the aforementioned NBC live stream. This tier also makes on-demand content ad-free and allows viewers to download select content to watch offline.

Prime Video

Live sports might not be the main draw to Amazon for most people, but the Prime Video platform has become a live TV hub in the past few years, with an emphasis on some top sports. Prime Video is the official home of Thursday Night Football and the 2024 Black Friday Football game. The service also has exclusive rights to several WNBA games on Thursday nights, NWSL games on Friday nights, and other select sporting events.

Prime Video's live streaming options are included in standard Amazon Prime subscriptions, which cost $14.99 a month. You can also just subscribe to Prime Video for $8.99 a month. Select events will be included with a PPV fee, and many of the best sports streaming services allow you to subscribe via an add-on in Prime Video if you'd rather have all of your watch options in one place. The NBA League Pass and WNBA League Pass are available for an extra fee through Prime Video as well.

Apple TV+

Apple's TV counterpart might be best known for its prestige scripted series, but the streaming service has begun to dip its toes into live sports over the past year or two. The crown jewel of Apple TV+'s sports content is the MLS Season Pass, which allows viewers to watch every match (including the Leagues Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs) without blackout restrictions. A standard Apple TV+ subscription will also grant you access to two MLB games every Friday night.

An Apple TV+ subscription costs $9.99 a month (although you can usually get a few months free if you purchase a new Apple product), and the MLS Season Pass costs an additional $12.99 a month or $39 a season. If you don't have an Apple TV+ subscription, you can also just buy an MLS Season pass for $14.99 a month or $49 a season.

Max

HBO's streaming counterpart might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sports, but the streaming service rolled out a new B/R Sports Add-on last year, bringing live and on-demand sports to the platform. Max offers live streams of games that air on Warner Bros. Discovery channels like TNT and TBS, making it a particularly handy app during the MLB, NHL, NBA, and Unrivaled seasons. The streaming service also live streams select other sports that might not have a broadcast home in the US, including several major global cycling events.

The B/R Sports Add-on was initially included for free with all Max plans, with the idea that it would eventually cost an extra $9.99 a month. However, Max announced in 2025 that the add-on will remain a free perk of service, but only with the ad-free tiers, so sports fans will need to subscribe to Ad-Free for $16.99 a month or Ultimate Ad-Free (4K and other perks) for $20.99 a month. The service also has annual plans, which offer savings to users who commit to a yearlong subscription.

Best options for NBA live streaming

NBA fans need a variety of channels to watch weekly games, including various networks from the ESPN/ABC and TNT/TBS family of channels. NBA TV is also a necessity for any NBA fan, although this is a bit more of a niche option that falls outside many streaming services' standard base plans. Sling TV and DirecTV are two services that will allow you to watch everything (with the help of some add-ons), while streamers like Fubo, Max, and Hulu + Live TV offer select networks and games. Check out our how to watch NBA games streaming guide for a full breakdown of services.

Best options for NHL live streaming

Although a decent amount of NHL games fall on regional sports networks, the national broadcasts are mainly found on ABC, ESPN, and TNT/TBS. Unlike some other sports with ABC and ESPN broadcasts, ESPN+ is a great option for NHL fans since it carries live streams of several of the games. ESPN+ also has a selection of exclusive NHL games, meaning that you might need the service even if you have a solid cable subscription. Sling TV, DirecTV, and Hulu + Live TV are some of the best ways to ensure you don't miss out on any national broadcasts, but Fubo and Max will also be able to help you out with select games. For more info, you can explore our guide on how to watch NHL games.

Jonathan Marchessault of the Nashville Predators skates on ice with the puck during a 2024 NHL game.
Jonathan Marchessault joined the Nashville Predators this season, a departure from his long run with the Vegas Golden Knights.

John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Best options for NFL live streaming

Each year, NFL games are spread across several different networks, making it all but impossible to keep up with the season unless you have cable or a streaming service like DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. Nationally broadcast games air on NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. Additionally, Prime Video exclusively carries Thursday Night Football. If you're only looking to watch NBC games, Peacock will be able to help you out. Similarly, CBS games are available on Paramount Plus. Sling TV is also able to live stream many games, but local channel coverage varies by region (and CBS is unavailable in all areas), so you should check your zip code before subscribing. You can find a full roundup of streaming services in our how to watch NFL games breakdown.

FAQ

What's the best sports streaming service?

The short answer is that there is no one sure-fire sports streaming service that's going to be the answer to all needs. We ranked ESPN Plus as the "best for sports" in our guide to the best streaming services (which doesn't include live TV streaming packages) since the service is so tailored towards sports and often carries exclusive streaming-only games that you can't even get with cable.

That said, in the ever-complicated era of the streaming wars, the best sports streaming service is going to be the one that carries your favorite team or league's games. Since network licenses and rights are always changing, you can't go wrong with a live TV streaming package like DirecTV Stream, Sling, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. But gaps in coverage on things like local channels and Warner Bros. networks might make Sling or Fubo not ideal for your needs and instead pave the way for services like DirecTV Stream or Hulu + Live TV.

What are skinny sports streaming services?

The "skinny" package is one of the latest and most enticing trends in sports streaming, but it's also the cause of some of the more recent streaming-related headaches. Streaming services are beginning to launch skinny plans, which cater to specific interests (like sports) by offering things like sports-only channels for a cheaper price than an all-encompassing streaming package.

In January 2025, DirecTV Stream was one of the first major players to launch a skinny plan, MySports, which offers 25+ key sports channels for $70 a month, $17 less than the DirecTV Stream's base plan.

Other services will most likely follow suit. In Fall 2024, a Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery sports streaming service was supposed to launch under the name Venu Sports, but this was halted by a lawsuit from Fubo. The dispute lasted through the 2024-2025 NFL regular season, but Disney announced in January 2025 that Fubo and Hulu + Live TV would merge in business (while staying separate apps), settling litigation on Venu. According to the Disney announcement, Fubo will be able to launch its own Sports & Broadcast service with Disney's relevant networks, so it's most likely only a matter of time before consumers will be able to subscribe to a skinny Fubo sports plan.

Disney canned plans for Venu Sports, but a new ESPN flagship streaming service is reportedly in the works, which will enable viewers to watch a true live stream of the network, which was previously only possible through an expensive live TV streaming package (since ESPN Plus only offers select ESPN live streams). In February 2025, FOX announced plans to launch its own paid standalone streaming service by the end of the year.

What are the best services for 4K streaming?

Ultra-high-def streaming is hard to come by, especially for live events, but some services have the option. Your best bet will be with one of the aforementioned live TV streaming packages. Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo (through Fubo's Elite plan) all offer select 4K live streaming. These are typically for special events, especially big games, with a network that has 4K streaming capabilities. FOX, which enabled 4K viewing for the Super Bowl this year, offers UHD live streaming across all three services when available. ESPN is another popular sports network that occasionally offers programming in 4K. When not in 4K, most of the services stream in 720p or 1080p, depending on whether you're accessing live or on-demand content.

Hulu + Live TV also has 4K streaming, although it appears to just be available for select Hulu on-demand content and not part of the live offerings. Max also has 4K capabilities with its highest Ultimate Ad-Free plan, but this also appears to be exclusive to select on-demand content.

What are the best streaming services for the NBA and NHL Playoffs?

The 2025 NBA Playoffs air on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. The 2025 NHL Playoffs air on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, truTV, and TBS. This means that live TV streaming services like Sling TV and DirecTV are the best ways to live stream every game for both leagues (although Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Max, and ESPN+ will also be able to help you out for select match-ups). For more info, check out our guides on how to watch the NBA Playoffs and how to watch the NHL Playoffs.

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