Sports never truly take a break. As one season concludes, another exciting league is just around the corner. Whether it’s the thrill of March Madness, the crack of the bat in MLB, or the global excitement of the NBA, NHL, Champions League, Premier League, Formula 1, and PGA Tour, sports fans are spoiled for choice in 2025. However, this abundance of live sports can quickly turn into a logistical puzzle: how do you actually watch all these games? The struggle to access every NFL, NBA, MLB, or any other sports game is a shared frustration among fans, often leading to dissatisfaction with traditional cable providers.
If you’re seeking a solution to this common dilemma and asking, “What is the Best Streaming Service For Sports?”, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve analyzed the top live TV streaming services to bring you our recommendations for watching football, baseball, soccer, UFC, boxing, motorsports, rugby, and much more.
Best Overall Sports Streaming Service
FuboTV
Fubo TV stands out as the best streaming service for sports enthusiasts who want comprehensive coverage. It offers a vast channel lineup including ESPN, NFL Network, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, and over 100 more live channels, ensuring you won’t miss out on niche sports either. Starting at $85 per month, FuboTV is undeniably a premium option, but its extensive sports offerings justify the cost for dedicated fans. With Fubo, you can catch almost every NFL, NCAA, WNBA, NBA, NHL game, and more, all in one place. Subscribers also benefit from unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record and watch games at your convenience.
To experience FuboTV firsthand, they offer a free trial period, letting you test the service risk-free. Currently, new subscribers can also enjoy a $25 discount on their first month after the free trial concludes.
FuboTV streaming service interface showcasing live sports channels.
Pros:
- Extensive NFL and NCAA football coverage
- Comprehensive WNBA and NBA game access
- Good selection of MLB and NHL games
- Unlimited cloud DVR storage
Cons:
- Higher monthly cost compared to some competitors
- Lacks original content
Best Streaming Service for NCAA and MLB Fans
DirecTV Stream
For college sports and baseball aficionados, DirecTV Stream emerges as a top contender. Their “Choice” tier, priced at $115 per month (including fees), provides a robust channel list with NFL Network, NBC, CBS, and Fox for your football viewing. Crucially, the Choice tier also includes CBSSN, FS1, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and a wide array of local Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). This makes it an excellent choice for catching a vast selection of college football and MLB games, especially if local teams are your priority.
DirecTV Stream has also introduced a “MySports” tier currently in beta, targeting fans who want to forgo RSNs for a lower price point and focus on niche sports channels. This tier starts at $50 per month for the first three months and is currently available in select regions.
Like FuboTV, DirecTV Stream offers a free trial across all tiers, allowing you to explore their service without any upfront commitment. If you’re undecided about live TV streaming, DirecTV Stream is a solid option to start with, particularly given its focus on regional sports content.
Pros:
- Excellent for NCAA football and basketball games
- Strong NFL and MLB coverage
- Includes the most local RSNs compared to competitors
- NHL games available
- Full-package free trial
- Unlimited Cloud DVR
Cons:
- High cost, especially for the Choice tier
- Potential hidden cable-like fees
- No original content
- Historical issues with channel retention
Best Streaming Service for the Ultimate Football Fan
YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket
For die-hard NFL fans who want to catch every game, YouTube TV combined with NFL Sunday Ticket is the definitive best streaming service for sports, specifically football. YouTube TV itself provides access to almost all essential channels for the 2025-26 NFL season, including Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and NFL Network. Furthermore, YouTube TV is now the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. While Sunday Ticket alone is a significant investment at $479.99 per season (2024 pricing), it unlocks every Sunday out-of-market game – over 160 games per season.
Bundling Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV brings the cost to $158.99 per month for four months, totaling $586 for the season. While you need to maintain your YouTube TV subscription to retain access to NFL Sunday Ticket, this bundle is the ultimate solution for comprehensive NFL viewing.
One consideration with YouTube TV is a slight livestream delay, which might be noticeable for viewers wanting real-time game updates.
YouTube TV user interface on a tablet, highlighting live sports streaming options.
Pros:
- Offers NFL Sunday Ticket bundle for complete NFL coverage
- Includes almost every channel necessary for NFL games
- Also strong for NCAA, NHL, MLB, NBA
- Unlimited DVR
Cons:
- High overall cost, especially with Sunday Ticket
- Season-long commitment when bundling Sunday Ticket
- Weaker WNBA coverage
- No original content
Get YouTube TV + NFL Sunday Ticket
Best General Streaming Service with Sports
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV might not be the absolute top choice for a specific sport, but it excels as a well-rounded service for viewers who want sports alongside general entertainment. It provides access to NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL games, and more, while also including Hulu Originals, and next-day access to network shows like SNL and The Bachelor.
The main drawback for dedicated sports fans is Hulu’s limited offering of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). However, Hulu + Live TV does include ad-supported access to Disney+ and ESPN+, the latter being a valuable add-on for NHL games, UFC fights, and select F1 races (discussed further below). Starting at $83 per month after a three-day free trial, Hulu + Live TV is a pricier option, but the bundled entertainment value makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a single subscription for both sports and general TV.
Pros:
- NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, and NHL game access
- Bundled access to ESPN+ and Disney+
- Unlimited DVR storage
Cons:
- Relatively high cost
- Limited RSNs
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Best for UFC, F1, Select Tennis, and NHL
ESPN+
ESPN+ is a must-have for fans of specific sports niches. While some content from ESPN and ABC also streams on ESPN+, this service truly shines with its exclusive offerings. It’s a fantastic way to sample a wide range of sports, including NHL, MLB, F1, and significant Grand Slam tennis coverage (including the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open in the past year). UFC Fight Nights and prelims are also streamed on ESPN+, and it simplifies ordering PPV UFC events.
Beyond live events, an ESPN+ subscription provides access to fantasy sports tools and premium ESPN+ articles. You can stream ESPN+ via apps on smart TVs, phones, tablets, computers, and on ESPN.com. While not a comprehensive live TV replacement, ESPN+ is a valuable add-on for specific sports content.
ESPN+ app interface on a mobile phone, featuring live sports and on-demand content.
Pros:
- Excellent for most tennis Grand Slams
- Strong for UFC, NHL, MLB, and F1
- Can be bundled with other services
Cons:
- Limited as a standalone subscription for comprehensive sports coverage
Best Streaming Service for NBA Games
Max + B/R Sports
Max with the B/R Sports add-on is currently a great option, particularly for NBA fans. Max, already known for its entertainment content, ventured into live sports with this add-on. While the long-term availability of the free B/R Sports add-on is uncertain, subscribers can currently enjoy live games on TBS, TNT, and TruTV, channels crucial for NBA coverage.
Pros:
- Free access to TBS, TNT, and TruTV (with B/R Sports add-on)
- Strong original content library
Cons:
- Limited sports selection beyond NBA
- Limited live TV channels overall
Best Way to Stream MLS Games
Apple TV+
For Major League Soccer (MLS) enthusiasts, Apple TV+ is undeniably the best streaming service for sports, specifically MLS. Apple TV and MLS Season Pass have partnered to deliver every MLS and Leagues Cup match without any blackouts. Subscribers gain access to English and Spanish broadcasts of hundreds of live MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches, along with game replays, highlights, analysis, and original programming. An MLS Season Pass subscription costs $12.99 per month or $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers. Without Apple TV+, it’s $14.99 per month or $99 per season.
Notably, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers can get a free MLS Season Pass subscription starting February 18th.
Beyond MLS, Apple TV+ also boasts award-winning original shows like Ted Lasso, Palm Royale, and Masters of the Air, alongside acclaimed movies and sports documentaries like Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend. New subscribers can take advantage of a 7-day free trial, or up to three months free with recent eligible Apple device purchases.
Pros:
- Complete coverage of every MLS game
Cons:
- Limited sports content beyond MLS
More Affordable Ways to Stream Sports Without Cable
While the services above are excellent sports-focused options, several lower-cost alternatives offer sports content alongside general entertainment.
Stream NFL on NBC, Premier League, and NCAA Games
Peacock
Peacock, starting at $8 per month, provides access to select NFL games, all NFL games broadcast on NBC, college football games, Premier League soccer matches, and more. Beyond sports, Peacock offers a vast library of shows and movies, including popular sitcoms like Parks and Recreation and The Office. For $14 per month, you can upgrade to an ad-free plan that includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (beyond just sports and events) and offline downloads for select content.
Stream NFL on CBS, Champions League, and NCAA Games
Paramount+
Paramount+ is another budget-friendly option, starting at $7.99 per month. Subscribers gain access to NFL games broadcast on CBS, Champions League soccer, and select NCAA games. Paramount+ is also popular for its entertainment content, including franchises like Star Trek and reality shows like Survivor and The Challenge. The ad-free plan at $12.99 per month includes SHOWTIME and live access to CBSN 24/7. Unlike many streaming services, Paramount+ still offers a one-week free trial, allowing new users to explore its content risk-free.
Paramount+ streaming app interface displaying sports and movies on a tablet.
Low-Cost Overall Sports Streaming
Sling TV Orange & Blue
Sling TV Orange & Blue is a budget-conscious option for sports streaming. Starting at $33 for the first month, the Orange & Blue plan includes TNT, TBS, TruTV, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and USA. This channel lineup provides access to a wide array of sports, including NFL games, NCAA football, select soccer matches, and WWE coverage.
Sling TV’s limitations include the absence of CBS, limited DVR storage (50 hours), and the inclusion of non-sports-related channels which might be considered filler. Sling TV does not currently offer a free trial, but new subscribers can get a $33 discount on their first month of Sling Orange & Blue (regularly $66 per month).
Pros:
- Access to a wide variety of sports channels
- Relatively low cost, especially for the first month
Cons:
- No CBS
- No free trial currently
- Limited DVR storage
