In the US market, there exist more than 200 TV streaming services. Deciding where to invest your money can be daunting due to this overwhelming number. Furthermore, channel changes for live sports events occur yearly, which adds to the complexity of the decision-making process. To simplify the selection for sports enthusiasts, we have compiled a list of the finest sports streaming services available. Our evaluation is based on subscription price, features, and channel lineup.

Best Live Sports Streaming Services

#1 ESPN Plus

Casual sports fans and hockey zealots alike consider ESPN’s stand-alone streaming service a must-have. For just $11 a month or $110 a year, you can enjoy all out-of-market NHL games. It’s also included in the $15-a-month Disney bundle and the Hulu Plus Live TV package.

ESPN Plus heavily invests in global soccer, showcasing LaLiga games from Spain and Germany’s Bundesliga. It’s the home of prominent English soccer events such as the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Community Shield, and the EFL Championship, which is the league below the Premier League. However, Apple acquired the rights to all out-of-market MLS games after the 2022 season. ESPN Plus doesn’t include live NBA basketball or NFL football games.

#2 Dazn

Dazn streams boxing matches from various prominent promoters like Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, GGG Promotions, and World Boxing Super Series. It also partners with MMA organizations like Bellator, Combate Americas, and KSW. However, notable absences are Top Rank Boxing and UFC.

Other sports available on Dazn include cricket, darts, fishing, gymnastics, and J1 soccer matches (Japan’s top soccer division). Moreover, Dazn creates unique sports content, including its live, daily commentary show, Change Up, for MLB, and the weekly show, Sweet Scientists: Ak & Barak, focusing on fighters. It’s important to note that for viewers outside the US, Dazn offers NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL games.

All streaming services for sports fans, including DAZN, offer limited coverage. For example, it is not available in all EU countries. Using a VPN on Dazn can solve the problem. We will not consider how to use VPN on Dazn since all the necessary information is available in the link. Let us just note that VeePN allows you to unblock DAZN in any country in the world and improve your streaming experience. A free trial period is also available and sometimes you can find free sports streaming sites where interesting games that are scattered around the world are broadcast.

#3 Hulu

Sports fans will find Hulu to be an excellent streaming service. It offers all the major broadcast networks along with various sports-specific cable channels such as BTN, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, and NBC Sports Network. However, MLB Network, NBA TV, and RSNs from AT&T and Sinclair are not available on Hulu (although it does have all the NBC Sports RSNs). Nonetheless, before the next NFL season starts, Hulu plans to add NFL Network and NFL RedZone. Additionally, by paying for the Español add-on ($4.99 per month), you can access international sports coverage.

Similar to YouTube TV, Hulu is a great alternative to cable, providing a vast array of news and entertainment channels. Moreover, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV grants you access to Hulu’s extensive library of on-demand shows and movies.

#4 Peacock

To access Peacock’s sports content, you need to subscribe to one of its paid tiers. Peacock primarily focuses on Sunday Night Football and Premier League soccer, attracting sports fans worldwide. Additionally, the platform offers live coverage of IndyCar and WWE, along with a recently launched PGA Tour betting show.

Peacock appeals to viewers seeking a diverse range of mainstream entertainment, rather than just sports. Notably, it is home to The Office, featuring an extensive on-demand library, including popular NBC shows like 30 Rock, Cheers, Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, Will and Grace, Law & Order: SVU, Superstore, and This Is Us. The library is further enhanced with exclusive Peacock originals.

#5 DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is a top choice for football enthusiasts. It grants access to NFL RedZone, NFL Network, and a range of other stations like the SEC Network and ACCN. While it doesn’t cover Thursday Night Football due to its exclusivity to Prime Video, this limitation applies to all streaming services.

Aside from that, you won’t encounter any issues accessing your local games. At most, I had to use a free VPN for the Mozilla browser, but there were no difficulties with that. The inclusion of NFL RedZone is a major advantage as it seamlessly switches between all live games on Sundays, ensuring you never miss any action. If you desire regional channels, make sure to upgrade from the Entertainment Package to the Choice Package, as the lower tier doesn’t offer those broadcasts.

#6 Fubo

Fubo, an internet streaming TV service, knocks it out of the park for cable cutters. It offers over 160 live channels across subscription packages like Pro, Elite, and Premier, featuring regional and collegiate sports networks. There’s even a Latino subscription option with popular Spanish channels and content.

Fubo takes the crown for international soccer coverage and sports events. CBS channels provide the UEFA Champions League, WSL, and NWSL and are included in the Pro, Elite, and Premier subscriptions. Meanwhile, USA and NBC channels bring many English Premier League games to your screen. La Liga and German Bundesliga games are covered by ESPN as well.

Conclusion

Cable subscribers are drawn to live sports coverage, but a dedicated streaming service can provide even more content. While occasional sports commentary shows are available on some on-demand video streaming services, the best choice for sports enthusiasts are cable-replacement services that offer game streams from local, national, and international networks. If you’re considering cord-cutting, take a look at the top sports streaming services that we have tested.