Which Streaming Service Is Best for Sports? 8 Options for Live Sports Fans

The best sports streaming services: Paid and free  

First things first, sporting events are meant to be watched live. So, a live TV streaming service would be your best bet. There are plenty of options, but here are some that truly stand out. Let’s get going! 

fuboTV

• Available in the US, Canada, and Spain only
• Costs $70/month
• Has ESPN, FS1, FS2, RSNs and most local networks and league channels
• 7-day free trial 
• Available on the web or via dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku devices

FuboTV is a great choice for fans of multiple sports. For the national sports events, you can tune into CBS, FOX, Golf Channel, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network. And for international sports, Fubo offers many add-ons with global sports channels, as well as channels like beIN Sports, Fox Deportes, GOL TV, and TUDN.

This service has basically all the main cable options, except for the Turner networks — TNT, TBS, and truTV. Its $70 plan includes local channels, 27 of the top 35 cable channels, and 12 regional sports networks (RSNs). Fubo also features 4K broadcasts of sports events and 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage. Test-drive the service on a free week trial to see if it’s the fit for you. 

Hulu + Live TV

• Available in the US only
• Comes bundled with ESPN+ Disney+ for $50 for 3 months
• Includes 14 channels dedicated solely to sports
• Available on many supported devices, like Android phones and tablets, Apple iPhones and iPads, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Roku, and others
• No free trial 

Hulu’s Live TV plan includes all the local and national sports channels you need to follow your favorite teams. Although it’s missing a few league-specific channels like MLB Network, NBA TV, and RSNs from AT&T and Sinclair, Hulu features all the major broadcast networks and many sports-specific cable channels. These include BTN, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, and NBC Sports Network. Plus, this subscription grants access to Hulu’s vast library of on-demand shows and movies. The service also makes sure you never miss another game and gives you access to Unlimited DVR at no extra cost. 

ESPN+

• Available in the US only 
• $10/month or $100 for an annual plan 
• Also comes bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $14 per month
• Must-have for hockey die-hards 
• Available on the web or via the ESPN app on Android and iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku, PlayStation, and Xbox 
• No free trial 

Although its live sports offerings are rather limited and most of ESPN’s core programming isn’t included, moderately priced ESPN+ carries several popular leagues for soccer, hockey, tennis, golf, cricket, lacrosse. And lots of college sports. It features daily live sports events, including MLB and NHL games, national and international soccer league matches, and various NCAA sports events. Besides, it includes ESPN’s archives of prestige shows such as 30 for 30 and E:60. A downside is that the service doesn’t have the DVR functionality. 

DirecTV Stream

• Available in the US only 
• From $70/mo 
• Top sports networks like ESPN, SEC, B1G, ACC, and more
• Available on Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Android , Roku devices, and Google browsers
• 5-day free trial 

This one is a beast. But you may have to pay top-dollar for it. DirecTV Stream is the service with the most RSNs and most content for sports fanatics. It features ESPN, ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, TBS, TNT, FS1 and, in the $90 package, lots of RSNs and league channels. So, except for the NFL Network and some NBC sports channels, DirecTV has pretty much everything a sports fan wants. Another gem is unlimited Cloud DVR storage. Sports fans will also appreciate the Lookback and Rewind feature, which lets you watch previously aired content (up to 72 hours in the past) and restart live streams. But note that this is available only for select channels and programs. 

Sling TV

• Available in the US only
• From $35/mo, with multiple add-on options
• Free version available
• Sling’s free trial is constantly changing. When available, it typically ranges from three to seven days
• Available on Android and iOS), Smart TV, Xbox, and the web

The thing about Sling TV is that it splits its sports coverage across two plans — Orange and Blue, with ESPN channels on the former and NFL Network and NBC Sports on the latter. You can also subscribe to both for $50/mo. And if you’re looking for even more, try an add-on $11 package with NBA TV, the MLB and NHL networks, the Tennis Channel, and college sports from ESPNU and the SEC and ACC networks. Or tune into Showtime for an extra $10 if you like its boxing coverage. DVR functionality is available for all live content, except for Digital Networks, such as Local Now, ESPN3, ACC Network Extra and SEC Network+. 

YouTube TV

• Available in the US only 
• From $65/mo
• 14-day free trial 
• Available on Android, iOS, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Samsung, PlayStation, Xbox, Fire TV, and others  

You’re in for the best networks with YouTube TV. Tune into ESPN, FS1 and 2, CBS, and NBC Sports, plus the proprietary channels of MLB, NBA, NFL, Tennis, and Golf channels, as well as college networks like the SEC and Big Ten. Type in your ZIP code on YouTube TV’s welcome page to see which local networks and RSNs are available in your area. Additionally, YouTube TV’s DVR storage is best-in-class for catching on games on your own time —  it has unlimited storage space, and you can only keep it for up to nine months. The service is also one of the few that streams lots of its live channels in 1080p/60fps. 

Peacock TV 

• Available in the US only
• From $2/mo 
• No free trial 
• Limited content is available in the free version  
• Available on TV, computer, mobile & tablet, and game consoles

Peacock is known not only for taking The Office from Netflix — it’s also rising to fame in the sports world. Its Premium tier offers the expanded sports coverage, such as English Premier League soccer, the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, select WWE events, Indy Car races, and some PGA golf tournaments. It’s an affordable option if you want to tune into specific sports. Although Peacock doesn’t have 4K content or DVR function for live sports, you can watch it on up to three devices at once and use parental controls to filter content. 

DAZN

• Available worldwide 
• $20/mo or $100/year
• Caters to fight fans mostly 
• No free trial 

Mainstream sports fans and general audiences won’t find a lot here — DAZN caters mostly to fight fans. It features lots of exclusive live and on-demand boxing and MMA content, except for UFC. You can also replay all fights that air on DAZN. Plus, you get to see documentaries, soccer, snooker, and darts.

Conclusion 

As you can see, we’ve limited our list to services that regularly stream live sports events. After all, there’s no point in ditching the cable if you can’t catch your favorite game live. Depending on what sports you want to stream, choose your fighter (read a sports streaming service) and cheer for your favorites! 

VPN for sports streaming services  

Let’s say, one service on the list caught your eye. And you want to make the most of streaming there. Is there a way? You bet! A virtual private network (VPN) is your buddy here. It creates a safe encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote VPN server, making all your traffic go through this tunnel. By connecting you to this server, a VPN changes your IP address and protects all of your Internet traffic. How does this benefit you?  

1. You avoid Internet throttling by your Internet service provider (ISP) — this is when they deliberately slow down your connection speed. All to minimize congestion on their networks. So they claim. But since a VPN replaces your IP address with a VPN server’s one, your data doesn’t end up in the hands of your ISP. So in the end, they can’t throttle your connection. Plain as day. 
2. With a new IP address and your data encrypted, you get to enjoy traffic-intensive activities, like streaming, with no lags and limits. 

But let’s now look at how to make all of the above happen. 

How to use a VPN to stream sports? 

First off, you need a reliable VPN provider. And luckily, you don’t have to look for long — VeePN will help you out. It’s compatible with most of the existing devices, platforms and operating systems. Here’s how to use the app with your chosen streaming service:

1. Download VeePN to a needed device. Note that you can also install the app on your router to give VPN protection to all of your gadgets.
2. Open the app and go to Locations list.

3. Pick a needed VPN server and connect to it.

4. Open a sports streaming service with VeePN running in a background.
5. Sit back and enjoy lag-free streaming! 

Disclaimer: VeePN does not promote, condone, or encourage using a VPN in ways that would potentially violate Terms of Service of streaming service providers. For more details, please read the VeePN Terms of Service.

From baseball to hockey, get your sports fix 24/7. Because with the right sports streaming service and a VPN to help you out, it’s always game time. 

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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