The Best Streaming Services For Watching Live Sports in 2025

Gone are the days when watching sports was as simple as flipping on the TV to catch the big game. Today's sports streaming landscape is a complex web of regional blackouts, paywalls, and exclusive rights that can leave fans feeling overwhelmed. Navigating this maze to find the right streaming service for your favorite sports can be daunting. But fear not, we've done the hard work for you. Below, we present a curated list of the best sports streaming services for live games, matches, and fights, designed to meet the needs of every type of sports enthusiast.

Hulu + Live TV

Best Streaming Bundle For Sports

Hulu + Live TV stands out with its comprehensive sports coverage across more than 95 channels, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, international soccer, UFC, and more. This service not only broadcasts games on local channels but also offers regular sports programming on ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and FS1, among others. The added value comes with the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+ and ESPN+, providing access to exclusive sports events, original programming, and more. Plus, Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial, making it an excellent choice for watching March Madness games in 2025.

Fubo

Best Variety

Fubo may not be a household name, but it excels in offering a wide variety of sporting events, with over 55,000 events annually. This includes NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA college sports, NASCAR, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA, and more. Soccer fans can enjoy leagues like the Premier League, LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Liga MX, and Serie A. Fubo also offers various sports add-on packages, including NFL Redzone, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, international sports channels, and NCAA conference-specific channels, ensuring you never miss out on your favorite sports.

Peacock

Best For Premier League Soccer and WWE

Owned by NBC Universal, Peacock is a must-have for fans of Premier League soccer and WWE. It offers season-long live coverage and exclusive matches, featuring top teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal. For WWE enthusiasts, Peacock is the exclusive streaming home for every WWE premium event, including Wrestlemania. Additionally, you can catch every NFL Sunday Night Football game and Big Ten college basketball on this platform.

ESPN+

Best For UFC and College Sports

ESPN+ is the go-to platform for UFC fans, offering exclusive streaming of UFC events, including Pay-Per-View fights, Fight Nights, and access to hundreds of classic fights from the UFC archive. However, UFC PPV events come with an additional $79.99 fee on top of the ESPN+ subscription. College sports fans will also find a treasure trove of content, with over 6,000 men's and women's sporting events across 26 conferences, covering football, basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and more. Note that ESPN+ does not include access to traditional ESPN network channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNEWS; for those, you'll need a separate cable or live TV streaming subscription.

DirecTV Stream

Best Cable Alternative

DirecTV Stream offers a cable-free alternative with a robust lineup of sports channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, NBC Golf, FS1, NBA TV, MLB Network, and the Tennis Channel. The DirecTV Choice package is particularly appealing for sports fans, offering over 125 channels, including major nationwide games and a strong selection of regional sporting events. New subscribers can enjoy a five-day free trial to test the service.

Paramount Plus

Best For PGA Golf

Paramount+ brings you all the sports content from CBS Sports, including NFL on CBS games and every UEFA Champions League soccer match. It also offers a library of sports movies and TV shows, along with daily programming from CBS Sports HQ and documentaries. For golf enthusiasts, the Paramount+ with Showtime plan is a great upgrade, as it includes access to major PGA Tour events like the Farmers Insurance Open and the Wyndham Championship.

Sports Streaming FAQs

Can You Watch Live Sports For Free?

Yes, you can watch select live sports for free. Local channels can be accessed with a TV antenna, allowing you to watch popular sporting events like NFL, MLB, and NBA games. Streaming services like Sling Freestream also offer ad-supported access to certain live sports, although the variety and frequency may vary.

Which Sports Streaming Services Have Free Trials?

Most of the sports streaming services listed above offer free trials, ranging from three days to a week. Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Paramount+ all provide trial periods. While Peacock and ESPN+ currently do not offer free trials on their own, ESPN+ is included in the Hulu + Live TV free trial. If you're interested in more than just sports, check out our list of the Best Streaming Services With Free Trials in 2025.