Top Streaming Platforms for Live Sports in 2025

Gone are the days when watching sports was as simple as turning on your TV and tuning into the big game. The landscape of sports streaming has become increasingly complex, with regional blackouts, additional paywalls, and the challenge of determining which service has the exclusive rights to the events you want to watch. Navigating this maze can be daunting for sports fans, but fear not—we've done the groundwork to help you find the best sports streaming services for live games, matches, and fights, catering to every type of sports enthusiast.

Hulu + Live TV

Best Streaming Bundle For Sports

Disney Bundle Included

Hulu + Live TV

Includes Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads).

$82.99 at Hulu

Hulu + Live TV offers a robust selection of sports across over 95 channels, covering everything from the NFL and NBA to MLB, NHL, NCAA, international soccer, UFC, and beyond. You'll have access to games on local channels and a variety of sporting events regularly broadcasted on ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, FS1, and more.

With the Disney Bundle included in your subscription, you also gain access to ESPN+, which provides additional exclusive sporting events such as UFC and college sports, along with original programming. Hulu + Live TV comes with a three-day free trial, allowing you to test the service before committing. It's also an excellent choice for watching the March Madness games in 2025.

Fubo

Best Variety

$30 Off First Month

Fubo (Pro)

Save $30 off first month after free trial period.

$84.99 save 35%

$54.99 at Fubo

Fubo might not be a household name yet, but it's our top pick for the best variety of sports streaming. It boasts over 55,000 sporting events annually, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA college sports, NASCAR, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA events, and more. International soccer enthusiasts will appreciate access to the Premier League, LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Liga MX, and Serie A.

If you're craving even more sports content, Fubo offers various sports add-on packages with channels like NFL Redzone, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, multiple international sports channels, and NCAA conference-specific channels.

Peacock

Best For Premier League Soccer and WWE

Annual Plan Available

NBC Peacock (Premium)

Annual plan available for $79.99/year.

$7.99 at Peacock

Peacock, owned by NBC Universal, provides a plethora of sports streaming options. It's a go-to for Premier League soccer fans, offering season-long live coverage and exclusive matches featuring teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

WWE aficionados will find Peacock indispensable, as it's the exclusive live streaming platform for every WWE premium event, including Wrestlemania. Additionally, Peacock streams every NFL Sunday Night Football game and Big Ten college basketball, making it a comprehensive choice for sports fans.

ESPN+

Best For UFC and College Sports

Annual Plan Available

ESPN+

Annual plan available for $119.99/year.

$11.99 at ESPN

ESPN+ is the go-to platform for streaming UFC events, including Pay-Per-View (PPV) fights, Fight Nights, and more. While UFC PPV events require an additional $79.99 fee on top of your ESPN+ subscription, UFC Fight Nights and other events are included at no extra cost. You can also delve into the UFC archive for hundreds of classic fights.

The service also offers a vast selection of college sports, featuring over 6,000 men's and women's events such as football, basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and more across 26 conferences. However, remember that ESPN+ does not include access to traditional ESPN network channels like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and others. To watch SportsCenter or other ESPN-exclusive televised events, you'll still need a cable or Live TV streaming subscription.

DirecTV Stream

Best Cable Alternative

Limited-Time Offer

DirecTV Stream (Choice)

Includes $10 off for 24 months offer.

$79.99 at DirecTV

DirecTV Stream offers a cable-free experience with access to local networks and a range of popular sports channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, NBC Golf, FS1, NBA TV, MLB Network, and the Tennis Channel. The DirecTV Choice package is the best value for sports fans, offering over 125 channels and a solid selection of regional sports events based on your location.

New subscribers can take advantage of a five-day free trial to test the service before committing.

Paramount Plus

Best For PGA Golf

Annual Plan Available

Paramount+ (Essential)

Annual plan available for $59.99/year.

$7.99 at Paramount

Paramount+ brings you all the sports content from CBS Sports, including NFL on CBS games and every UEFA Champions League soccer match. Beyond live sports, you'll find a library of sports movies and TV shows, daily programming from CBS Sports HQ, and documentaries.

Golf fans can elevate their experience with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan, which includes everything in the Essential tier plus 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, though the options vary widely. A TV antenna can access local channels to watch popular sporting events like NFL, MLB, and NBA games. Additionally, services like Sling Freestream offer ad-supported access to certain live sports.

Which Sports Streaming Services Have Free Trials?

Most of the sports streaming services mentioned above offer free trials. Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and Paramount+ provide trials ranging from three days to a week. While Peacock and ESPN+ do not currently offer free trials, 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.