Best Sports Streaming Services of 2026
No single subscription carries every game; a live TV service with ESPN, TNT, and your locals covers the most, and Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM add regional networks.
- Prices verified Oct 12, 2026
- Scored on 7 published criteria
- Licensed U.S. services only
- Updated monthly
Editors’ top picks
Start with these three
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
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#2 Runner-up
6.7
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
From $74.99/mo · Best cable-like channel lineup
View Plans Read review -
#1 Top Pick
8.0
The best all-around cable replacement
From $82.99/mo · Best live TV overall
View Plans Read review -
#3 Runner-up
6.7
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
From $55.99/mo · Best for regional sports networks and soccer
View Plans Read review
Who carries what: 2026 at a glance
National rights by league. Rights change every season; each league page lists sources and an expiry date.
| League | National networks | Streaming-only games | Out-of-market package |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, NFL Network | Prime Video (Thursday), Peacock and Netflix (select games) | NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube / YouTube TV |
| NBA | ESPN/ABC, NBC | Peacock, Prime Video | NBA League Pass |
| MLB | FOX/FS1, ESPN, NBC, TBS | Peacock, Apple TV (Friday), Netflix (select events) | MLB.TV |
| NHL | ESPN/ABC, TNT | ESPN+ / ESPN Unlimited (streaming-only games) | NHL Power Play (via ESPN) |
| Tennis | ESPN (3 Grand Slams), TNT (French Open), Tennis Channel | ESPN Unlimited, HBO Max | Tennis Channel app / add-ons |
| Soccer | NBC/USA (Premier League), FOX/FS1 (World Cup 2026), CBS (Champions League) | Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV (MLS), ESPN+ | Varies by league |
Summary of our sports research, verified Oct 12, 2026.
Sports streaming services, ranked for sports
Ordered by breadth of national and regional sports coverage, then by price. Overall editorial scores are for reference and are not sports-specific.
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The best all-around cable replacement
- 100+ channels incl. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
- Unlimited cloud DVR, 3 streams
- Intro offer: $59.99/mo for 2 months
$82.99/mo after the intro period
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members
Best live TV overall
Editorial scoreExcellent8.0/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
- Deepest channel lineup, up to 185+
- Regional sports plus ESPN and TNT
- 5-day free trial, unlimited at-home streams
Highest price; regional sports fee up to $19.99
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99
Best cable-like channel lineup
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
- Most regional sports networks of any streamer
- Up to 10 streams, unlimited DVR, 4K events
- Free trial usually offered
No TNT or TBS; regional sports fee extra
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- 4K
- Free Trial
From$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee
Best for regional sports networks and soccer
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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Live TV plus three on-demand libraries in one plan
- 95+ live channels with locals, ESPN, TNT
- Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select
- Unlimited cloud DVR
2 streams unless you add $9.99/mo
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- On-Demand
- No Contract
From$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium
Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN
Editorial scoreVery good7.4/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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Live TV for less, if you can skip CBS
- Lowest-priced major live TV service
- Orange: ESPN, TNT; Blue: FS1, NFL Network
- No contract; cheap add-on packs
No CBS; 1 stream on Orange; 50-hour DVR
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- No Contract
From$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both
Best budget live TV
Editorial scoreVery good7.1/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
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NFL, NBA and Premier League without a cable bundle
- Sunday Night Football and NBA on NBC
- Most Premier League matches
- Annual plans on every tier
Select tier has no live sports
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moSelect tier (no sports); Premium $12.99
Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League
Editorial scoreVery good7.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The cheapest way to stream CBS and the Champions League
- NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League
- Premium adds SHOWTIME and live local CBS
- Annual plans from $89.99/yr
No free trial since January 2026
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moEssential (ads); $13.99 Premium with SHOWTIME
Best for CBS, NFL on CBS, and Champions League
Editorial scoreVery good7.6/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
A strong bonus if you already pay for Prime
- Included with Amazon Prime membership
- Thursday Night Football and NBA games
- 30-day Prime trial for new members
Ad-free and 4K need the $4.99 Ultra add-on
- On-Demand
- Sports
- Free Trial
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime
Best if you already pay for Prime
Editorial scoreVery good7.3/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
Key facts
- Only Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM carry most regional sports networks, with a fee.
- League packages black out local-market games.
- Fubo lacks TNT; Sling splits ESPN and FS1 across Orange and Blue.
- Thursday Night Football is Prime Video only.
- Peacock Premium and Prime Video are the cheapest add-ons for most fans.
Three things that decide your sports setup
- Local-market games and regional sports networks: your home team's regular-season MLB, NBA, and NHL games are usually on an RSN, and league packages black them out in your market. Only Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM carry most RSNs, both with a fee; YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling carry few or none. Some teams sell direct packages; check the team's site.
- National games: a live TV service with ESPN, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, and TNT covers most windows. Sling splits those across Orange and Blue; Fubo lacks TNT, which matters for NBA and NHL playoffs and some MLB postseason games.
- Streaming-exclusive games: Thursday Night Football (Prime Video), select NFL games on Peacock and Netflix, Friday Night Baseball (Apple TV), NBA games on Peacock and Prime Video, and roughly half of ESPN's NHL games need their own subscriptions. Peacock Premium and Prime Video are the most cost-effective additions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best service for sports?
For national coverage, YouTube TV or DIRECTV STREAM (ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TNT); for local-market games, DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo for regional sports networks. No service covers exclusives on Prime Video, Peacock, Netflix, or Apple TV.
Why are some games blacked out?
Leagues sell local rights to regional networks and national rights to networks and streamers, so out-of-market packages like MLB.TV and NBA League Pass exclude games a local or national partner is showing. The fix is the service holding the local rights, usually an RSN.
Does ESPN Unlimited replace a live TV service?
For ESPN networks, yes: it streams the full ESPN linear slate and ESPN+ content. It has no ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, or TNT, so it supplements rather than replaces for most fans; see our ESPN page.
Can I watch sports in 4K?
Fubo and YouTube TV (4K Plus add-on) stream select events in 4K, and some streaming-only games on Prime Video and Peacock offer 4K on supported devices. Most live sports is still 1080p or 720p.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure