Best Streaming Service for Sports 2021
Grab your chips and dip, and get your jersey and game face on. It’s time to watch some sports. We have rated the best streaming services for live sports so you can watch your favorite teams whenever and wherever you might be in the country.
Whether you like professional football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, or college sports, one of these services has got you covered. Let’s kickoff, jump ball, and serve into this!
Provider | Monthly price | Available channels | Learn more |
Fubo | $64.99–$79.99* | 155 | View Plans |
YouTube TV | $64.99* | 85 | View Plan |
Hulu + Live TV | $64.99–$70.99* | 65 | View Plans |
Sling | $30–$45 | 50 | View Plans |
AT&T TV NOW | $55–$183* | 140 | View Plans |
Here’s what we looked at to choose the best sports streaming services:
- Number of sports channels
- Price
- DVR storage
- Simultaneous streams
- Bonus features
fuboTV is best for sports coverage
fuboTV is the best option for national and international sports fans
Plan | Monthly price | Available channels | DVR storage hrs. | Details |
Family | $64.99/mo. | 105+ | 250 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Elite | $79.99/mo. | 155+ | 1,000 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
fubo Latino | $29.99/mo. | 30+ | 250 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Data effective 12/7/2020.
What we like
- fuboTV gives you all the sports coverage you need with 50 sports channels
fuboTV is the best TV streaming service for sports
fuboTV is perfect for the Real Madrid CF, Seattle Seahawks, and Rafael Nadal fans. fuboTV’s Elite plan gives you 50 sports channels that include national and international sports coverage. (That’s more than any other live TV streaming service on the market.)
This service gives you MLB, college football, MMA, soccer, golf, and hockey all in one. Doesn’t that sound dreamy?
Some of fuboTV’s national sports channels include the following:
- ACCN
- Big Ten Network
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN2
- FS1, FS2
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NBC Sports Network
- NHL Network
- NFL Network
- PAC-12 Networks
- Tennis Channel
- Olympic Channel
- Golf Channel
- Stadium
- TVG
fuboTV’s international sports channels include the following:
- fubo Sports Network
- BeIN Sports
- Zona Football
- TUDN
- UniMás
- Ginx Esports TV
- FOX Deportes
- TyC Sports
What we don’t like
- No more Turner Network channels on fuboTV
No TNT, TBS, or CNN
With fuboTV no longer having Turner Network channels, this only affects your NBA-watching. You won’t be able to watch the NBA games airing on TNT, but if you get the Ultra plan, you’ll have NBA TV.
Hopefully, you or your spouse don’t absolutely love TBS or CNN, or else this service won’t be for you.
fuboTV summary
- Good: fuboTV has great coverage of national, international, and niche sports.
- Bad: You’ll miss out on a few channels, but it probably won’t be a biggy.
- Full review: Check out our full review of fuboTV for more information about each package, user interface, and the Latino plan.
YouTube TV is best for major sports
YouTube TV is the cheapest streaming service with NBA TV, MLB Network, and NFL Network
Streaming service | Monthly price | TV channel count | DVR storage hrs. | Details |
YouTube TV | $64.99/mo. | 85+ | Unlimited hrs., saves for nine months | View Plan |
Data effective 12/7/2020.
What we like
- YouTube TV has a decent number of live sports channels in its lineup
- This live TV streaming service has sports and premium channel add-ons
- YouTube TV has a solid DVR
Best national sports coverage among the rest
Not only is YouTube TV the second-best option for sports fanatics, but it’s the best live TV option for most. If you want to watch Undisputed, the San Antonio Spurs take on OKC Thunder, as well as the Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers matchup all in one day, then YouTube TV is for you.
YouTube TV is a great option for national and regional sports with the following channels:
- ACCN
- Big Ten Network
- ESPN, ESPN2
- ESPNews
- ESPNU
- FS1, FS2
- Golf Channel
- MLB Network
- NBCSN
- NBA TV
- NFL Network
- Olympic Channel
- SEC Network
- Tennis Channel
Add-ons for fans of basketball, football, and soccer
YouTube TV offers NBA LEAGUE PASS for $40 per month. You’ll be able to watch every single out-of-market NBA game of the season.
Not only did YouTube TV recently add NFL Network to its lineup (finally), YouTube TV also added a new Sports Plus add-on (no way?).
The Sports Plus add-on included the NFL RedZone Channel, Fox College Sports, GolTV, Fox Soccer Plus, and Stadium.
Best DVR among the rest
YouTube TV has the best DVR in the streaming world with unlimited storage space that will save for nine months in your Library.
You’ll have the ability to record all of the Sunday football games, NBA games of the week, MLB playoffs, and Pardon the Interruption every day to binge over the following weekend. You’ll also be able to watch a great game you recorded Week 1 of the NFL season or a 30 for 30 movie that aired on ESPN over the summer.
It is also the best sports streaming app because you and two of your Pittsburgh Steelers–loving family members can stream the game simultaneously. And you can have a total of six accounts to tailor your individual sports streaming needs.
What we don’t like
- YouTube TV doesn’t have much international sports coverage
Not as great of global sports coverage as fuboTV
While YouTube TV is the best option for national and regional sports, it does not have the international sports channel lineup that fuboTV does. FuboTV will be your best option if you’re a diehard fan of FC Barcelona or if you like to watch your sports with Spanish-speaking announcers.
YouTube TV summary
- Good: YouTube TV has a complete national sports channel lineup for most sports fans.
- Bad: Unlike fuboTV, there isn’t too much international coverage.
- Full review: Check out more about the user interface and the channel lineup for the family in our full review of YouTube TV
Hulu + Live TV is best for bundling sports and entertainment
Hulu Live gives you great sports channels while also giving you the option to add ESPN+ and Disney+ on one platform
Streaming service | Monthly price | TV channel count | DVR storage hrs. | Details |
Hulu + Live TV | $64.99–$70.99/mo. | 65+ | 50 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Data effective 1/14/2021.
What we like
- You can bundle Hulu Live with ESPN+ and Disney+
Get the ultimate entertainment bundle
Not only can you bundle Hulu Live, ESPN+, and Disney+ together for a complete entertainment experience, Hulu Live lets you enjoy First Take on ESPN and the PGA Tour on the Golf Channel. This streaming service gives you the top sports channels for an avid sports-watcher and for the whole family.
Check which channels are available in your area, but Hulu includes the following sports channels:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- FS1
- FS2
- ESPNews
- ESPN U
- CBS Sports Network
- ACCN
- BTN
- Bases Loaded
- College Extra
- Goal Line
- NBCSN
- SEC Network
- Golf Channel
- Olympic Channel
What we don’t like
- Hulu Live doesn’t have NFL Network, MLB Network, or NBA TV
Neglects professional football, baseball, and basketball coverage
If you’re a hardcore fan of the NFL, MLB, or NBA, Hulu may not be the answer to your sports-streaming prayers. But it does have TNT, CBS, and NBC, and of course, all the other channels mentioned above.
If you need the league-specific channels, it’ll be worth spending the extra $10 per month for YouTube TV or fuboTV to have the major sports networks on your television.
Hulu + Live TV summary
- Good: Hulu + Live TV offers the ultimate entertainment bundle with even more sports coverage.
- Bad: This streaming service lacks league-specific channels.
- Full review: If you want to know more about Hulu’s on-demand library, check out our full review of Hulu Live.
Sling TV is the best budget pick
With a few plans to choose from, this is the best option for average sports fans for a reasonable price
Plan | Monthly price | TV channel count | DVR storage hrs. | Details |
Sling Orange | $30.00/mo. | 30+ | 50 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Sling Blue | $30.00/mo. | 45+ | 50 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Sling Orange + Blue | $45.00/mo. | 50+ | 50 hrs., saves indefinitely | View Plan |
Sports Extra add-on | $15.00/mo. | N/A | N/A | View Plan |
Data effective 12/7/2020.
What we like
- Sling TV has different plans for different levels of sports fans
- This live TV streaming service offers NBA LEAGUE PASS and premium channels
Plans for the low-to-medium level sports fans
Sling TV has three plans plus a Sports Extra add-on. For the low-level fans, the Orange package for $25 per month includes just four sports channels and a few others:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- Stadium
- TNT
- The Disney Channel
- Freeform
- And more
The Blue package includes the following channels:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- Stadium
- NFL Network
- NBC Sports
- FS1
- FS2
- NBC Sports Network
But the best option for sports fans is to get the Sling Orange + Blue package along with the Sports Extra add-on for a total of $50 per month. That way, you’ll have access to not only everything both packages include, but you’ll also get access to these channels on your streaming device:
- beIN Sports
- Big Ten Network
- ESPN Goal Line
- ESPN U
- ESPNews
- Golf Channel
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NFL RedZone Channel
- NHL Network
- Tennis Channel
- Pac-12 Network
- SEC Network
- ACCN
- Longhorn Network
- MLB Network Strike Zone
- Olympic Channel
- Outside TV
Check the Sling TV channel availability in your area.
Offers NBA LEAGUE PASS and premium channels
Sling TV keeps NBA fans in mind. It offers NBA LEAGUE PASS for $29 per month ($11 less than YouTube TV). There’s also Team Pass for $18 per month if you are loyal to just one team.
Sling TV has SHOWTIME, STARZ, and EPIX add-ons along with a bunch of random channels like DOGTV, Docurama, CONtv, Cinefest, and more.
What we don’t like
- The DVR is an add-on option for an extra cost
- Sling TV has fewer channels than the rest
DVR is an additional cost
Out of all the live TV streaming services, Sling TV includes the smallest DVR storage space: 10 hours. Sling charges an extra $5 per month for 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, and luckily it saves your recordings indefinitely.
If you choose the Sling Orange + Blue package and get the Sports add-on and the DVR, that will bring your grand total to $65 per month (the same as fuboTV’s Family plan and YouTube TV). But with YouTube TV, you get an unlimited DVR storage space and with fuboTV, you’ll get 250 hours.
So, just make sure one or the other has the perfect channel lineup for you and the fam.
Sling TV has the lowest number of total channels
With just 32 to 52 channels, this streaming service offers the lowest number of channels of the bunch. But it’s the only streaming service that gives you a cheap option for a few channels if you don’t need 65+.
Sling TV summary
- Good: Sling TV is best for multiple levels of sports fans, and it’s especially for the money savers.
- Bad: Sling TV’s channel lineup is slim, but you get what you pay for.
- Full review: Check out our full review of Sling TV for more info on the add-ons, plans, and DVR.
AT&T TV NOW is best for fans of HBO
AT&T TV NOW is on the pricier side, but HBO is included for the fans of boxing and Deadwood
Plan | Monthly price | TV channel count | DVR storage hrs. | Details |
PLUS | $55.00/mo. | 45+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
MAX | $80.00/mo. | 60+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
ENTERTAINMENT | $93.00/mo. | 65+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
CHOICE | $110.00/mo. | 85+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
EXTRA | $124.00/mo. | 105+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
ULTIMATE | $135.00/mo. | 125+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
PREMIER | $183.00/mo. | 140+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
OPTIMO MÀS | $86.00/mo. | 90+ | 500 hrs., saves for 90 days | View Plan |
Data effective 12/7/2020.
What we like
- AT&T TV NOW includes premium channels in three of its plans
It’s for the average sports watchers who need their HBO
AT&T TV NOW has a nice plan for the crowd who are not only sports-watchers, but who also love a good variety of entertainment and lifestyle shows.
Check out the full channel lineup, but the biggest plus is the inclusion of HBO channels in the MAX package; STARZ channels in the ULTIMATE plan; and HBO, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, and STARZ channels in the PREMIER package.
AT&T NOW is our last choice for most sports fans, because the starter package at $55 per month is pretty slim when it comes to channels, let alone sports channels.
If you’re looking for more than four sports channels, you’d have to go with the whopping $80 per month MAX plan, which gives you more than 15 sports channels.
The sports channels in the PLUS package includes the following:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- FS1
- NBC Sports Network
Along with the above four, here are the sports channels MAX includes:
- ACCN
- Big Ten Network
- CBS Sports Network
- ESPN, ESPN 2
- ESPNews
- ESPN U
- FS1, FS2
- Golf Channel
- Longhorn Network
- MSG, MSG+
- NBC Sports Network
- Olympic Channel
- SEC Network
- Tennis Channel
If you want to find out which sports channels the other plans offer, check out our full AT&T TV NOW Review.
What we don’t like
- AT&T TV NOW is the priciest option
Pretty pricey service
Since we are evaluating the best option for sports streaming, AT&T TV NOW is the priciest option. Although AT&T TV NOW isn’t the top choice for sports streaming, it’s best for a traditional TV experience.
AT&T TV NOW summary
- Good: AT&T TV NOW is the best option for average sports watchers and HBO fans.
- Bad: It’s on the expensive side, but you might enjoy the traditional TV experience.
- Full review: Check out our full review of AT&T TV NOW for more about the user experience, DVR, and channel lineup.
Recap: Which is the best streaming service for sports?
We sorted through lots of streaming services to highlight some of the best for your game nights. We considered pricing, channels, DVR, and more to determine which streaming service deserves your attention for sports streaming. Overall, we can say this about each:
- fuboTV: Perfect for all types of sports fans, fuboTV gives you 50 national and international sports channels. It’s easily the best streaming service for sports.
- YouTube TV: At a decent price, you can get NBA TV, MLB Network, and NFL Network with YouTube TV. YouTube is also a great pick with its channel variety and unlimited DVR storage.
- Hulu + Live TV: Hulu Live gives you an awesome entertainment bundle with ESPN+ and Disney+. You can get your popular sports channels with Hulu Live, and with ESPN+, you’ll get even more sports coverage.
- Sling TV: If you’re a money saver, but want to be up to date on sports, Sling TV is for you. You’ll get a few sports channels while saving money for that car you’ve had your eye on.
- AT&T TV NOW: AT&T TV NOW is the most expensive option, but it might be the best option for average sports fans who are also fans of premium channels.
What do you think?
Which streaming service do you think is the best for sports? Tell us what you think in the comments!