How to Watch ESPN Without Cable: Cheapest and Best Ways to Stream

To start, these are the three cheapest ways to get ESPN:

• ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 per month as a standalone option
• Sling Orange at $45.99 per month
• Fubo Sports at $55.99 per month

ESPN is no longer just a cable-only channel; it has moved to a direct-to-consumer streaming platform. If that’s confusing, here’s what to know when you think of ESPN.

ESPN is the core linear channel — airing Monday Night Football, college football, and SportsCenter, not to mention countless other live events. The channel is available through cable, satellite, and directly via the ESPN app on the Unlimited plan.

ESPN Unlimited is a streaming plan that offers everything in the ESPN ecosystem, including the following:

• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPNU
• ESPNEWS
• ESPN Deportes
• SEC Network
• ACC Network
• ESPN+
• ESPN on ABC
• More!

ESPN Unlimited doesn’t include Disney+ or Hulu, but bundling options are available.

ESPN Select is a rebrand of ESPN+. Select includes the ESPN+ library, with 32,000 live events per year, original content, and on-demand replays. ESPN Select doesn’t include the main ESPN channel or marquee content like Monday Night Football or College GameDay.

If you prefer to bundle ESPN with a live TV streaming service, these are the best currently available options.

Sling Orange is an affordable way to stream ESPN live as it includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. If you don’t need a regular subscription, Sling Passes offer an easy way to watch a singular event, with one-day, three-day, and weeklong passes available. Unfortunately, any Orange subscription allows only one simultaneous stream, which is problematic for large families like mine.

Fubo currently offers a one-day free trial for most plans. The streaming service includes regional sports networks (RSNs), which are a selling point for fans of local NBA, MLB, and NHL teams; this may help offset the missing Turner networks. Fubo includes ESPN Unlimited on most plans, and while it has merged with Hulu + Live TV under Disney ownership, the two platforms operate separately.

Note: The Fubo Sports + News does not include local NBA, NHL, and MLB games. Only the Pro and Elite packages include these games.

Although pricey, a Hulu + Live TV subscription includes Disney+, ESPN Select, and the full Hulu library. Subscribers can also get ESPN Unlimited via the ESPN app. Hulu with Live TV is best for families looking for family entertainment and access to live sports. 

DIRECTV MySports lets you watch ESPN without a cable or satellite subscription, as it includes ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPNU, NFL Network, FS1, NHL Network, and local channels in most markets. You can opt for the complete live service as well, and all plans include a five-day free trial. Videophiles like DIRECTV because of its high-bitrate streaming quality. 

There is no reliable way to watch ESPN for free; the best options are free trials.

DIRECTV's streaming plan currently offers a five-day trial; Fubo offers one day (varying by plan); Hulu + Live TV offers three; and YouTube TV varies.

Because ESPN is a cable-only network, an over-the-air (OTA) antenna won’t get you the channel. You can use an antenna to get the Monday Night Football games that ESPN simulcasts on ABC.

ESPN airs a lot of sports, and choosing the wrong platform may cause you to miss your favorite action.

ESPN doesn’t cover all sports; if a game is on a Turner network or FOX network, you will need a different service.