The following five platforms are the best sports streaming services for the following categories: The best app overall, best value, best for the household, best for American football fanatics, and best for streaming junkies. There is truly something for everyone.
Available through the ESPN app, Playstation, Xbox and moreViewers are able to watch live events in the NFL, NHL, MLB, UFC, a multitude of soccer leagues and college sports Ability to watch on up to three devices simultaneously
Whether you are casual or a die-hard sports fan, ESPN+ is the perfect streaming platform. With 15 different sports available for live streaming, sports fanatics will be able to stay up-to-date in the world of athletics. Additionally, the platform also creates originals, including shows like Peyton’s Places, Man in the Arena: Tom Brady and 30 for 30. With a monthly rate of only $6.99, or $69.99 for the year, ESPN+ is our top pick. Pros:
Monthly payments availableUnder $7/moAccess to ESPN+ originals and exclusive articles are included in the subscription
Cons:
Does not include access to the ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNews cable networksLimited NFL and NBA contentUnorganized home page
Broadcasts over 200,000 live sporting events throughout the yearOver 25 different sports, including baseball, basketball, and footballAll events are available on-demand
FloSports sets itself apart from the competition in terms of the number of live events. But, the quality of the event is where they lack. Although recent partnerships with NASCAR and the Colonial Athletic Association have been established, the heavy-hitting teams tend to be broadcasted on a more popular platform. That being said, the abundance of sporting-event viewers will be able to watch outnumber most all streaming platforms out there. If you’re a diehard sports fan, FloSports give you the most value for your subscription. Pros:
All streams are uploaded to be viewed on-demandThe website is easy to navigateGreat for fans getting into sports, especially motorsports and college basketball
Cons:
Most subscriptions are only available in yearly paymentsNot many major teams will be featured in a FloSports broadcastOnly able to stream on one device at a time
Includes over 70 channels from ABC, CBS and FOX to ESPN and FS1 in the basic packageNFL Network, NBA TV and MLB Network are all included for sports fansAccess to live player stats and highlights while watching YouTube TV on the mobile appDVR storage is unlimited
YouTube TV ranks as the best household sports streaming service on ZDNet because of the versatility to not only get access to the major sports channels but the amount of live channels provided, along with their unlimited DVR capability. While this isn’t the best option for sports-related content, YouTube TV is perfect for families and has enough channels to please those of all ages. But, YouTube TV offers upgradable packages, including the Sports Plus package for an additional $11/mo. Pros:
Unlimited DVR spacePlenty of additional channel packages availableAbility to stream on three devices simultaneously
Cons:
It starts at $65/moThe layout is hard to navigate for new users
Allows fans to view every out-of-market live NFL gameProvides access to NFL RedZone and highlights from every game
If you are a fantasy football player, there’s no doubt you probably have heard about NFL Sunday Ticket. This platform allows fans to watch any out-of-market game live. Though NFL Sunday Ticket is a powerful streaming site, the price tag attached to it is also quite powerful at just over $293 per NFL season. As someone who has used this platform, I think it is 100% worth the price and look forward to using it as the next NFL season approaches. Pros:
Almost 200 live football games in high-definition on TV or a streaming deviceAccess to NFL RedZoneAbility to jump from game-to-game with no commercials
Cons:
Very expensiveDoesn’t have access to games within your marketCan only stream on one device at a time
Access to all Hulu content, including a subscription to both Disney+ and ESPN+Sports package available for upgrade for an additional $9.99/mo10+ sports-specific channels included in base packageAbility to stream on up to two devices simultaneously
While Hulu Live TV is a direct rival to YoutubeTV, they both have their pros and cons. Hulu with Live TV grants subscribers with both Disney+ and ESPN+, making this a must-have for people who have cut the cord from cable. Much like FloSports, Hulu has prioritized quantity over quality, leaving me to rank YoutubeTV as the best streaming replacement for cable and for YouTubeTV’s spot as the best household sports streaming platform. Pros:
Upgrades available to have no ads when streaming Hulu on-demand contentAccess to ESPN+ and Disney+ included in base subscription
Cons:
Not as many channels as YouTubeTV if using as a replacement for cableHas limited DVR space
To help you make the decision on which platform you want, here are a couple of quick facts about each service. Ultimately, you want to get the most amount of sports per dollar spent; FloSports gives you that. With the platform having various 24/7 shows, viewers are able to keep up with their favorite sport no matter the time. Sometimes, the casual sports fan wants more than just athletics 24/7. If that’s the case, YouTubeTV is the right choice. The sports package is an add-on, but this platform allows you to stream the in-market games, and YouTubeTV gives you access to WatchESPN and the ability to watch on your mobile device. NFL Sunday Ticket is an outlier in the sports streaming industry because of the focus on just one sports league. The hefty price tag is the one variable that pushes potential subscribers away, but due to the popularity of American football, the $293 yearly subscription is worth every penny. Lastly, Hulu with Live TV is similar to YouTubeTV but presents much more streaming opportunities with ESPN+ and Disney+ included in the $69.99/mo subscription.
