Cutting the cord has never been easier! Gone are the days when you had to pay a hefty price just to watch ESPN. All you need is an internet connection and one of these streaming services that offer ESPN live without cable.
With so many options, it can be difficult to choose which service is best for your needs. In this article, we will discuss some of our favourite streaming services and how they compare on features like channel selection and cost.
If you're used to watching TV the old fashioned way, it can sometimes take a while to get your head around the way in which online sports coverage works.
Live stream services provide an online alternative to cable TV. They let you watch live sporting events online, through your laptop, PC, tablet or mobile device.
Online streaming services give you access to all the same sports channels, including ESPN networks, NFL Network, MLB Network, Fox Sports, NBA TV, NBC Sports and even regional sports networks.
But the advantage is that they are cheaper and more flexible.
So there are many good reasons why a sports fan might want to watch ESPN without cable. And here are the best places to do it.
Vidgo is one of the most popular streaming services around at the moment, and it's the perfect place to watch ESPN online. They offer over 60 English channels, including ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN U, ESPN2, and ESPN News. Plus, they offer over 30 Spanish channels.
And with the addition of Fox Sports 1 and 2 to their lineup, you can watch everything from English Premier League soccer matches to Major League Baseball games and international football leagues. Not to mention that Vidgo offers one of the biggest selections of HDTV programming available on any streaming service in America.
Vidgo does not make you sign a contract, so there are no hidden fees and you can cancel your subscription any time, without penalty.
How to Stream ESPN Live with Vigdo:
In our opinion, Vidgo is currently the best way to watch ESPN live without cable, because there are several main benefits that set them apart from the competition.
Benefits of Vidgo:
FuboTV is an online live TV streaming service that offers a variety of sports, TV shows and movies. It's another popular option for those who want to watch ESPN without cable.
They offer about 120 channels in total with ESPN being one of them, as well as local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX Sports.
The subscription is much cheaper than cable, costing $64.99/month after the trial period expires, and you can pause at any time. They also have a week-long free trial if you want to try before buying.
The ESPN channels offer a wide variety of games and events, so it is worth considering. FuboTV has plenty more to offer in the way of entertainment as well, plus movies, news and much more. It's a great option for anyone looking to cut cable and still keep all their favourite channels.
FutboTV apps are available on a range of streaming devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV. There's also an app for both Android and iOS. Or if your streaming device doesn't support the app, you can just log in and watch via a web browser.
Sling TV is an online streaming service that lets you watch ESPN without cable. It has fewer channels than Vidgo and no introductory offer, but remains a popular streaming service with those who want to watch live sports online.
Currently, there are two packages that contain ESPN channels on Sling TV to choose from:
- The $35 a month Sling Orange package includes ESPN and more than 30 other channels like HGTV, CNN, AMC or the Hallmark Channel
- A second option for those who want to watch ESPN live without cable is the $46 a month Sports Extra add on package, which includes up to 15 additional sports channels.
Both Sling TV packages come with an on-demand library that lets you choose from a variety of recently aired shows and movies.
Sling TV is only available in the USA and their website actively blocks visits from non US IP addresses. Therefore if you are traveling abroad you will need to use a VPN to continue to access the service.
The streaming service YouTube TV is a more expensive option for those who are looking to watch ESPN online without cable.
YouTube TV costs $64.99 per month, which makes it expensive compared to other live TV streaming services. But it does include more than 85 channels which includes ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and SEC Network, plus others like HGTV, CNN or the Hallmark Channel.
It also offers an on-demand library with recently aired shows that you can choose from when watching live TV on your schedule.
YouTube TV also offers a cloud DVR and you can record as many shows or movies as you want! And if that's not enough, it has unlimited storage for the recordings which means there is no need to worry about running out of space in your account.
The YouTube TV streaming service is compatible with Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV and Chromecast.
The high price makes YouTube TV a less appealing live streaming TV provider for those on a budget, but the channel lineups are comparable with Vidgo and the cloud storage option is useful if you don't have this already.
Hulu offers live TV service in addition to their better known on demand service.
Hulu Live TV has a decent channel lineup, including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ACC Network, and SEC Network.
If you already subscribe to Hulu on demand then it's a no brainer to upgrade to Hulu Live TV as well.
If you're not already a customer then this could be a good option to watch ESPN without cable TV. The price is a little more expensive than Vidgo and you don't get as many channels, but the on demand content might make it worth the extra for some sports fans.
As an added bonus for watching ESPN on Hulu, you will not be burdened with any annoying commercials during the game! It does cost $64.99 per month though and also has a week-long free trial.
Although you can't subscribe to ESPN directly, it's still possible to download and use the ESPN app. If you subscribe to any of the streaming services that include ESPN as described above, your login will give you access to the ESPN app as well.
Our ESPN streaming guide shows you what sports are streaming live on ESPN this week.
Once downloaded, you can watch ESPN on all your devices. It is compatible with the following:
The ESPN app also gives you the option to add ESPN Plus, their live streaming service.
You can download the app by going to the App Store or Play Store and searching for ESPN. You can also access it through a browser window if you are not using an Apple product.
Once installed, go into settings and set up your login information with whichever streaming service you have selected.
The live streaming services listed above all allow you to watch ESPN online on a range of devices, and they all have their own particular pros and cons.
We feel that at the moment, Vidgo is the best overall choice. Taking into account the price, channel lineup, number of devices supported and number of screens allowed, they seem to offer the best value for streaming ESPN right now.
There is no free way to watch ESPN legally, at least on a permanent basis. So unfortunately you won't be able to watch ESPN online through any of the free live sports streaming sites. However several top streaming services do offer a free trial.
YouTube TV, fuboTV and Hulu Live TV all offer a free 7-day trial, and Vidgo offers 30 days for just $10. Add those altogether and you get nearly two months worth of access for around the price of a burger.
Last Updated December 14, 2021
