ESPN Without Cable: Keep the Must-Have Sports Channel by Streaming Cheaper Online

As a sports fan, I can’t imagine life without ESPN. It’s where I turn for Sunday Night Baseball and Monday Night Football. Through all its channels, I get to experience the entire world of sports in one place.

In a hurry? If you just want to start watching your favorite sports with the main ESPN channels now, these three services will do that and provide good overall viewing options:

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $4.99/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Watch ESPN Online For Monday Night Football and More

Probably the number one reason people want access to ESPN is so that they can watch Monday Night Football. The groundbreaking nighttime game first showed on ABC but those days are mostly gone.

MNF is sometimes simulcast on ABC. But it is always on ESPN — week after week — even during the playoffs. You will also see a couple of Saturday NFL games.

In addition, ESPN provides great coverage of all the professional leagues: MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA, NCAA, MLS, UFC, and much more. And you don’t have to pay much to get it all. For just $45.99/month, Sling TV offers ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Watch ESPN With Online Streaming Services

ESPN isn’t broadcast over the airways so you can’t get it with a TV antenna. In the past, that meant that you needed a cable or satellite subscription. But today, ESPN is available via a number of live TV streaming services.

Even ESPN has gotten in on the streaming action. In 2018, they started ESPN+. But it doesn’t allow you to live stream ESPN. It provides access to a lot of live events that do not appear on the regular channels. Check out our full review of ESPN+.

For cord-cutters who want ESPN, streaming services are your primary option. Luckily, because the ESPN channels are so popular, most services provide access to them in their base plans.

Given how well ESPN is supported, your choice of service will probably be driven more by the other channels provided and the price of the service.

Here’s the ESPN channel lineup and how each streaming service provides them:

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Watch ESPN Online With Fubo

Fubo’s base plan only includes ESPN and ESPN2. You can add ESPNews and ESPNU with either the Fubo Extra ($7.99/mo) or Sports Plus ($10.99/mo) add-ons. Both those add-ons also provide ACC Network and SEC Network from ESPN.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

And you can get ESPN Deportes with either the International Sports Plus ($6.99/mo) or Latino Plus ($19.99/mo) add-ons.

But if you are a sports fan, you may not need more than the two ESPN channels. Fubo’s base plan comes with 50+ sports channels including 9 beIN Sports channels, 4 Big Ten Network channels, the two Fox Sports channels, 12 TUDN channels, CBS Sports Network, and NFL Network.

Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial. If this piqued your interest but you want to know more, check out these resources:

• Fubo Review
• Fubo Packages
• Fubo Local Channels
• Fubo Devices

ESPN on Sling TV

For just $45.99/month, the Sling Orange plan offers ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. While you can get ESPN3 via ESPN’s app, it’s a nice touch that Sling TV integrates it with its interface.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

You can add ESPNews and ESPNU with the Sports Extra ($11/mo) add-on. This also includes the ESPN channels SEC Network (base and Plus — see our SEC football guide), ACC Network (base and Extra — see our ACC football guide), and Longhorn Network (Sling TV Guide). To make it even better, this includes MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.

ESPN3 is not a TV channel. It is its own streaming service, offering multiple sporting events at the same time.

We have plenty of Sling TV guides like the WNBA draft, NFL draft, and NHL Draft.

The Orange plan offers a total of 30+ channels including CNN, HGTV, and TBS. If you want local channels (Fox and NBC) and more sports, you can combine this plan with the Blue plan for a total of 50 channels.

You can find more details with the following guides:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Devices
• Sling TV NCAA Baseball
• Sling TV NCAA Baseball Schedule
• Sling TV NBA Play-In Tournament
• Sling TV NBA Playoffs
• Sling TV NBA Conference Semifinals
• Sling TV NHL Playoffs
• Sling TV NHL Playoff Schedule
• Sling TV Stanley Cup Final

DIRECTV STREAM With ESPN

The DIRECTV STREAM base plan only includes ESPN and ESPN2, although that is a lot. If you want, you can add ESPN Deportes with the Deportes package for an extra $5 per month.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

You can also get ESPNews and ESPNU if you upgrade to the Choice package for $114.99/month. It comes with 100+ channels, unlimited DVR, and access to the best collection of regional sports networks in the industry.

DIRECTV STREAM will probably be especially appealing to cord-cutters who are currently AT&T or DirecTV subscribers. Get more information in the following guides:

• DIRECTV STREAM Review
• DIRECTV STREAM Packages
• DIRECTV STREAM Local Channels
• DIRECTV STREAM Devices.

Watch ESPN on Hulu + Live TV

If ESPN is the focus of your TV viewing, Hulu + Live TV is a great way to go. They offer one of the best selections of ESPN channels of any base plan: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, ACC Network, and SEC Network.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Hulu Live also gives you ESPN+. And Disney+. And their usual outstanding on-demand library.

Of the two ESPN channels that don’t come with the base plan, you can get ESPN Deportes with the Español add-on for an additional $4.99/mo. Although Hulu Live doesn’t offer ESPN3, it is available on the ESPN app using your Hulu subscription.

In addition to the ESPN channels, Hulu + Live TV offers a good selection of other channels including local affiliates and sports channels like CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, MLB Network, and NFL Network.

Want more information? Check out these resources:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels
• Hulu + Live TV Devices.

Other Options To Stream ESPN

If the streaming services we reviewed above are not what you’re looking for, you can watch ESPN without cable using the following services:

• ESPN+: Although it isn’t a replacement for the ESPN channels, ESPN+ gives access to a lot of live sports content (as well as an on-demand library) for a low price.
• YouTube TV: This is a solid package of 100+ channels that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPNU. You also get a good selection of local channels and sports channels.

Devices You Can Use to Livestream ESPN

You should be able to watch ESPN on most devices that you own. As long as your device is recognized by the streaming service you’ve chosen, you’re covered.

TVs and TV Devices to Stream ESPN

Pretty much every service supports smart TVs from the last 5 years — especially those running Android TV.

They also all support the following devices and operating systems:

• Amazon Fire TV: This device plugs into your TV’s HDMI jack and makes it “smart” — able to run the various streaming apps available.
• Android TV: This is roughly the Amazon Fire TV but built into TVs like the Hisense, LG, and Vizio.
• Apple TV: Roughly the same as the Fire TV stick but from Apple.
• Roku: One of the earliest devices to augment TVs to run apps.

Mobile Devices For Streaming ESPN

All the streaming services support the major smartphones and tablets.

• Android Phones: All the more recent Android-powered smartphones.
• iOS devices (iPhones, iPads): Apple’s more recent smartphones and tablets.

Any computer, laptop, or other device with a web browser can display ESPN with the streaming services listed above. Some of these devices can also be connected to a regular (non-smart) TV. If the TV provider supports TV Everywhere, you can stream it from espn.com as well.

A similar feature is available with Chromecast, which allows you to stream from your phone to your TV. It is really simple to do.

Gaming Consoles and VR That Can Stream ESPN

Lots of people watch movies on their gaming consoles. Except for DIRECTV STREAM, all the streaming services support Xbox One. Hulu supports PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. And if virtual reality (VR) is your thing, Sling TV supports Oculus.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

What ESPN Channels Are Available?

ESPN started as a regional sports channel in 1979 as the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. But even before it went live it was a national channel. In 1988, ESPN expanded to other nations. And in 1993, a second channel was added with more to follow.

ABC bought a controlling interest in ESPN in 1984. As a result of mergers, that means The Walt Disney Company now owns 80% of ESPN.

Here are the major ESPN channels

• ESPN: The flagship channel of the network that broadcasts many live sporting events but also shows like SportsCenter.
• ESPN2: Acts as a spillover channel for ESPN with events from MLB, WNBA, and NCAA football and basketball. It is also the base for ESPN’s tennis coverage.
• ESPN3: A streaming service that presents an array of sporting events including soccer. Much of its content has been moved to the pay-service ESPN+ over the last few years. But it still streams an enormous amount including virtually everything aired on ABC Sports.
• ESPNews: Despite the name, it broadcasts repeats of events although it does feature some live events and shows.
• ESPNU: Broadcasts a wide selection of college sports. It’s related to the later-formed Longhorn Network, SEC Network, and ACC Network.
• ESPN Deportes: As the name implies, the Spanish-language ESPN with live events and shows.
• ESPN Classic: This channel shut down at the end of 2021 but before that it broadcast mostly old games and shows. It was notable as the only ESPN channel not broadcast in HD because most of what it showed predated HDTV.
• ESPN College Extra: This channel also shut down although later, in 2023. It focused on college football and basketball live games drawn from ESPN3.

ESPN also operates a number of channels focused on specific areas of college sports:

• ACC Network: Focuses on sports involving the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• ACC Network Extra: Predates ACC Network and continues to show events that don’t fit on the main channel.
• Longhorn Network: Shows and live events involving the University of Texas, Austin.
• SEC Network: Covers all sports in the Southeastern Conference.
• SEC Network Plus: Spillover content from SEC Network.

Wrapping Up

ESPN is arguably the most important sports channel in existence. ESPN and ESPN2 are offered in the basic plans of all the major streaming services. And all the others are available for little or no extra charge.

Fubo is our first recommendation for streaming ESPN. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

See Also

Still have some questions about enjoying ESPN without the hassle of a cable or satellite contract? These resources will help:

• How to Watch Sports Without Cable
• How to Watch ESPN2 Without Cable TV
• How to Watch ESPN3 Live Without Cable
• ESPN+ Review.

See this streaming service guide to compare what they have to offer.

FAQs

Does ESPN air NFL playoff games?

Yes, ESPN provides access to some playoff games. In 2024, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN+ all aired the last Wild Card game of the NFL postseason. And ABC and ESPN both showed the first Divisional game. But mostly, the NFL playoffs are broadcast by a combination of CBS, Fox, and NBC.

Can I watch ESPN for free?

You cannot watch live games on ESPN for free outside of a free trial with a streaming service. If you install the ESPN app, you can watch clips from events and shows. But it is frustrating and you will probably find yourself signing up for ESPN+ before long.

Can I watch ESPN live with ESPN+?

ESPN+ allows you to watch many live events. It does not, however, allow you to watch live events that are showing on ESPN and ESPN2. ESPN+ is an addition to these TV channels, not a replacement. Note that ESPN+ is a pay-service that costs $10.99/month or $109.99/year.

What is the cheapest way to stream ESPN?

Sling TV is the cheapest way to stream ESPN. For $45.99/month, they provide you with ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. For an additional $11/mo you can get the Sports Extra add-on, which also gives you ESPNU and ESPNews, ACC Network, Longhorn Network, and SEC Network.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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