Watch ESPN on a Roku Device Now – No Cable Required

In the last few years, many people have dropped cable and instead have begun to stream their favorite channels on devices like Roku. Such is the case with the most popular sports channel, ESPN.

For that reason, we’ve put together this guide to show you how to watch ESPN on Roku streaming players very easily and even free.

In a hurry? You can watch ESPN on Roku with these services:

Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that covers this sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the content you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

	ExpressVPN: Known as “The VPN that just works,” it combines remarkable ease of use with with state-of-the-art power, speed, security, and privacy. Get three extra free months when you sign up for a year. Unleash your streaming with this top-rated VPN.	Sign Up Now
	Hotspot Shield: Connect to servers in 80+ different countries and 25+ US cities. HotSpot Shield features extremely fast servers and connections and is specially tuned for use with streaming services. And you can try it risk-free with a 7-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee!	Sign Up Now
	CyberGhost: Great low-cost service with ultra-fast servers in 90+ countries for smooth live sports streaming. It also provides great security and privacy. See if it’s right for you with a free 24-hour trial and test it out with a 45-day money-back guarantee.	Sign Up Now

If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, you’ll find all the answers in our full VPN guide.

fuboTV: ESPN Networks and Many More Sports Networks

fuboTV is a channel available on Roku free for 7 days. The channel is essentially a full cable TV replacement, offering ESPN’s slate of networks ranging from the flagship network to ESPN News.

When you sign up for the channel, you have a very similar experience to cable, with channel guides and the like. You even get a cloud DVR so you can record ESPN programming.

After the free 7-day trial, fuboTV charges a monthly fee starting at $49.99. However, unlike cable, you can cancel this channel whenever you want – there’s no contract.

How do you get this on your Roku? Simple, first go here and sign up for the free trial. Once you’re done with that, search fuboTV in the streaming channels section of you Roku. Add the channel and log in with your credentials. Then you’re ready to watch! Here’s more info on adding fuboTV to Roku devices.

fuboTV allows 2 simultaneous streams at the base level. You can add an extra stream for $5.99 per month.

Learn more in our fuboTV review here. You can also view fuboTV packages here, as well as information on streaming local channels on fuboTV.

It’s also worth noting that there are other similar streaming services you can use to watch ESPN online.

Unblock Your Favorite Movies and Shows With a VPN

If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequalled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.

Get ExpressVPN Today

Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

Can You Watch ESPN on Roku for Free?

The methods mentioned above for streaming ESPN on Roku all offer free trials. That means you can watch ESPN free during the trial period for each service you try. However, after that, you must pay the monthly subscription fee if you want to maintain access to ESPN programming.

The only other legal way to watch ESPN free on Roku is the ESPN Roku channel (formerly WatchESPN). This is ESPN’s official app. However, “free” isn’t exactly what you’d expect. While you don’t have to actually pay for the WatchESPN app, you do have to have a valid provider login to gain access to programming.

In other words, you must use credentials from a service like the one mentioned above, or from your cable subscription.

Now, some people share logins with their friends and family to access the WatchESPN app for free. However, this may violate terms of service and is generally frowned upon.

How to Re-Authenticate ESPN on Roku

From time to time, you may accidentally get logged out of your WatchESPN app on your Roku player. So in that case, you’ll need to re-authenticate. Here’s how to reauthenticate ESPN on Roku:

1. Go to the ESPN channel on your Roku device.
2. Click the settings gear in the top right corner.
3. Under “account information” click “TV Provider.
4. Here you’ll receive instructions to go to espn.com/activate on your computer or mobile device.
5. Once at the web address, enter the activation code from your Roku device.
6. Select your TV provider and log in with your credentials.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll likely have to wait a moment, and your WatchESPN channel on your Roku player will re-authenticate.

You can also learn how to watch ESPN on Fire TV here.

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Frank Moraes

Frank Moraes is Content Editor at HotDog.com. He specializes in streaming, sports, and technology. You can see his writing on low-budget and "weird" film at Psychotronic Review — and many other places.

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