How to Watch ESPN Without Cable

Updated on December 26, 2025 • Staff
Get the latest highlights across every major sport, from hockey, football, basketball and baseball to UFC and more. If you never want to miss a score, here are some of the best deals to get ESPN without cable.

You can watch ESPN without cable in 2026 on Sling TV Orange, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream), YouTube TV, or ESPN Unlimited.

The cheapest option to watch ESPN is Sling TV at $4.99 for a 24-hour pass or $9.99 for a 3-day pass. You can also get a monthly subscription to Sling TV Orange for $45.99/month.

ESPN and ABC channels are currently not available on Youtube TV due to a carriage dispute. Here are the deets on how you can watch ESPN without cable and without Youtube TV.
$45.99/month | ESPN + 33 channels

ESPN on Sling TV Orange

Sling Orange's $4.99/day price tag makes it de facto the cheapest option to get an ESPN live stream for just a game or two. This so-called "skinny bundle" includes all three ESPN channels, and throws in TNT, TBS, A&E and more. The 3-day pass costs $9.99, and the week pass costs $14.99. The monthly subscription is at $45.99, which is good value, but is technically the second cheapest way to stream the Disney-owned sports broadcaster, as ESPN unlimited currently costs $29.99/month. Whether you're looking to watch a single game or looking for a more complete alternative to cable, Sling's Orange package is one of the market's highlights.
Go to Sling TV Orange

Sling has many packages, but only Orange and Orange+Blue include ESPN. What's more, only the Orange plan is currently eligible for 'Pass' purchase. If you want to get ESPN only for a day, 3 days, or a week, this is the only plan that will allow you to do that. I find myself using the pass a few times in the year, especially in off-season when I cancel most of my live TV subscriptions.

Once you're subscribed, finding ESPN is quick. Since it is a main offering, ESPN will likely have a tile on the homepage, but you don't see that, you can search for it quite easily. Here, I am on a laptop, but the same applies for smart TV and streaming stick apps.

Sling TV Orange Channel lineup:

A&E, AMC, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Bloomberg Television, Cartoon Network, Charge!, CNN, Comedy Central, Comet, Disney Channel, EPIX Drive-In, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, Freeform, Fuse, HGTV, History, IFC, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, Local Now, MGM+, MotorTrend, Nick Jr., QVC, Sling Scapes, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Vice

$73.99/month | ESPN + 83 channels | 7 days free trial

ESPN on Fubo

Fubo stands out for their generous 7 day free trial. If you thought Sling was affordable at $4.99/day, how about a week completely free. Once branded as a sports-focused streaming service, it also comes with RSNs, CBS Sports, both Fox Sports channels FS1 and FS2, as well as ESPN2 and ESPN3. The only area it falls short of being the perfect cord-cutting solution for sports fans is that it doesn't include TNT. It's worth noting Fubo has recently been acquired by ESPN's owner Disney, and it's set to be merged with Hulu + Live TV at some point in the future.
Go to Fubo

All of Fubo's Live TV plans come with ESPN, and as someone who rotates subscriptions a lot, I've never found reason to get more than the base Pro package. ESPN Unlimited is included in all of them.

I probably use the search function too much, but that's how I usually find ESPN. Once you subscribe you can do the same, or you can also find it under the 'Guide' or 'Sports' sections'

There is one more click with Fubo before you get watching: a highlight of what is currently on ESPN, and links to similar events happening either on the channel or elsewhere.

Fubo Channel lineup:

ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, AccuWeather, Bein Sports, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports Network, CBSN, Cheddar, CMT, CNBC, Comedy Central, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, CW, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN 4K, ESPN2, ESPN3, Estrella TV, FETV, FMC, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Freeform, fubo Sports Network, FX, FXX, Galavision, GetTV, Golf Channel, GRIT, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, Hallmark Mystery, IFC, Intravel, Local Now, MASN, MTV, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NBCLX, NBCSN, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Olympic Channel, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, RSNs, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SYFY, Tastemade, Telemundo, Telemundo local channels, The Weather Channel, TUDN, TUDNxtra, TV Land, TVG, Unimas, Unimas local channels, Universal Kids, Universo, VH1, WGN America, Willow, YES Network

$88.99/month | ESPN + 105 channels | 3 days free trial

ESPN on Hulu with Live TV

Hulu and ESPN are both owned by Disney, so it makes sense that: a- Hulu's Live TV service includes ESPN, and b- ESPN Unlimited and Disney+ are included in Hulu with Live TV's base plan. You'll be getting ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN College Extra, ESPNews, and ESPNU all in one place, together with local channels, ABC, CBS, and Hulu's on-demand library. The price might be steep but you do get a lot for it, and they often run 3-month discounts for new subscribers.
Go to Hulu with Live TV

With Hulu + Live TV there is only one choice to make, and it has nothing to do with live TV: do you want ads on Disney+ and Hulu on-demand, and do you want to be able to download on Disney+ and Hulu on-demand. If the answer to either of those questions 'yes', consider the premium plan for $10 more / month. This price bump is now sadly an industry standard, and comes to only $5 extra per service. For reference, HBO Max without ads is $7 more expensive than the plan with ads.

Locate ESPN on Hulu by browsing the Live TV guide or using the global search tool in the app.

Hulu with Live TV Channel lineup:

A&E, ABC, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BET, Big Ten Network, Bloomberg Television, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS News, CBS Sports Network, Cheddar News, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Cozi TV, CW, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN College Extra, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, FYI, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, History, HLN, ID, Justice Central TV, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies, LiveNOW, Localish, Military History Chanel, Motor Trend, MSNBC, MTV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBCLX, NBCSN, News Nation, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, OWN, Oxygen, Paramount Network, Pop, QVC, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, Start TV, SYFY, TBS, Telemundo, The Grio, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, TVLand, Universal Kids, USA Network, Vevo 80s, Vevo 90s, Vevo Country, Vevo Features, Vevo Hip-Hop, Vevo Pop, VH1, Vice, Weather Channel

$89.99/month | ESPN + 137 channels | 5 days free trial

ESPN on DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream)

DIRECTV (previously DIRECTV Stream) is known for their industry-leading picture quality, but they have recently been covering their bases against the competition. For starters, they offer a five day trial which includes ESPN, so you can watch the game or event you're looking for, and if you choose, cancel and not pay anything. Second, they recently introduced "genre packages", which are cheaper skinny bundles. ESPN is included in the MySports package for $69.99, which also comes with a free trial.

There are, however, plently reasons to keep this complete cord-cutting package: local channels, RSNs, unlimited DVR, and the ability to watch on an impressive 20 devices at once in your home (3 devices outside).
Go to DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream)

As someone who watches most of their sports on a laptop, I have to say DIRECTV's website is the worst of the competition. First, it's on different domain name (stream.directv.com is different from directv.com), second, the interface is outdated and hard to navigate. Still, if like me you find yourself using up their 5-day free trial to catch a game, the best way to find ESPN is quite simply by searching for it, and then choosing from the different ESPN channels DIRECTV carries.

DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream) Channel lineup:

ABC, ACC Digital Network, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, AMC, Anger Management, Animal Planet, Are We There Yet?, Ax Men, AXS TV, BABY FIRST, BBC America, BET, Big 12, Bloomberg TV, Bob Ross, Boomerang, Bravo, BUZZR, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, Cheddar News, Cleo TV, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy Dynamics, Court TV, Crime 360, Curiosity Now, CW, Daystar HD, Declassified, Discovery Channel, Duck Dynasty, E! Entertainment, EarthxTV, Ebony TV, El Rey Rebel, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, FMC, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Weather, Freeform, FUEL TV, Fuse Music, FX, FXX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HerSphere, HGTV, HLN, Home Shopping Network, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, ION, ION Television, Jewelry Television, Lifetime, Lionsgate Collection, MeatEater TV, MotorTrend, MovieSphere, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, News Nation, Newsmax, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, One America News, Ovation, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount Network, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, Poker GO, Pursuit Channel, QVC, QVC2, QVC3, Racing America, REELZ, REVOLT, RFD-TV, RSNs, Scientology Network, Scripps News, Shop LC, Somos Novelas, SportsGrid, Start TV, SundanceTV, SYFY, Tastemade Home, Tastemade Travel, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, Telemundo local channels, The First, theGrio, TLC, TNA, TNT, truTV, TV Land, TV One, Univision, Up TV, USA Network, VH1, Waypoint TV, WE tv, Women’s Sports Network, Yahoo! Finance

$82.99/month | ESPN + 143 channels | 7 days free trial

ESPN on YouTube TV

Youtube TV has quickly grown into one of the best choices for Live TV, offering both local and national channels like ESPN, CNN, Comedy Central, and others. Youtube TV's marketing claims that by getting the platform, you could save up to $500 a year on cable. One major draw of the platform is unlimited cloud DVR storage that's included in the $82.99 plan. It's also one of the most widely available Live TV streaming services, as you can get it on virtually every device from Fire TV to XBOX to Smart TV brands like LG.
Go to YouTube TV

YouTube TV Channel lineup:

ABC, ABC, ACCN, Adult Swim, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BBC World News, BET, BET Her, Big Ten Network, Bounce, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, CBS Sports Network, Charge!, Cheddar, Cheddar News, CMT, CNBC, CNBC World, CNN, Comedy Central, Comedy TV, Comet, Court TV, Cozi TV, Dabl, Discovery Channel, Disney, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Docurama, Dove Channel, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Weather, Freeform, FX, FXM, FXX, Galavision, Game Show Network, Get TV, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, Hallmark Mystery, HGTV, HLN, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery, ION, Justice Central TV, LAFC Channel, Law & Crime, Live Now, Local Now, Localish, MotorTrend, MSNBC, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, My TV, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, NBC News Now, NBC Universo, NBCLX, NBCSN, NECN, Neon, News Nation, Newsmax, NFL Network, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Orlando City Channel, OWN, Oxygen, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, PC Mag, Pop, QVC, Recipe.TV, Scripps News, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SNY, Start TV, Sundance TV, SYFY, Tastemade, TBD, TBS, TCM, Teen Nick, TeleHit, Telemundo local channels, Tennis 2, The CW, The Great Courses, The Walking Dead Universe, The Weather Channel, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, Tru TV, Turner Classic Movies, TV Land, TYT, Unimas, Unimas local channels, Universal Kids, Univision, Univision local channels, USA Network, VH1, WE tv, Willow, YouTube Originals, Zen channel

$29.99/month | ESPN + 10 channels

ESPN on ESPN Unlimited

You might have noticed that ESPN's new standalone app comes included in many of the services above, like Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and DIRECTV. You can even get it as part of a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu + Live TV. That's because for most people, getting just ESPN for $29.99/month might not be worth it, especially with so many more complete packages out there.
Go to ESPN Unlimited

Few things about streaming are as simple as watching ESPN on ESPN Unlimited. Whether you got it as a package or subscribed to it as a standalone service, the website is neat and simple to use. Simply click the 'ESPN' logo.

ESPN Unlimited Channel lineup:

ACC Network, ACCNX, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, SEC Network, SECN+