The cheapest way to watch ESPN without cable is currently Sling TV. With the sports network available to watch through multiple live TV services, the price ranges from as low as $40 a month through to $80+ a month.
Before signing up to a live TV package, it might be worth taking a moment to consider ESPN+. Although an ESPN+ subscription doesn’t include the live ESPN channel, it does include a wide selection of sports content and programming. And with plans starting at $10.99 a month, it is a far more affordable option.
$12/mo
- Live Events
- Game Replays
- Original Shows
Deal: Bundle with Disney+ and Hulu from $17/mo
For those interested in a live TV plan with access to the live ESPN network, below are your current options, from cheapest to the most expensive.
- Sling TV (from $40/month)
- YouTube TV (from $73/month)
- Hulu Live TV (from $77/month)
- DirecTV Stream (from $80/month)
- Fubo (from $80/month)
Cheapest Way To Watch ESPN
At $40 a month, Sling TV is currently the cheapest way to watch ESPN. Sling offers two main plans, and with the channel lineups one of the main differences, consumers looking to watch ESPN will need to consider subscribing to the Sling Orange package.
$46-61/mo
- 35+ channels
- 1-3 streams
- 50-Hour DVR
Deal: First month starting at $23.
In general, the Sling Orange plan is a good option for ESPN fans. While it does come with fewer channels than Sling Blue, the channel lineup includes ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3. With ESPN3 largely missing from many other live TV streaming services, Sling TV can be a good and cheap solution for ESPN fans.
In addition to the channel lineup, Sling Orange subscribers also get access to 50 hours of cloud DVR at no additional cost, unlocking the option to record ESPN live events and shows for playback later.
Sling TV Review
Other Ways To Watch ESPN
YouTube TV is another possibility for watching ESPN. The base package costs $72.99 a month and unlocks access to more than 100 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and ESPNU. Unlike Sling TV, YouTube TV doesn’t offer access to ESPN3 as part of its channel lineup.
$83/mo
- 100+ channels
- 3 streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: $50/mo for first 2 months
With Hulu Live TV priced at $76.99 a month, it is one of the most expensive ways to watch ESPN. That said, a Hulu Live TV subscription includes ESPN+ at no additional cost. The bundling of this subscription can help to reduce the monthly cost of subscribing to both ESPN and ESPN+.
$83/mo
- 95+ channels
- Basic Hulu
- Disney+
- ESPN+
DirecTV Stream offers multiple plans to choose from with the cheapest currently priced at $79.99 and unlocking access to ESPN and ESPN 2. For those wanting access to ESPNews and ESPNU as well, a Choice or higher subscription is required, increasing the base plan cost to a minimum of $108.99 a month.
$35-170/mo
- 25-185 channels
- Unlimited streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: Save up to $75
If none of the plans above work, Fubo might be worth considering. The base Fubo plan costs $79.99 a month and provides access to ESPN and ESPN 2. However, Fubo does charge a regional sports fee in most locations, so the price for many homes is likely to be higher than the advertised $80/mo price, making it an expensive option in general.
$85-95/mo
- 215-299 channels
- 10 streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: Save up to $25.
ESPN And TV Everywhere
In addition to watching through a live TV service, ESPN offers the option to watch directly through the ESPN website. While this route still requires an active live TV subscription, it can be a good option for watching live, accessing additional content, and streaming on more devices at the same time.
One of the issues with TV Everywhere support is that it is not always available through every live TV service, or for every channel included with a live TV plan. This is less of a problem with ESPN as TV Everywhere support is available to Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo subscribers.
With Sling TV support available, those opting for the cheapest service won’t be sacrificing on TV Everywhere support. As importantly, Sling Orange comes with fewer simultaneous streams than many other live TV services, so TV Everywhere is likely to prove additionally beneficial to homes planning on watching live TV on more than one device at a time.
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