The best streaming services for live sports in 2025

NFL fans hoping to catch every game this season will require a Prime Video subscription. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Beyond football, though, Prime Video has expanded its sports lineup to encompass everything from NASCAR to basketball to women's soccer. The live games are sparse compared to other sports-only streaming services, but its wider catalog is worth the overall cost.

The NFL teamed up with Amazon in 2022 to bring Thursday Night Football exclusively to Prime Video, starting in week two every season until 2033. The streamer will also air an exclusive Black Friday game in 2025, as well as a Christmas night game and a Wild Card game in the playoffs. That's a total of 17 games that will require a Prime Video subscription. And since nearly every team has at least one TNF game each season, there isn't a single fanbase that can be marked safe from needing Prime Video. (You can find the schedule for Thursday night games on Amazon’s website.)

The NFL is just the tip of the iceberg. In 2025, Prime Video's live sports portfolio has expanded to include NASCAR races, NBA, WNBA, and NWSL games, fight nights, select MLB Yankees games, and select NHL Seattle Kraken games. In other words, it's solidified itself as a must-have streaming service for sports fans of all kinds.

If you're already an Amazon Prime member, you're good to go. If not, you can choose to sign up for a full Prime membership ($14.99 per month) and get a ton of other perks, or sign up for Prime Video only ($8.99 per month) and get access to exclusive Prime Video content in 4K HDR, as well as the ability to rent movies at your leisure. You'll even get a 30-day trial if you're a new or returning subscriber. If you don't plan on using Prime for the other perks and content, it's a bit expensive just to watch select games throughout the season.

Fubo is the most well-rounded option for live sports streaming, but its comprehensive plans come at a cost. If you're looking for a cable alternative that gives you access to all the major networks, as well as the regional sports networks required to watch NHL, MLB, and NBA games, Fubo is the total package. Just get your wallet ready.

Regional sports networks (RSNs) are required to watch the majority of NHL, MLB, and NBA games. If the game you want to watch in one of these leagues isn't a national broadcast, it's likely on an RSN. While most live TV cable replacements carry a few RSNs, Fubo is the only service that carries most, if not all, of them. This doesn't mean you can watch any team any time you want, though. This just means that you'll be able to watch your local teams on their network (Fubo's virtual assistant can help you find out which regional sports networks are available in your area).

The Pro plan includes 240 channels, including local NBA, NHL, and MLB games, plus ESPN Unlimited, unlimited cloud DVR space, and the ability to watch on unlimited screens (10 at once). It costs $84.99 per month, though there's usually a first-month discount for new users. There's also the more advanced Elite plan with Sports Plus, which includes more channels, 4K resolution, and access to even more sports content on NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NBA TV, and more. It will run you $104.99 per month. Both plans let you test them out for five days before you commit (just be sure to cancel before you're charged). The streamer also launched a skinny sports plan in September, which provides consumers with a more affordable option that cuts out the entertainment fluff. It will cost just $45.99 for the first month ($10 promo discount) and $55.99 per month going forward.

There are a couple of things to note that may deter you from signing up for Fubo. For one, there are two major networks missing from Fubo's lineup: TNT and TBS. The streamer and parent network Warner Bros. Discovery failed to reach an agreement, which is a huge bummer for sports fans. Fortunately, if you have an HBO Max subscription, you'll be just fine. Second, there's a somewhat hidden regional sports fee required each month to access your home team's RSNs. This cost varies depending on where you live, but it can definitely get expensive (up to $16.99 per month) on top of the amount you already pay for your subscription. You'll be able to see the fee before you activate your subscription and make the choice for yourself. For example, in Nashville, my regional sports fee is $15.99 per month.

The main draw of Peacock for sports is its coverage of Sunday Night Football and the Olympics. However, fans of niche sports like cycling or rugby can also enjoy tons of live races and matches with a Peacock subscription. If you're looking for a streaming service that lets you tune into more than just sports, Peacock has a lot to offer — from original series to NBC shows to Universal Pictures films straight from the theater — for a relatively low price (although it keeps on rising).

Peacock, NBCUniversal's dedicated streaming service, has been steadily growing its live sports coverage since its debut in 2020. The streamer simulcasts Sunday Night Football games on NBC every week throughout the season. Plus, it will exclusively host a Saturday game later in the season, as well as two playoff games and Super Bowl LX. If you're an NFL fan without cable, it's a must.

Peacock is also the streaming home for the Olympics — from Opening Ceremony to Closing Ceremony and everything in between. The NFL and Olympics coverage alone earn Peacock a spot on the list, but that's not all it offers. You can also watch Premier League matches live, the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and other live cycling events, IndyCar coverage, Big Ten college football matchups, track and field events, SuperMotorcross, men's and women's rugby, and much more.

Of course, Peacock also offers a slate of original series, NBC shows, and movies straight from the theater. If you want sports as just one part of your entertainment lineup, Peacock has a ton to offer for a relatively low price of $10.99 per month. If you go ad-free, it'll cost you $16.99 per month. It's worth noting, however, that the cost of a subscription has risen three times in as many years.

Paramount+ doesn't have the biggest selection of live sports on this list, but it does have the best coverage of international soccer (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Liga Profesional de Fútbol, National Women’s Soccer League, and more) and NFL AFC (in market) games on Sunday afternoons. If soccer and local NFL AFC games matter to you, it's a pretty affordable way to get a wide selection of live games and a whole lot more than just sports.

Similar to Peacock, Paramount+ is the dedicated streaming service for Paramount Skydance. It hasn't committed itself to live sports quite as much as Peacock has, which has helped to keep costs a bit lower. However, it does have a lot to offer for specific sports fans. The streamer simulcasts Sunday afternoon AFC games in your market throughout the regular NFL season, making it another essential part of your NFL streaming lineup if you root for the home team. Plus, it's where you can watch several NFL playoff games, including the AFC championship.

Paramount+ is an essential for international soccer fans as well. It's the streaming home of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, Liga Profesional de Fútbol, National Women’s Soccer League, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and Concacaf. You can also stream men's NCAA March Madness games, NCAA Big Ten football games, PGA Tour, men's and women's rugby, and the Masters live with Paramount+.

Beyond sports, Paramount+ offers a wide variety of original series, CBS shows, and Paramount Pictures movies. So come for the soccer, but stay for the NCIS. It's just $7.99 per month for an Essential subscription and $12.99 per month for a Premium subscription (which includes Showtime and ad-free content).

Just as Peacock has NBC broadcasts and Paramount+ has CBS broadcasts, HBO Max is the home of Warner Bros. Discovery broadcasts. That includes TNT, TBS, and TruTV, where you'll find a slew of live sports — from NHL to NBA to MLB to NCAAF Big 12. If you're looking for easy access to these broadcasts without cable, an HBO Max subscription will deliver those and so much more — but it's not cheap.

Although it's had a struggle with branding, HBO Max is actually a premium streaming service. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer delivers HBO Original Series, Warner Bros. Pictures and A24 films straight from the theaters, and a surprisingly wide range of live sports. The live sports catalog includes an expanded NHL schedule of 72 games plus Stanley Cup Playoffs, an exclusive slate of Big 12 college football games, the most extensive Roland-Garros coverage, NCAA March Madness, select MLB games, U.S. soccer, NASCAR, and even Savannah Bananas games. If it's on TBS, TNT, or TruTV, you'll more than likely be able to watch it on HBO Max — although, blackout restrictions may apply.

While a Basic plan only costs $9.99, you'll have to upgrade to at least the Standard tier for $16.99 in order to unlock live sports coverage. If you're strictly watching sports, that's a bit steep for what you get. But if you want a streaming service that delivers more than just sports, HBO Max has one of the best libraries around.

It's worth noting, however, that Warner Bros. Discovery has recently announced that it's splitting into two companies. This leaves the future of live sports on HBO Max uncertain. It could become a separate streaming service once the split occurs, which will make HBO Max a useless streaming service for sports fanatics. Until then, though, it's a pretty compelling option.

Fans of NFC teams in the NFL, as well as college football Big Ten teams, will be delighted that Fox has finally decided to unveil its own streaming service. The recently launched Fox One is a one-stop shop for the entirety of the Fox TV portfolio, including Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, and local Fox stations. While it's significantly cheaper than signing up for a cord-cutting pay TV provider like YouTube TV, it's still a bit pricey for most people at $19.99 per month.

Fox's direct-to-consumer service launched in August and includes all games, events, and programs that air on the Fox family of networks. Previously, cord-cutters had to sign up for a pay TV provider like YouTube TV ($82.99 per month) or Fubo ($84.99 per month) to watch Fox channels live, so Fox One offers a more affordable and streamlined alternative.

This is a big deal for NFL, NCAA football, and even MLB fans, as you'll be able to tune into the NFL's NFC games on Sunday afternoons, Big Ten college football games, the MLB World Series, and so much more.

One thing to note is that Fox One does not offer original content (for now, at least). It's more focused on giving cable-less folks access to live programming. And because it's new, it still needs to work out some glitches. Some sports fans on Reddit have complained that the news broadcasts are forced on them more than they'd like. So, hopefully Fox takes this into account and makes a few adjustments.

A monthly subscription will run you $19.99, but you can also save about $40 by opting for an annual subscription for $199.99. The streamer is also expected to launch a bundled deal with ESPN in October 2025 for $39.99 per month, which could ultimately end up being the best sports streaming deal around.

YouTube TV is the ultimate cable replacement, offering viewers access to over 100 live TV channels — including the major networks and sports affiliates. You won't get many regional sports networks, so it's perhaps not the best option for NHL, NBA, or MLB fans. But you also won't have to pay a regional sports fee, so it costs quite a bit less than Fubo overall. For in-network NFL games, college football, and national broadcasts of other sports, it'll suit you just fine. It also is the new home for NFL Sunday Ticket, which adds a lot of appeal for out-of-market football fans.

When it comes to live TV streaming services that can actually replace cable, YouTube TV is probably the most comprehensive option for the cost. The base plan offers over 100 live channels, which include all the major broadcast networks, CBS Sports Network, the whole umbrella of ESPN networks, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Sports Network, NFL Network, Olympic Channel, and Tennis Channel. ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network are also included for college sports fans. You can also pay an extra fee to add Sports Plus, which includes NFL RedZone and over a dozen other networks for $10.99 per month.

If you mostly plan to watch national broadcasts, YouTube TV will have you beyond covered. However, it does not offer much in the realm of regional sports networks. On one hand, this keeps costs down, as there's no regional sports fee. But on the other, you won't get access to your local NBA, NHL, or MLB team's games unless they're broadcast nationally.

YouTube is now the home of NFL Sunday Ticket, and YouTube TV subscribers get discounted subscriptions ($378 versus $480 per year), which also adds a bit of appeal for NFL fans living in a different city than their favorite team.

Where YouTube TV really shines is its introductory deals. If you're new to the streamer, you can typically get several months of discounted service after a free trial, making it a pretty tempting offer for live sports and beyond.

Sling may not be the most comprehensive live TV streaming service, but it is the most customizable. If you want to pick and choose the channel lineup and tailor it to your live sports preferences each month, Sling is the only option that lets you do that.

While other cable replacements like YouTube TV and Fubo offer a massive channel lineup in their base package, Sling TV's is pretty bare bones. The streaming service offers two basic packages: Orange and Blue, which cost $45.99 per month separately or $60.99 per month together. Combined, these packages offer about 50 live channels, including ESPN networks, TNT, TBS, FS1, and NFL Network — as well as FOX, ABC, and NBC in select markets. That covers most of the basics for national live sports broadcasts, but you can also add on the Sports Extra or Sports Extras packages for even more action, like NFL RedZone, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more.

Unfortunately, the price of Sling's base package keeps rising. While it's still relatively affordable compared to other options, it's starting to lose its overall value. If you prefer an a la carte-style service, however, it's still your best choice. You can even sign up for day passes and season passes depending on your needs, which is definitely worth it if you're only tuning into a few specific games.

If you live in a different region than the team(s) you want to watch or you just want access to as many NFL games as possible, NFL Sunday Ticket is a must. It's absurdly expensive, but there are no other options to watch out-of-market games on Sundays unless you're willing to break the law.

Even though the price for NFL Sunday Ticket is truly outrageous, it's the only (legal) way for NFL fans to watch out-of-market games every Sunday. As the league's own premium sports package, it has no competitors as a means of watching games that are blacked out on your local channels. For example, if you're a Baltimore Ravens fan but live in Nashville, NFL Sunday Ticket gives you access to all of the Sunday Ravens games that aren't shown on CBS, Fox, or NBC in your local market.

You can get NFL Sunday Ticket as an individual channel on YouTube or as an add-on to YouTube TV. The add-on service costs less, but it's still expensive compared to just about any other streaming service. I won't sugarcoat it for you. You can usually score a pretty big discount if you're new to the service, but for returning customers, be ready to drop upwards of $480 for the season. Students, military personnel, first responders, medical professionals, and teachers can all get discounted rates.