Where to Stream Online Without Cable

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If you’re a sports fan, you know that there’s only one channel you need: ESPN. But if you don’t have cable (or don’t want to sign up), you may be wondering how to watch ESPN live for free. Well, there are a few different ways, but one is better than the rest.

ESPN—also known as the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network—launched in 1979 and has since become one of the most watched channels in modern television. As of June 2023, ESPN reaches almost 72.5 million households in the United States, as well as broadcasts in more than 200 countries across the world with operations in Africa, Australia, Latin America, the Netherlands, and Canada.

So where can sports fans stream ESPN? Read on for how to watch ESPN live for free to not miss a moment of the action.

How to watch ESPN live for free

ESPN is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Orange, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months), and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPNU. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends, and includes ESPN.

Sling Orange and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Sling Orange costs $20 for your first month, starts at $40 per month after the first month ends, and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews.

Best Overall Pick to Watch ESPN: Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch ESPN live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. ESPN and ESPN 2 are available on all four plans, while ESPN NEws and ESPN U are available on Choice, Ultimate, and Premiere only.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch ESPN with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com
2. Click “Shop Packages”
3. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
4. Enter your information and payment method
5. Search for ESPN and start watching

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch ESPN: Fubo’s Free Trial

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch ESPN live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. ESPN is available on all four plans.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch ESPN with Fubo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ESPN and start watching

Best Budget Pick to Watch ESPN: Sling

Sling is our best budget pick to watch ESPN based on its price and current deals. Sling offers two plans with ESPN: Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue. Sling Orange starts at $40 per month and Sling Orange + Blue costs $55 per month. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 are available on both plans.

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch ESPN with Sling.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Choose your plan
5. Enter your information and payment method
6. Search for ESPN and start watching

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch ESPN: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch ESPN based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN News are included on all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch ESPN with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ESPN and start watching

How much is ESPN Plus?

ESPN Plus is ESPN’s streaming service with live sports events and thousands of hours of TV shows, movies and other content not aired on TV. ESPN Plus costs $10.99 per month for a monthly plan or $109.99 per year for a yearly plan, which saves customers about 17 percent or $22 from the monthly rate. ESPN Plus also offers exclusive UFC pay-per-view matches for $79.99 for existing subscribers.

ESPN Plus is also included in The Disney Bundle, which offers three plans: Duo Basic for $9.99 per month (which includes ad-supported plans of Hulu and Disney Plus; Trio Basic for $12.99 per month (which includes ad-supported plans of Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus); and Trio Premium for $19.99 per month (which includes ad-free plans for Hulu, and Disney Plus and an ad-supported plan of ESPN Plus). The Duo Basic saves subscribers $5.98 per month from subscribing to Hulu and Disney Plus’ ad-supported plans individually; Trio Basic saves subscribers $12.99 per month from subscribing to Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus’ ad-supported plans individually; and Trio Premium saves subscribers $15.98 per month from subscribing to Hulu and Disney Plus’ no-ads plans and ESPN Plus’ ad-supported plan individually.

Does ESPN Plus have a free trial?

Does ESPN Plus have a free trial? The answer is no. Though ESPN Plus had a seven-day free trial when it launched in 2018, the service has since ended the option. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way to watch ESPN Plus for free. Read on for an even better alternative to ESPN Plus’ free trial.

If you’re a Verizon customer, you may be eligible for a free subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney Plus without ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. According to Verizon, those eligible for the free Disney Bundle include Verizon customers with at least one of these phone plans on their account: 5G Get More or 5G Play More. Click here for Verizon’s FAQ on how to sign up for the free Disney Bundle.

1. Visit ESPN Plus’ website
2. Click “Get the Disney Bundle” or “Subscribe to ESPN+ only”
3. Create an account
4. Select your plan and insert your payment information
5. Log into your account and start watching ESPN Plus

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