How To Watch Espn: Live Stream The Sports Network Online

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ESPN is a must-have channel for sports fans in the US, but gaining access to the network has become an increasingly difficult prospect. Fortunately, there are several ways to watch the channel via streaming services, which we've outlined for you today. Keep reading to learn how to watch ESPN without cable.

Since launching in 1979, ESPN has become one of the most prominent sports networks in the US. The network offers a little bit of everything, showcasing games from nearly every major US sports league, including the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, and NHL, among others. ESPN also shows collegiate-level games, including football, baseball, softball, and basketball. The network has branched off into additional channels, including ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN2, and ESPN3, which help out with the bulk of the coverage. 

Fortunately, you can get the ESPN channel through several live TV streaming packages, including Sling TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream. The services vary in price and functionality, with certain options serving as true cable alternatives and others offering select coverage for missing channels. Sling and Fubo are low commit month-to-month, while some versions of DirecTV Stream function on a long-term contract. In addition to live streaming, all of these options allow you to record ESPN and watch it later. 

We'll break down the very best options for US viewers below and explain when ESPN+ might be handy. If you're looking to live stream even more sports, our best sports streaming services guide has everything you might need to know about watching your favorite teams without cable. 

How to watch ESPN: quick links

• US (Full coverage): Sling TV Orange ($46/month, half-off first month) | Fubo ($80/month, seven-day free trial) | DirecTV Stream ($87/month, five-day free trial)
• US (Select coverage): ESPN+ ($12/month)
• Access subscriptions from anywhere via ExpressVPN (try risk-free for 30 days)

Sling TV

Your cheapest option for total ESPN live coverage today will be Sling TV, which is a great option if you're a cord-cutter only interested in certain channels or you're just looking for something to complement your existing cable package. Sling's Orange plan carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 live. The plan also offers 31 other live channels, including key sports networks like TNT and TBS.

Sling Orange costs $46 a month, but the streaming service is almost always running a promo that will knock about half off the cost of your first month. You can also add on the Sling Blue plan for the Sling Orange + Blue combo, which offers 46 live channels for $61 a month, including local channels (like ABC) in select regions.

Fubo TV

We routinely recommend Fubo as one of the best cable alternatives you can get your hands on. The streaming service is sports-centric, but it carries almost everything found in a basic cable package (with a few notable exceptions). A base plan offers live coverage of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ESPN Deportes, in addition to over 180 other channels.

You can also watch ESPN3 by logging into the ESPN website/app using your Fubo credentials. Fubo also has comprehensive local channel coverage, so you should be able to live stream ABC and other networks here. Subscriptions cost $80 a month, but first-time customers can sometimes get a reduced rate for their introductory month.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream offers most of the perks of DirecTV, one of the most popular cable options out there, with no satellite dish and the ability to forgo longterm contracts (although you can also find some savings in signing up for a multi-year subscription). The cheapest plan is the Entertainment option, which carries ESPN and ESPN2 (you'll need to upgrade to the Choice plan for channels like ESPNU and ESPNews).

Month-to-month plans start at $87 monthly for the Entertainment plan. You can add on the Sports Pack for an extra $15 a month, which you can get discounted for your first two months. If you're only looking for sports channels, you might also be eligible to try out MySports for $70 a month ($50 for the first three months). The option is in Beta right now and only available in select areas. There's a five-day free trial on all plans.

ESPN+

ESPN+ is a cheap but selective option. Contrary to what many think because of its name, ESPN+ doesn't carry the ESPN channel live. Instead, it offers live coverage of select events across ESPN channels and ABC. This can be a great option if you're looking to watch UFC (and pay an extra PPV price) or tune into certain college football games, but we don't recommend this for people who are hoping for general access to ESPN, since it doesn't carry a true live stream of the network.

At $12 a month, it's definitely an affordable option, but you should check the ESPN+ website to see if what you're hoping to watch is actually available through the app before signing up. You can read more about the streaming service in our ESPN+ guide.

ExpressVPN

You might run into some issues if you try to watch ABC through the above subscriptions while traveling away from home. Fortunately, you can still access your usual subscriptions with the help of a VPN (virtual private network). VPNs enable you to temporarily change your device's virtual location so you can use your go-to apps and websites anywhere, even while traveling outside of the US. Since the services we've highlighted require US forms of payment, this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad at the moment.

If you're not sure where to start when it comes to VPNs, we recommend giving ExpressVPN a try. The app is user-friendly, even for beginners, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additional information can be found in our ExpressVPN review. 

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.