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How to Watch ESPN Live for Free to Catch the NBA Playoffs, MLB Games, & More Sports Anytime

Calling all sports fans, here's how to stream ESPN online if you don't have a traditional cable package.

By Jason Pham, Katie Decker-Jacoby

May 20, 2025 4:42 pm

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks to pass against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025 in New York City.
Al Bello/Getty Images.

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If you’re a sports fan keeping up with the NBA playoffs, 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 (with most discounted as we speak), and we’ve got the scoop on all of them.

How to Watch ESPN at a Glance

Channel: Varies (see below)
Streaming Options: DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ With Live TV, Sling
What’s Airing: NBA playoffs

Watch ESPN

$0+ Buy Now

ESPN is your one-stop shop for all things sports. It airs live sports broadcasts for all your favorite leagues, like the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB, among countless others. It also shows a range of sports highlight, talk, and documentary-style shows.

What channel is ESPN on?

AT&T U-Verse: 602 (SD) and 1602 (HD)
FIOS: 70 (SD) and 570 (HD)
Cox: Varies by location
DISH: 140
DirecTV: 206
Spectrum: 29 (SD) and 130 (HD)
Xfinity: 202

How to watch ESPN live for free

ESPN is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu+ With Live TV, and Sling. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, which starts at $84.99 per month after the trial ends (though promotions start at $59.99). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial that starts at $84.99 after the trial and promotions end (promotions start at $64.99). While Hulu+ With Live TV doesn’t have a free trial, it is cheaper per month than the other options, starting at $81.99 per month, and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. If you’re trying to stream on a budget, Sling has the best price and deals, with plans starting at just $45.99 per month (promotions starting at $35.99).

Editor’s Pick & $20 Off Deal

Watch ESPN With Fubo

$0+ Buy Now on Fubo

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch ESPN live for free because of its free trial and ongoing deals. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers two plans: Pro, which costs $84.99 per month, and Elite, which costs $94.99 per month. But right now, Fubo has promotions to help you save on both. Get your first month of Pro for $64.99 and $84.99 for all following months, and get your first month of Elite for $74.99 and $94.99 for all following months.

$30 Off Deal

Watch ESPN With DirecTV Stream

$0+ Buy Now on DirecTV Stream

DirectTV Stream is our best overall pick to watch ESPN live for free for its free trial, price, discounts, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $84.99 per month; Choice, which costs $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $154.99 per month. Similar to Fubo, DirecTV Stream is serving up savings—score Choice for $59.99 per month for your first three months and $89.99 for all following months, and try Ultimate for $89.99 per month for your first three months and $119.99 for all following months.

Watch ESPN With Hulu+ With Live TV

$81.99+ Buy Now on Hulu LIve TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch ESPN live based on its channel selection and free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads.

$10 Off Deal

Watch ESPN With Sling

Buy Now on SLING

Sling is our best budget pick to watch ESPN based on its price and current deals. Sling offers three plans with truTV: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue. All of them currently have promotions, with Sling Orange costing $35.99 for your first month and $45.99 after your first month, Sling Blue costing $40.99 for your first month and $50.99 after your first month, and Sling Orange + Blue costing $55.99 for your first month and $65.99 after your first month.

ESPN Programming

ESPN is most known for airing live sports broadcasts for all your favorite leagues. However, the basic cable sports channel also shows a range of sports highlight, talk, and documentary-styled shows, which include: