The Essential Streaming Apps to Watch Major Sports in the United States
Sports fans in the United States have more viewing options than ever before. Traditional cable is no longer the only way to follow live games, highlights, and analysis. Streaming apps now offer flexible access to nearly every major league, often with exclusive content and customizable viewing features. Whether you follow football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or combat sports, having the right mix of streaming services ensures you never miss the action.
Here is a breakdown of the key streaming apps readers need to watch all the major sports in the US and how each fits into a complete sports viewing setup.
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus is one of the most important apps for American sports fans. It complements the main ESPN channels by offering live games, original shows, and extensive on-demand content. Subscribers can watch college football and basketball, NHL games, UFC events, international soccer, and exclusive documentaries.
ESPN Plus is also popular with fans who enjoy deeper analysis, studio shows, and alternative broadcasts. Many viewers check stats, fantasy leagues, and even discussions around NFL football betting while watching games, making ESPN Plus a natural hub for both casual fans and serious followers.
Peacock
Peacock has become a major player in live sports streaming, especially for football and soccer fans. The app streams Sunday Night Football games from the NFL, making it essential during the regular season. Peacock also carries Premier League soccer, WWE events, and select college sports.
One of Peacock’s strengths is accessibility. Its interface is simple, and it often offers affordable subscription tiers. For NFL fans who want a legal streaming option without a full cable package, Peacock fills an important role.
Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is the go to app for fans of the NFL on CBS. It streams local CBS games live, including regular-season NFL matchups and playoff games. This makes it especially valuable for fans who want reliable access to Sunday afternoon football.
Beyond the NFL, Paramount Plus also offers college football, NCAA basketball, PGA Tour golf, and UEFA Champions League soccer. Its sports content is paired with entertainment programming, making it a versatile household app.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has quickly become a must-have sports streaming service thanks to its exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football. These NFL games are available only on Prime Video, making the app essential for football fans during the season.
Prime Video also offers select MLB games, documentaries, and sports-related original content. For many viewers, Prime is already part of their subscription bundle, which makes its sports offerings feel like a bonus rather than an extra cost.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is one of the most comprehensive cable replacement services available. It includes live access to major sports networks such as ESPN, FOX, CBS, NBC, FS1, and regional sports networks in many markets.
For fans who want one app to cover the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, and more, YouTube TV comes close to an all-in-one solution. Its unlimited DVR feature is especially useful for recording games and watching them later without spoilers.
Hulu Plus Live TV
Hulu Plus Live TV is another strong cable alternative with a robust sports lineup. It includes ESPN, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, and several regional sports networks, depending on location.
Hulu’s advantage is its integration with on-demand entertainment content. Users can switch seamlessly between live games and TV shows or movies, making it ideal for households with mixed viewing interests.
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV+ has made a bold move into sports with exclusive rights to Major League Soccer through MLS Season Pass. Soccer fans can watch every MLS match without blackouts, along with behind-the-scenes content and player features.
While Apple TV Plus is not yet a full sports platform, its growing investment in live sports makes it worth watching, especially for fans who want high production quality and global soccer coverage.
NBA League Pass and MLB TV
League-specific apps like NBA League Pass and MLB TV remain essential for dedicated fans. These services offer access to nearly every game in their respective leagues, with multiple viewing options, alternate broadcasts, and advanced stats.
Blackout restrictions still apply in some areas, but for fans following out-of-market teams, these apps provide unmatched coverage throughout the season.
Building the Right Streaming Mix
No single app covers every sport, so most fans combine two or three services to meet their needs. A common setup might include a cable replacement service like YouTube TV or Hulu Plus Live TV, paired with ESPN Plus and one league-specific app.
As streaming continues to evolve, sports fans benefit from more choice, better access, and greater flexibility. With the right combination of apps, watching major sports in the United States has never been easier or more customizable.
