How to Watch ESPN3 Without Cable

There are several ways to watch ESPN3 without a cable or satellite subscription across five different streaming options. ESPN3 is an important channel if you want to watch college football and NCAA basketball.

There also may be a way you can get ESPN3 for free through just an internet service provider (ISP). Some things have changed for ESPN3 since the launch of ESPN Plus so I did some research.

How to Watch ESPN3

Quick take: Sling TV’s Orange plan is noted for its value to cord-cutters who want to watch ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 for a mere $40 per month. Not only is it currently the cheapest option, Sling TV carries a live feed of ESPN3 within the Sling TV app, so you don’t need to activate the ESPN app separately to watch a game.

Hulu Live TV has over 90 channels, including ESPN, ACC Network, Big Ten Network and ESPN3, for $76.99 per month. The addition of Disney+ and ESPN+ makes it a unique value, especially for those who want to save from bundling multiple streaming services. Hulu is currently offering a 3-day free trial for its live TV plan.

What streaming services offer ESPN3?

Streaming Service	Free Trial	Cost Per Month
Hulu Live TV	Yes	$76.99
Sling TV (Orange Plan)	No	$40.00
DIRECTV STREAM	Yes	Starts at $79.99
YouTube TV	Yes	$72.99
Fubo	Yes	Starts at $79.99

Can You Watch ESPN3 on the ESPN App?

Yes, the ESPN app is the main way to watch ESPN3 with or without a cable subscription. 

Cable subscribers, including those with Comcast and Spectrum, stream ESPN3 in a similar manner. 

Sling TV and some other services include ESPN3 in their channel guides. If not, you can still start watching ESPN3 through the app. ESPN3’s role as a digital platform has been pivotal for fans of college football, NCAA basketball, and the FIFA World Cup.

How to Stream ESPN3 on Any TV or Device

You can stream ESPN3 without a cable subscription using DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV. The steps are consistent across devices like LG Smart TVs or Roku:

1. Download and open the ESPN app on your device.
2. Navigate to the settings, select ‘Account Information.’
3. Choose ‘TV Provider’ and select your streaming service.
4. Follow on-screen instructions and visit espn.com/watch/activate to activate. Use your streaming service credentials to activate ESPN3 on the app. This activation is necessary across devices and web browsers.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu Live TV gives you access to ESPN3 and over 90 channels. 

To start watching ESPN3 with Hulu Live TV, you need to use the ESPN app. The Live TV plan with Hulu includes ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and ESPNews.

The plan, at $76.99 per month, allows streaming on two devices simultaneously and includes Disney+ and ESPN+. This live TV streaming service is currently the easiest way to bundle the full slate of ESPN networks along with local broadcast channels like ABC with ESPN+.  

Hulu Live TV offers a mix of sports, entertainment, and family programming, making it a comprehensive choice.

Sling TV

Sling TV provides a cost-effective way to access ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. 

The Sling Orange plan, at $40 per month, features a selection of about 31 channels. Subscribers also receive 50 hours of Cloud DVR. For those wanting more, combining Sling Orange and Blue plans increases the channel lineup for $55 per month. All customers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR. 

Sling TV’s flexibility and price point make it ideal for budget-conscious sports fans.

Fubo

Fubo’s entry-level Pro bundle includes ESPN3, accessible through the ESPN app. 

The Pro plan costs $79.99 per month. With roughly 189 channels, the service caters to a broad audience. Fubo offers local channels in most U.S. areas and a variety of sports and entertainment networks. 

ESPN, ESPN2, Food network, Fox News, HGTV, Big Ten Network, Disney Junior, and Comedy Central are part of the Pro bundle. HGTV, AMC, Big Ten Network and ACC Network are included in the Pro channel bundle.

Add-on packages such as Sports Plus or Fubo Extra allow subscribers to customize their channel lineup. 

The Sports Plus bundle adds 32 more channels and costs $10.99 per month. It includes NFL RedZone, all four Stadium networks, Sports Illustrated TV, Golf TV English, Golf TV Spanish, PAC 12 Arizona, PAC 12 Bay Area, PAC 12 Los Angeles, PAC 12 Mountain, PAC 12 Oregon, PAC 12 Washington, FOX College Sports Atlantic, FOX College Sports Pacific, FNTSY, Fight Network and TyC Sports.

All subscribers unlimited Cloud DVR storage. You can watch live TV on 10 screens at once.  

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM offers ESPN3 access through the ESPN app across four plans. The service provides a wide range of sports, entertainment and cable news channels along with local broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and FOX.

All subscribers get unlimited home streaming, no limit on Cloud DVR and a vast on-demand library. DIRECTV STREAM’s flexibility and extensive channel lineup appeal to those seeking traditional cable options without the contract.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV enables ESPN3 streaming through the ESPN app. The live TV streaming service has 128+ channels and costs $72.99 per month.

A&E, ESPN, HGTV and CNN are part of the base plan channel lineup. 

A subscription includes unlimited Cloud DVR and allows streaming on three devices simultaneously. YouTube TV’s comprehensive channel list and user-friendly features make it a competitive option, though its cost may be a factor for some.

How to Watch ESPN3 on any TV

You can watch ESPN3 without cable when you subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

Whether you are trying to watch ESPN3 on an LG Smart TV or a Roku, these steps are largely the same:

1. Download the ESPN app to a Smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast with Google TV.
2. Launch the ESPN app, and select the settings wheel in the top right corner of the main menu.
3. Select the Account Information tab.
4. Click on ‘TV Provider’.
5. Under the ‘TV provider’ tab, select a cable TV or live TV streaming service. 
6. Follow the instructions onscreen and visit espn.com/watch/activate 
7. You will use your username and password from your pay-TV service to activate the app.

Can I watch ESPN3 with just an internet connection?

People often ask whether you can watch ESPN3 online for free. The answer was once a definite yes. In 2022, the answer is maybe. 

Back in 2006, Walt Disney Co. began charging Internet service providers (ISPs) for the right to offer a former iteration of ESPN3, called ESPN360.

Some ISPs such as Verizon and Charter signed on to the ESPN360 offering. Others balked and said no way, according to a 2006 article in The Wall Street Journal. 

ESPN360 re-launched to ESPN3 on April 4, 2010. ESPN3 remained available through ISPs that continued to pay the fee. But not every ISP kept paying and some customers have noticed. 

There is a list of “participating providers” that support ESPN3 that still exists online. 

So can you still watch ESPN3 with just an internet provider? Based on my own experimenting with this, it appears you can. 

I have a Sling TV subscription, and currently use Verizon FiOS as my internet service provider. As an experiment, I opened my ESPN app, and verified I could stream ESPN3 live with my Sling TV credentials. 

Then I logged out of my Sling TV credentials within the ESPN app so that I had no TV provider. When I went back to the ESPN3 tab, I still had a live stream, but I couldn’t watch ESPN or ESPN2. The app prompted me to sign in to my pay-TV subscription. 

Will this work for you? I don’t know. But you can try it just like I did.

For years, anyone using a college (.edu) or military (.mil) network could get complimentary access to ESPN3 content. That still appears to be the case.

Does ESPN Plus Include ESPN3 Live Stream?

No, ESPN Plus does not offer live streams of ESPN3. It is a separate service featuring live sports such as Big 10 and Big 12 college football, MLB, NHL, UFC matches and a number of soccer leagues.

ESPN Plus streams exclusive programs like documentaries and on-demand shows but does not include ESPN cable networks. Subscribers can stream on three devices simultaneously for $10.99 per month, and cancel anytime.

What happened to WatchESPN?

The WatchESPN app was discontinued on July 1, 2019, and merged into the ESPN app. Despite the change, some still refer to it as WatchESPN. This consolidation has streamlined access to ESPN’s digital content, including ESPN3, through a single platform.

Is ESPN3 available on YouTube TV?

Yes, YouTube TV subscribers can watch ESPN3 by activating the ESPN app with their subscription. This integration ensures YouTube TV stream all the live sports ESPN3 offers.

Can I get ESPN3 without a cable subscription?

Yes. Live TV streaming services such as Sling TV (Orange plan), DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV support streaming ESPN3 live. Anyone using a college (.edu) or military (.mil) network could get complimentary access to ESPN3.

What streaming services offer ESPN3?

DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all include ESPN3 as part of a subscription. But you have to watch ESPN3 by activating the ESPN app with your streaming service account.

Do I need to activate ESPN3 separately on my streaming service?

Yes, accessing ESPN3 requires activation of the ESPN app using your live TV streaming service credentials. This step is necessary for streaming ESPN3 content live.

Is there a free way to watch ESPN3?

ESPN3 offers complimentary access through certain .edu and .mil networks, providing a way to watch without additional costs. Check if your institution or service network offers this benefit. You can also use ESPN3 during a free trial with DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo and YouTube TV.

What sports events are available on ESPN3?

ESPN3 is a go-to destination for live college sports, tennis, golf, soccer, and cricket events. It also features replays from ESPN’s family of networks, catering to a broad spectrum of sports fans.