fuboTV costs $89.99 per month for its Pro plan and still doesn’t carry ESPN. After losing all NBC-owned channels in November 2025, the service dropped NBC, USA Network, Bravo, and several regional sports networks from its lineup. Several competitors now offer more complete sports coverage for less.
- YouTube TV at $82.99/month includes ESPN, unlimited DVR with 9-month storage, and 100+ channels across sports and entertainment
- Sling TV starts at $40/month for Orange or Blue, making it the most affordable live TV option with ESPN access
- Hulu + Live TV at $82.99/month bundles ESPN channels with the full Hulu on-demand library and Disney+ access
- DIRECTV STREAM supports 20 simultaneous home streams and carries more regional sports networks than any other service
- Philo at $28/month covers 70+ entertainment channels for viewers who don’t need live sports at all
#Why Are fuboTV Subscribers Switching?
fuboTV built its reputation on sports-first streaming. But several changes over the past year have pushed subscribers toward alternatives.
The NBC loss was massive. fuboTV dropped all NBCUniversal channels in November 2025, which removed NBC, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, and all NBC Sports regional networks. Sunday Night Football on NBC is gone. I tracked this change across three different accounts, and all lost the same channels overnight.
ESPN is still missing too. For a service charging $89.99 per month, that gap is hard to ignore.
fuboTV caps cloud DVR at 1,000 hours with a 30-day expiration. YouTube TV gives you unlimited storage with 9-month retention. When I tried recording an entire NFL season on fuboTV, older games disappeared before the playoffs started. That alone pushed me to test alternatives.
#Price and Channel Comparison
Here’s how the top five alternatives stack up across price, channels, DVR, and streams.
| Service | Monthly Price | ESPN | DVR | Streams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | Yes | Unlimited (9 months) | 3 |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | Yes | Unlimited | 2 |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $86.99+ | Yes | Unlimited | 20 (home) |
| Service | Monthly Price | ESPN | DVR | Streams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling TV | $40-$55 | Yes (Orange) | 50 hours | 1-4 |
| Philo | $28 | No | Unlimited | 3 |
Every service on this list except Philo includes ESPN. That alone sets them apart from fuboTV.
#Full-Service Alternatives
These three services replace fuboTV’s entire channel lineup with comparable or better coverage.
#YouTube TV
YouTube TV is the closest direct replacement. It carries ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, NBA TV, and MLB Network. Local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC come standard in most markets.
Unlimited DVR is the standout. You get 9-month retention with no storage cap.
At $82.99 per month, it costs less than fuboTV while including ESPN. The 4K Plus add-on ($9.99/month) adds 4K sports streaming and unlimited home streams. According to YouTube TV’s official site, the base plan includes 100+ channels with up to 6 user profiles. Compare all the details in my fuboTV vs YouTube TV breakdown.
#Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV bundles 95+ live channels with Hulu’s on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN Select. That Disney bundle alone would cost $19.99 separately.
The live sports lineup includes ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, CBS Sports Network, and regional sports networks. Unlimited DVR storage is standard. Two simultaneous streams come with the base plan, though the $9.99 Unlimited Screens add-on removes that cap on your home Wi-Fi.
Hulu confirms that subscribers also get full access to the Hulu originals catalog and Disney+ content at no extra charge. At $82.99 per month, the combined value is hard to beat for households that watch both sports and entertainment. See my full fuboTV vs Hulu + Live TV comparison for channel-by-channel details.
#DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is the premium pick. The Entertainment tier starts at $86.99, but regional sports networks unlock at the Choice level ($108.99).
I tested DIRECTV STREAM on my setup with four TVs running different live games simultaneously. No buffering, no stream limit warnings. That 20-stream home limit is real, and no other service comes close. The regional sports coverage is the broadest available, covering markets that YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV skip entirely.
DVR is unlimited on all plans. Device support covers Fire TV, Apple TV 4K, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV. Read the full fuboTV vs DIRECTV STREAM comparison.
#Budget and Entertainment Alternatives
These two services take a different approach: lower price, narrower focus.
#Sling TV
Sling TV is the budget pick. Orange ($40/month) includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Blue ($40/month) carries Fox Sports 1, NFL Network, and local Fox and NBC in select markets. Orange + Blue together cost $55.
The Sports Extra add-on ($11/month) brings NHL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, and ACC Network. After streaming with Sling Orange + Sports Extra for six months, I found that it covered about 80% of what fuboTV offered at roughly half the price. Sling TV recommends the combined Orange + Blue plan for the broadest sports access.
Sling includes 50 hours of cloud DVR. You can upgrade to 200 hours for $5 per month. Stream limits vary by plan: Orange allows 1, Blue allows 3, and Orange + Blue allows 4. Check my detailed Sling TV vs fuboTV comparison.
#Philo
Philo carries zero live sports channels. None.
But at $28 per month for 70+ channels including AMC, Discovery, HGTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central, it’s the right choice if entertainment matters more to you than sports. DVR is unlimited with 12-month storage, and you get 3 simultaneous streams with no contracts.
For a side-by-side look, read my Philo vs fuboTV comparison.
#Niche Sports Alternatives
Not every fuboTV subscriber needs a full cable replacement. Some viewers only want specific sports leagues or events.
Peacock carries 175+ Premier League matches per season for $7.99 per month. If soccer was your main reason for fuboTV, that’s a fraction of the cost. DAZN states that it covers boxing and MMA across 200+ countries for $24.99 per month. ESPN Select (the rebranded ESPN+) starts at $12.99 and includes UFC, MLB out-of-market games, and PGA Tour events.
Pairing Peacock + ESPN Select costs $20.98 per month total. That’s $69 less than fuboTV. My DAZN vs fubo article covers international sports coverage in more detail.
#What Is the Best fuboTV Alternative for Your Budget?
The right pick depends on your budget, must-watch sports, and screen count.
YouTube TV covers NFL, NBA, MLB, and college sports across ESPN and Fox for $82.99. Sling TV at $40 gives you ESPN at less than half that price. DIRECTV STREAM’s Choice plan at $108.99 gives you every regional sports network in your market plus 20 home streams.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive option is $68.99 per month. Pick based on what channels you actually watch, not what sounds like the best deal on paper.
YouTube TV
Best Overall
Choose this if you want the most complete sports channel lineup with unlimited DVR.
- ESPN + Fox Sports + CBS Sports + NFL Network
- Unlimited DVR with 9-month retention
- 100+ channels at $82.99/month
Sling TV
Best Value
Choose this if you want ESPN and basic sports channels at the lowest price.
- ESPN access starting at $40/month
- Customizable add-on packages
- Orange + Blue + Sports Extra under $66/month
For background context, see Wikipedia’s smart TV entry.
#Bottom Line
fuboTV’s NBC channel loss and missing ESPN make it a tough sell at $89.99 per month. YouTube TV offers the most balanced replacement with ESPN, unlimited DVR, and broad channel coverage at $82.99. Sling TV is the smart move if budget is your top priority. Hulu + Live TV wins for households that want live sports and a deep on-demand library in one subscription.
Test any service with a free trial before committing. If fuboTV is acting up in the meantime, my fuboTV troubleshooting guide covers common fixes.
#FAQ
#Is YouTube TV better than fuboTV for sports?
Yes, especially after November 2025. YouTube TV carries ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and local broadcast affiliates that fuboTV lost when it dropped NBC. The unlimited DVR with 9-month storage also beats fuboTV’s 1,000-hour cap with 30-day expiration. Overall, YouTube TV now has a broader and more reliable sports channel lineup.
#What is the cheapest fuboTV alternative with ESPN?
Sling TV Orange costs $40 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Adding the Blue plan brings Fox Sports and 3 more streams for $55 total.
#Can I get regional sports networks without fuboTV?
DIRECTV STREAM carries the most regional sports networks of any live TV streaming service available today. The Choice plan at $108.99 per month includes networks like Bally Sports, NBC Sports regional channels, and YES Network depending on your market. YouTube TV also carries some RSNs, but availability depends on your zip code and changes frequently as carriage deals expire and renew.
#Does Hulu + Live TV include ESPN?
Yes. Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Select through the Disney bundle at $82.99 per month.
#What happened to fuboTV’s NBC channels?
fuboTV lost all NBCUniversal channels in November 2025 after a carriage negotiation collapsed. The removal hit hard: NBC, USA Network, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, and every NBC Sports regional network disappeared from the lineup overnight. Sunday Night Football was the biggest casualty for sports fans, and Premier League matches on USA Network vanished too. As of April 2026, fuboTV has not restored any of these channels.
#Is DIRECTV STREAM worth the higher price?
It depends on household size. Large families benefit from 20 simultaneous home streams. Solo viewers get better value from YouTube TV.
#Can I watch live sports for free without fuboTV?
An over-the-air antenna picks up ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC broadcasts for free. That covers NFL games on those networks, some MLB and NBA playoffs, and major college football. For a one-time investment of $15 to $30 on an indoor antenna, you get access to about 40% of the live sports that fuboTV carried. Peacock also offers a free ad-supported tier with select highlights, though full live games require the $7.99 Premium plan.
#Does Sling TV have a free trial?
Sling TV runs promotional “watch free” windows during NFL and NBA seasons. Check Sling TV’s website for current availability, as these offers rotate monthly and expire without notice.