How to Watch Sports on Roku

With the right apps, you can stream nearly every televised sporting event on Roku. The Roku Channel Store has a wide selection of apps – some are dedicated to specific sports leagues, like the NBA, the MLB, the NFL, and Formula 1, while others allow you to stream various sports from specific channels. 

I’ve compiled a list of the best Roku apps for streaming sports for nearly every type of fan. You just have to decide if you want to replace your cable subscription with Roku completely, or supplement the content you view on cable with Roku apps.

Regional restrictions can make it hard to keep watching your usual Roku channels and services when you travel abroad. The good news is, you can use CyberGhost VPN to change your virtual location and keep watching as usual from anywhere.

Quick Guide: How to Watch Sports on Roku with CyberGhost VPN

  1. Get CyberGhost VPN. Our streaming-optimized servers work with most major streaming platforms.
  2. Setup CyberGhost VPN on your router: Roku is not directly compatible with VPNs, but this is a good workaround as all your connected devices will be covered, at home or at your holiday property.
  3. Watch live sports on Roku with no ISP throttling!

How to Watch Sports on Roku

Roku has a wide variety of streaming sports channels, covering both major and minor leagues, events, and tournaments. To find and install apps for watching sports on Roku, do the following:

    • Go to the Roku home screen and select Streaming Channels to open the Channel Store.
    • Browse or use the search function to find specific sports channels or by category. 
    • Once you find a channel you like, select Add Channel to install it on your Roku device. Some channels are free, while others may require a subscription or a pay-per-view fee.

Here are some of the most popular sport apps on Roku. 

ESPN+:  Stream NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, and More

Live sports and originals on ESPN+
    • Free Trial: None
    • Country: US

ESPN+ live streams multiple sporting events every day. While some of the games are simulcast on ESPN or ABC, most of them are streaming exclusively on the app. Enjoy daily NHL games, college football on the weekend, NCAA basketball, major league baseball, and non Pay-Per-View MMA fights. You’ll also find soccer matches, tennis tournaments, cricket,and other niche or international sports. 

ESPN+ is only available in the US, but you can still access the platform if you’re traveling abroad. Get CyberGhost VPN and connect to our streaming-optimized server for ESPN+ and enjoy the games, 

Fubo: Plenty of Live Sports, Including Regional Sports Networks

Watch Live Sports on Fubo Without Cable
    • Free Trial: 7 days
    • Country: US – RSN Channels vary by state

What separates Fubo from other cord-cutting streaming platforms is access to regional sports networks. In addition to ESPN, FS1, and B12, you can get Bally Sports, NBC Sports, ROOT, MASN, MSG, and YES. These channels only work if you’re in their broadcast zones, but it’s the easiest way to watch your local NBA, MLB, and NHL teams without cable.

Hulu + Live TV: Watch Sports Live or Record with an Unlimited DVR

Hulu has live sports and an unlimited DVR
    • Free Trial: None
    • Country: US

Hulu+ Live TV brings live sports to Roku without long term contracts. Included in the 90+ channels are ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, the ACC and SEC Networks, and local CBS, ABC, and Fox affiliates. If the sporting event is on national TV in the US, odds are good you can watch it on Roku with Hulu. The service includes unlimited DVR, so you can record and watch games at your convenience.

Some games might be blacked out in your area, but there’s no reason to worry. Connect to one of our 11 VPN servers located in the US, where the game is available, and you can enjoy every play. 

Fox Sports: Live Stream Sporting Events from Fox, FS1, and Fox Deportes 

Fox has a large selection of live sports on Roku
    • Free Trial: None
    • Country: US

Login to the Fox Sports app with your TV provider and watch live sports and on-demand highlights. With access to FOX, FS1, FS2, and FOX Deportes, you can watch NFL, MLB, NASCAR, college football, and soccer from leagues around the world.  Fox also streams highlights from the UEFA European Championships, CONCACAF soccer, WWE SmackDown, and more. 

Bally Sports: Live Stream Regional NBA, NHL, MLB, and WNBA Games

Bally Sports is the biggest RSN on Roku with over 4,500 live events a year
    • Free Trial: 7 days
    • Country: US – Varies by US State

There are two ways to watch local sports through Bally Sports on Roku: Sign in with your TV provider or subscribe to the Bally Sports+ app. Either way, you can live stream games broadcast on your local Bally Sports channel. Avoid local blackout restrictions by connecting to one of CyberGhost’s 11 US VPN server locations.  

Sling TV: Combine the Blue and Orange Plans for More Live Sports 

Sling has great prices for watching live sports on Roku
    • Free Trial: 7 days
    • Country: US only – varies by state

Sling provides a solid option for Roku users looking to watch live sports, featuring a wide selection of sports channels including ESPN, NFL RedZone, NFL Network, FS1, TBS, and TNT. The service offers an extensive lineup of live games, tournaments, and pay-per-view events, plus you can purchase add-on channels for even more sport watching options. 

YouTube TV: Watch & Record TV from 85+ Channels, Including Local Sports

The NFL Sunday Ticket is on YouTube TV
    • Free Trial: 7 days
    • Country: US

YouTube TV elevates your sports viewing with its Multiview feature, allowing you to watch up to 4 games simultaneously. A base plan includes over 85 channels, including all the major sports networks. It has the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, so you can watch all out-of-market games.  

Peacock: Watch NFL, B10 Basketball and Football, Premier League Soccer, and WWE

Watch live sports on Peacock
    • Free Trial: None
    • Country: US

Peacock on Roku is a decent streaming platform for live sports, streaming a variety of events including Premier League soccer, golf tournaments, NFL on NBC, Big 10 college games, rugby, cricket, and more.  The on-demand sports content includes highlight shows, documentaries, Peacock sports originals, and a sports 24/7 sports channel. 

F1 TV: Customize Your F1 Viewing Experience on Roku

Live stream Formula 1 on F1 TV
    • Free Trial: None
    • Countries: 60+

The F1 TV app on Roku features live and on-demand viewing of every Grand Prix. Follow the action with exclusive functionalities such as driver onboard cameras, detailed commentary, and real-time race data. F1 TV Pro has access to every track session for all Formula 1 races, and is available live and on-demand in six languages. The app gives you control of the viewing experience with onboard cameras and team radios, so you can choose your preferred drivers and teams.

FloSports: Watch Sports at the High School, College, and Professional Levels

FloSports has a wide range of live sports on Roku
    • Free Trial: 7 days
    • Country: Varies by channel

FloSports offers a range of streaming sports content that spans beyond the coverage provided by mainstream sports networks, catering to fans of EuroLeague basketball, rugby, minor league hockey, cycling, varsity football, softball, cheer competitions, track and field among others. FloSports requires separate subscriptions for each sport, which may lead to higher costs for users interested in accessing multiple FloSports channels.

Why Watch Sports on Roku with a VPN? 

Using a VPN for sports can improve your viewing experience when you’re at your holiday property in the US or abroad. One of the biggest issues you can have when streaming sports access to the game. It doesn’t matter if it’s because of league blackouts or traveling out of your team’s regional broadcast zone – if you subscribe to a streaming platform, you should be able to use it no matter where you are. A VPN allows you to connect to a VPN server located in an area where the game is available – once you’ve done so, restart your streaming app, log in, and enjoy the game. 

The other common issue you may have is buffering and drops in quality. If you have a high-speed internet connection, the likely cause is ISP throttling, which is when your ISP restricts your connection speed when it detects streaming activity. A VPN encrypts your connection, preventing your ISP from seeing what you’re doing online, thereby bypassing the ISP throttling. 

It’s important to point out that there are no VPN apps for Roku, and you can’t jailbreak the device or sideload the VPN app. What you can do is set up CyberGhost VPN with your router, granting VPN protection to all of your connected devices.

Why CyberGhost is the Best VPN for Streaming Sports

CyberGhost VPN has comprehensive features designed to provide a seamless sports streaming experience. Our global network includes 11 server locations in the US, so you can avoid local blackouts and access regional sports channels if you’re staying at a vacation property in the US or traveling abroad.

CyberGhost VPN also offers a wide selection of streaming-optimized servers for leading streaming platforms – this ensures that you can connect to your account and watch sports without any “out of region” error messages. 

Access to your account is just one piece of the puzzle – high-quality streaming is another. Our servers have high-speed capacity, including multiple 10-Gbps servers in key locations, so you can watch the games in the highest available quality.

Not only that – but your CyberGhost VPN account includes unlimited bandwidth, so you can watch sports all day without any restrictions.  

If you ever have any questions about which servers to use for specific sporting events, our customer support team is available 24/7 via live chat. 

FAQ

Can you watch free sports on Roku?

If you have a TV provider, you can log in to apps like Fox Sports, Bally Sports, or ESPN at no extra cost. Another option is to get a free trial with Sling, Fubo, F1 TV or any other app that offers this deal. It’s not a long-term free solution, but it may help you decide whether to subscribe to a given service.

How much does it cost to watch live sports on Roku?

It depends on which sports streaming services and apps you want. The cheapest option is to get Peacock, but your sports viewing options will be more limited when compared to more expensive platforms like YouTube TV or Fubo.

Is the ESPN sports app free on Roku?

There’s no charge to download and use the ESPN app on Roku, but you need a cable TV subscription that includes ESPN. If you have that, just log in with your TV provider account and enjoy ESPN without having to pay anything extra.

Can you watch NBA games on Roku for free?

The only way to get free NBA games on Roku is by using free trials from apps that carry the games. Sling, Fubo, and YouTube TV are some examples of Roku Channels with live streams of NBA games and free trial offers.

How can I watch football on Roku?

There are several channels that live stream football, both American football and soccer. YouTube TV is a good example of an app with both options. It’s the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket and gives you action from multiple soccer leagues around the world. Peacock is another good option with the weekly NFL on NBC game, exclusive NFL playoff games, and English Premier League matches.

How do I get Fox Sports on Roku?

Go to the Roku Channel Store and search for Fox Sports. You must be in the US to add the app to your Roku account, and you need a cable TV subscription to access any of the content.

Are there free sports streaming apps?

Yes, there are a few free sports apps, but don’t expect to be able to watch any mainstream sporting events. Your options include Stadium, Fubo Sports Network, beIN Sports extra, Outside TV+, and Red Bull TV. You can watch events like snowboarding, darts, surfing, and other niche sports.

Can I use a VPN to watch sports from a different country?

Some sports fans may connect to a VPN server in a country where certain sports events are available in order to watch from a different country. While we don’t snoop on our users’ online activity, this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.

Rest assured that CyberGhost VPN never logs your browsing data and your activity is always private, but you should always comply with all relevant terms and applicable law, including copyright.

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