Sports are fun to watch, whether you play them or not. However, keeping up with the season’s games can be a challenge if your work schedule doesn’t help or you simply have a lot going on during the day. I know the feeling all too well when my favorite team is going to play right in the middle of my work shift. So, to not completely miss out on the fun, I decided to find the best apps for staying on top of the latest games. I checked out a site that a friend recommended called AppGrooves, and it turns out they have a list of the top 10 apps for streaming sports.
List of Top 10 Apps for Streaming Live Sports
I tested some of the apps on their list and reviewed my top 3 favorites.
NCAA March Madness Live – Rating: 4.5, Downloads: 5M+
My first pick NCAA March Madness is a great choice for basketball fans. I found it to be really fun because not only can you stream games from your phone, but you can also create your own NCAA bracket to predict the winners of the season. I also liked that you have the option to listen to the games via radio broadcasts, or you can catch up quickly by watching video highlights of the latest games. Another plus I found is that you can follow your favorites teams and games to get live update notifications of the latest developments.
The livesports streaming features are only available in the United States. Although you won’t be able to stream games if you live overseas, you can still get live notifications updates and listen to radio broadcasts for any of the games. I also found that you need to enter TV package information to stream games that are not shown in CBS channels. However, if you don’t have a cable TV subscription, you can stream games shown on the CBS channel for free!
Pros: NCAA bracket creator, radio broadcasts, video highlights.
Cons: Available only in the US, cable TV subscription required.
Overall: Great choice for basketball fans as you can create a personalized NCAA bracket, but you will need a cable TV subscription to stream games live.
WatchESPN – Rating: 4.1, Downloads: 10M+
My second pick is none other than Watch ESPN. I like the fact that you can enjoy ESPN sports coverage right on your phone, so you won’t miss any of the exclusive shows and sports debates. In fact, there are more channels that I could have hoped for, as you can stream everything from ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network and more. Another plus I found is that you can rewind, fast-forward and replay any part of the game. I also liked that you can view highlights and analysis of the key moments of any game.
Like my previous pick, you will need to enter your cable subscription information to live stream any of the channels. However, the upside is that most cable providers offer the service and it is not limited to US territory. So, if you are traveling overseas, nothing will stop you from staying on top of any sports event. I found the picture quality to be excellent and the videos playback really smoothly!
Pros: Stream dozens of sports channels on your phone, replay any moment of the game using video streaming dashboard controls, game highlights
Cons: Cable TV subscription required.
Overall: Catch any sports game with ESPN sports coverage right on your phone, but you will need to enter your cable TV subscription information.
SofaScore – Rating: 4.8, Downloads: 10M+
Sofa Score is my third pick. What I really like about it is that you can closely follow any of more than 20 different sports, all in one place. You can find everything from football, basketball, and tennis, to cricket, ice hockey, cycling, badminton and more. I was particularly impressed with the in-depth coverage you get for each of the games, as you can stream games, get live score updates and access detailed statistics and graphs. You can even view an interactive heat map of the game, to see which team has taken more control of the field.
Unlike my previous pick, you won’t find video highlights of the game’s key moments. However, the statistics information and graphs quickly make up for it as they provide valuable insights you won’t get by simply watching the game. If you want to enjoy pictures and videos of the game, I recommend my previous pick WatchESPN.
Pros: Coverage for more than 20 different sports, detailed graphs, and statistics, interactive heat map.
Cons: No video highlights or pictures of the games.
Overall: Get detailed statistics and information for any sports game, but look elsewhere if you want pictures or video highlights of the game’s key moments.
These are my top 3 favorite sports streaming apps. As a basketball fan, my favorite is easily NCAA March Madness Live. However, I also find myself using SofaScore frequently for its insightful information and statistics. If you are looking for an easy way to stream sports live right on your phone, these apps are exactly what you need. Have fun watching the games!
