How To Watch ESPNU Without Cable

You can stream and watch ESPNU live online without paying for a cable TV subscription. You need a subscription to one of the following streaming services that carry ESPNU: Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo, YouTube TV, FuboTV, or DIRECTV STREAM.

Want a Quick Answer: The Cheapest Way to Watch ESPNU is with Sling TV or Vidgo. However, those services lack some local network channels. Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV are closer to what you would get with a cable subscription. Yet, they are limited when it comes to regional sports networks. DIRECTV STREAM’s Choice plan provides a similar experience and includes nearly all Regional Sports Networks. However, it’s more expensive than the other services.

How to Stream ESPNU

All you need is an internet connection. While you can watch on your web browser or mobile device, you can watch ESPNU on your TV using a streaming device or smart TV supported by the streaming service. Each of the streaming services below carries ESPNU in its lineup.

Hulu Live TV

Try Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV provides ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2, and over 60 other channels for $69.99/month.

• Unlimited cloud DVR storage. (Recordings save for 9 months)
• Watch on two screens at once. (Upgrades available)
• It comes with six customizable profiles
• Includes entire Hulu On-Demand streaming library
• Hulu is available on Android, iOS, Xbox One, 4th Gen Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV stick.

If you are curious about all the channels Hulu Live TV offers in your area, you can use this tool on Hulu’s Website: Hulu Live TV Channels by Zip code.

Check out our review of Hulu Live TV for more information.

Sling TV

Try Sling TV

To watch ESPNU through Sling, you need to have the Sports Extra Package for an additional $11 per month. Not available if you only subscribe to Sling TV Blue. You must have Sling TV Orange ($35 + $11 for Sports Extra – $46 per Month) or Both Blue And Orange ($50 + $15 for Sports Extra – $65 per month).

Sling TV allows you to watch sports online on most TV streaming devices with no contract. Aside from one of the most comprehensive sports packages on the Internet, Sling also provides access to AMC, History Channel, A&E, and many more top channels previously only found with a cable or satellite subscription. Sling also offers on-demand, a cloud DVR, and more. Sling TV is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and more, so enjoying ESPNU on a TV, tablet, computer, or other smart devices isn’t a problem.  More channels are available on Sling TV than what I’ve mentioned here. To find out more, check out this detailed review of Sling TV.

Vidgo

Vidgo is a newer streaming service that offers fairly competitive pricing over other live streaming services. Vidgo includes ESPNU, in its Core package, along with over 60 different channels. New customers can sign up for the Core Plan for $59.95 per month.

Vidgo doesn’t force you into a contract; you can cancel anytime. They offer promo pricing for new subscribers, which you can cancel within the first three days at no charge.

Vidgo is supported on available on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also stream the service on up to 3 devices simultaneously. We have the full details in our guide to Vidgo’s live streaming service.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM is another way you can watch ESPNU. DIRECTV STREAM offers three channel packages, with ESPNU being available on 3 of them. The most affordable plan with ESPNU is the “Choice” package, priced at $89.99 per month. All DIRECTV STREAM plans include the following features:

• watch 20 streams simultaneously per subscription 
• a cloud-based DVR
• channels like ESPNU, AMC, HGTV, Discovery, and more
• supported on Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, and more

You can check out everything this service offers by taking advantage of their online offer or read about it in our DIRECTV STREAM review.

FuboTV

 FuboTV is an excellent place to go for sports. ESPNU is available when you add the FuboTV Sports Extra package for $10.99 to the FuboTV Pro Plan priced at $69.99. The total is a bit on the pricey side at over $80 per month.

The FuboTV app is available on major platforms, including Apple TV, AndroidTV, Roku, and Amazon FireTV. You can sign up for fuboTV or check out our review of FuboTV for more details.

YouTube TV

Sign Up for YouTube TV

Another streaming service that offers ESPNU, a slew of other channels, and a nice set of features is YouTube TV. They also provide ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, and SEC Network for a cost of $64.99 per month.

A subscription to YouTube TV includes the following:

• access to ESPN, Local Network Channels, and over 70 other channels
• unlimited cloud DVR storage
• stream on three devices at once
• YouTube TV supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more. The YouTube TV app has also returned to Roku devices after settling a dispute between the two companies. 
• Includes YouTube TV on-demand

Check out my review of YouTube TV for all the details and channels available on the service. You can also check your Zip Code on YouTube TVs Website to see the available channels in your area.

Watch ESPNU for Free

Six of the streaming services that carry ESPNU offer a free trial. You can take advantage of those and watch free ESPNU for over a month or longer if you use different email addresses. Let’s look at the free trials available.

• DIRECTV STREAM (5-day free trial)
• YouTube TV (free trial)

By picking up each streaming service and dropping it before the free trial expires, you can watch ESPNU free for about 31 days. That’s a free month! Plus, it will give you a good idea of which streaming service you like best if you decide to keep one.

Watch ESPNU on Roku

To watch ESPNU on Roku, follow these instructions.

1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ESPNU (Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DIRECTV STREAM, etc.)
2. On your Roku Menu, navigate to “Search” and press “OK” on your remote
3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
4. Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
5. Select “Add Channel” press “OK” on your remote. If the channel is already installed, “Go To Channel” will be an option.
6. The App is now installed on your Roku. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ESPNU will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.

Watch ESPNU on Fire TV

To watch ESPNU on Fire TV, follow these instructions.

1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ESPNU (Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DIRECTV STREAM, etc.)
2. On your Fire TV Home screen, click on the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
4. Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
5. Select “Download,” and the channel will install
6. The App is now installed on your Fire TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ESPNU will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.

Watch ESPNU on Apple TV

To watch ESPNU on Apple TV, follow these instructions.

1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ESPNU (Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DIRECTV STREAM, etc.)
2. Scroll right to the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
4. Select the streaming service click the cloud icon, and the channel will install
5. The App is now installed on your Apple TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ESPNU will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.

Streaming ESPNU with the ESPN App

While you can’t purchase a subscription to ESPNU directly, if you subscribe to any of the live TV streaming services above, you can opt to use the ESPN app (Formerly known as WatchESPN). The ESPN app provides live, on-demand shows and live games to all ESPN branded channels available from your TV streaming subscription. If you subscribe to ESPN+ (ESPN’s premium service), it is also available through the ESPN app. 

You can use the ESPN app on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS, and Android devices. You can watch the following channels through the ESPN app: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN+, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, SEC Network+, Longhorn Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, and ESPN Bases Loaded Networks.

Using The ESPN App on Roku and Other Devices

Once you subscribe to one streaming service in the article, you can watch through the streaming service’s app. For example, ESPNU is available to watch through the Live TV section of Hulu’s app. However, you can also watch all the ESPN branded channels in their lineup through the ESPN App on your supported device. Below are the steps to unlock your ESPN channels on Roku. Other streaming devices and have a very similar process.

1. Go to the channel store on your device.
2. Please search for the ESPN app, and add it to your device.
3. Open the app, and click the setting gear from the top right of the menu.
4. Then select “Account Information” and then “TV Provider.”
5. Your Roku device will provide an activation code and the URL https://espn.com/active.
6. Using a web browser on your laptop or mobile device, go to https://espn.com/active and entered the supplied code.
7. You will then be asked for the TV provider you signed up for that has ESPNU. You will then log into the service using the credentials from the TV streaming service you are subscribed to. ( For example, I used my Hulu credentials)
8. Once you successfully log in, The ESPN App screen will refresh and list your TV provider.
9. The ESPN app is now set up. In the ESPN app, you should be able to go to “Browse,” then “Channels” and watch any channels listed that your TV streaming service provides. (Hulu in My case)

For information on watching other TV channels online check out: How To Stream Specific TV Channels