The best deal available to students from any of the major streaming platforms comes from Hulu. At $1.99/month, the student rate is a full $10 of the standard $11.99 This rate applies to Hulu’s ad-supported service and is available so long as you’re a student.

Hulu has one of the best selections of TV series. It’s the exclusive streaming home to acclaimed, FX-developed originals like The Bear and Shogun, which sit alongside hit comedies like Futurama, Solar Opposites, and Letterkenny. You’ll also find every season of Bob’s Burgers, Abbott Elementary, What We Do in the Shadows, Atlanta, Justified, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Students can also get Hulu at a discounted rate as part of a Spotify promotion (more below).

Check out our complete list of Hulu deals and bundles.

2. Amazon Prime (50% off)

Another premier streaming service available at a discount to students is Prime Video, which recently rolled out its new Prime for Young Adults discounts. The student prices of $7.49/month or $70/year is half off the regular rates of $15/month and $140/year. But maybe best of all, Prime Student has an extremely generous six month free trial program. You also don't actually have to be a student to take advantage of this offer. If you're between the ages of 18 and 24, Amazon will let you gain access to the free trial and discount.

Prime Video has an expansive library of shows and movies, including must-see original series like The Boys and Fallout, as well as blockbuster films like Oppenheimer and Top Gun: Maverick. The subscription includes all the other perks of Prime, namely free shipping and free food delivery through Grubhub.

3. HBO Max (50% off)

HBO Max is the most recent addition to the list of streaming services with student discounts. The student rate cuts the monthly cost of the HBO Max Basic Plan With Ads from $10.99 down to just $5.99. While HBO Max unfortunately doesn't offer a free trial, the 50% discount lasts for as long as you can verify your student status through UNiDAYS.

The Warner Bros.-owned service recently returned to its original name, and continues to brand itself as the place to find "high-quality" entertainment. Of, course you get all of Warner Bros., as well as the DCU (both past and present), all of the Studio Ghibli movies, and HBO originals like White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Game of Thrones. HBO Max also recently struck a deal with GKIDS to become the streaming home for several rare anime movies.

Check out our complete list of HBO Max deals

4. Paramount+ (50% off)

Paramount+ offers a 50% discount for students across all of its streaming plans, reducing its regular $8.99/month rate to around $4.49.

The streamer has a diverse library of content that’s great for fans of reality TV (Survivor, The Amazing Race, Big Brother, The Challenge, Ru Paul’s Drag Race), procedural crime dramas (NCIS, Blue Bloods, FBI, Hawaii Five-O, CSI), and Star Trek (The Original Series, The Next Generation, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Discovery, the original 1979 movie, and the three reboot films). Other notable series on Paramount+ include the original Twilight Zone, Yellowjackets, Halo, and two Yellowstone spinoffs: 1923 and 1883. Paramount+ is also the streaming home of Paramount’s theatrical releases.

5. Apple Music with Apple TV+ (70% off)

Apple offers college students its music service at a discounted rate with Apple TV+ thrown in at no additional charge, allowing you to get Apple Music and Apple TV+ for $6/month (following a one-month free trial) — a 70% discount on an Apple One subscription, which is otherwise the cheapest way to access Apple Music and TV+. The deal is available to students for up to four years.

Apple Music has the benefit of being integrated into the widespread iPhone/Apple ecosystem and includes over 100 million songs, exclusive concerts, and original shows. The app is supported across all Apple devices in addition to PlayStation, Xbox, and smart TVs.

As part of the included Apple TV+ subscription, you’ll gain access to a library of shows and movies, both original and licensed, including Severance, Masters of the Air, Ted Lasso, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy action-comedy Argylle.

6. Spotify with Hulu (50% off minimum)

Students who prefer Spotify to Apple Music can also get their music for $6/month (after one month free). Like its competitor, Spotify throws in a TV/movie sub through its partnership with Hulu for a combined discount of 68%. Like Apple Music, Spotify offers the deal to students for up to four years, which is one of the best overall streaming bundles for students.

Unlike the free version, Spotify Premium allows you to listen to its 100 million songs in any order and listen to downloaded music offline. Spotify has the largest market share of any music streaming service. It’s often praised for the quality of its curated playlists and more robust social features.

7. Peacock (62% off)

Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming service, is offered to students for $2.99/month — almost 63% off the (recently increased) regular monthly rate of $7.99 — for a full year.

Peacock is an excellent option for those looking for lighter viewing options with sitcoms like The Office, Parks and Rec, Modern Family, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as reality series such as Below Deck, Love Island, The Real Housewives, and The Traitors. Recent original series from the streamer include Twisted Metal, Ted, and Poker Face. Peacock also gets all Universal Pictures movies as they come to streaming, giving you access to recent releases like Kung Fu Panda 4 and Monkey Man.

There is not currently a free trial available for Peacock, so this is about as affordable as it gets.

8. YouTube Premium (43% off)

Students can enjoy an ad-free YouTube experience with a Premium subscription for $8/month (after one free month) — 43% off the regular price of $14. While ad-free viewing is the big selling point here, other Premium perks include the ability to watch downloaded videos offline and a free sub to YouTube Music Premium.

What Are the Best Free Streaming Services?

There are also several streaming options available to students (and others) at no cost. These include ad-supported apps like the Roku Channel, Tubi, and Freevee, which offer thousands of free-to-stream shows and movies. You can check out our guides to the best free streaming sites and apps below:

• Best Free Movie Sites and Apps
• Best Free TV Sites and Apps
• Best Free Anime Sites

Streaming Discounts for Students FAQs

Does Disney+ have a student discount?

Disney+ does not officially offer a student discount, though students can save 15% on an annual subscription through the site UNiDAYS. You’ll be required to verify your student status, at which point you’ll be able to take advantage of the offer. Otherwise, you'll need to pick one of the full-priced Disney+ plans and bundles for options.

Does Netflix have a student discount?

No, Netflix does not offer a student discount or a free trial. Netflix subscriptions begin at $7/month with ads or $15.50/month without. The streamer also offers a $23/month Premium subscription, which is the only way to stream 4K content on Netflix. You can Check out our complete Netflix pricing guide for more info about the service.

Jordan Sirani covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.

If you're looking for something roomier, Tomtoc also has a sling-style case that's specifically made for portable gaming handhelds including the Switch 2. The padded compartment is shaped like a "W" to make room for a wide range of handhelds that have dual analog joysticks. It's not specifically designed for the Switch 2, so don't expect a molded fit, but there's plenty of room here to fit extra controllers, a charger or power bank, and more.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The JVSCAM cordless rechargeable electric air duster is a fairly straightforward device. An internal fan spins at up to 130,000RPM to move an appreciable amount of air. A nozzle funnels the air into a tight, high-velocity stream that's more than strong enough to kick up layers of dust that's been sitting on top of your computer components. It has three speed settings, although I would recommend keeping it at the max speed for optimal results. You also get four different sized nozzles, including a narrow funnel for tight spaces like between your keyboard's keys, and a wider nozzle for AoE damage.

The best thing about an electric duster as opposed to a compressed air canister is that it isn't disposable. It's rechargeable via the included USB-C cable, and its battery lasts more than long enough for your PC maintenance. And that's not all it's good for; I use a similar duster for other tasks, including cleaning out my coffee grinder and blowing leaves off the car.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Hulu + Live TV offers the best of multiple worlds, combining a robust live TV package with more than 95 channels and the Disney Bundle, which includes full access to Hulu, Disney+, and the all-new ESPN Unlimited service, all for one monthly price. That means you can enjoy the very best of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, live sports, and more as part of your subscription.

On top of that, you get unlimited DVR space so you can record your favorite shows and movies and watch them whenever you want. By default, you can stream on two supported devices at once, or upgrade to unlimited screens so the whole family can watch without interruptions.

Most importantly, Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial, giving you a chance to test out the service and everything it includes before committing to a subscription. This is also the best way to test out Disney+ or ESPN Unlimited, which don't offer their own free trials.

DirecTV Stream (5-Day Free Trial)

If you're looking to cut the cord with minimal interruption, DirecTV Stream is one of the best cable alternatives. Its new Genre Packs let you build a custom channel lineup based on your specific tastes and give you more control over what you pay for. If you prefer a broader selection, DirecTV Stream also offers three Signature Packages, each with an increasing number of channels to suit your needs. If you're looking for it all, the Ultimate pack includes more than 160 channels, covering live sports, news, and more.

DirecTV Stream includes unlimited DVR storage, simultaneous recording, and streaming on as many devices as you want within your home. Even better, you can watch your favorite shows up to 72 hours after they air—even if you forgot to record them—so you'll never miss a moment.

DirecTV Stream currently offers a five-day free trial, giving you a chance to try the service before committing.

YouTube TV (Trial Length Varies)

YouTube TV is the live TV companion to standard YouTube, offering over 100 channels that cover everything from major live sports to family-friendly entertainment. It’s a great option for families, as a single subscription can be shared with up to five additional users, each with their own personalized recommendations and unlimited DVR storage. You can stream on up to three devices at once, or pay a little extra to enable streaming on unlimited devices.

If you're an NFL fan, YouTube TV is a must as it’s the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. With this upgrade, you'll gain access to every NFL game throughout the season and can watch up to four games at once with multiview. The platform also offers unique features for live sports, including real-time scores and stats on your TV, a “key plays” view to quickly catch up on the biggest moments, and even fantasy sports integration to help you track your players and teams.

YouTube TV does offer a free trial, but the length varies depending on your Google account. Trial periods currently range from 2 to 21 days, so your mileage may vary.

Fubo (7-Day Free Trial)

Fubo is an excellent choice for live sports fans, offering access to over 55,000 live events each year, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA college sports, NASCAR, international soccer, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA, and more. Its base plan includes over 200 channels, with more than 35 regional sports networks, so there’s almost always a game on.

Because Fubo includes such a wide range of channels and sports coverage in its base plan, it does come with a higher price tag than many other live TV streaming services. Most plans support streaming on up to 10 devices at home, and up to three devices while on the go.

There's a seven-day free trial of Fubo available for new subscribers that lets you test out the service for yourself.

Philo (7-Day Free Trial)

Philo may not be a household name, but it’s one of the best-kept secrets in TV streaming. Similar to Sling TV, it’s a budget-friendly live TV service that covers most of your entertainment needs at a reasonable monthly price. For under $30 a month, Philo offers more than 70 channels, including AMC, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, and more. If you’re not interested in live sports or news, there’s a good chance Philo has you covered.

In addition to live TV, a Philo subscription includes access to over 75,000 on-demand movies and shows, so there's always something to watch. You also get unlimited DVR storage, although recordings expire after 12 months.

Philo currently offers a generous 7-day free trial, so you can give the service a test run before subscribing.

Are There Ways to Watch Free Live TV Without a Subscription?

Although you won't be able to get access to the same number of channels or live events, there are actually a few different ways to watch live TV without a subscription service. There are a number of free TV streaming services out there that you can easily access online. Some options, like Sling Freestream, don't even require a login to access free channels.

Alternatively, the easiest way to gain access to live channels is via a TV antenna. You can get free local channels out of the air as long as you have the right equipment to access it. A good HDTV antenna can be a pretty cheap investment and is one of the best ways to watch at least some live sports without a subscription.

Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

When Microsoft announced the Xbox Ally X back in June 2025, I didn't really know what to make of it. The company was teaming up with Asus to make an Xbox version of the excellent ROG Ally X. It turns out that the main reason for this was to create something that'd serve as a pilot run for a new version of Windows 11 that'd be a bit more controller-friendly. Now that the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is here, I've seen firsthand that this partnership has mostly been successful.

The new Xbox Full Screen Experience that's at the core of the Xbox Ally X does need some polish still, but it does change how you interact with a handheld gaming PC. Most people that primarily use Xbox Game Pass and Steam will hardly ever have to poke around the desktop, beyond initiating Windows updates or installing apps like Discord. Instead, the system boots into a full-screen version of the Xbox app, where you'll be able to download and install select third-party stores like Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, along with launching the games you install from these services.

You will still have to deal with these apps to actually download and install the games. The launches open within the Full Screen Experience, so you won't have to go to the desktop, but how controller-friendly these apps are varies wildly. Steam is easy to use with a controller, for instance, but you're going to have to use the touch screen to navigate around the Epic Games Store. That's largely on the developers of these other apps to create a controller-focused UX – there's not much Microsoft or Asus could have done here.

As for performance, when I reviewed the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, I found that it was the fastest handheld that I've reviewed so far, with the console able to hit up to 44fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings and upscaling set to Quality. Even when I unplugged the device to test the battery, I found that at its 17W power setting I was still able to get 30-35fps in Cyberpunk, except for in particularly demanding areas like Dogtown. As long as you can swallow the admittedly high price of $999 – something that's plaguing this entire generation of PC handhelds – the Xbox Ally X is easily the best one out there, especially if you're not too attached to the idea of a beautiful OLED display. In that case, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is right there.

When the Lenovo Legion Go S first came out in February 2025, it was a hot mess. The configuration Lenovo initially released was bogged down by the weak Z2 Go processor, which didn't pair well with Windows. And because it was both running Windows 11 and had 32GB of memory, this weaker handheld was just as expensive – if not moreso – than the original Legion Go that preceded it. But Lenovo has righted the ship by launching the Go S with the Z1 Extreme and SteamOS built-in.

This system is still expensive. You're looking at $829 to get this model, but that's only a bit more than the Asus ROG Ally X, which ended up being slower, if only by a bit, in my tests. When I reviewed this new Lenovo Legion Go S, the SteamOS-powered handheld beat out the Ally X in synthetic benchmarks by as much as 9%. That's not bad, considering that handheld had the performance crown before this system came out.

The elephant in the room is the Steam Deck. Even three years after its release, it's still an incredible and popular handheld, and it's not hard to see why. It's easy to use and it's literally half the price of the Go S. But not only do you get a higher resolution display with this Legion Go S, you also get as much as double the performance. I was able to get a solid 60fps playing Baldur's Gate 3, and that's something I straight up couldn't do on the Steam Deck. Whether or not that's worth the higher price tag depends entirely on what you're looking for.

A great handheld gaming system is about more than just raw performance. It also needs to be comfortable to use, and despite the sytem being one of the largest I've used – and I've used a lot of them – it's extremely comfortable. The Lenovo Legion Go S has rounded edges that give you something to hold on to, and the textured finish makes it harder to slip out of your hands.

The Go S also has one of the most beautiful LCD displays I've seen in a while and proves that OLED isn't the only way to get a great picture in 2026. It's not quite as colorful as the Steam Deck OLED, to be fair, but it still made any game I played on it look awesome.

Responsible for popularizing the handheld gaming PC revolution, the Valve Steam Deck doesn’t actually come with Windows installed. Instead, it uses Valve’s custom SteamOS, and thanks to the API Proton, the Steam Deck supports dozens of games optimized for the portable, from Cyberpunk 2077 to Forza Horizon 5.

There are ways to get Windows running on the 7-inch display portable by booting directly from the USB-C port. Beyond that is one of the best input controls available for any portable gaming handheld. See our full comparison between the Steam Deck and ROG Ally here.

There’s also the OLED version of the Steam Deck to consider for users who prefer a larger, brighter, and more vibrant screen. While still displaying at 1200x800, the Steam Deck OLED offers a noticeable difference, providing more clarity for a better visual experience. You'll also get improved battery life, a higher refresh rate, and more storage than the 256GB offered in the tradtional LCD model.

Is it odd to classify the Steam Deck as the "budget" option? Maybe, but gaming handhelds isn't exactly a category known for being inexpensive, and the Steam Deck is by and large at least a couple hundred dollars less than the other entries on this list.

The Lenovo Legion Go was one of the first Windows-based handhelds to hit the market from a major manufacturer, so it was only a matter of time before it got a sequel. With the Legion Go 2, Lenovo is clearly taking its vision in a more premium direction.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the Legion Go 2 is its price. This thing starts at $1,099, which will get you the base AMD Z2 APU along with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. However, if you really want this thing to shine with its OLED display, you're going to want to pair it with the AMD Z2 Extreme and 32GB of RAM, and that configuration is going to set you back at least $1,349. That's a lot to ask for a handheld gaming PC, especially when you consider you can get a pretty solid gaming laptop for the same amount of money that will perform much better.

Not that the Legion Go 2 is a slouch, though. When I reviewed the Legion Go 2, it was between 10-20% faster than the Z1 Extreme in a similar configuration. Combine that with the gorgeous OLED display, and it provides a much better gaming experience than its predecessor. While the display has been upgraded to an OLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and VRR, the resolution has been lowered from 2560x1600 to 1920x1200. In a way, this configuration makes a bit more sense, as the 1600p display in the original Legion Go was quite hard to drive with its hardware.

The Go 2 keeps the removable controllers from the original, but slightly rearranges the buttons to make them way more user-friendly. The Start and Select buttons are similar to where you would find them on any normal controller, and the handheld has dedicated buttons to bring up the desktop and enter Task View to swap between apps. Will these buttons will stay useful once the Xbox Full Screen Experience becomes available sometime next year? Unclear, but for the time being they make Windows much easier to navigate.

Honorable Mention: MSI Claw A8

MSI has been making handheld gaming PCs for a while now, and the company just put out the Claw A8, powered by the AMD Z2 Extreme. Just like the Xbox Ally X and the Legion Go 2, which are also powered by this next-gen chip, this is a performant little machine. What's especially impressive about it is the battery life, while we were playing Cyberpunk 2077, the Claw A8 lasted nearly 3 hours – making it the longest-lasting handheld yet.

However, when we reviewed the Claw A8, there were a couple things that held it back from truly contending with the top handhelds on this list. The software is a big one; despite it supporting the new Xbox Full Screen Experience, you still have to contend with MSI's software to do any kind of tweaking, and it just doesn't have the same kind of polish as Asus' software – at least not yet. The handheld is also significantly more expensive, coming in at £850 in the UK. The Claw A8 isn't available in the US yet, but that would make it about $1,145 – nearly $150 more than the already-expensive Xbox Ally X, and putting it up there with the Lenovo Legion Go 2, just without the OLED display.

Maybe once this handheld actually launches in the US, the price will come down a little bit, but until then I can't recommend it over the other options.

While the regular ad-supported bundle will be priced at $35.99, Disney+'s exclusive offer for new subscribers in the U.S. drops that price to $29.99 for your first 12 months. So, for a closer price to the pre-existing ESPN+ bundle, you get access to all of the networks now included in ESPN Unlimited.

Another way to look at the offer is that you essentially get Disney+ and Hulu for “free,” as a standalone ESPN Unlimited subscription starts at $29.99/month, the same price as the bundled deal.

An ad-free premium plan is also available at a whopping $44.99/month. A similar discount is applied for new subscribers, who can get their first 12 months at $38.99/month. Note that ESPN Unlimited includes linear networks that inevitably have commercials, so the "ads question" only applies to Hulu and Disney+. Just keep in mind that both offers will end tonight at midnight.

What Is ESPN Unlimited?

ESPN Unlimited is a new and particularly comprehensive sports streaming subscription from ESPN. For context, the more limited plan previously known as ESPN+ has become ESPN Select and continues to cost $11.99/month.

The main draw of the new service is access to ESPN's linear networks that host the NFL, CFB, NBA and WNBA, as well as SportsCenter, College GameDay, First Take, and more flagship coverage from the media giant. These streams are in addition to what you’d previously find on ESPN+, namely ESPN originals like the 30 for 30 library. You can see a full comparison of the ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited offerings here.

The ESPN streaming service arrived amidst big shifts in the licensing space for sports. UFC, which was previously available as PPV events on ESPN+, will be moving away from the PPV format and onto Paramount+ after a multi-billion dollar deal.

UFC will be exclusively on Paramount Plus beginning next year. pic.twitter.com/HZZltFrvSt

— IGN Deals (@IGNDeals) August 11, 2025

For whatever reason, it’s typically been a pain just trying to watch a full season of any league on a single service. Here’s to hoping these big licensing moves change that.

Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who, when she isn't following streaming news, spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

The iBuypower Y40 Pro is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor, GeForce RTX 5080 16GB graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU has a max turbo frequency of 5.6GHz with 12 cores, 24 threads, and a 64MB L2 cache. In terms of gaming performance, this CPU is comparable to the Intel Core i7-14700K according to Passmark benchmarks. With a high clock speed and a decent number of cores, this is a great CPU for both gaming and productivity and is a good complement to the RTX 5080 GPU.

The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K

Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

As of right now, DirecTV Stream is the most comprehensive option for NBA fans who want to cut the cord. While each of their signature packages features the trio of channels needed to watch all major NBA games (ABC, ESPN, and NBC), the best value is the DirecTV Choice package as it also includes access to NBA TV. With this package, you'll have access to over 125 channels including every major nationwide game and a great selection of regional sporting events based on your location.

If you're a diehard sports fan, DirecTV now offers standalone Genre Packs, including the MySports pack, which is priced at $69.99 per month—cheaper than each of the standard bundles. This pack includes over 20 sports-focused channels, such as ESPN, TNT, FS1, NBA TV, and NFL Network, plus an ESPN Unlimited subscription for even more sports content.

ESPN Unlimited

Best for ESPN and ABC Games

Earlier this year, ESPN launched a new service called ESPN Unlimited. The main difference between this service and its predecessor, ESPN+, is that it actually grants you access to all of the ESPN channels without the need for a live TV service. Since it is owned by Disney, that means you'll also get access to any of the games that play on ABC as well. That means you'll get access to all of the games except the ones on NBC.

You can currently get a standalone subscription to ESPN Unlimited for $29.99 or bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price (for a limited time). With the most recent Disney+ price hike now in effect, this is the only bundle that didn't get a price increase for 2025. You can also choose to add NFL+ premium to that bundle, making this one of the best new services for NFL games as well.

Hulu + Live TV

Best Streaming Bundle With NBA Games

Hulu + Live TV is a great option for sports fans who also want to indulge in great TV series and movies as it features over 95 channels plus the Disney Bundle as part of its monthly subscription price. It checks all the boxes for NBA fans with ABC and ESPN included (they are Disney-owned, of course), plus the remaining games on NBC.

In addition to having access to everything in the Disney+ and Hulu libraries, Hulu + Live TV also grants you access to ESPN Unlimited which unlocks additional exclusive sporting events (like UFC and college sports), original programming, and more. There is also a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV available for new subscribers if you want to test out the service at no cost.

Sling TV

Best Value

If being able to catch every major NBA game for the lowest possible price is your only priority, then Sling TV is your answer. Sling TV's Orange plan will get you access to most nationally televised NBA games as it features ESPN and TNT as part of its 35-channel lineup. However, the primary reason Sling TV is a less expensive option is that it excludes local channels, such as ABC. Instead, Sling recommends you pair your subscription with a TV antenna (sold separately) to receive your local channels.

If you'd rather not worry about an external antenna, Sling TV's Blue plan does include local channels like ABC, NBC, and FOX in select markets. You'll need to enter your zip code on Sling's website to verify which (if any) local channels are available to you with this plan. If you do happen get ABC in your area, you can bundle Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans together for $60.99 per month to enjoy every NBA game. There's also the company's free service, Sling Freestream, which lets you watch some older games at no cost.

NBA League Pass

Best For Out of Market Games

NBA League Pass is a fantastic option for NBA fans...of out of market teams. The NBA's flagship service features live coverage of every game (excluding nationally broadcast and your local market games) through the NBA app or NBA.com. Nationally broadcast games (like those on ABC, ESPN, or TNT) are available to stream on-demand three hours after they air, while locally televised games are available three days later.

Additionally, NBA League Pass features condensed recaps of every game, access to NBA TV's 24/7 live stream, full game archives dating back to the 2012-13 NBA season, and much more. NBA League Pass is available as a monthly subscription or you can choose to prepay for the entire season.

NBA Streaming FAQs

Can You Watch Live NBA Games For Free?

Sort of. If you have a TV antenna installed, you can watch games airing on ABC over the air. All other NBA games require either a cable subscription or a mix of select streaming services.

Which NBA Streaming Services Have Free Trials?

Currently, you can score a five-day free trial of DirecTV Stream and a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV if you want to catch some upcoming NBA games. As of this writing, Sling TV and ESPN Unlimited don't offer free trials, but both have limited time offers to save on monthly subscriptions. NBA League Pass doesn't have a direct free trial, but if you add it through an existing Prime Video subscription, you'll get seven days free.

If you're looking to stream more than just sports, check out our list of the Best Streaming Services With Free Trials in 2026.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

This Iniu power bank features a 10,000mAh (37Wh) battery capacity. If you factor in 80% power efficiency, here are the approximate number of times you can fully recharge some of the more popular gaming handhelds and smartphones:

• Nintendo Switch (16Whr) about 1.9 times
• Nintendo Switch 2 (20Whr) about 1.5 times
• Steam Deck (40Whr) about 0.74 times
• Apple iPhone 17 (14Whr) about 2.1 times
• Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (20Whr) about 1.5 times

The Iniu power bank has three output ports: two 45W USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. The built-in lanyard doubles as a 5" USB Type-C cable. The 45W of Power Delivery is enough to charge the Nintendo Switch (18W) and Steam Deck (40W) at their fastest rate. This power bank is also a good match with the Apple iPhone 17, since ChargerLAB has shown that the charging rate caps at about 30W for the iPhone 17 and 37W for the iPhone 17 Pro.

For more options, check out our favorite portable power banks for traveling.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The RTX 5070 Ti GPU Is Our Best Reviewed Nvidia Blackwell GPU

It excels at 4K gaming performance at a reasonable price point

Of all the Blackwell cards released thus far, the RTX 5070 Ti offers the best value for high-fps 4K gaming. It performs neck-and-neck with the RTX 4080 Super but with the added bonus of newer GDDR7 VRAM and DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. If you plan on using this card for AI, the RTX 5070 Ti is a better value than the RTX 5080 since both have same amount of RAM (16GB). Compared to AMD, the RTX 5070 Ti is roughly comparable in raw performance to the AMD RX 9070 XT, but the 5070 Ti has considerably better upscaling technology and ray tracing performance.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Graphics Card for $549

The RTX 5070 performs on par with the previous generation RTX 4070 Super - which was already an excellent card for 1080p and 1440p gaming - but with DLSS4 and multi-frame generation. It's equipped with 12GB of GDDR7 VRAM which allows it to keep up with high-fps gaming at 1440p. You'll even be able to play less demanding games at 4K as well, although you'll see a significant performance uplift upgrading to the 5070 Ti at that point.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Graphics Card for $449.99

There are two RTX 5060 Ti variants floating around with the only difference being the amount of VRAM, either 8GB or 16GB. If you can afford it, you should only get the 16GB model. Numerous outlets have shown that the performance gap between the 8GB and 16GB models is huge. The model I've linked to above is a 16GB model, which is an excellent option for 1080p gaming. It outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti by about 20% and the RTX 3060 Ti by 40% and that's without DLSS4.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

If you're looking for a live TV streaming service with a focus on sports, Fubo is likely your best option. It will give you online access to all of the normal local channels and also includes access to the new ESPN Unlimited service. Both of the available subscription plans include Unlimited DVR, but if you want access to RedZone you'll need to go with the Elite with Sports Plus package.

Fubo comes in two different tiers, Pro and Elite with Sports Plus. The Pro plan will get you access to most of what you need to watch NFL games as well as 241 total channels for $84.99 per month. Upgrading to the next tier will get you access to more channels, RedZone, and 4K streaming for $104.99. There's also a free trial available for Fubo that will let you test out the service for seven days before you have to pay.

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited, NFL+ Premium Bundle

Best All-Around Streaming Bundle with NFL Games

If you're not interested in adding a live TV service to your monthly bill, Disney+ recently launched a new bundle offer that can help you save quite a bit. This was announced alongside the new ESPN Unlimited service last month and includes access to Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions as well. As of September 3, you can also choose to bundle NFL+ Premium in as an add-on, making it the best new streaming option for watching NFL games.

The base bundle is currently priced at $29.99 for the first 12 months of your subscription, and you can choose to add on NFL+ Premium for an additional $10. This will get you access to most regular season NFL games as well as RedZone for $39.99 per month. The biggest downside is that NFL+ Premium will only let you stream games via your phone or tablet.

Prime Video

Best for Thursday Night Football (and Free Shipping)

Prime Video is maybe not the most ideal one-stop shop if you're looking for a comprehensive NFL streaming service, but it does get you access to most Thursday Night Football games (and already comes included with any Amazon Prime subscription). The exception to this was the very first game of the season and Thanksgiving. You can see the full schedule of upcoming NFL games you can watch with Prime directly from the Prime Video website. It's also worth noting that Prime Video will be streaming the Black Friday Football game this year in tandem with the Amazon Black Friday sale.

An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Thursday Night Football games will be streamed live online via the Prime Video app or directly from Amazon's website. The main reason to get an Amazon Prime subscription is still the free shipping on stuff you buy from Amazon, but watching the occasional NFL game is a bonus. Amazon Prime currently has one of the best free trials in all of streaming that lets you access the service for 30 days before paying anything.

Paramount+

Best Streaming Option for CBS Broadcasts

Similar to Amazon Prime, Paramount+ is really just a streaming service that also happens to have some NFL games. The only games you'll be able to stream are the ones that are also being broadcast on CBS, which you could also watch on live TV if you wished to avoid paying for this service. The Paramount+ website has a full schedule of what games will be available for the first week and beyond that I'd recommend checking out.

The main draw of Paramount+ outside of NFL games is the original content that is only available there. This streaming service is the home of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and also where you can currently stream new South Park episodes. There are two tiers of Paramount+ available, with the cheapest starting at $7.99 with ads. There's also a fall promo going on that takes 50% off the price when you subscribe annually.

NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV

Best for Out-of-Market Games

If you're specifically looking for a single service that has every single NFL game, YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket is probably your best bet. The YouTube TV part of this bundle will include any in-market local and national NFL games streamed live, while NFL Sunday Ticket will get you all of the out-of-market Sunday games as well. The add-on is the only way to get access to those non-local games and YouTube is the only place that currently offers it.

The main downside of this option is that you'll need to add on other services to watch additional NFL games. Access to ESPN is required for Monday Night Football games and Prime Video is required for Thursday Night Football games. You can add these on for an additional cost, but it will start to get expensive compared to some other options on this list. Disney is also currently in a contract dispute with YouTube TV so there's actually no way to included ESPN currently. YouTube TV is offering new users an NFL Sunday Ticket bundle for only $83.40 per month for the first two months before that price goes up.

NFL Streaming FAQs

Can you watch NFL games without a streaming subscription?

You don't need a streaming or cable subscription to watch some NFL games, but you will need one to watch all of them. There will be games available on live TV every week on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC that you can access with a TV antenna for free. In addition to these games, Twitch will stream Thursday Night Football games for free. The games you won't be able to access for free are anything playing on ESPN or out-of-market Sunday games.

What's the cheapest way to watch every regular season NFL game?

Because of how NFL streaming rights are set up, there is no cheap way to watch all of the games in 2026. To watch every game for the lowest possible price you'll need access to ESPN Unlimited, NFL+, Netflix, Peacock, and Amazon Prime. This is due to both Netflix and Peacock having exclusive rights to some games later in the season. For a full breakdown of what you'll need to subscribe to and when, I'd suggest taking a look at this comprehensive Reddit thread breaking it down.

Where will Super Bowl 2026 be available to stream?

Super Bowl LX will be available to watch live on NBC on February 8, 2026. This means if you’re hoping to stream the game online you’ll need to do it through Peacock, which is owned by NBC.

• 4K UHD (non-steelbook): Amazon | Walmart
• Blu-ray: Amazon | Walmart

The steelbook sets you up with a copy of Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (feel free to check out IGN's review) on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. It also features a slightly different cover to the standard 4K and Blu-ray, with just Freddy peeking through the curtain on the front, while the 4K and Blu-ray covers feature red backgrounds with multiple animatronics coming through the "2" cut out in the middle.

This two-movie collection sets you up with both Five Nights at Freddy’s and its sequel on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. It also comes with bonus features for both films. The sequel's can be found below, but here are the bonus features that come with the first film:

• Five Nights at Freddy's: From Game to Big Screen
• Killer Animatronics
• Five Nights in Three Dimensions

OLED TVs feature best-in-class image quality thanks to their near-infinite black level, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response time. For most use cases, there isn't a better TV that you can get for the same price.

The S90D is Samsung's 2024 S90 series TV. This is a higher end model that's equipped with a quantum dot (QD) OLED panel, which is brighter and boasts a wider color gamut than traditional W-OLED panels like Samsung's lower end S85 series. It is a slightly older model than the current generation Samsung S90F that was released in 2025, but that TV currently costs $500 more and image quality is practically identical.

OLED qualities aside, the Samsung S90D also has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz as well as four total HDMI 2.1 ports for running 4K at 120Hz on a PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming console. The S90D also supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode

Is this a good TV for the Nintendo Switch 2?

Despite being a current generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2 has lax TV requirements compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X. When the Switch is connected to its dock and a television, it is only capable of outputting a 4K resolution signal at up to 60 frames per second. It can go up to 120fps if the resolution drops to 1080p, but the data rate required for both these options is pretty much the same. Oddly, it doesn’t even get VRR when docked – that’s reserved for handheld mode only. The Switch 2 console, however, will still benefit greatly from the Samsung's gorgeous OLED panel.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

As the ultimate anime streaming service, Crunchyroll offers free ad-supported streaming of a selection of its library. What's available with Crunchyroll's free tier changes with seasonal releases, but it's consistently one of the best ways to check out the latest and greatest anime for free. Right now, you can watch the first season of massive hits like Solo Leveling, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Apothecary Diaries for free. The free streaming tier doesn't always limit you to a first season, either. For example, you won't get cut off from watching every season of My Hero Academia, Spy X Family, or Demon Slayer.

If a particular Premium offering catches your eye, you can also sign up for (then try and remember to cancel) a seven-day free trial of Crunchyroll Premium.

Free Anime on Crunchyroll:

Tubi

Tubi is one of the best free streaming sites, period, and licensing deals with the likes of Crunchyroll, Konami, GKIDS, and Viz Media mean the free platform is stocked with a solid amount of anime. You’ll find plenty of the classics, like Naruto, Pokémon, and Sailor Moon, shoujo favorites like Toradora and Maid-Sama, and comedies like Daily Lives of High School Boys. Tubi also has a surprisingly great selection of anime movies, including films directed by Satoshi Kon and Naoko Yamada. And if you're interested in american cartoons, Tubi recently started streaming Looney Tunes shorts after HBO Max decided to remove them from its platform.

Free Anime on Tubi:

Sling TV Freestream

Sling TV’s new Freestream platform combines a bunch of existing free streaming "channels" into a single platform. One of those streaming libraries is RetroCrush, which itself is a great free anime site focused on old-school classics like Ghost Stories and City Hunter. Freestream also includes “sneak peaks” at programming from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including the recent Uzumaki anime and, interestingly enough, the final season of Attack on Titan.

Free Anime on Sling TV Freestream:

Viz Media

Viz Media is a major distributor of anime and manga in North America. While the Viz website does offer free manga chapters (as well as physical volumes), you'll only find physical releases for anime. However, you can find a pretty decent selection of free anime on the Viz Media YouTube channel, including a full spread of InuYasha, Naruto, and Sailor Moon movies.

Free Anime From Viz Media:

Hoopla

This one's a little different, as it does require a bit of an investment. That is, you have to have an eligible library card to sign up. If you do, you're all set to access a range of series through Hoopla, including the Pokémon Binge Pass, which is one of the most fleshed-out collections of the Pokémon anime. Keep in mind that, like a library, you have to "check out" certain series, which you may only have access to for a certain amount of time, typically around one week.

While it may not have the widest selection of anime series, one big benefit of Hoopla is that it also allows you to rent ebooks, manga, and comics. It's one of the best places to read books for free online or anywhere.

Free Anime on Hoopla:

Free Anime Sites FAQ

Are there any free anime sites without ads?

Unfortunately, by virtue of licensing agreements, ads are par for the course for free streaming sites. If you find a streaming site without ads, it's more than likely on the "riskier" side of the internet. No judgment, of course.

Is there free anime on YouTube?

Beyond Viz Media's official channel, there’s a treasure trove of free anime on YouTube. I won’t necessarily point you (or the copyright police) in any specific direction, but I will say it’s worth checking if something you’re interested in is on there.

Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

Hulu + Live TV features a comprehensive offering of the most popular sports across its more than 95 channels, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, international soccer, UFC, and more. In addition to games airing on local channels, there are several sporting events to watch regularly on ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and FS1, just to name a few.

Since Hulu + Live TV also includes the Disney Bundle as part of its monthly subscription price, you'll also gain access to ESPN Unlimited which unlocks all ESPN chanels, additional exclusive sporting events (like UFC and college sports), original programming, and more.

Hulu + Live TV also includes a three-day free trial, so you can test out the service before you use it.

ESPN Unlimited With NFL+ Premium

Best for Streaming Live NFL Games

ESPN Unlimited is still a new service, but as of September 3 you can now choose to bundle it with NFL+ Premium. This new streaming option comes after ESPN announced it was acquiring NFL Network back in August. The service will include everything available on ESPN Unlimited as well as the full suite of coverage from NFL+ Premium for $39.99. You can also choose to bundle this with Disney+ and Hulu for a limited time.

This new streaming service won't have all of the NFL games available, but it will have most of them. Access to ESPN channels will get you Monday Night Football while the NFL+ Premium subscription will get you access to local and primetime games as well as NFL RedZone on Sundays. The main downside is that NFL+ only allows you to watch these games live on your phone or tablet. This new bundle is one of the best options for streaming NFL games live this year.

Fubo

Best Variety

Fubo may not be a household name, but it's our pick for the best variety of sporting events to stream and now even includes access to ESPN Unlimited. It features more than 55,000 sporting events per year including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA college sports, NASCAR, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA events, and much more. Additionally, international soccer fans can enjoy popular options such as Premier League, LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Liga MX, and Serie A.

If you're itching for even more sports programming, Fubo also has various sports add-on packages that include extra channels such as NFL Redzone, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, a number of international sports channels, and many NCAA conference-specific channels. If you want to try out the service before you commit, there is a fubo seven-day free trial available for new subscribers.

While Fubo is still a standalone streaming service, it's worth noting that the company is in the process of selling to Disney. According to recent reports, that sale is expected to happen sometime in early 2026. This sale would see Hulu + Live TV combining with Fubo eventually.

Peacock

Best For Premier League Soccer and WWE

Since Peacock is owned by parent company NBC Universal, you'll have plenty of sports at your fingertips to stream with this subscription. Premier League soccer, arguably one of the most popular sports worldwide, is widely available to stream on Peacock. With season-long live coverage and exclusive matches available, you'll be able to catch the biggest matches from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and more.

For fans of WWE, Peacock is a no-brainer as it's the exclusive live streaming home for every WWE premium event including Wrestlemania. But that's not all Peacock has to offer as you'll also be able to catch every NFL Sunday Night Football game as well as Big Ten college basketball.

Although Peacock doesn't currently offer a free trial, there are occasionaly subscription deals for the service that drop the price pretty significantly.

ESPN Unlimited

Best for ESPN Networks

ESPN has officially launched a new streaming service that includes the full suite of ESPN Networks in one package. ESPN Unlmited has expanded what the previous service, ESPN+, had offered prior. In addtion to original content, the new service includes the following channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX.

ESPN also recently reached a deal with the NFL that will eventually bring the NFL Network over to the service. There was also a new agreement reached with WWE that will bring WrestleMania to ESPN Unlimited sometime in 2026. So while this service is still fairly new, there's more expected to arrive on it next year.

An ESPN Unlimited subscription is $29.99 per month or $299.99 annually. New subscribers also have the option to sign up a Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle at no extra cost for the first 12 months. If you're looking for just the content offered on ESPN+ previously, you can choose to sign up for the cheaper ESPN Select plan.

DirecTV Stream

Best Cable Alternative

DirecTV Stream is the satellite-free offering from DirecTV that anyone can sign up for. This streaming-only option includes everything you'd expect from a cable alternative including local networks and popular sports channels such as ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, NBC Golf, FS1, NBA TV, MLB Network, and the Tennis Channel.

For sports fans specifically, the DirecTV Choice package is the best bang for your buck, providing access over 125 channels, including major nationwide games and a strong selection of regional sporting events based on your location.

For new subscribers, DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial that lets you test out the service. DirecTV Stream is also our top pick for streaming NBA games live.

Paramount Plus

Best for PGA Golf

Paramount+ offers all the sports content you'd expect from CBS Sports, including NFL on CBS games and every UEFA Champions League soccer match. Along with a library of sports movies and TV shows, Paramount+ provides daily programming from CBS Sports HQ, documentaries, and more.

For golf fans, upgrading to the Paramount+ with Showtime plan is a great option, as it includes everything in the Essential tier and adds access to major PGA Tour events like the Farmers Insurance Open and the Wyndham Championship.

Paramount+ actually does offer a free trial for new subscribers and is a great way to get sports and other streaming favorites. Paramount is the home of franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, SpongeBob, and new South Park episodes, so it's a good one to try for free if you haven't already.

Paramount also recently reached a deal with UFC that will bring the sport to Paramount+. This is a seven year deal that is expected to begin this year.

MLB.TV

Best for out-of-market MLB games

Major League Baseball games are available with almost all of the streaming services on this list, but no service has everything. Due to various licensing agreements, it's impossible to find all MLB games on a single service, but an MLB.TV subscription will get you the most. For $94.99 a year or $29.99 a month you'll get access to every out-of-market game. This includes both the the regular season and offseason games.

If you want to test out the service to see what kind of coverage you'll get, there is a 7-day free trial currently available.

Prime Video

Best All-Around Subscription Service

Anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription will get access to Prime Video. Amazon Prime is still primarily a shopping service, but the streaming benefit has grown quite a bit in recent years and now includes a variety of sports. Thanks to a contract with the NFL, Prime Video is now the home of Thursday Night Football. And as of this year, there are even NBA games available.

It certainly doesn't have every game or match available, but Prime Video has become a major powerhouse in the world of sports streaming and is definitely worth considering if you're looking for an affordable option. An Amazon Prime memberhsip costs $14.99 per month and there are free trials available for new subscribers as well as students.

Sports Streaming FAQs

Can You Watch Live Sports For Free?

Yes, you can watch select live sports for free. Although, the type of sport and frequency varies significantly. You can access local channels with a TV antenna and watch many popular sporting events including NFL, MLB, and NBA games, just to name a few, over the air. Streaming services like Sling Freestream also offer ad-supported access to certain live sports.

Which Sports Streaming Services Have Free Trials?

Just about every sports streaming service mentioned above has a free trial you can take advantage of. Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Amazon Prime, and Paramount+ all have trials that range from three days to a week. And, if you time it well, you may even be able to watch multiple live sporting events that you're interested in during the free trial period. The only outliers currently without a free trial are Peacock and ESPN+, although the latter is available as part of the Hulu + Live TV free trial.

If you're looking to stream more than just sports, check out our list of the best streaming services with free trials in 2026 or more specifically dive into the live TV services with free trials list we've curated.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.