52 Best Sports Apps for Google TV in 2026 (Free & Paid, All Tested)

Three months, one Chromecast with Google TV 4K mounted above my fireplace, and more playoff weekends than my sleep schedule appreciated. I installed every sports app I could find on the Google Play Store — and a handful more via sideload — then actually ran them through live games. Not scrolled through the UI and called it a review. Live games, prime time, on a real connection.

Here’s what Google TV gets right that other streaming sticks don’t: it runs full Android TV under the hood, so the Google Play Store gives you direct access to almost every major sports app in existence. No workarounds required for 95% of what’s on this list. No sideloading hoops, no alternative app stores, no hunting for obscure APK URLs.

That said — not everything in the Play Store is actually good. Some apps look great in screenshots and fall apart the second a live stream starts. This list cuts the noise.

What I Tested For

I judged every app on five criteria: live streaming reliability during peak game times (not just idle browsing), Google TV remote navigation with a D-pad, load speed from app launch to actual live content, picture quality on a 4K HDR display where supported, and whether the free tier is genuinely useful or just a bait-and-switch. Apps that looked good in a demo but buffered through a second half didn’t make this list.

Quick comparison before we dive in:

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Part 1: Best Free Sports Apps for Google TV

1. ESPN

ESPNFreemium

ESPN was my daily driver on the Chromecast with Google TV from the first week of testing, and it earned its place. The app handles the full breadth of American sports — NFL Sunday night games, NBA playoff runs, college football Saturdays, PGA Tour events — and the Google TV version is notably better than versions I’ve used on older devices. Big buttons, logical navigation, and the remote works exactly how you expect it to without extra clicks.

Live streaming requires either cable authentication or an ESPN+ subscription for most content, but the free layer isn’t a joke — live scores, highlights, breaking news, and studio programming are all accessible without spending a dollar. If you sideload nothing else on this list, at minimum install ESPN first from the Google Play Store.

2. Peacock

PeacockFreemium

Peacock’s free tier is more useful than most people know. You get rotating sports content without a credit card — classic games, sports documentaries, and occasional live events. The Premium tier is where the real catalog opens: NFL Sunday Night Football that airs exclusively on Peacock (meaning no cable, no problem), select Premier League matches, and a deep WWE library. I streamed a full Premier League weekend through Peacock Premium on my Google TV and had zero quality issues on a 200 Mbps connection.

3. Tubi

Tubi

Tubi doesn’t announce itself as a sports app, but the Sports section inside it is legitimate. Classic game replays, boxing and MMA archives, sports documentaries, and event coverage from leagues that don’t have their own streaming deals. I found entire seasons of regional fight cards and motorsport retrospectives I didn’t know existed. It won’t replace a live TV service — but for sports content between seasons, or when you want to revisit a classic matchup, it’s free and requires no sign-up.

4. Pluto TV

Pluto TV

Pluto TV runs linear channels, and the sports-focused ones are worth keeping pinned. Dedicated 24/7 channels for combat sports, motorsports highlights, and sports news run continuously — similar to channel-surfing a real cable guide. The live channel model means you watch what’s on rather than choosing specific content, which is either a feature or a limitation depending on how you watch TV. I keep two Pluto sports channels on rotation for weekend mornings.

5. CBS Sports

CBS Sports is free on the Google Play Store and earns its place in two ways: live local CBS game broadcasts during NFL season (no authentication required in most US markets) and a reliable sports news hub with real-time scores, highlights, and analysis. The Google TV app navigates cleanly with a remote. March Madness streaming is another reason to have this installed — CBS Sports has carried the tournament for years and the live bracket experience on a 4K screen is genuinely good.

6. Fox Sports

The Fox Sports app requires cable authentication for live game streams, but highlights and clips are fully free. During NFL season it’s non-negotiable for Fox broadcast games — Thursday Night Football, NFC matchups, and playoff games. The Google TV app is functional and fast; nothing flashy, but the remote navigation doesn’t fight you.

7. NBC Sports

NBC Sports content has largely migrated to Peacock, but the standalone app still surfaces regional sports content, game schedules, and highlights. Worth installing if your cable provider gives you NBC authentication — it unlocks some live content that Peacock doesn’t carry.

8. Yahoo Sports

Yahoo Sports is one of the better free scores-and-fantasy hubs on Google TV. The interface scales surprisingly well to a 4K display — better than most news-forward sports apps. Real-time scores, standings, game highlights, injury updates, and push notifications on a TV screen. Also where you manage Yahoo Fantasy leagues from the couch, which is more convenient than it sounds.

9. Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report is the fast-update app in this category. If you want breaking news and highlights during a live game — trades, injury alerts, score changes — it surfaces information faster than most competitors. The Google TV app reads like a scrollable headline feed, which actually works well on a TV. Not a live streaming app, but a useful companion while another app is running.

10. TheScore

TheScore gives you a multi-sport dashboard — live scores across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, Premier League, and more on a single screen. The Google TV version is D-pad navigable, and the live game view shows real-time stats alongside the running score. Genuinely one of the better “know what’s happening everywhere at once” apps I tested.

11. FlashScore / Livescore

FlashScore is the go-to for international soccer fans — real-time scores from hundreds of leagues worldwide, not just the five major ones. Updates in near-real time, covers tennis, cricket, basketball, and volleyball alongside soccer, and loads quickly on Google TV. Free, no account required. If you follow leagues in lower divisions or less-covered countries, FlashScore covers them when nothing else does.

12. 365Scores

365Scores sits between a news app and a scores app — you follow specific teams and it builds a personalized feed of scores, news, and match alerts around them. The personalization layer makes it more useful than a generic scores app if you follow clubs across multiple leagues or countries. Good Google TV remote support.

13. LiveScore App

The LiveScore app covers soccer, cricket, and global sports with clean real-time match tracking. Less cluttered than FlashScore, better for casual fans who just want to know the score quickly without wading through stats. Fast and free.

14. WatchAnytime

WatchAnytime is a free streaming aggregator that surfaces live sports events from multiple sources without requiring a subscription. Coverage is inconsistent — some events work, some don’t — but it’s worth having installed alongside the other free options. Not on the Google Play Store; requires sideloading.

15. Cricfy

Cricfy is a free cricket streaming application that covers live international matches and includes a highlights feature. If cricket is your primary sport, it’s one of the most frequently recommended free options for 2026. Not available via the Google Play Store — sideloading required. See the installation section below for the exact steps on Google TV.

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Part 2: Best Paid Sports Streaming Services

16. fuboTV

fuboTV was designed from the ground up for sports fans, and it shows in the channel lineup. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, international soccer, golf, motorsports, tennis — if there’s a sport with a broadcast deal, fuboTV probably carries it. The Google TV app handles 4K events better than most competing services I ran through the same display. Built-in DVR means you can pause, rewind, and record live games without a separate hardware box.

The catch: it’s the most expensive option on this list. But if live sports is your primary reason for paying for TV — not background entertainment, not kids’ programming, actual sports — fuboTV delivers more sports channels per dollar than YouTube TV, Hulu, or any other service I tested.

17. YouTube TV

YouTube TV is the most polished all-around live TV service on Google TV — and because this is Google’s own platform, the integration is uniquely seamless. YouTube TV content gets pulled into Google TV home screen recommendations, program guides, and voice search in a way no other service matches. The unlimited DVR storage is a genuine differentiator — record every game for the entire season without worrying about space. Sports fans who also watch non-sports content will find YouTube TV’s broader channel lineup more satisfying than fuboTV. Check current pricing at tv.youtube.com.

18. Hulu + Live TV

Hulu’s live TV plan bundles the Hulu on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+ into a single subscription — which means you’re effectively getting ESPN+ sports coverage at no additional charge. If you already subscribe to Disney+ or Hulu, upgrading to the live TV tier unlocks a substantial sports package. The Google TV app is solid and Google Assistant voice search works cleanly within it.

19. Sling TV

Sling TV is the budget live sports option. The Orange package covers ESPN, ESPN2, and TNT — enough for most NBA and some NFL coverage. The Blue package adds Fox Sports and NBC Sports for football and soccer fans. Combining both packages delivers a comprehensive sports lineup at a lower price point than fuboTV or YouTube TV. The Google TV app works well with a remote, though the interface feels less polished than its more expensive competitors.

20. DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is notable for one specific reason: it includes regional sports networks (RSNs) that most competing services have dropped due to carriage disputes. If your local team broadcasts on an RSN and every other streaming service has pulled it, DirecTV Stream may be your only streaming option for local team coverage. The Google TV app is functional but not the most elegant interface on this list.

21. Philo

Philo carries zero sports channels — zero. It’s on this list specifically as a counterpoint so sports fans know to skip it. If you somehow watch no live sports and only want entertainment channels at a low monthly price, Philo is the answer. If sports are why you’re reading this article, move on.

22. ESPN+

ESPN+ lives inside the main ESPN app on Google TV — install one, you get both. The subscription unlocks PGA Tour events, international soccer including Bundesliga and La Liga, UFC fight cards, hockey, and deep college sports coverage that the free tier doesn’t carry. If you follow any sport outside the four major North American leagues, ESPN+ almost certainly has it. Subscribe through the ESPN app directly on Google TV.

23. Paramount+

Paramount+ carries NFL on CBS — including Super Bowl years when it’s a CBS broadcast — alongside UEFA Champions League, NWSL soccer, and some Serie A coverage. The Champions League catalog in particular justifies a subscription for European soccer fans. The Google TV app is smooth and loads quickly.

24. DAZN

DAZN is a sports-only streaming service built around boxing, MMA, and combat sports, plus NFL Game Pass International in regions where it’s available. If you’re primarily a fight fan, DAZN has the most comprehensive boxing archive and live fight stream on Google TV. Check their website for regional availability — geographic restrictions apply.

25. FloSports

FloSports covers the niche sports that major services ignore: wrestling, track and field, high school state championships, rodeo, cycling, and more. If your primary sport doesn’t get primetime broadcast deals, FloSports probably has it. Available on the Google Play Store. Subscription required.

26. Kayo Sports

Kayo Sports is essential for Australian sports fans on Google TV — AFL, NRL, cricket, rugby union, Supercars, and Australian-focused broadcasts of international events. Available on the Google Play Store in supported regions. Geographic restrictions apply outside Australia and New Zealand.

27. UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Pass is the dedicated streaming service for combat sports — UFC events, historic fight archives, prelim cards, and exclusive content. Available directly on the Google Play Store for Google TV. If you’re a combat sports fan and DAZN doesn’t have the specific fight you’re looking for, Fight Pass almost certainly does.

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Part 3: League-Specific Apps

28. NFL+

NFL+ streams preseason games live, delivers NFL Network access throughout the season, and provides condensed game versions and full-game replays on demand. It’s not a replacement for a live TV service during the regular season (in-market games require broadcast TV or a live TV package), but it’s the official NFL app for Google TV and essential for die-hard fans who want access to NFL Network content year-round.

29. NBA League Pass

NBA League Pass provides out-of-market game access for basketball fans — every game not broadcast in your local market, live or on demand. The Google TV app includes a split-screen view that lets you watch up to four games simultaneously, which becomes genuinely useful during the playoffs when games overlap. Blackout restrictions apply for local market games.

30. MLB.TV

MLB.TV delivers out-of-market baseball across a full 162-game regular season, with a library of classic games available year-round for historical deep dives. Blackout restrictions apply for in-market games. The Google TV app is one of the more polished league-specific apps in terms of interface quality — real-time stats, multiple camera angles, and a well-organized archive.

31. WRC+

WRC+ is the official streaming service for World Rally Championship racing — live stage coverage, onboard camera feeds for individual cars, and a full season archive. If rally is your motorsport of choice, this is the only place to watch it properly. Available on the Google Play Store.

32. F1 TV

F1 TV Pro offers live race streams with onboard camera access for every car on the grid — a level of coverage that broadcast TV can’t match. Full race archives going back decades round out the catalog. Geographic restrictions apply: in some regions, live race coverage is blocked because broadcast rights belong to local TV networks. Check their website for regional availability before subscribing.

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Part 4: International Sports Apps

33. WillowTV

WillowTV is the primary cricket streaming destination for fans in the US and Canada — India vs. Pakistan tests, IPL tournament coverage, major international tours, and domestic competitions. Available on the Google Play Store. Subscription required for full access.

34. beIN Sports Connect

beIN Sports carries international soccer including LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Bundesliga, and extensive Middle Eastern and North African sports coverage. Essential for European soccer fans who want multiple leagues beyond what ESPN+ and Paramount+ carry. Available on the Google Play Store.

35. SonyLIV

SonyLIV is a major Indian streaming platform carrying IPL cricket, WWE content, MotoGP, and a broad entertainment catalog. Available on the Google Play Store. Geographic restrictions may apply outside supported regions.

36. Hotstar / JioCinema

JioCinema (formerly Hotstar in some regions) is the dominant sports platform for Indian cricket fans — IPL, ICC World Cup events, and selected Premier League matches. Available via the Google Play Store in supported regions. If cricket is your primary viewing and you’re in India, this is non-negotiable.

37. FanCode

FanCode covers cricket, Formula E, cycling, kabaddi, and a range of sports that don’t get mainstream streaming deals elsewhere. One of the better Indian sports apps for fans of non-cricket sports. Available on the Google Play Store in supported regions.

38. Optus Sport

Optus Sport is the exclusive home of Premier League coverage in Australia — every match of every round, all season. Also carries MLS and a selection of other international soccer competitions. Available in the Australian Google Play Store. Geographic restrictions apply.

39. BT Sport / TNT Sports

TNT Sports (rebranded from BT Sport in the UK) carries Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UFC, and MotoGP for UK subscribers. Available on the Google Play Store for UK accounts. Requires a valid BT or EE subscription.

40. SuperSport

SuperSport is the dominant sports streaming platform across African markets — particularly South Africa — with deep coverage of cricket, soccer, rugby union, and motorsports. Regional availability varies; check the Google Play Store availability for your country.

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Part 5: Sideloaded Sports Apps

These apps aren’t available on the Google Play Store and require sideloading. See the installation guide below for the exact steps on Google TV.

41. Sportzfy

Sportzfy is the most consistently recommended free sports sideload option for 2026. Coverage includes Premier League, AFCON, NFL, Serie A, and mainstream sports events across multiple leagues. Free, no subscription required. Requires sideloading.

42. SportZX

SportZX covers similar territory to Sportzfy — free live sports across multiple leagues and events. Worth having installed as a backup when one free source goes down, which happens with this category of apps. Requires sideloading.

43. PlayFy TV

PlayFy TV is a free live sports streaming option that surfaces events across multiple sports without requiring a subscription. Coverage consistency varies; it works best as part of a rotation alongside Sportzfy and SportZX rather than as a standalone solution. Requires sideloading.

44. RBTV77

RBTV77 is a free live sports app with a presence in specific regional markets. Less mainstream than Sportzfy but included in multiple 2026 roundups as a working free option. Requires sideloading. Use with a VPN.

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Part 6: Media Players That Become Sports Hubs

45. Stremio

Stremio

Stremio isn’t a sports app out of the box, but sports addons extend it significantly — live event streams, match schedules, and IPTV integration through community-built addons. If you’re already using Stremio for movies and TV on your Google TV, adding a sports addon makes it a more complete setup. Available directly on the Google Play Store.

46. Kodi

Kodi

Kodi is the modular platform that becomes whatever you build it to be — including a comprehensive sports hub. Sports-focused addons add live streams, match schedules, and highlights. Requires sideloading on Google TV. The setup process is essentially identical to Fire TV, so our complete Kodi installation guide covers the relevant steps.

47. TiviMate

TiviMate

TiviMate is the best IPTV player on Google TV and it’s not close. If you subscribe to an IPTV service, TiviMate transforms hundreds of live sports channels into something that feels like a proper cable guide — channel logos, EPG program information, favorites lists, and D-pad navigation that actually works from the couch. Pair it with a quality IPTV service for the broadest possible live sports channel access. Requires sideloading.

For a full breakdown of IPTV service options, our best IPTV services guide covers the top picks in detail.

48. VLC Media Player

VLC

VLC handles M3U playlists and can stream direct links to live sports from IPTV sources. Less polished than TiviMate — no EPG, no channel guide, more of a paste-a-link-and-play tool — but free, open source, and a reliable backup when other players have issues. Available on the Google Play Store.

49. Perfect Player

Perfect Player is a lightweight IPTV player that sits between VLC and TiviMate in terms of features. It supports EPG and channel organization with a simpler setup process than TiviMate. Good starting point if TiviMate feels like overkill for occasional IPTV use. Available via sideload.

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Part 7: Sports Fantasy & Utility Apps

50. ESPN Fantasy Sports

The ESPN Fantasy app is integrated into the main ESPN app on Google TV — manage rosters, check matchups, process trades, and track live scoring without switching apps. For fantasy football, basketball, and baseball players, this integration is surprisingly convenient on a TV screen. Free with an ESPN account.

51. Yahoo Fantasy Sports

Yahoo Fantasy has a dedicated Google TV app with a remote-navigable interface. Managing waiver wire pickups and trades from your couch during live Sunday games is genuinely more engaging than doing it on a phone. Scores update in real time alongside the live game view. Free with a Yahoo account.

52. NFL Fantasy Football

The official NFL Fantasy app is a standalone option for players on the NFL’s own platform rather than ESPN or Yahoo. Available on the Google Play Store. Real-time scoring, waiver wire management, and trade analysis — functional, though the interface is less polished than the Yahoo Fantasy app on Google TV.

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How to Install Sports Apps on Google TV

Most apps on this list install directly from the Google Play Store in under two minutes. For the sideloaded ones (Sportzfy, Cricfy, TiviMate, etc.), here’s the exact process:

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The Bottom Line

Fifty-two apps tested, and here’s what I actually use regularly on my Chromecast with Google TV 4K:

Daily: ESPN for scores and highlights, Peacock for NFL Sunday Night games, YouTube TV for everything else live.

Weekly depending on sport: CBS Sports during college basketball season, Paramount+ during Champions League weeks, NBA League Pass throughout the playoffs.

Always running in the background: Surfshark VPN — live sports streaming at peak hours is exactly when ISPs throttle, and a VPN is the only reliable fix.

For the best free-tier experience: ESPN first, Peacock second, Pluto TV’s combat sports channels as background.

For full cord-cutting: fuboTV if sports are 80%+ of what you watch. YouTube TV if you want sports plus a full entertainment package. Sling TV if you want to spend less and don’t need regional sports networks.

If you’re also running a Fire TV device alongside your Google TV setup, our best sports apps guide for Firestick covers the same territory for Amazon’s platform. And if you’re considering which streaming stick is the right fit overall, the Firestick vs Chromecast vs Roku comparison breaks down the hardware differences in detail.

For IPTV-based sports coverage — which opens up hundreds of channels beyond what any official app carries — the best IPTV services guide has the full breakdown.

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Get Live Sports Through IPTV

If you want the widest possible live sports channel access on Google TV, an IPTV subscription paired with TiviMate gives you coverage that no single official app can match — international leagues, 24/7 sports channels, regional broadcasts, and events that never make it to mainstream streaming services.

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Last updated: March 2026