If you’re tired of paying for cable just to watch games, you’re not alone. In 2025, more people in Ireland and the U.S. are cutting the cord-and Fubo is one of the few services built just for them. Unlike Netflix or Hulu, Fubo doesn’t focus on binge-worthy shows. It’s all about live sports: NFL, NBA, Premier League, UFC, Formula 1, and even niche leagues like MLS and NCAA. But is it worth the price? Let’s break it down.
What Fubo Actually Offers
Fubo isn’t just another streaming app. It’s a live TV platform with over 150 channels, including major sports networks like ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, beIN SPORTS, and the NFL Network. It also carries news channels like CNN and MSNBC, and entertainment staples like AMC, FX, and TLC. But here’s the catch: sports make up nearly half of what you get.
For soccer fans, Fubo stands out. It carries every Premier League match, La Liga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League. If you follow MLS, you get every game live. The same goes for college football and basketball-Fubo has the rights to broadcast most major NCAA events. Even if you’re into motorsports, Fubo includes Formula 1, IndyCar, and NASCAR.
Unlike YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, Fubo doesn’t bury sports under a pile of reality TV. The interface is built around live events. When a game starts, it pops up front and center. You can’t miss it.
How Fubo Compares to Other Live TV Services
Let’s say you’re comparing Fubo to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream. Here’s how they stack up in 2025:
| Feature | Fubo | YouTube TV | Hulu + Live TV | DirecTV Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (USD) | $79.99 | $78.99 | $76.99 | $89.99 |
| Local Channels | Yes (in most markets) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premier League | Yes | No | No | No |
| ESPN/ESPN2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud DVR Storage | 1000 hours | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 (up to 5 with add-ons) | Unlimited | 3 | 20 |
| Best For | Soccer, NFL, college sports | General live TV, family use | Shows + sports combo | Large households |
Fubo’s biggest advantage? Soccer. No other service gives you this much international football without paying extra. YouTube TV doesn’t carry beIN SPORTS or most La Liga games. Hulu doesn’t even offer Fubo’s basic sports tier. DirecTV Stream has more channels, but costs nearly $20 more and still doesn’t match Fubo’s soccer depth.
What You Don’t Get
Fubo isn’t perfect. If you’re looking for a huge library of on-demand movies and shows, you’ll be disappointed. Fubo’s on-demand catalog is small-mostly recent episodes of shows that aired on its channels. You won’t find older seasons of Friends or The Office here. That’s not Fubo’s job.
Also, if you’re outside the U.S., Fubo’s availability is limited. In Ireland, you can’t subscribe directly. Many users use a VPN, but that’s against Fubo’s terms and can lead to blocked streams. There’s no official international version yet.
Another downside: ads. Like every live TV streamer, Fubo has commercials. During big games, you might see 15-20 minutes of ads per hour. You can’t skip them. That’s the trade-off for keeping the price lower than cable.
Who Fubo Is Really For
Fubo isn’t for everyone. It’s for people who care about live sports more than anything else. If you’re the kind of person who plans your weekend around Sunday NFL games or tunes in for the Champions League final, Fubo is one of the few services that won’t let you down.
It’s also great for families with multiple sports fans. One person watches soccer, another follows basketball, and a third is into MMA. Fubo covers all of it under one roof. The 3-stream limit might feel tight if you have four people watching different games at once, but you can upgrade to 5 streams for $10 extra per month.
College sports fans in the U.S. love Fubo. It carries ESPN’s full college football and basketball schedule, including ACC, Big Ten, and SEC games. If you’re an alum of a mid-major school, Fubo might be the only way to watch your team on TV without a cable subscription.
Price and Add-Ons
Fubo’s base plan starts at $79.99/month in the U.S. That’s more than Netflix, but it’s less than cable. You get over 150 channels, including local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) in most cities.
There are add-ons:
- Fubo Extra ($10/month): Adds 30+ channels, including AMC, TNT, and USA Network.
- Pro Pack ($12/month): Adds NFL RedZone, NBA League Pass, and MLB Network.
- International Sports Pack ($15/month): Adds beIN SPORTS en Español, TUDN, and more soccer channels.
- 4K Plus ($10/month): Adds 4K streaming for select sports and events.
The Pro Pack is a no-brainer for NFL fans. NFL RedZone is the most exciting channel in sports TV-live coverage of every touchdown from every game on Sunday afternoons. You can’t get it anywhere else without cable.
But here’s the thing: most people don’t need all the add-ons. If you’re just watching Premier League and NFL, the base plan plus the International Sports Pack is enough. That’s $95/month. Still cheaper than a cable package with sports bundles.
Performance and Setup
Fubo’s app runs smoothly on Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android, and iOS. I tested it on a 4K Fire Stick in Dublin using a wired connection. Load times were under 3 seconds. Buffering? Almost never. Even during high-traffic games like the Super Bowl or Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, the stream stayed sharp.
The guide is clean and easy to use. You can filter by sport, team, or channel. There’s a “Coming Up” tab that shows what’s airing in the next 24 hours. You can set reminders for games, and Fubo will send you a push notification when they start.
Setup takes less than 5 minutes. No installer truck. No technician. Just download the app, sign up, and start watching. No contracts. Cancel anytime.
The Verdict: Is Fubo Worth It?
If you’re a sports fan who wants to ditch cable, Fubo is one of the best options in 2025. It’s the only streaming service that puts live sports-not just TV shows-at the center of everything. The channel lineup is deep, the DVR is generous, and the app works reliably.
But if you’re mostly watching Netflix originals or old sitcoms, skip it. Fubo isn’t a replacement for on-demand streaming. It’s a replacement for cable TV-for people who care about what’s happening right now.
For soccer fans, NFL followers, or college sports loyalists, Fubo delivers. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s the most focused. And in a world where every streaming service tries to be everything to everyone, Fubo’s specialization is its strength.
Try the 7-day free trial. Watch a few games. See if it feels like the service you’ve been waiting for. If it does, stick with it. If not, cancel without penalty. There’s no risk.
Can I watch Fubo in Ireland?
Fubo is officially available only in the U.S. and Spain. While some users in Ireland use a VPN to access it, this violates Fubo’s terms of service and may result in your account being blocked. There’s no official international version yet, so you can’t subscribe directly from Ireland.
Does Fubo have NFL games?
Yes, Fubo carries all NFL games broadcast on local channels (CBS, Fox, NBC) and the NFL Network. It also includes NFL RedZone as part of the Pro Pack add-on, which shows live highlights and touchdowns from every Sunday game.
How many devices can I stream on at once?
Three devices at a time on the base plan. You can upgrade to five streams for $10 more per month. That’s enough for most households, but if you have a big family, YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream offer unlimited streams.
Is Fubo better than YouTube TV for sports?
For soccer fans, yes. Fubo has Premier League, La Liga, and UEFA Champions League. YouTube TV doesn’t carry those. For general sports like NFL and NBA, both are similar. But Fubo’s interface is more sports-focused, while YouTube TV feels more like a general live TV service.
Does Fubo have a free trial?
Yes. Fubo offers a 7-day free trial for new users. You need to provide payment info, but you won’t be charged unless you don’t cancel before the trial ends. It’s the best way to test if Fubo fits your sports viewing habits.
