Gone are the days when one had to book a seat in the stadium to watch your favorite team play or wait for the headlines to know the latest news regarding a specific sport. Thanks to recent technology and the high penetration of smartphones, sports apps have tremendously changed how we experience sports. To put it into perspective, sports apps have millions of downloads on both Android and iOS, and the market is expected to hit $8.03 billion by 2030.
Whether you want to stream a match between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs or wonder how many three-pointers Steph Curry made in his last game, sports apps are all you need. However, there are thousands of sports apps online, and knowing which ones to go for can be confusing.
As a sports enthusiast, these seven apps are a must-have on your phone.
ESPN
ESPN is a familiar name to most people because the platform started as a popular sports cable TV channel before transitioning online. The company’s first app was called SportsCenter, and in 2015, they officially launched the ESPN app.
The app has over 50 million downloads, showing how popular it is. One of the features you’ll enjoy on the app is an easy-to-navigate interface that one can customize according to their preference. The top sports leagues to follow on ESPN are the NFL, MLB, NCAA, NBA, and NHL.
Besides receiving the latest updates and results on any league, ESPN stands out in several other ways. Their premium platform, ESPN+, which users can subscribe to monthly or yearly, provides live sports coverage and has ESPN+ Originals content. Lastly, ESPN’s well-known feature is its podcasts and radio, which offer insight and commentary into different sports.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Betting and sports entertainment go hand in hand, and if you don’t mind trying your luck wagering on various teams, then DraftKings is the ideal sportsbook. The company has been around for several years, starting as a daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform. From this, DraftKings could easily transition to sports betting because it already had a solid reputation.
Even though sports betting is still heavily regulated in the US, DraftKings is among the few bookmakers available in several states. Wagering on the DraftKings sportsbook has a list of pros, including a simple interface, cash rewards on building the best Fantasy Team, a wide array of promos, and in-app match stats. A quick tip on sports betting is always to have accounts on multiple bookmakers to compare odds, bonuses, and events.
LiveScore
LiveScore has been around for over two decades and started as a website before launching their app. The app has over 50 million downloads across all platforms, showing its popularity worldwide. In 2021, one of the best footballers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, was their global brand ambassador.
Though you’ll find the latest updates on sports like hockey, basketball, cricket, and tennis, they can’t compare to soccer. At LiveScore, you’ll get up-to-the-minute results for any sport and enjoy live commentary while at it.
Since the platform has thousands of events, the “Explore” option will help you easily search for your favorite games. The Calendar feature is also a great addition that one can use to track and plan upcoming matches.
Bleacher Report
The Bleacher Report app was launched in 2015 and has over 10 million downloads. If you are a sports fan curious about what’s happening in different sports, Bleacher Report is your best option. The app covers everything from rugby, tennis, golf, boxing, Formula 1, soccer, MMA, Wrestling, baseball, and American football, you name it.
However, there’s still an option to customize your in-app setting only to receive content tailored to your chosen sports. Even though you won’t be able to live stream matches on the app, you’ll find short clips and videos of recently played games. Their top stories and articles on various sports will keep you coming back for more, and you can easily share them on your social media pages.
CBS Sports
Consider CBS Sports as your versatile and all-rounded app that will cater to all your sports needs. You’ll receive fast updates on scores, stats, and match analysis. Secondly, you can video stream all available games in HD through their CBS Sports HQ channel. If you watch matches on your Android smartphone, you can easily cast to any Android-powered TV and enjoy a bigger screen.
CBS Sports Radio is something to tune in and not miss out on if you are an avid sports fan. The discussions are always insightful, with a little bit of banter here and there from the hosts. For those who play fantasy sports, CBS Sports Fantasy Experts are always ready to provide guidance.
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is quite popular in Europe as it was developed in the United Kingdom. However, you can still access the app from anywhere in the world. The app has more than 1 million downloads and is considered one of the best sports streaming apps. The top sports covered on the platform are football, cricket, Formula 1, rugby, tennis, golf and athletics.
BBC’s TV and radio coverage is impressive, with commentary from renowned pundits and retired professional players. Other than getting prompt news updates, what makes the BBC Sport app stand out is the “My Sport” page. Here, you’ll be able to make advanced personalization of the content, news, and the match results you receive.
Yahoo Sports
Last but not least is Yahoo Sports, a giant in the sports apps market. The app has over 10 million downloads and curates content based on your geolocation. Through this, you’ll get more specific updates on where you are based.
In terms of sports coverage, there’s a lot that Yahoo Sports offers, including leagues such as the NFL, NCAAF, MLB, and NBA. Unlike many other apps, you can also try the various fantasy leagues on the platform.
The user interface is straightforward, and you can quickly search for a specific event. If you want to kill two birds with one stone, then it’s worth noting that Yahoo Sports also has a sportsbook with decent odds and a bet calculator to see how much you stand to win on your wager.
