Watching the Chicago Cubs play is a treasured pastime for many sports fans. With cable subscriptions on the decline, more and more fans are looking for ways to stream Cubs games online for free. Luckily, there are a few legal options to catch America’s beloved North Siders without paying a dime.
Use a Free Trial of a Live TV Streaming Service
One of the best ways to stream Cubs games for free is to take advantage of the free trial offers from live TV streaming services. Many popular streaming platforms like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, and Sling TV offer free trials for new subscribers. These usually last 5-7 days, which is plenty of time to stream multiple Cubs games.
Here’s a quick rundown of what some of these services offer:
- Hulu + Live TV – 7-day free trial, includes Marquee Sports Network
- YouTube TV – 5-day free trial, includes Marquee Sports Network
- DirecTV Stream – 5-day free trial, choice of packages with Marquee
- Sling TV – No free trial, but lowest regular pricing
As long as you sign up for the free trial and remember to cancel before it ends, you can enjoy live Cubs games online without any cost using one of these providers.
Use a Free Trial or Promotion from FuboTV
Another excellent option specifically for Cubs fans is FuboTV. This sports-focused streaming provider offers a 7-day free trial to new users. Packages include the Marquee Sports Network, which broadcasts most Cubs games.
Even if you’ve already used a FuboTV free trial before, it may still be possible to stream Cubs games free. FuboTV frequently offers promotions that provide gift cards or discounted pricing for your first month.
For example, buying an Amazon Fire TV Stick could come with 1 month of FuboTV for $24.99. That prorates to just $5 for your first week – an amazing deal to get access to Cubs games!
Try Locast (in Select Cities)
Locast is a non-profit streaming service that lets you watch local broadcast channels online for free. They operate in around 35 US cities, providing live streams of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and other local stations.
If you’re located in the Chicago, Indianapolis, or Milwaukee broadcast areas, you can use Locast to stream Cubs games aired on channels like WGN for free. There’s no trial needed – just create an account and start watching.
One catch is that Locast asks for donations to keep the service running. You’ll get interruptions every 15 minutes until you donate a minimum of $5 per month. But even with the annoyances, it’s a useful option for Cubs fans on a budget.
Listen on the Radio
When it comes to free and easy ways to enjoy the Cubs, you can’t beat good old-fashioned radio. Games are broadcast on 670 The Score in Chicago and streamed online at 670thescore.com.
The Score provides live play-by-play commentary from Cubs radio announcers Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer. Listening by radio recaptures the nostalgia of decades past.
Major League Baseball also offers free live audio streams of every Cubs game during the season with an MLB.tv subscription. While video streams are subject to blackout rules, the radio feeds are accessible for every game.
Try Unlocator’s 7-Day Free Trial
Unlocator is a popular VPN and DNS service that lets you get around MLB blackout restrictions. When connected to a server outside the Cubs broadcast region, you can watch games that would normally be blacked out.
Unlocator offers a free 7-day trial of its Smart DNS service. This changes your device’s DNS settings to make it appear located in another city. As long as you watch from outside the Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa broadcast areas, you should be able to stream Cubs games free from MLB.tv during the trial period.
Check Out Sportsurge Streams
Sportsurge is a sports streaming site that aggregates links to live streams from third-party sources. The quality and legality of these streams is questionable, but they offer a way to watch Cubs games for free with minimal fuss.
Keep in mind that Sportsurge doesn’t host any content itself. You’ll have to navigate through ads and find a working stream from another online source. As always with internet piracy, it’s use at your own risk!
Conclusion
Here are a few final tips for watching the Cubs for free this season:
- Take advantage of any service’s free trial period, then cancel before you’re charged.
- Check r/MLBStreams on Reddit for user-shared streams.
- Consider splitting the cost of MLB.TV or cable with a fellow fan.
- Try out the streams from Sportsurge, but beware of quality issues and copyright risks.
- Barhop around Chicago to find places showing the games.
The Cubs have legions of dedicated fans who are always looking to follow the team for less. With the right combination of deals, free trials, promotions, and technical workarounds, you can definitely stream live Cubs baseball without breaking the bank.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips to recap how to stream Cubs games for free:
- Use free trials from Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, or Unlocator.
- Listen to radio broadcasts online or through MLB.tv.
- Try Locast if you live in the Chicago, Indianapolis, or Milwaukee broadcast area.
- Browse unofficial streams on Sportsurge at your own risk.
- Find a bar or restaurant that plays the games.
- Split the cost of an MLB.TV subscription with friends.
With persistence and creativity, you can find plenty of ways to watch the Cubbies without spending a penny. Enjoy the games!
Here are some frequently asked questions about streaming Cubs games for free:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stream Marquee Sports Network for free?
Unfortunately there is no completely free and legal way to stream Marquee Sports Network, which broadcasts most Cubs games. Your best options are using a free trial from a service like Hulu + Live TV or FuboTV to get access to Marquee and stream Cubs games for a limited time.
What about MLB.TV – can I watch the Cubs there?
MLB.TV lets you stream out-of-market baseball games live, but most Cubs games will be blacked out if you live near Chicago. The only exception is if you use a VPN/DNS service like Unlocator to appear located elsewhere and bypass the blackout restrictions during its free trial.
Are the streams on Sportsurge legal?
No, the streams aggregated by Sportsurge come from unauthorized sources. While it may work for watching the Cubs for free, there are risks such as malware, ISP warnings, fines, and more that come with illegal streaming. Use at your own discretion.
Can I use an antenna to watch games over the air?
Yes, if you’re located in the Chicago broadcast area, you can watch Cubs games broadcast on WGN for free with an over-the-air antenna. Picture quality is generally excellent with OTA antenna streaming.
Does YouTube TV have a student discount?
YouTube TV does not currently offer any specific student discounts or deals. However, the regular monthly price after the 5-day free trial ends is still quite reasonable for a full-featured live TV and DVR service.
Comparing Live TV Streaming Services
Here is a comparison of some of the most popular live TV streaming services and what they offer for watching Cubs games:
| Service | Free Trial | Cost Per Month | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | 7 days | $69.99 | Includes Marquee Network | Most expensive service |
| YouTube TV | 5 days | $64.99 | Unlimited DVR storage | No NFL Network |
| Sling TV | None | $35+ | Custom “pick your channels” packages | No CBS, ABC, or NBC |
| DirecTV Stream | 5 days | $69.99 | Largest channel lineup | High cost for full packages |
| FuboTV | 7 days | $69.99 | Specialized sports offerings | Missing key sports channels like ESPN |
As you can see, each service has its own mix of channel offerings, prices, and trial periods. Do some research to pick the one that gives you the Cubs content you want at the lowest cost.
Following the Cubs in 2023
The Chicago Cubs are embarking on an exciting new era entering the 2023 season. After trading away most of their veteran stars over the past couple of seasons, the team is now filled with talented young prospects ready to bring a youth movement to the North Side.
Top players to watch include catcher Willson Contreras, outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, and corner infielders Patrick Wisdom and Nico Hoerner. #1 overall draft pick Pete Crow-Armstrong headlines the potential crop of rookie call-ups from the minor leagues.
Here is the Cubs’ regular season schedule for 2023:
- April 3 – Home vs Brewers
- May 15-18 – Away vs Dodgers
- June 30 – July 2 Home vs Cardinals
- July 14-16 – Away vs Mets
- August 18-20 – Home vs Nationals
- September 22-24 – Away vs Pirates
Key matchups to watch are division rivals like the Cardinals and Brewers, plus the World Series favorite Dodgers. The Cubs close out the regular season at home against the Phillies.
With so much young talent, the Cubs have a bright future ahead. Be sure to catch all the action this season – streaming the games free online if possible!
Final Thoughts
Streaming Cubs games online for free takes some effort, but it certainly can be done legally. The best options are leveraging free trials and promotions, listening to radio, using an antenna, or finding creative workarounds like VPNs and third-party streams.
While paid services like MLB.TV may be higher quality, fans on a budget can still enjoy the boys in blue every season. As long as you’re smart about finding and using free streaming sources, you’ll be watching Chicago Cubs baseball on the cheap.
Go Cubbies!