ESPN+ is one of the most unique live-streaming platforms for sports fans. Whether you want to watch out-of-market NHL games or check out combat sports from UFC, the platform offers a diverse array of sports content to feed your needs.
Our guide on ESPN+ examines its pricing, deals, free trials (if applicable), features, and more. That way, you can discover if it is the right choice for you.
What is ESPN+?
An ESPN+ subscription gives you a ticket to the action you might not find elsewhere. You can live stream combat sports, soccer, tennis, baseball, hockey, and many other games or matches. The platform offers exclusive ESPN programming you can only watch on it, and you gain access to its robust library of sports documentaries like the critically acclaimed 30 for 30 series. That said, if you want to watch programming airing live on ESPN, you will not be able to do so on the ESPN+ platform. Instead, you’ll want to get a subscription to a live TV streaming provider that offers ESPN.
Along with streaming and on-demand content, ESPN+ offers even more perks, like using your subscription to read premium articles from some of the top sportswriters. Altogether, it provides a wide range of content to satisfy many sports fans’ needs, making it a popular choice among streaming options.
How Much Does ESPN+ Cost?
You can watch ESPN Plus for a low monthly price of $9.99/mo.
| ESPN+ | |
| Monthly price | $9.99/mo. |
| Annual price | $99.99 |
| Types of sports covered | Soccer, Baseball, Hockey, Tennis, UFC, College Basketball, and Golf |
| Offline downloads | Yes |
| Original content | Yes |
| Streaming quality | 720p |
| Live streaming | Yes, for select sporting events |
Are There Any Deals with ESPN Plus?
ESPN Plus does offer several deals. You can purchase a membership annually for $99.99. It breaks down to $8.33 per month, which is slightly cheaper than going with the pay-by-month route. And when you compare it to live-streaming providers that often charge 10 times more than that for service, it’s an incredible deal to consider if you want to stream sports only.
Additionally, you can get an ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu bundle starting at $12.99/mo. On its own, Hulu is a terrific on-demand platform. You can catch replays of your favorite shows airing from channels like FOX, ABC, A&E, and much more. You also gain access to its original programming and on-demand library, featuring hit shows, movies, and sports documentaries.
Meanwhile, Disney+ gives you access to Disney, Pixar, National Geographic, Marvel, and Star Wars content. You can watch The Simpsons, Hamilton, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and many other titles. This trio represents an entertainment powerhouse that allows you to catch all the sports and family-friendly programming you want affordably.
How to Get an ESPN+ Free Trial
It is uncommon to get an ESPN+ trial, as currently, the platform does not offer one. It is one of the only disadvantages when comparing it to other streaming services, most of which offer free trials.
However, with the low monthly price of $9.99, you can test out the live-streaming platform for a month. And if you discover it is not the right fit for you, you can cancel. Overall, it is a low-cost option for sports fans to try out.
What is ESPN+ Best For?
ESPN+ is best for sports fans who want access to content they cannot find on regular sports networks. College fans representing the Atlantic 10, the Ivy League, and Conference USA can catch select live sporting events not broadcast on other channels.
Tennis fans will also love the platform. You can watch matches from the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open. ESPN+ also broadcasts in-season coverage from UFC, MLB, the Emirates FA Cup, UFC, and MLS. If you want on-demand content, ESPN Plus is one of the best platforms to find sports-only options. You can view exclusive originals like Peyton’s Places, Bettor Days, Fútbol Américas, and The Fantasy Show. Ultimately, this streaming service is best for those who clamor for sports-only content and cannot find it any other way.
What to Watch on ESPN Plus
Live Sports on ESPN+
ESPN+ provides viewers with a wide choice of live sports, including action from Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. Furthermore, viewers who also subscribe to a premium streaming service such as MLB.TV or NHL.TV can access out-of-market games through ESPN+.
ESPN+ is home to Major League Soccer and NASCAR, as well as live action from college sports such as NCAA basketball and football. ESPN+ subscribers can watch live coverage of cricket, e-sports, and Formula 1, in addition to live golf, rugby, international soccer, tennis, and X-Games events. Other live sports covered by the service include the Canadian Football League, Little League World Series, and Women’s National Basketball Association.
The streaming service is also home to boxing, mixed martial arts events, and WWE. ESPN+ has exclusive rights to Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view events, which makes it the only place to stream the biggest UFC bouts. UFC Fight Nights are included in an ESPN+ subscription, but each pay-per-view event costs an additional $75.
Sports fans can access some games that are not available through ESPN’s cable channels, and catch the latest podcasts, news, radio shows, and scores through a digital version of the network’s SportsCenter daily roundup. It is also the only place to catch the digital edition of ESPN’s NFL PrimeTime show.
On-Demand Content on ESPN Plus
In addition to this, ESPN+ also provides access to a library of documentaries, expert analysis, and original series to keep viewers entertained between live streams. This includes full on-demand game replays and highlights from recent events.
Viewers can enjoy insightful documentaries such as ESPN’s 30 for 30 films, which tells the stories behind some of the biggest events and most important people in sporting history. These include the fallout that followed Wayne Gretzky’s trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, the intertwining of crime and soccer in Colombia following the murder of national team player Andrés Escobar, and the friendship between boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Tupac Shakur.
Other great documentary content on ESPN+ includes the Academy Award-winning O.J. Simpson: Made In America mini-series and Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance. It also provides original content such as NBA Rooks, which follows NBA rookies in their first season, and The Boardroom with KD, in which Kevin Durant explores the business side of sport. Exclusive shows on ESPN+ also include Detail, in which great athletes like Daniel Cormier and Peyton Manning provide intriguing game analysis.
ESPN+ is also home to a wide range of exclusive written content, statistical analysis, and college recruitment news that was previously included in ESPN’s Insider membership.
ESPN Plus Compared
The $9.99/mo. ESPN Plus cost is substantially lower than other popular sports streaming services. However, the amount of live sports available through ESPN+ is limited in comparison to other sports streaming options on the market.
Of course, ESPN+ only allows users to tune in to ESPN content, whereas other streaming services provide access to other sports content providers. For example, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo, and YouTube TV are more complete sports streaming options as they include access to the main ESPN channels, as well as local channels like CBS Sports Network and FOX Sports. These premium live streaming options enable subscribers to tune in to live NBA and NFL, as well as live MLB, MLS, and NHL games, and wider sports content like international soccer.
Unlike the other live streaming services mentioned above, an ESPN Plus trial is not available for new subscribers to test it out before they buy.
What If I Need to Cancel my ESPN Plus Plan?
The monthly ESPN+ service can be canceled at any time before the user’s current subscription ends. People that subscribe to an annual subscription can cancel at any time, but their service will not expire until 12 months from the date that they signed up. Users can cancel their subscription by logging into their account from their computer, selecting the Manage My ESPN+ option, clicking Manage, and then selecting Cancel Subscription. A subscription can also be canceled by calling the service’s customer support team.
The Final Cut
ESPN+ is an affordable streaming service that brings sports fans live games in addition to expert analysis and exclusive content, such as documentaries and original series. Streamers looking for live coverage of NBA and NFL games may want to look elsewhere, but ESPN+ provides a comprehensive choice of other sports, from baseball and ice hockey to boxing, soccer, and martial arts.
ESPN+ is a great option for people who want to access live sports in addition to exclusive documentaries, expert analysis, and original sports series. However, it does limit subscribers to ESPN content only, so users looking for other providers should look to other streaming services. It could, therefore, be considered as an addition to subscribers’ preferred premium live streaming service.
No ESPN+ free trial is available for new subscribers, unlike the seven-day free trials typically provided by other live-streaming services.