If you're a sports enthusiast, you're likely familiar with ESPN, but its streaming service, ESPN+, might still leave you scratching your head despite being available since 2018. While ESPN+ does offer live sports, it's designed as a complementary streaming service that enhances your viewing experience when paired with traditional network channels.
Dive into our comprehensive guide on ESPN+ below, which covers the service's overview, available live sports, pricing, and more for 2025.
What Is ESPN+? The Sports Streaming Service, Explained
ESPN+
You can subscribe to ESPN+ as a standalone service or as part of the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. Sign up here. ESPN+ is a subscription-based streaming platform that offers access to live sporting events, exclusive ESPN films and series, premium articles, and more.
However, despite its name, ESPN+ does not include access to traditional ESPN channels like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and others. If you want to watch shows like SportsCenter, you'll still need a traditional cable or live TV subscription.
ESPN+ boasts a growing library of original ESPN TV shows, such as "Man in the Arena" with Tom Brady, "Peyton's Places," "ESPN FC," and more. Since 2019, it has been the exclusive home for "NFL Primetime," featuring Sunday night highlights and analysis during the season. Subscribers can also enjoy the full archive of ESPN's renowned 30 For 30 sports documentary series.
For those who enjoy in-depth sports analysis, ESPN+ provides access to ESPN+ Premium Articles on the ESPN website, where you can read detailed analysis, rankings, mock drafts, and more from top sports writers.
ESPN+ Plans and Prices (As of March 2025)
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Bundle
The bundle includes all three services for $16.99 per month. Sign up here. ESPN+ can be subscribed to independently for $11.99 per month, or you can opt for the annual plan at $119.99 per year, saving you 15% off the monthly rate. Alternatively, you can bundle ESPN+ (With Ads) with Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads) for $16.99 per month.
Does ESPN+ Have a Free Trial?
Unfortunately, ESPN+ does not currently offer a free trial. There are no promotions available directly from ESPN, but some third-party services might offer deals. While ESPN+ itself doesn't provide a trial, other streaming services with sports content do.
What Channels Does ESPN+ Include?
ESPN+ does not include traditional channels. Instead, it offers a variety of live sporting events, a vast archive of previously aired content, and exclusive on-demand ESPN series and shows, most of which are not available on standard ESPN channels.
Can You Watch Live Sports on ESPN+?
Yes, you can watch thousands of live sporting events with an ESPN+ subscription. The sports lineup includes select NFL, MLB, and NHL games, various soccer leagues worldwide, F1, golf, boxing, collegiate sports, and more. Availability may vary based on your location and is subject to regional blackouts.
ESPN+ is the exclusive streaming platform for UFC events, including Pay-Per-View (PPV) fights, Fight Nights, and more. While UFC PPV events cost an additional $79.99 on top of your ESPN+ subscription, UFC Fight Nights and other events are included at no extra cost. You can also stream hundreds of popular fights from the UFC archive.
While ESPN+ doesn't replace season pass-like services such as NFL Sunday Ticket or MLB.TV, it offers a substantial selection for fans of UFC, NHL, soccer, and college sports.
How to Watch ESPN+ - Available Platforms
ESPN+ is accessible on a range of devices in HD and supports up to three simultaneous streams. If you subscribe to the Disney Bundle Trio (including Hulu and ESPN+), you can watch all your content conveniently through the Disney+ app (in the US).
You can also access ESPN+ via the ESPN app on your mobile device, streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Google Chromecast, select smart TVs, and gaming consoles such as PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
