If you're a sports enthusiast, you're likely familiar with ESPN, but ESPN+'s streaming service might still leave you with questions, even though it's been available since 2018. ESPN+ enhances your sports viewing experience by supplementing traditional network channels, offering a broad range of live sports and exclusive content.
Explore our comprehensive guide on ESPN+ below, which includes an overview of the service, the variety of live sports you can stream, pricing details, and more for 2025.
What Is ESPN+? The Sports Streaming Service, Explained
ESPN+
You can sign up for a standalone ESPN+ subscription or opt for the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. Visit ESPN+ to see it in action. ESPN+ is a subscription-based streaming service that provides access to live sporting events, exclusive ESPN films and series not available on standard ESPN networks, premium articles, and more.
Despite its name, ESPN+ does not grant access to traditional ESPN channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNEWS. For example, to watch SportsCenter, you'll still need a cable or live TV subscription.
However, ESPN+ boasts a growing library of original ESPN TV shows, including "Man in the Arena" with Tom Brady, "Peyton's Places," "ESPN FC," and more. It's also the exclusive home for "NFL Primetime" since 2019, offering highlights and analysis of NFL games every Sunday night during the season. Subscribers can also access the entire archive of ESPN's acclaimed "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, featuring detailed analysis, rankings, mock drafts, and more from renowned sports writers.
ESPN+ Plans and Prices (As of March 2025)
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Bundle
You can purchase ESPN+ as a standalone subscription for $11.99 per month, or choose the ESPN+ Annual Plan for $119.99 per year, which saves you 15% off the monthly price. Alternatively, you can bundle ESPN+ (With Ads) with Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads) for $16.99 per month. Visit Disney+ to see the bundle in action.
Does ESPN+ Have a Free Trial?
Unfortunately, ESPN+ does not currently offer a free trial. While there are no ongoing promotions directly from ESPN+, some third parties may offer special deals. Although ESPN+ itself doesn't provide a trial, other streaming services with sports content might offer free trials.
What Channels Does ESPN+ Include?
ESPN+ does not include traditional channels. Instead, it offers a wide range of live sporting events, a vast archive of previously aired events, 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 selection includes select NFL, MLB, and NHL games, various soccer leagues from around the world, F1, golf, boxing, a variety of collegiate sports, and more. Availability of these games can vary by region and may be subject to 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+ won't replace season pass-like services such as NFL Sunday Ticket or MLB.TV, it offers a substantial amount of content for fans of UFC, NHL, soccer, and college sports.
How to Watch ESPN+ - Available Platforms
ESPN+ is available on a variety of devices, supporting HD streaming with 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+ through the ESPN app on your mobile device, streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Google Chromecast, select smart TVs, as well as gaming consoles such as PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
