ESPN+ is a streaming service that costs money each month and shows live sports, original shows, and replays

ESPN+ is a paid streaming subscription run by ESPN (part of Disney). You pay a monthly or yearly fee to watch live sports events, original documentaries, and replays on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. It is not free, and it is separate from cable TV — you do not need a cable subscription to use it, but you also do not get ESPN+ included if you already have cable.

The service focuses on sports that cable ESPN does not always show: college football and basketball games, soccer leagues, hockey, baseball, and combat sports. It also includes ESPN's original documentary series and analysis shows. The content changes based on what sports are in season and what rights ESPN owns in any given year.

Key Takeaways

  • ESPN+ costs a set monthly fee or a lower yearly rate, and the price changes periodically — check ESPN's website for the current amount.
  • You can watch on multiple devices at once if you have a standard subscription, but the number of simultaneous streams varies by plan.
  • ESPN+ does not include live broadcasts of major ESPN cable channel events; you need cable or a cable login to watch those.
  • You can cancel anytime without penalty, and your access stops at the end of your billing period.
  • Disney offers bundle deals that combine ESPN+ with Hulu and Disney+ at a lower total price than buying each separately.

Current pricing and billing options

ESPN+ charges a monthly subscription fee or offers a discounted yearly option. The exact price changes over time, so you should check ESPN's official website or app to see what they are charging right now. Monthly plans typically cost less per month than yearly plans when divided out, but yearly plans have a lower upfront cost if you pay for the whole year at once.

Disney also sells a bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu (with ads), and Disney+ together at a single monthly price. This bundle costs less than buying all three separately. There is also a premium bundle option that removes ads from Hulu, though it costs more. If you already use Hulu or Disney+, the bundle may save you money.

You can change your plan or cancel at any time through your account settings. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your billing period, then it stops. There are no early termination fees or penalties.

What sports and shows are actually on ESPN+

ESPN+ carries live games and events that ESPN owns the rights to broadcast. This includes college football and basketball, Major League Soccer, NHL hockey, MLB baseball, UFC and boxing events, tennis, golf, rugby, and cricket. The specific games available depend on the sport's schedule and which matchups ESPN has the broadcast rights to show.

The service also includes original content: ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series, daily sports analysis shows, and behind-the-scenes sports documentaries. Some of this content is exclusive to ESPN+, meaning you cannot watch it on cable ESPN or anywhere else.

What ESPN+ does not include: the live broadcasts that air on the main ESPN cable channel during prime time. If you want to watch the biggest games on ESPN's main channel, you need cable TV or a cable login through a service like YouTube TV or Hulu Live. ESPN+ is a supplement to cable, not a replacement for it.

How many devices you can use at once

A standard ESPN+ subscription lets you stream on multiple devices at the same time, though the exact number depends on which plan you have. You can typically watch on a phone, tablet, and TV simultaneously, but ESPN limits this to prevent one account from being shared across too many households.

If someone outside your household is using your login regularly, ESPN may flag the account or require you to verify your location. The company has been tightening rules around account sharing, similar to what Netflix and other streaming services do.

Signing up and logging in

You sign up for ESPN+ through ESPN's website or through the ESPN app on your phone or TV. You will need an email address and a payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal). During signup, you choose whether you want a monthly or yearly plan and whether you want the bundle with Hulu and Disney+.

Once you are signed up, you can log in on any device that has the ESPN app or a web browser. On smart TVs, you download the ESPN app and log in with your account. On phones and tablets, the ESPN app works the same way. You can also watch through a web browser on a computer by going to ESPN.com and logging in.

If you forget your password, ESPN's website has a password reset option. If you have trouble logging in on a specific device, try logging out completely, restarting the app or browser, and logging back in.

When to use ESPN+ versus cable or other services

ESPN+ makes sense if you want to watch college sports, soccer, or niche events that cable ESPN does not show often. It is also useful if you want access to ESPN's documentary library and original shows. The yearly plan is cheaper per month if you know you will use it for a full year.

If you only want to watch the biggest games on the main ESPN channel, cable TV or a live TV streaming service (like YouTube TV, Hulu Live, or Sling TV) is what you actually need. Those services include the ESPN cable channel. ESPN+ is a separate product that fills in the gaps.

The bundle with Hulu and Disney+ is worth comparing if you use any of those services already. Adding ESPN+ to Hulu and Disney+ through the bundle usually costs less than paying for ESPN+ separately.

Canceling your subscription

You can cancel ESPN+ anytime through your account settings on the ESPN website or app. Go to your account, find the subscription section, and select cancel. You will keep access through the end of your current billing period, then it stops automatically.

If you are on a yearly plan and cancel early, you do not get a refund for the unused months. If you are on a monthly plan, there is no penalty — you just lose access after your current month ends. If you change your mind later, you can sign up again anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need cable TV to watch ESPN+?

No. ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that works without cable. However, ESPN+ does not include the live broadcasts from the main ESPN cable channel, so if you want those, you need cable or a cable-replacement service like YouTube TV.

Can I share my ESPN+ login with family members in another house?

ESPN's terms say your account is for personal use in your household. Sharing with people outside your home may violate the terms, and ESPN has been cracking down on account sharing by requiring location verification or flagging accounts with unusual login patterns.

What happens if I cancel and then want to sign up again?

You can sign up again anytime. Your old account may still exist, or you may need to create a new one — it depends on how long ago you canceled. You will start a new billing cycle from the date you sign up again.

Is ESPN+ included in any cable packages?

Some cable providers offer ESPN+ as an add-on or bundle, but it is not automatically included with a standard cable subscription. Check with your cable provider to see if they offer it as an option.

Can I watch ESPN+ on my smart TV?

Yes. Download the ESPN app on your smart TV, log in with your account, and you can stream to the TV. Most modern smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV) have the ESPN app available in their app store.