What ESPN+ is and who it's for

ESPN+ is a streaming service owned by Disney that shows live sports, original shows, and on-demand replays. You pay a monthly or annual fee to watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV. It is not the same as regular ESPN on cable — ESPN+ has its own separate content, though some events appear on both.

ESPN+ is built for people who want to watch sports outside the traditional cable schedule. If you follow soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, or combat sports, you will find events that air only on ESPN+. The service also produces original documentaries and analysis shows that you cannot watch anywhere else.

You do not need cable to use ESPN+. You only need an internet connection and a device to stream on. If you already pay for cable and get ESPN that way, ESPN+ still offers content you would not see on the cable channel.

Key Takeaways

  • ESPN+ costs either a monthly subscription or an annual subscription, with the annual option costing less per month if you commit for a year.
  • You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, and you can stream on multiple devices at the same time depending on your subscription tier.
  • ESPN+ shows live games, replays, original documentaries, and analysis shows, but not all ESPN cable events move to the streaming service.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time without penalty, and your access ends at the end of your current billing period.
  • Disney offers bundle deals that combine ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu, which costs less than paying for each service separately.

Subscription tiers and pricing

ESPN+ offers two main subscription options: monthly and annual. The monthly option lets you pay once a month and cancel whenever you want. The annual option requires you to pay for a full year upfront but costs less per month when you divide the total by twelve.

The price of ESPN+ changes periodically and varies by region. You can find the current price on the ESPN+ website or in the app before you sign up. Some promotions offer a discounted first month or a free trial period, though these are not always available.

Disney also sells a bundle that includes ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu together. The bundle costs less than buying all three services separately. Within the bundle, you can choose whether your Hulu subscription includes ads or not, which affects the total price.

What content you can watch

ESPN+ carries live games from major sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Soccer. It also shows college sports, golf tournaments, tennis matches, and combat sports like UFC and boxing. Not every game from these leagues appears on ESPN+ — some air on cable ESPN, some on network television, and some on other streaming services.

Beyond live games, ESPN+ produces original documentaries and series about athletes, teams, and sports history. These shows are made specifically for the service and do not air on cable. The service also offers replays of past games so you can watch on your own schedule instead of live.

ESPN+ does not include local sports broadcasts or regional sports networks. If you want to watch your local team's games, you may need cable, a local streaming option, or a separate service depending on which team and which league.

Devices and simultaneous streaming

You can watch ESPN+ on smartphones and tablets running iOS or Android, on computers using a web browser, and on smart TVs through apps or devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast. You can also watch on gaming consoles including PlayStation and Xbox.

The number of devices you can stream on at the same time depends on your subscription tier. The standard ESPN+ subscription allows streaming on two devices at once. If you need more simultaneous streams, Disney offers a higher tier that permits more concurrent viewing, though this option is not available in all regions.

You can use the same ESPN+ account across multiple devices. When you log in on a new device, it remembers your account and your watch history. If you share your password with someone outside your household, that person can stream on their own devices using your account.

How to sign up and manage your subscription

To sign up for ESPN+, visit the ESPN+ website or read the ESPN+ app on your device. You will need to create an account with an email address and password, then choose your subscription option (monthly or annual) and enter a payment method. Your subscription begins when ready after payment goes through.

You can manage your subscription through your account settings in the app or on the website. From there, you can update your payment method, change your subscription tier, or cancel your subscription. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access until that date even after you request cancellation.

If you sign up through the Disney Bundle, you manage all three services (ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu) through a single account. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel any of the three services independently without affecting the others.

ESPN+ versus cable ESPN and other sports streaming

Cable ESPN and ESPN+ are separate services with different content. Cable ESPN shows some events that do not appear on ESPN+, and ESPN+ shows events that do not air on cable. If you have cable, you may be able to log into the ESPN app with your cable credentials to watch some ESPN+ content, but this is not the same as having an ESPN+ subscription.

Other sports leagues and teams offer their own streaming services. The NFL has NFL+, the NBA has NBA League Pass, and MLB has MLB.TV. These services focus on their own leagues and often cost more than ESPN+. Some people subscribe to multiple services to follow different sports.

Local and regional sports networks sometimes stream games through their own apps or websites. You may need a cable login or a separate subscription to access these. The availability of local streaming varies by team and region.

Common issues and troubleshooting

If you cannot log in to ESPN+, first check that you are using the correct email address and password. If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it. Make sure your internet connection is working and try logging in on a different device to see if the problem is specific to one device.

If a live game is not loading or keeps stopping, try closing the app completely and reopening it. Restart your device or router if the problem continues. Check that your internet speed is fast enough for streaming — ESPN+ recommends at least 8 megabits per second for HD video and 25 megabits per second for 4K.

If you are charged after you cancel, contact ESPN+ support through the app or website. Cancellations should take effect at the end of your billing period, and you should not be charged again after that date. Keep records of your cancellation request in case you need to dispute a charge with your payment method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch ESPN+ on more than one device at the same time?

Yes, the standard ESPN+ subscription allows two simultaneous streams. If you need more, Disney offers a higher tier in some regions that permits additional concurrent viewing. Check your account settings to see which tier you have and how many streams are included.

Do I need cable to watch ESPN+?

No. ESPN+ is a standalone subscription that works with just an internet connection. You do not need cable or a cable login to use it, though some ESPN cable events do not appear on ESPN+ and vice versa.

What happens to my account if I cancel?

Your access continues until the end of your current billing period. After that date, you lose access to all ESPN+ content. If you resubscribe later, you can create a new account or log back into your old one if you remember your password.

Is there a free trial for ESPN+?

ESPN+ sometimes offers free trial periods or discounted first months, but these promotions are not always available. Check the ESPN+ website to see what offers are currently running in your region before you sign up.

Can I watch local sports games on ESPN+?

Not usually. ESPN+ focuses on national and league-wide events. Local and regional broadcasts typically require cable, a regional sports app, or a separate local streaming service. Check your local team's website to see where their games are broadcast.