Updated Pricing · Select, Unlimited & Bundle Breakdown
Searching “how much is ESPN Plus” gets confusing fast, because the service technically isn’t sold under that name anymore. This guide breaks down what ESPN+ became, what each current plan actually costs, which one you need for which sport, and a few money-saving moves most pricing pages never mention.
📋 Quick Answers Before You Read Further
These are the exact questions people end up typing into search bars when they’re trying to figure out what ESPN actually costs. Skim them first, then use the rest of the guide for the details behind each answer.
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1
Can I still subscribe to “ESPN+” by itself? Yes — it’s just been renamed ESPN SelectThe streaming-only service formerly branded ESPN+ now goes by ESPN Select. It costs $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year and includes the same kind of on-demand and streaming-exclusive sports coverage ESPN+ always offered. If you had ESPN+ before, you were automatically moved onto Select with no action needed.
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2
Is ESPN really charging $29.99 a month? Yes, for the top tier — ESPN Unlimited$29.99 a month (or $299.99 a year) is the price of ESPN Unlimited, the tier that adds live ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPN on ABC on top of everything in Select. It’s the closest thing to “cable ESPN” you can buy without a cable subscription.
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3
What’s the cheapest way to actually get ESPN content? Pay annually for Select, or bundle it with Disney+ and HuluAn annual ESPN Select subscription works out to about $10.83 a month, cheaper than paying monthly. If you also want Disney+ and Hulu, the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select trio runs $19.99 a month with ads, which beats buying all three apart in most cases.
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4
Is ESPN+ free with Amazon Prime? No — they’re completely separate companies and servicesAmazon Prime membership has never included ESPN access. You can purchase an ESPN subscription through certain Amazon devices and storefronts, but it’s billed as its own charge, not a Prime perk.
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5
Do I still need ESPN for UFC? No, not anymoreUFC’s entire event lineup, including what used to require a separate pay-per-view purchase on top of an ESPN subscription, moved to Paramount+ starting in 2026. If UFC was the only reason you kept paying for ESPN, that reason is gone.
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6
Does ESPN offer a free trial? Not directly, but there’s a legitimate workaroundNeither ESPN Select nor ESPN Unlimited offers its own free trial as a standalone purchase. However, free trials from live-TV services like Fubo, DirecTV, or Hulu + Live TV include ESPN Unlimited access for the length of the trial, typically three to seven days.
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Which plan do I need for NFL and NBA games? ESPN Unlimited, not SelectSelect gives you ESPN+ content only — no live ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC broadcasts. Monday Night Football, NBA postseason coverage, and the College Football Playoff on ABC/ESPN all require Unlimited or an equivalent live-TV bundle.
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How do I actually get ESPN onto my TV? Install the app, then activate it with a code at espn.com/activateDownload the ESPN app on your TV or streaming device, open it, and it will display a short activation code. On your phone or computer, go to espn.com/activate, enter that code, and sign in with your ESPN account (or your TV/streaming provider, if that’s how you access ESPN). The TV screen updates automatically once you’re signed in.
🔍 Why “ESPN Plus” Suddenly Got Confusing
ESPN spent years selling a standalone streaming app called ESPN+, alongside the separate cable channel everyone already knew. That changed when ESPN launched a single, unified app simply called ESPN, split into two paid tiers: Select (which is ESPN+ under a new name) and Unlimited (a full streaming replacement for the cable channel lineup). If you’re seeing pricing articles online that mention $9.99 or $11.99 a month, you’re looking at outdated information from before the rebrand. Anyone who already had ESPN+ was automatically shifted onto Select at no extra step on their part, which is why so many existing subscribers didn’t notice the switch happened at all.
💰 Every ESPN Plan — Price & What’s Included
All plans bill monthly with no contract, and most have an annual option that saves money if you’re confident you’ll keep the service for a full year.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN Select Old ESPN+, Renamed | $12.99 | $129.99 | Streaming-only sports: NHL Power Play, college sports, golf, tennis, soccer, MMA library — no live ESPN channels, no NBA |
| ESPN Unlimited | $29.99 | $299.99 | Everything in Select, plus live ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN on ABC — NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL postseason, CFB Playoff |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle | $19.99 | — | Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) plus ESPN Select — no live ESPN channels |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium | $29.99 | — | Disney+ and Hulu with no ads, plus ESPN Select |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle | $35.99 | — | Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) plus full ESPN Unlimited access |
| Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium | $44.99 | — | Disney+ and Hulu with no ads, plus full ESPN Unlimited access (live sports still carries ads regardless of tier) |
| ESPN, FOX One Add-On | ~$39.99 | — | ESPN Unlimited plus FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, FOX Deportes, and select local FOX stations |
| Live TV Bundle (Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, etc.) | ~$46–$90 | — | A full cable-style channel package that already includes ESPN access, plus dozens of other channels |
⏱️ Prices Have Climbed Yearly — and Promos Expire
ESPN Select’s price moved from $11.99 to $12.99 a month in October of last year, continuing a pattern of yearly increases since the service first launched. Introductory bundle rates, such as a discounted first-12-months rate on some Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited offers, revert to the standard price once the promotional window ends. Always confirm the current rate at espn.com or disneyplus.com before subscribing, since exact figures shift throughout the year.
🚫 What ESPN Select Won’t Give You
- No live ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU channels — Select is streaming-exclusive content only, not a replacement for the cable channels.
- No NBA coverage — NBA games, including the Finals, are part of Unlimited, not Select.
- No Monday Night Football or other ABC/ESPN broadcasts — those air on the linear channels Select doesn’t include.
- Daily MLB games moved to Unlimited — a notable change from how ESPN+ worked previously, which surprises a lot of longtime subscribers.
- Local blackout rules still apply — being subscribed doesn’t guarantee you can watch your home team’s game if it’s locally blacked out.
📊 Comparing Your Options — Cost & What Each One Actually Gets You
📱 ESPN Select Alone
$12.99/mo
Streaming-only sports, no live ESPN channels · best for niche/college/combat sports fans who don’t need NFL or NBA
📡 ESPN Unlimited Alone
$29.99/mo
Full cable-style ESPN replacement · needed for NFL, NBA, and live ESPN/ESPN2 broadcasts
🎬 Disney+, Hulu, Select Trio
$19.99/mo
Cheapest way to get all three Disney-family services at once · still no live ESPN channels
📺 Full Live TV Bundle
$46–$90/mo
Replaces cable entirely · includes ESPN plus dozens of unrelated channels you may not want
🔍 Which Situation Matches You Right Now?
I used to pay for ESPN+ — what happened to my subscription, and do I owe anything?
EXISTING ESPN+ USERS
Nothing changed for you except the name on the bill. Every existing ESPN+ subscriber was automatically migrated to ESPN Select, with the same content library and the same general price point, continuing on the same billing cycle as before. You don’t need to re-subscribe or take any action. If you want the expanded live-channel experience, you can choose to upgrade to ESPN Unlimited from within your account settings, but staying on Select simply continues your existing service under its new name.
✅ No action needed — you’re already on Select
🔁 Same content library as before
⬆️ Upgrade to Unlimited anytime in account settings
💳 Billing continues on your existing cycle
I just want to watch Monday Night Football and the NBA Playoffs — which plan do I actually need?
NFL · NBA WATCHERS
You need ESPN Unlimited, not Select. Monday Night Football and NBA postseason games air on the live ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC broadcast feeds, which only Unlimited includes. Buying Select for this purpose is one of the most common and avoidable mix-ups, since the marketing for both tiers can look similar at a glance. If you already have a live-TV streaming bundle or cable package that includes ESPN, check whether that already covers you before paying for a second, separate ESPN subscription.
📡 Live games require Unlimited, not Select
🏈 MNF airs on the linear ESPN channel
🏀 NBA postseason is an Unlimited-only feature
🔁 Check existing cable/streaming access first
I only ever subscribed for UFC — do I even need ESPN anymore?
UFC FANS
Probably not, and that’s a real opportunity to save money. UFC’s full event calendar, including the numbered events that used to require a separate pay-per-view purchase, moved over to Paramount+ starting in 2026, ending the long-running ESPN/PPV arrangement entirely. If watching the fights was your only reason for keeping ESPN, it’s worth canceling and redirecting that money toward whichever service now carries the leagues or events you actually watch.
🥊 UFC left ESPN for Paramount+ in 2026
💸 No more separate PPV charges for UFC
🔄 Re-evaluate whether you still need ESPN
📋 Cancel through account settings if not
I’m trying to find the absolute cheapest legal way to watch ESPN content.
BUDGET-FOCUSED
Start by checking what you might already have for free. If you currently pay for cable or a live-TV streaming bundle that includes ESPN, you likely already have ESPN+ (now Select) content included at no extra charge by signing in with your TV provider credentials in the ESPN app — many people pay twice without realizing this. If you’re starting fresh, an annual ESPN Select subscription is the lowest standalone cost, and the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select trio is usually the best value if you want Disney+ and Hulu anyway. Skip any plan that includes live ESPN channels (Unlimited) unless you actually need NFL, NBA, or similar live broadcasts — it roughly doubles the price for content many casual fans never use.
🔍 Check if your TV provider already includes it
📅 Annual Select beats monthly Select
🎬 Trio bundle if you want Disney+ and Hulu too
🚫 Skip Unlimited if you don’t need live channels
I’m not very comfortable with technology — how do I actually get ESPN working on my TV?
SETUP HELP
It’s a one-time process, and it’s easier with a second device in hand. First, make sure your TV or streaming box (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or similar) has the ESPN app installed from its app store. Open the app, and it will show a short code on the screen. On your phone, tablet, or computer, go to espn.com/activate, type in that exact code, and log in with your ESPN account email and password (or your TV/internet provider login, if that’s how you access ESPN). The TV screen will update on its own within a few seconds. If anything doesn’t work, ESPN’s support team offers live chat help, and a family member or local electronics store can usually walk through the same steps in a few minutes if needed.
📲 Use a phone or tablet as your second screen
🔢 Enter the on-screen code at espn.com/activate
💬 ESPN support offers live chat help
🧑🤝🧑 A family member or local store can assist in person
📍 Find Help Near You
Use the buttons below if you need a faster internet connection, a streaming device, or in-person help getting everything set up.
🔑 Quick Reference — Key Links
🌐 Official plans & sign-up: espn.com
📲 Activate ESPN on a TV device: espn.com/activate
💬 ESPN customer support: support.espn.com
🎬 Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundle details: disneyplus.com
🗺️ Find local setup help: use the map above
✅ Checklist Before You Subscribe to Anything ESPN
- Step 1: Decide what you actually want to watch — if it’s UFC, you don’t need ESPN at all anymore; if it’s NFL or NBA, you need Unlimited, not Select.
- Step 2: Check whether your current cable or live-TV bundle already includes ESPN access before buying a separate plan.
- Step 3: Compare the annual price against twelve months of the monthly price — annual almost always wins if you’re confident you’ll keep it.
- Step 4: If you want Disney+ and Hulu anyway, price out the trio bundle before buying ESPN as a standalone service.
- Step 5: Set yourself a reminder before any promotional rate ends, since introductory pricing reliably reverts to a higher standard rate afterward.
Pricing, bundle offers, and included content for ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited, and related bundles are set by ESPN and Disney and change frequently, including periodic price increases and limited-time promotional rates. The figures in this guide reflect commonly reported current U.S. rates and may not reflect your exact bundle, region, or promotional eligibility. Always confirm your current price directly at espn.com or disneyplus.com before subscribing. This page has no affiliation with ESPN, Disney, Hulu, Paramount, or any other service mentioned.