ESPN App vs ESPN Plus: What Is the Difference in 2026?

The confusing part first: ESPN+ no longer exists under that name. In August 2025, ESPN launched its full direct-to-consumer service and reorganized everything into two paid tiers inside one app. ESPN+ was renamed ESPN Select, existing subscribers were converted automatically, and a new premium tier called ESPN Unlimited was introduced.

So the real question in 2026 is not "app versus ESPN+." It is: what does the free app give you, and which of the two paid tiers — if either — do you need?

The three things people mean by "ESPN"

Prices rose in September 2026 from the launch rates of $11.99 and $29.99.

What the free ESPN app does

More than most people realize, and it is worth knowing before you pay for anything.

Live scores and play-by-play across every major league, breaking news, highlight clips, standings, schedules, ESPN Fantasy, and the network's podcast catalog — all free.

It also serves as the authentication shell for pay-TV subscribers. If you have cable, satellite, or a live TV streaming package that carries ESPN, you sign in with those credentials and stream the ESPN channels you already pay for, at no additional cost.

That last point matters: many people buy an ESPN subscription they already have through their TV provider.

ESPN Select: what it is and is not

ESPN Select is the rebranded ESPN+. Same content, same purpose, new name.

What it has: roughly 32,000 live events a year, most of them streaming-exclusive. College sports from smaller conferences, international soccer, tennis, golf, PGA Tour Live coverage, NHL out-of-market games, ESPN original documentaries, and on-demand replays.

What it does not have: the ESPN cable channel. This is the most common and most expensive misunderstanding in sports streaming. If a game is airing on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC, Select will not show it to you. Monday Night Football is not on Select. The NBA Finals are not on Select. College Football Playoff games are not on Select.

If you subscribed expecting the ESPN channel and did not get it, this is why.

ESPN Unlimited: the full package

Unlimited is what people picture when they imagine "ESPN as a streaming service."

All 12 ESPN networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX.

Roughly 47,000 live events a year, including everything in Select.

Live sports across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, college football and basketball, the College Football Playoff, international soccer, tennis, and golf.

At $31.99 a month, it is priced comparably to a slim cable package — because functionally that is what it is.

The app features that came with the DTC launch

The rebuilt ESPN app introduced several genuinely useful things:

• Multiview — up to four games at once
• StreamCenter — a synchronized second-screen experience between phone and TV
• Catch Up to Live — quick highlight recaps of what you missed after joining a game late
• SportsCenter For You — a personalized daily highlight reel
• Verts — a vertical video feed of news, highlights, and analysis
• Interactive panels — live stats, fantasy updates, and related data alongside the stream

Which one should you buy?

Buy nothing if you already have cable, satellite, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DirecTV. Sign in to the free app with those credentials. DirecTV's Signature packages include ESPN Unlimited outright.

Buy ESPN Select if you want college sports beyond the major conferences, international soccer, PGA Tour Live, or NHL out-of-market coverage, and you do not need the main ESPN channel.

Buy ESPN Unlimited if you have cut cable and want the ESPN channel itself — Monday Night Football, the NBA Finals, the College Football Playoff.

Consider a bundle. ESPN Unlimited has been offered with Disney+ and Hulu, and in bundles with NFL+ Premium and Fox One at $39.99 a month. If your household uses more than one of those, the bundle math usually wins.

What ESPN lost in 2026 — and why it matters

Two things left ESPN in the last year that changed the calculation for many subscribers:

UFC moved to Paramount+ under a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal, ending the pay-per-view model. No ESPN tier carries UFC events.

Formula 1 moved to Apple TV under a five-year exclusive US agreement. No ESPN tier carries F1 races.

ESPN also restructured its MLB package, keeping 30 national games and MLB.TV distribution while Sunday Night Baseball moved to NBC.

If you were holding an ESPN subscription for combat sports or motorsport, it is no longer doing that job.

Bandwidth

Budget 10-15 Mbps per HD stream and 25 Mbps or more for 4K events. Multiview with four simultaneous games is considerably more demanding — plan on 50 Mbps or better, and use a wired Ethernet connection if you intend to use it regularly.

Frequently asked questions

Is ESPN+ still a thing? It was renamed ESPN Select in August 2025. Existing subscribers were converted automatically; the content is the same.

Does ESPN Select include the ESPN channel? No. That requires ESPN Unlimited or a pay-TV subscription carrying ESPN.

How much is ESPN Unlimited? $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, as of the September 2026 pricing.

Can I watch Monday Night Football on ESPN Select? No. You need ESPN Unlimited or a TV provider that carries ESPN.

Do I need a subscription to use the ESPN app? No. Scores, news, highlights, and fantasy are free.

Is UFC on ESPN in 2026? No. UFC moved to Paramount+.

Is Formula 1 on ESPN? No. F1 moved to Apple TV for the 2026 season.

I already have cable — do I need to pay ESPN separately? Generally no. Authenticate in the ESPN app with your TV provider credentials.

Bottom line

The free app covers scores and news for everyone. ESPN Select is the old ESPN+ — deep on niche live sports, no ESPN channel. ESPN Unlimited is the real cord-cutter product at $31.99. Before buying either, check whether your TV provider already entitles you to it, and check whether the sport you want has moved: two of ESPN's biggest draws left in 2026.