How to Watch ESPN Plus on Your TV & From Anywhere in 2024
Quick Summary: How to Watch ESPN Plus on TV
- Install the ESPN+ app on a compatible smart TV.
- Alternatively, use a peripheral streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick.
- If you’re outside the U.S., connect to a U.S. VPN server before you start streaming.
NordVPN is my top sports streaming VPN suggestion; try any NordVPN plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ESPN Plus is the home of American sports, and you can access it through the web or on your smart TV. Sports fans can catch all their favorite games on TV by installing the ESPN app or by setting up a streaming device like Fire Stick or Roku. Today, I’ll show you how to watch ESPN Plus on your TV from the comfort of your house.
I’ll cover step-by-step guides on how to run ESPN+ on your smart TV or by using a streaming device. Additionally, since ESPN+ is restricted to the U.S., I’ve added a section showing you how to bypass those restrictions from anywhere using the best VPNs.
If you’re a sports fanatic who loves keeping tabs on your favorite teams, then you’ve come to the right place.
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How to Subscribe to ESPN+ (Web Browsers)
Before streaming sports on your TV, you first need to subscribe to ESPN+. Here are the steps to do that:
- Launch your web browser and go to ESPNplus.com.
- Choose “subscribe to ESPN+ only,” which is the cheapest of the three available options.
- Enter your preferred email address and click “continue.”
- Input your name and password, and click “sign up.”
- Choose your subscription type (ESPN+ only) and enter your payment information.
- Click on “agree & subscribe” after reading the subscriber agreement. You now have an active ESPN+ subscription to watch basketball, soccer and other live content.
Step-by-Step Guides: How to Watch ESPN+ on Your TV
You can watch ESPN+ on your TV by installing the ESPN Plus app on a compatible smart TV. If your smart TV doesn’t support the app, you can use a streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick. Below are two guides for each of these methods.
How to Watch ESPN+ on a Smart TV
The ESPN+ app is compatible with multiple smart TVs. For demonstration purposes, I’ll use an Android TV for this guide.
1. Subscribe to ESPN+
Start by purchasing an ESPN Plus subscription that fits your budget. You can choose from three options: an ESPN+ subscription, the Disney Bundle or Pay-Per-View.
2. Install ESPN+ on Your TV
Open the Google Play store on your smart TV and search for ESPN. Click on the “install” button.
3. Sign In to Your ESPN+ Account
Enter your login credentials and sign in to your account. There are two options: You can use the “provider login,” which will redirect you to the ESPN website for an activation code, or you can log in with your MyDisney account (if you subscribed through the Disney Bundle).
4. Launch ESPN+
From the left panel, tap the “+” icon to launch ESPN+ and start exploring all the live TV and games available. Select one to start streaming.
Which Smart TVs Support ESPN+?
Most newer-generation smart TVs work with ESPN+, including Android TVs, Apple TVs, Samsung and LG models. Here’s the full list.
- Android TVs and set-top boxes: ESPN+ works on devices supporting Android OS 5.0 or later, including Sony BRAVIA, NVIDIA SHIELD, Mi Box, Nexus Player, Razer Forge TV and Sharp AQUOS.
- Game consoles: You can get ESPN+ on PS4, PS5 and Xbox (all releases after One).
- Apple TV: ESPN+ is supported on Apple TV devices running on tvOS 14.0 or later, such as Apple TV HD (4th Gen or later) and Apple TV 4K.
- Samsung Tizen Smart TVs: ESPN+ is available on most newer models of Samsung TVs from 2016 onward.
- Cox Contour TV: ESPN+ works on the following devices: XG1v3 (Arris Model), XG2v2 (Pace Model), XiD (Pace or Cisco Model), Xi6 Wireless TV Box (Arris Model), 9865/G8 (Cisco Model), Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player.
- LG Smart TVs: Models 2018 and newer will support ESPN+.
- Xumo: You can watch ESPN+ on Xumo TV and Xumo XiOne Box.
How to Watch ESPN+ on TV via Streaming Devices (Roku, Fire TV Stick, etc.)
Streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV Stick are perfect for older smart TVs that don’t support the ESPN app. Here’s how to access on-demand content on ESPN+ through Fire Stick:
- Subscribe to ESPN+
- Plug in the Fire Stick to your smart TV
- Launch the Fire TV Stick home screen and search for the ESPN+ app
- Download and install the app on your Fire Stick
- Launch ESPN+ by clicking “open” and search for the games you want to watch
If you’re using Roku, follow these steps:
- Press the “home” button on your Roku’s remote to open the home screen
- Use the search function to locate the ESPN app
- Select “add channel” to add the ESPN channel to your Roku
- Launch the ESPN channel
- Sign in to your ESPN account or subscribe if you don’t have one yet. You can now stream live sports, movies and shows
Can I Watch ESPN+ on My Phone? (iOS & Android)
Yes, you can watch ESPN+ on Android and iOS by downloading the app from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. You must sign in to your ESPN+ account in the app to start watching games on your smartphone.
How to Watch ESPN+ With the Disney Bundle
If you have a Disney+ subscription, you can take advantage of the ESPN+ Disney Bundle, which lets you combine both streaming services under one account. This costs more than a standalone ESPN+ subscription, but it provides convenient access to your favorite shows and sports under one roof.
Here are the steps for getting the ESPN+ Disney Bundle:
- Open your web browser and go to the Disney+ signup page.
- Select the Disney Bundle Trio, which has Disney, Hulu and ESPN+.
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- Enter your payment and birthdate information.
- Read the terms and conditions, then click “agree & subscribe” to complete the process. You can now watch ESPN+ content like rugby, lacrosse and more through the Disney+ app.
Disney+ is available in many countries, but if you’re not in one of them, see our best Disney Plus VPN article for some VPN recommendations.
ESPN+ Pricing
When getting ESPN+, you can choose from three pricing options. The cheapest is an ESPN+ subscription, which has two pricing plans. You can pick the monthly plan that costs $11.99 per month or the annual plan going for $119.99 per year.
The second-most affordable option is the Disney Bundle, which comes with two price plans. The Disney Bundle Trio Basic plan is the cheapest at $16.99 per month, and it comes with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. However, you’ll have to deal with ads.
For $26.99 per month, you can upgrade to the Disney Bundle Trio Premium plan. You won’t find any ads on Disney+ and Hulu, but you’ll still run into them on ESPN+. The final price plan is the Pay-Per-View option, which allows you to purchase UFC PPV events for $79.99 per event.
Can I Watch ESPN+ for Free?
No, there’s no free ESPN+ option, and the service doesn’t offer a free trial. The best way to save money with ESPN+ is by subscribing to the Disney Bundle. With this, you can watch live sports, movies and TV shows for as little as $16.99.
What Can I Watch on ESPN+?
ESPN+ mainly caters to sports content from America, like the NBA finals, plus selected football league streams from Europe. There’s also a library of sports-related movies, TV shows, reality TV, documentaries and more.
Here’s just some of the content that you can watch on ESPN+:
- NHL
- NFL
- NBA
- WNBA
- UFC
- MLB
- NCAA Football
- PGA Tour
- Spanish LaLiga
- German Bundesliga
- Dutch Eredivisie
- NCAA Women’s Volleyball
- Top Rank Boxing
- NCAA Field Hockey
- FA Cup
You can also watch original series and shows like these:
- ‘The Fight Life’
- ‘Clutch’
- ‘The Pat McAfee Show’
- ‘NFL Primetime’
- ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’
- ‘Roll The Tape’
How to Watch ESPN+ Outside the U.S.
ESPN+ is available only in the United States. If you live anywhere else, then the best way to access it is by using a virtual private network (VPN). With a VPN, you can connect to a U.S. server and open ESPN+ as though you’re physically there. To choose a service, start with our list of the best VPNs for Apple TV.
1. Subscribe to a VPN
Purchase a VPN subscription that aligns with your budget. You need to choose a VPN that has U.S. servers and fast speeds for streaming HD sports without buffering. I went with NordVPN for this example; you can try it yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Download and Install the VPN
Install the VPN on the device you’ll be using to stream ESPN+. The best VPNs are compatible with streaming devices like smart TVs, PCs, smartphones or tablets.
3. Sign In to Your Account
Launch the installed VPN app and log in with the username and password you set when you purchased the subscription.
4. Connect to a U.S. Server
Open the server list and connect to any U.S. server.
5. Start Streaming ESPN+
You can now open the ESPN+ app. Log in to start watching live sports, movies and shows.
The Best VPNs for ESPN+
I tested dozens of VPNs to find the one that works best with ESPN+. Here are the top three:
NordVPN: This is the best VPN for ESPN+. It offers over 1,600 servers across 16 cities in America. NordVPN is compatible with almost all streaming devices and smart TVs, and its fast speeds can handle any streaming service without buffering. Read our NordVPN review for more.
Surfshark: This is one of the most affordable VPNs for ESPN+, with hundreds of U.S. servers across 22 cities. Surfshark supports unlimited device connections, so you can set up ESPN+ on as many devices as you want. You’ll find more details in this Surfshark review.
PrivadoVPN: If you need a free VPN to access ESPN+, then PrivadoVPN is your best bet. You get 13 free locations, including the U.S., and 10GB of monthly data. The premium option has multiple U.S. servers across 14 cities, and it’s compatible with Android TV, tvOS and Fire TV.
Best Free VPN
Is ESPN+ Worth it? Pros & Cons
ESPN+ is a content-rich streaming platform for sports, movies and TV shows, but it’s just one of several choices. If you’re unsure about subscribing to the service, consider the following pros and cons:
- User-friendly app
- Affordable price plans
- Multiple supported devices
- Offline downloads on mobile
- Disney Bundle is cost-effective
- Wide coverage, including college sports
- No live NBA games
- Restricted to the U.S.
- Costly additional PPV fight fees
- Lacks most of ESPN’s core content
Conclusion: How to Watch ESPN Plus
ESPN+ is a great platform for streaming all kinds of sports, including professional and college sports. Compared to other alternatives like FuboTV, ESPN+ offers more for less, and it gets even better when combined with the Disney Bundle.
The biggest advantage of ESPN+ is that the app is compatible with the majority of streaming devices, making it highly convenient. However, since it’s restricted to the United States, you’ll need a VPN to stream your favorite games if you live in other regions (my top VPN recommendation is NordVPN).
Are you a sports fan who regularly uses ESPN+? How has your experience been so far? Did switching on a VPN improve its performance? Tell us what you think in the comments below, and keep reading our blog for more content.
FAQ: Streaming the ESPN App
Is ESPN Plus Free With Amazon Prime?
No. ESPN Plus is not free with Amazon Prime. ESPN+ does not offer a free version, whether as a standalone or when bundled with other services. Additionally, no bundle combines ESPN+ with Amazon Prime. However, you can watch NFL Thursday night football games on Prime.Can I Watch ESPN Plus for Free?
No, you can’t watch ESPN+ for free. It’s an entirely premium service, whether you get it as a standalone or as part of the Disney Bundle.How Do I Get ESPN Plus on My TV?
You can get ESPN Plus on your TV by installing the ESPN+ app if your TV is compatible. ESPN+ works with Android TV, Samsung TV, LG TV and Apple TV.How Do I Watch ESPN+ on Hulu?
You can watch ESPN+ on Hulu by subscribing to Hulu and adding ESPN+ so you can watch thousands of sports events and original series.
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