How to Watch ESPN Plus

How to Watch ESPN Plus on Your TV & From Anywhere in 2024

Arthur Sabayi
Last update: October 29, 2024

Quick Summary: How to Watch ESPN Plus on TV

  1. Install the ESPN+ app on a compatible smart TV.
  2. Alternatively, use a peripheral streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick.
  3. If you’re outside the U.S., connect to a U.S. VPN server before you start streaming.
Overall Rating 9.3 / 10
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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.

  1. Overall Rating 9.3 / 10
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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:

  1. Launch your web browser and go to ESPNplus.com.
  2. Choose “subscribe to ESPN+ only,” which is the cheapest of the three available options.
  3. Enter your preferred email address and click “continue.”
  4. Input your name and password, and click “sign up.”
  5. Choose your subscription type (ESPN+ only) and enter your payment information.
  6. 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. 

espn+ subscription

2. Install ESPN+ on Your TV

Open the Google Play store on your smart TV and search for ESPN. Click on the “install” button.

install app

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).

login

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.

launch espn+

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.

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:

  1. Subscribe to ESPN+
  2. Plug in the Fire Stick to your smart TV
  3. Launch the Fire TV Stick home screen and search for the ESPN+ app
  4. Download and install the app on your Fire Stick
  5. Launch ESPN+ by clicking “open” and search for the games you want to watch

If you’re using Roku, follow these steps:

  1. Press the “home” button on your Roku’s remote to open the home screen
  2. Use the search function to locate the ESPN app
  3. Select “add channel” to add the ESPN channel to your Roku
  4. Launch the ESPN channel
  5. 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:

  1. Open your web browser and go to the Disney+ signup page.
  2. Select the Disney Bundle Trio, which has Disney, Hulu and ESPN+.
  3. Enter your email address and create a password.
  4. Enter your payment and birthdate information.
  5. 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+:

You can also watch original series and shows like these:


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.

nordvpn streaming

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. 

nordvpn android tv

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.

nordvpn login

4. Connect to a U.S. Server

Open the server list and connect to any U.S. server.

us server

5. Start Streaming ESPN+

You can now open the ESPN+ app. Log in to start watching live sports, movies and shows.

espn+ streaming

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.

Overall Rating 9.3 / 10
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Best VPN

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

Overall Rating 9.2 / 10
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Best Budget VPN

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: 

Pros
  • User-friendly app
  • Affordable price plans
  • Multiple supported devices
  • Offline downloads on mobile
  • Disney Bundle is cost-effective
  • Wide coverage, including college sports
Cons
  • 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 

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