How to Watch ESPN Plus in 2020: Sports Galore
ESPN launched its video streaming service, ESPN Plus, in 2018, and it’s a great option for anyone who loves sports. However, there is some confusion over what is included and how you can access it.
It’s not a replacement for ESPN’s regular channels, so it may not be what you’re expecting. In this guide, we’re going to tell you what it is and how to watch ESPN Plus.
ESPN has a free app where you can get up-to-date news, information and highlights from the latest events. If you have a paid TV subscription that includes ESPN, you can stream the channels from the app at no extra cost.
ESPN Plus, on the other hand, can be purchased as a stand-alone service, and it has unique features that only its subscribers can get access to. It doesn’t have a dedicated app, though. You need to access it through the existing app.
ESPN Plus Content and Pricing
ESPN Plus offers thousands of additional live events, shows and on-demand content, which ESPN has a right to broadcast. That includes international events, college sports and out-of-market U.S. baseball and soccer games.
Just to be clear, though, the events that it shows are not the ones that appear on ESPN’s main TV channels. So, while you will get live events from MLB, NHL, MLS and so on, you won’t be able to watch a main event that’s being aired on ESPN’s network channels. Plus, Monday Night Football is not available on ESPN Plus.
If that sounds right up your alley, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s a fairly inexpensive service. It costs $4.99 per month, or you can opt for the annual subscription at $49.99.
You can sign up through the ESPN app or through the ESPN Plus website. Plus, there’s a free seven-day trial on offer, so you can see if you like it first. Just remember to cancel the subscription before the end of the trial if you don’t like it, otherwise you’ll be billed automatically.
Also, earlier this year ESPN Plus became the exclusive destination for the UFC’s pay-per-view events. Each event costs an extra $59.99 on top of your subscription charge, though. That said, new subscribers can buy a bundle of one UFC PPV event and an ESPN Plus annual subscription for $79.98 (normally $109.98, if purchased separately).
Once you have a paid subscription, you can cancel at any time, but it does not provide refunds. This means that if you cancel while your subscription is still active, you’ll have access to the service until the end of your current billing period.
In other words, monthly subscribers will have access for the rest of the month, and annual subscribers will have access for the rest of the year.
With that in mind — and the fact that a seven-day trial may not be enough time to be sure you’re happy with the service — it may be a good idea to opt for the monthly subscription first.
ESPN Plus Compatible Devices
ESPN Plus allows you to stream anytime, anywhere. Plus, you can rewind, replay or download content to watch later. It is available in HD and you can watch it simultaneously on up to three devices.
You can just watch ESPN Plus straight from your browser. However, if you want an on-the-go experience or would prefer to stream it to your TV, there are a few options you can choose from.
On-the-go options include the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. To stream it straight to your TV, you can access it on devices such as Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and the third and fourth generation of Apple TV. Plus, if you have a Samsung TV with the Tizen operating system, you can link your ESPN Plus subscription to it and stream it straight from there.
Other options include the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Oculus Go. In case you need help setting it up on any of those devices, ESPN Plus has some handy dedicated articles to help you.
ESPN Plus Geoblocks
ESPN Plus is not available outside of the U.S. due to licensing agreements. If you’re out of the country, you’ll need to spoof your location to bypass the geoblocks. You can do that by using a virtual private network to get a U.S. IP address.
VPNs have many other beneficial features, such as security, so it’s worth investing in one. We recommend using ExpressVPN, it’s easy to use and will get you past any streaming restrictions you come across (even the Netflix ban). That — and its fast speeds — is why it’s our best VPN for streaming.
It’s also our best VPN for ESPN, so it’s no wonder it’s a good fit for ESPN Plus. Read our ExpressVPN review to find out more, or try it risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Sports Events on Kodi
You can also use Kodi to watch sports events. If you’re not familiar with it, Kodi is a free, open-source media player. It allows you to store and play media, and you can get access to content through repositories and add-ons. Read our Kodi guide to get started.
It’s legal, so long as you don’t watch copyrighted content. However, many sports events are found in unofficial add-ons, which often supply illegitimate streams. If you do use one to watch a sports event, you should make sure you use a VPN to keep yourself hidden. You can’t beat ExpressVPN, but our best VPN for Kodi guide has some more choices.
There are many add-ons available for watching sports on Kodi, and we’ve named some in our best Kodi add-ons for sports piece. SportsDevil and Project D are both add-ons that can be found in the Kodil repository.
With SportsDevil, you can watch just about every live event there is, and often in 1080p. Project D, however, is great for older games, as there are no live streams.
Final Thoughts
We hope you now understand the differences between the ESPN app and ESPN Plus. Although you’ll still need to be subscribed to ESPN’s regular network channels to watch most major sporting events, ESPN Plus delivers a unique service for sports lovers in the U.S. You’ll get original shows, live events and on-demand content for the low price of $4.99 per month.
Remember, if you’re not in the States, it’s not the end of the world. You can change your location by using a VPN, essentially fooling the service into thinking you’re in the country. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for getting into streaming services, so it’s a good choice for ESPN Plus.
Do you have any suggestions for watching ESPN Plus, or is there anything we’ve missed? Let us know in the comment section. Check out our other entertainment articles, too. Thank you for reading.
Sandra Pattison is from the rolling hills of the United Kingdom where, when she’s not enjoying that one day of summer, she researches and writes on online security and censorship around the world. Writer by day, mother morning, noon and night, during her little free time she enjoys photography and likes to be spontaneous, but mostly ends up sipping tea with her pinky out.