ESPN+ is a dedicated sports streaming service offering live ESPN channels and exclusive sports content for $11.99/month, while YouTube TV is a comprehensive cable replacement with 100+ channels including sports, news, and entertainment for $72.99/month. YouTube TV costs 6x more but provides broader content, while ESPN+ is ideal for sports-focused viewers.
ESPN+ vs YouTube TV — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Sports-focused streaming service offering live ESPN channels, exclusive events, and on-demand sports content.
Live TV streaming service with 100+ channels including sports, news, entertainment, and local programming with unlimited cloud DVR.
Monthly Subscription Cost. Total Live Channels Available. Simultaneous Streams. Cloud DVR Storage. Sports Content Breadth. Non-Sports Content. Requires Cable Box
Choose ESPN+ if you primarily watch sports and want the most affordable option, especially if you're already paying for another streaming service for general entertainment. Choose YouTube TV if you want a complete cable replacement with comprehensive sports, news, entertainment, and local channels, and you're willing to pay premium pricing for unlimited DVR and broader household access.
ESPN+: 20,000+ | YouTube TV: Varies (included in channels)
ESPN+: 8-10 (ESPN networks only) | YouTube TV: 70+
ESPN+: 500+ originals | YouTube TV: Limited (under 50)
ESPN+: 10+ games | YouTube TV: Included via ESPN networks
ESPN+: ESPN networks only (~8-10 ESPN channels) | YouTube TV: 100+ total channels
ESPN+: Not available | YouTube TV: 90% of U.S. markets
ESPN+: 10+ hours (sports documentaries, analysis shows) | YouTube TV: Minimal original content focus
ESPN+: US primarily (limited international) | YouTube TV: N/A
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
ESPN+: Unlimited devices | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: 150+ hours weekly | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: Up to 4K (varies by sport) | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: $14.99 (Disney+, Hulu bundle) | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: 20,000+ | YouTube TV: 3,000+ (sports only)
ESPN+: 15-20 (sports only) | YouTube TV: 150+
ESPN+: Select games (ESPN/ABC) | YouTube TV: All major broadcasts (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC)
ESPN+: $11.99 standalone | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: $11.99/month | YouTube TV: $72.99/month
ESPN+: 3 (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) | YouTube TV: 100+
ESPN+: 8 Mbps (4K) | YouTube TV: 3 Mbps (HD)
ESPN+: 4 (MLS, UFC, NHL, MLB) | YouTube TV: All major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, CFB, etc.)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: $60 (intro) / $83 (standard)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 100+ live channels
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: All plans included
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Standard feature (no ads)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 6 accounts standard
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Moderate (licensed dominant)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes (select content/events)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Channel VOD only (~2,000)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes - Advanced customizable layouts (2026)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 95%+ of US markets
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Genre-based plans (2026)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, ABC News
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 6 simultaneous streams
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 2026 (multiview, interactive features)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: YouTube Premium, YouTube Music
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes (with add-on $9.99/mo)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Excellent with quick guide navigation
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 270 days (9 months)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Minimal (YouTube originals only)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Available with Premium tier ($13.99/month add-on)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Standard coverage only
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: None (unlimited included)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: No official bundles
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Unlimited (9-month retention)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: No free trial (5-day trial historically)
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 100+ channels (30,000+ archived hours)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes ($79.99/month)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: No (separate subscriptions needed)
How to choose between ESPN+ and YouTube TV
ESPN+ vs YouTube TV — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for ESPN+ vs YouTube TV. Contains 141 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
ESPN+ vs YouTube TV — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ESPN+ vs YouTube TV.
Can I watch NFL, NBA, and other major sports on ESPN+?
ESPN+ carries select games from MLS, UFC, NHL, and MLB, but does NOT include NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA, or most primetime games. YouTube TV includes all major sports networks (ESPN, TNT, NBC Sports) where these games air. If major league sports are your priority, YouTube TV is more comprehensive.
How many people can watch at the same time?
ESPN+ allows 4 simultaneous streams, while YouTube TV allows only 3. However, YouTube TV offers 6 family profiles with independent access, whereas ESPN+ is single-user. For families, YouTube TV's profile system is more practical despite fewer concurrent streams.
Can I record shows and save them for later?
ESPN+ has no DVR or recording functionality. YouTube TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record any show and keep it indefinitely. This is a major advantage for YouTube TV if you want to build a library or record live events.
No, ESPN+ is not included in YouTube TV. However, The Walt Disney Company (which owns both) offers a bundle: ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads) for $14.99/month, which is actually $3 more than ESPN+ alone but adds two other major streaming services.
Which service is better for cord-cutting?
YouTube TV is a complete cable replacement with 100+ channels, DVR, and local channels. ESPN+ alone is insufficient for cord-cutting. Most cord-cutters use ESPN+ as a supplement to other services (like Netflix, Disney+) for sports content at a lower cost than traditional cable.
How to Choose Between ESPN+ and YouTube TV
Monthly Subscription Cost: ESPN+ has $11.99, while YouTube TV has $72.99.
Total Live Channels Available: ESPN+ has 3 ESPN channels + on-demand, while YouTube TV has 100+ channels.
Simultaneous Streams: ESPN+ has 4 streams, while YouTube TV has 3 streams.
Cloud DVR Storage: ESPN+ has No DVR, while YouTube TV has Unlimited storage.
Sports Content Breadth: ESPN+ has ESPN, MLS, select UFC/NHL, while YouTube TV has All major sports + regional networks.
Non-Sports Content: ESPN+ has Minimal (some originals), while YouTube TV has Extensive (news, entertainment, lifestyle).
Requires Cable Box: ESPN+ has No, while YouTube TV has No.