ESPN+ is a dedicated sports streaming service with 20,000+ live events annually at $11.99/month, while YouTube TV is a comprehensive cable replacement with 100+ channels including sports for $72.99/month. ESPN+ excels for sports-only viewers seeking value, while YouTube TV suits cord-cutters wanting complete entertainment and local channels.
ESPN+ vs YouTube TV — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Sports-focused streaming service with exclusive ESPN content, college sports, and MMA.
Cable alternative streaming service with 100+ live TV channels including sports, news, and entertainment.
Monthly Cost. Total Live Sports Events (Annual). Included TV Channels. Cloud DVR Storage. Simultaneous Streams. Sports Content Focus. Local News & Channels
Choose ESPN+ if you're a dedicated sports fan who wants affordable access to 20,000+ annual events across ESPN, college sports, and combat sports without paying for non-sports channels. Choose YouTube TV if you want a complete cable replacement with 100+ entertainment channels, local programming, and broad sports coverage justified by the higher cost.
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+: Unlimited | YouTube TV: Unlimited
ESPN+: 10+ games | YouTube TV: Included via ESPN networks
ESPN+: ESPN networks only (~8-10 ESPN channels) | YouTube TV: 70+ channels
ESPN+: 2 streams | YouTube TV: 3 screens
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
ESPN+: 50+ shows and documentaries | 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+: Limited on select content | 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: 100+
ESPN+: Select games (ESPN/ABC) | YouTube TV: All major broadcasts (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC)
ESPN+: $11.99 standalone | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: 3 (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) | YouTube TV: 150+ channels
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+: Primarily US and select regions | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: 1,500+ titles (mostly sports) | YouTube TV: 150 channels
ESPN+: Yes, $11.99/month (no ads) | YouTube TV: N/A
ESPN+: 0 (sports-only feed) | YouTube TV: 100+
ESPN+: ESPN networks, college sports, UFC, MMA | YouTube TV: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports across ABC/Fox/ESPN
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 ($9.99/month add-on)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Yes - Advanced customizable layouts (2026)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Genre-based plans (2026)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: $1.04 per channel
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 (12 months retention)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: ~500 (YouTube Originals)
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: Yes ($79.99/month)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Available (select channels + $10.99/mo add-on)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: No (separate subscriptions needed)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 0 (separate subscription required)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: All major platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire, web, mobile)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 3 (no upgrade needed)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: $15.99 (separate sub)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: All major (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: $72.99 (included)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Included (ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, MLB Network, Pac-12, others)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 0 (separate purchase)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Most major networks
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: Available (select channels)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: $14.99 (Sports+ add-on)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: 3 months ($1/month)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: YouTube Premium only (1)
ESPN+: N/A | YouTube TV: No additional cost
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 184 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 get YouTube TV without paying for sports channels I don't watch?
No, YouTube TV's $72.99/month package includes all 100+ channels as a bundle—you cannot customize or remove channels. If you only want sports, ESPN+ at $11.99/month offers significantly better value, though it has no entertainment or news content.
Does ESPN+ include live NFL and NBA games?
ESPN+ carries select live games through ESPN's broadcasting agreements, primarily college sports, MLS, NHL, and UFC. Major NFL and NBA games are typically on ABC/ESPN (requiring YouTube TV or cable). However, ESPN+ does include exclusive Monday Night MLS matches and select Wednesday Night Baseball games.
Which service is better for watching college football and basketball?
ESPN+ is superior for college sports, offering exclusive access to thousands of college football and basketball games through ESPN's exclusive agreements and the ESPN app integration. YouTube TV includes ESPN networks but requires the full $72.99/month subscription for the same content.
How many people can watch simultaneously on each service?
ESPN+ allows 2 simultaneous streams per account, while YouTube TV allows 3. For a household of 4+ people wanting to watch simultaneously, YouTube TV is better suited, though both require account sharing workarounds for larger viewing groups.
Do both services offer local news and weather?
Only YouTube TV includes local news, weather, and network affiliates (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox locals) in 90%+ of U.S. markets at no extra cost. ESPN+ is sports-only and does not include local or news programming of any kind.
How to Choose Between ESPN+ and YouTube TV
Monthly Cost: ESPN+ has $11.99, while YouTube TV has $72.99.
Consider: Total Live Sports Events (Annual)
Total Live Sports Events (Annual): ESPN+ has 20,000+, while YouTube TV has 5,000+.
Included TV Channels: ESPN+ has 0 (sports-only), while YouTube TV has 100+.
Cloud DVR Storage: ESPN+ has Unlimited, while YouTube TV has Unlimited.
Simultaneous Streams: ESPN+ has 2, while YouTube TV has 3.
Sports Content Focus: ESPN+ has ESPN networks, college sports, MMA, while YouTube TV has Broad sports coverage across multiple networks.
Local News & Channels: ESPN+ has Not included, while YouTube TV has Local affiliates in most markets.