Netflix is a general entertainment streaming service with 282 million subscribers and focuses on movies, series, and documentaries, while ESPN+ is a sports-focused platform with 25 million subscribers specializing in live sports, original shows, and exclusive game coverage. Netflix offers broader entertainment appeal, whereas ESPN+ is purpose-built for sports enthusiasts.
Netflix vs ESPN+ — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest streaming platform with 6,000+ titles spanning all genres and 283 million global subscribers.
Sports-focused streaming service with 25 million subscribers offering live events, original programming, and sports documentaries.
Primary Content Focus. Global Subscriber Base. Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard). Live Sports Events. Ad-Free Tier Availability. Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan). Original Content Investment (2024)
Choose Netflix if you want diverse entertainment including films, series, documentaries, and comedy with a massive global library of 10,000+ titles. Choose ESPN+ if you're a sports fan seeking live game coverage, extensive original sports programming, and analysis at a lower price point with fewer subscription tiers.
Original Content Releases in January 2026
Netflix: Multiple scheduled | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Restricted with extra fees | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Available on premium tiers | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Higher than Disney | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: WWE Raw, NFL Christmas Day, exclusive live events | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Original content focus with viral hits | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Standalone streaming platform | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Scale-driven with high volume content | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Broad global audience across all demographics | ESPN+: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Netflix: NFL, WWE Raw, major events | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 60+ original series | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: ~260 million Netflix subscribers | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Originals-focused, limited legacy franchises | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: >1.4 (higher volatility) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 30x (reduced from prior quarters) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Scale-driven content warehouse | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 0 (on-demand only) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Premium+ tier only | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Available on Premium/Premium+ ($22.99) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Limited (varies by plan) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: High (comedies, young adult priority) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Vertical video feed expanding | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Verizon option ($10.99) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Extensive global coverage | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Restricted to household only | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Full gaming catalog included | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Available on all paid plans | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Undisclosed (declining) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: ~122 million equivalent | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: ~0.33 billion hours | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Wide variety across genres | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 283 million | ESPN+: 25+ million
Netflix: 4K UltraHD (2160p) on Premium only | ESPN+: 1080p Full HD
Netflix: $17 billion | ESPN+: $1.5 billion
Netflix: Limited (documentaries only) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 2,500+ titles | ESPN+: 500+ originals
Netflix: Limited, delayed 45 days post-theatrical | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 4K HDR (Premium tier) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 4K Ultra HD (2160p) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 282 million | ESPN+: 25 million
Netflix: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, web, Smart TVs, Game Consoles, Roku, Fire TV (universal support) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Premium tier only ($15.49+) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 75+ games (no extra cost) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: $6.99 (ad-supported) | ESPN+: $11.99
Netflix: 190+ countries | ESPN+: Primarily US, select international
Netflix: 45+ days (no theatrical releases) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 8,000+ titles globally | ESPN+: 1,500+ titles (mostly sports)
Netflix: No bundle available | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 2-4 (depending on plan) | ESPN+: 1
Netflix: Not available | ESPN+: Unlimited
Netflix: Yes ($15.49/month) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: $15.49 (ad-free) / $6.99 (with ads) | ESPN+: $11.99 standalone
Netflix: 0 (none as of 2023) | ESPN+: 7 days
Netflix: Up to 4 screens (Premium plan) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Available on Premium plan | ESPN+: Limited on select content
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Netflix: 2 streams | ESPN+: Unlimited devices
Netflix: Limited music documentaries only | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 1-4 (tier dependent) | ESPN+: 2
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard/Ad-Free US Plan)
Netflix: Limited (select shows) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 250+ series and films | ESPN+: 50+ shows and documentaries
Netflix: 190+ countries | ESPN+: Primarily US and select regions
Netflix: Yes, $15.49/month and $22.99/month tiers | ESPN+: Yes, $11.99/month (no ads)
Netflix: $22.99 (4K required) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 30-90 days post-theater | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 4K/120fps (Premium) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Available (select titles) | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: Drama, comedy, sci-fi, documentaries, international | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: 278 million | ESPN+: 25 million
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Tier)
Netflix: 10,000+ titles | ESPN+: 1,200+ titles
Netflix: 4-6 ads/hour in Basic plan | ESPN+: N/A
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 8-10 (ESPN networks only)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: ESPN networks only (~8-10 ESPN channels)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 10+ hours (sports documentaries, analysis shows)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: Up to 4K (varies by sport)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: $14.99 (Disney+, Hulu bundle)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 15-20 (sports only)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: Select games (ESPN/ABC)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 3 (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 4 (MLS, UFC, NHL, MLB)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: 0 (sports-only feed)
Netflix: N/A | ESPN+: ESPN networks, college sports, UFC, MMA
Netflix vs ESPN+ — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Netflix vs ESPN+. Contains 313 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Netflix vs ESPN+ — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Netflix vs ESPN+.
No. Netflix does not offer live sports content. It focuses exclusively on movies, TV series, documentaries, and stand-up comedy. For live sports, you need ESPN+ or traditional cable.
ESPN+ is cheaper at $11.99/month for its standard tier versus Netflix's $15.49/month. However, ESPN+ offers less total content. Netflix's value depends on whether you'll use its 10,000+ entertainment titles regularly.
Yes. ESPN+ offers a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for $14.99/month (with ads) or $24.99/month (ad-free), providing significant savings. Netflix does not offer bundling with other major services.
How many original shows does each service produce?
Netflix invests $17 billion annually in original content across all genres, while ESPN+ invests $1.5 billion focused exclusively on sports programming. Netflix produces significantly more diverse original content overall.
Which service has better parental controls?
Both services offer robust parental controls. Netflix includes PIN-protected profiles with content ratings by age, while ESPN+ offers basic content filtering. Netflix's controls are more granular for family viewing.
Primary Content Focus: Netflix has Movies, TV series, documentaries, stand-up comedy, while ESPN+ has Live sports, sports documentaries, original sports content.
Global Subscriber Base: Netflix has 282 million (as of Q4 2024), while ESPN+ has 25 million (as of Q4 2024).
Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard): Netflix has $15.49 USD, while ESPN+ has $11.99 USD.
Live Sports Events: Netflix has None, while ESPN+ has 500+ live events annually across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, college sports.
Ad-Free Tier Availability: Netflix has Yes, Premium tier at $22.99/month, while ESPN+ has Yes, Premium tier at $14.99/month.
Consider: Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan): Netflix has 2 screens, while ESPN+ has 2 devices.
Consider: Original Content Investment (2024)
Original Content Investment (2024): Netflix has $17 billion annually, while ESPN+ has $1.5 billion annually.