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
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.
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.
Structured comparison data for ESPN+ vs YouTube TV with 184 attributes.
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Premium Tier Price (with Disney+ & ESPN+)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
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.