ESPN Plus is a popular choice for a vast variety of sports content, especially UFC events, and sports like soccer, NHL and MLB games, college sports, and many more, all live. ESPN Plus is a subscription-based streaming platform, starting from $11.99/month and $119.99/year as a standalone plan. You can also get it for $16.99/month as a bundle plan with Hulu and Disney+. However, users look for an ESPN free trial to know about the platform well by accessing its full content for free. But let me tell you: ESPN does not offer a free trial directly through its platform; however, it’s possible when you combine it with other streaming services as a bundle plan. Let’s understand!
What Is ESPN Plus?
ESPN+ was launched on April 12, 2018, by The Walt Disney Company in partnership with ESPN. It is a direct-to-consumer streaming service and is accessible through the ESPN app and ESPN.com. The service was developed to expand ESPN’s digital presence and offer exclusive sports content online.
Why Choose ESPN Plus Over Others?
- Here’s why I think it’s worth a shot:
- Live games, cable skips shine.
- Exclusive shows hook you fast.
- No ads interrupt the action.
- Downloads save your day anywhere.
- Affordable price fits tight budgets.
- UFC fights thrill every time.
- College sports fill your weekends.
- Documentaries teach you history.
- Easy setup works on any device.
- Bundles boost your options cheap.
Does ESPN Plus Offer a Free Trial in 2025?
Going straight – ESPN Plus doesn’t offer a free trial. But there are still some ways to get it through bundle plans. The user has to follow the right process to experience ESPN free of cost.
Currently, you can take a free trial using another streaming platform. For example, Hulu + Live TV comes with a 3-day free trial, letting you discover everything just like a subscriber does.
How to Get an ESPN Plus Free Trial
Here we will explain the process of taking an ESPN free trial, when it’s actually not available on its official platform.
As mentioned, taking bundle plans with ESPN is the only choice. Let’s explore them one by one:
Through Hulu+ Live TV Bundle Plan
Upon signing up for Hulu+ Live, you get a free trial for 3 days for ESPN. learn how you can get it.
- Visit the official website of Hulu
- Pick the Hulu+ Live TV plan with free trial.
- Sign up to create a new account
Note: The Hulu + Live TV subscription which includes Disney+ and ESPN+ will cost $82.99/month with ads. However, it’s 95.99 without ads, except ESPN+.
Through Verizon
Although directly impossible, if you take a Verizon bundle plans with Disney Plus, you can take advantage of a free trial on ESPN+. To know how it’s possible, here is the guide.
- Visit Verizon platform and select ‘Accounts’ tab.
- Then, click ‘Services & Perks’ and tap ‘See All.’
- Select ‘Manage’ in the ‘Manage Services & Perks’ section.
- Finally, tap ‘Get It Now’ and prepare to enter your personal details.
- After that, you will see Disney Bundle added to your account.
- From here, select ‘Go To Disney’ and wait.
- You will be on Disney Plus official website.
- Mention your email (same you used on Verizon), and tap ‘Agree & Continue.’
- After the subscription is active, it should be connected with ESPN+.
- Go to ‘https://plus.espn.com/activate
- Tap ‘login & stream’ and mention details.
- Create account with Disney’s email address.
- Finally, you are ready to enjoy ESPN Plus free trial.
However, if you don’t cancel the trial before its last date, the subscription will be converted into the plan you selected initially.
Interesting fact: Around 40% of sports streamers prefer bundle-up services to get a free trial for ESPN Plus.
Other Ways to Try ESPN Plus Without Paying
If Hulu’s not your thing, here are a couple more paths I’ve explored:
- Verizon Deal: If you’re a Verizon customer with a Play More or Get More Unlimited plan, you get ESPN Plus (plus Disney Plus and Hulu) for free as long as your plan’s active. My cousin uses this—it’s saved her $14.99 a month since she switched in 2024.
- Promotions: Sometimes, ESPN Plus teams up with brands like SiriusXM. In 2025, they’re offering a 6-month free ESPN Plus trial if you’re a SiriusXM subscriber.
These options depend on what you already have, but they’re worth checking out!
How Much Does ESPN Plus Cost Normally?
If you like the ESPN service after taking a free trial, or even if you have not found a way to get a trial but have heard a lot about ESPN and want to subscribe to it, below is a detailed discussion of each kind of plan it offers:
- Monthly – The monthly plan is for the season’s best leagues in the world. It costs around $11.99/month.
- Yearly – The yearly subscription costs $119.99/year. This is an ideal plan for a year-round sports events, on-demand documentaries, and more.
Note: Remember, you can stream on three screens simultaneously with an ESPN subscription. Even more, one can get discounts or promotions using third-party apps.
Bundle-Up Cost:
The cost for bundle-up plans is defined below. Have a look!
Disney Bundle: It costs $16.99/month with Hulu and Disney Plus (all with ads).
Prices went up a bit in 2024, but they’ve held steady into 2025 so far. Still a solid deal for what you get!
Pay Per View:
- Purchasing live UFC PPV is also possible and easier for $79.99/event.
- However, buying an annual PPV package will cost you $134.98.
How To Sign Up For ESPN Plus
The sign-up process of ESPN Plus happens on the official website only; not available on devices. However, you can stream on iOS or Android devices after signing up successfully. Learn the process here:
- Visit the browser (anything you use).
- Enter plus.espn.com.
- Tap ‘Subscribe to ESPN+ only.’
- Now, enter your email and press continue.
- Enter the password and fill in other details such as name, etc.
- Choose between a monthly and a yearly plan.
- Add payment details, credit or PayPal information.
- Tick the subscriber agreement, and your plan will be activated soon after the payment is completed.
What You’ll Enjoy with ESPN Plus
Excited about what you’ll get in the store? Here’s what I’ve loved watching:
- Live Sports: UFC, MLB, NHL, soccer leagues like La Liga, and tons of college games. I caught a wild basketball upset last month—pure excitement!
- Shows: Peyton’s Places and The Fantasy Show are must-sees. They’re exclusive, so you won’t find them anywhere else.
- Docs: The 30 for 30 series is gold. I binged The Last Dance about Michael Jordan—hours flew by.
How Does ESPN Plus Compare To Its Competitors?
Check some direct competitor to ESPN Plus, and what they include in their plans:
- FuboTV: Starts at $79.99/month, with a 7-day trial. Includes ESPN channels, not Plus, but great for live TV.
- YouTube TV: $82.99/month, 7-day trial. Covers ESPN networks—solid for NFL fans like me.
- Sling TV: $40/month (Orange plan), no trial, but cheap. Gets you ESPN basics.
- Hulu (Basic): $9.99/month, no trial, but adds ESPN Plus for $7 more. I’ve mixed and matched this.
- Peacock: $7.99/month, 3-month trials with some devices. Less sports, but growing.
Pro Tips for ESPN Plus Newbies
Here’s what I’ve picked up:
- Test with Hulu: Use that 3-day trial to binge a weekend of games. I watched a whole soccer tournament this way!
- Annual Saves: If you love it, go yearly—saves cash long-term.
- Device Check: Works on phones, TVs, laptops. I stream on my Roku—flawless.
- Cancel Easy: No contracts mean you can dip out anytime. I’ve paused between seasons.
What Are the Pros and Cons of ESPN Plus?
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of ESPN Plus streaming.
Pros:
- 20+ sports coverage with premium video and audio quality.
- ESPN Plus can be streamed on any device effortlessly.
- Bundle plans are available for extra benefits.
- On-demand content is available.
Cons:
- Lack of DVR feature, not for recording for offline viewing. However, it allows replays and downloads on mobiles.
- Live stream buffering or technical issues occur while broadcasting high-demand content.
- Lack of parental control makes it less suitable for kids.
- Included ads for the most in-demand broadcasting.
How Do I Contact ESPN Plus?
It’s better to be assisted when things seem difficult to tackle with ESPN Plus. Thanks to the robust assistance facility they offer to the users. You can contact them through multiple mediums, including:
- Live Chat
- Phone Support
- In-App Text Support
- Support Form
- Twitter Support (@ESPNFanSupport)
- Help Centre / FAQ Articles
Whenever you feel stuck, select one of the options and expect genuine guidance.
Wrapping Up:
Is there an ESPN Plus free trial? Do you search how to watch ESPN plus for free? Please note that there is currently no free trial available on the official ESPN platform. Yet another option to get a free trial is to opt for bundle plans with Hulu or Disney+. There, you get a 3-day free trial. And if you like the free trial and it fulfils the requirement, subscribe to one of the plans mentioned on the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? I’ve got answers for you.
Q.1: Does ESPN Plus still offer a free trial?
No, they stopped in 2020. You need a workaround like Hulu’s trial, or Disney’s now.
Q.2: How long is the Hulu trial with ESPN Plus?
It lasts 3 days. Plenty to catch a big game or two!
Q.3: Can I get ESPN Plus free with Verizon?
Yes, if you have a qualifying plan. Check Verizon’s site—my cousin swears by it.
Q.4: What’s the cheapest way to try ESPN Plus?
Hulu’s 3-day trial at no cost, or the monthly $11.99 to test a month.
Q.5: Does the Disney Bundle have a trial?
Not usually, but the $16.99/month price feels like a steal anyway.
Q.6: Is ESPN Plus Worth It Without a Free Trial?
Whether it’s worth trying ESPN Plus without a free trial is a personal decision. If you are already a subscriber to it, the need for a trial is absolutely not so much. Thus, if you don’t want to, you can directly buy a plan.