Media & Entertainment · head to head
Crunchyroll vs ESPN+
Crunchyroll
Media & Entertainment
The world's largest anime streaming platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
ESPN+
Media & Entertainment
Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content
- From
- $10.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Crunchyroll has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Crunchyroll the App Store listing states Crunchyroll allows streaming on up to six devices simultaneously, and separately notes the annual plan is cheaper than paying monthly.; ESPN+ the App Store listing states the ESPN app offers two paid tiers, ESPN Select which includes ESPN+ only, and ESPN Unlimited which includes all ESPN networks and services including ESPN+, without stating the price of either in the visible description.
- They diverge on capability: Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming, ESPN+ covers Live sports.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Crunchyroll and ESPN+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Crunchyroll | ESPN+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10.99/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv |
| Founded | 2006 | 2018 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & Entertainment).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Crunchyroll
- Anime streaming
- Simulcasts
- Manga
- Games
- Gaming consoles
- Profile management
- Gaming-consoles support
Only in ESPN+
- Live sports
- Original shows
- Exclusive content
- Replays
- Analysis
- Streaming devices
- Account security
- Roku support
Both cover
- Smart TVs
- Parental controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Crunchyroll
- Anime watchingnot ESPN+
- Manga readingnot ESPN+
ESPN+
- Sports streamingnot Crunchyroll
- Live event watchingnot Crunchyroll
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Crunchyroll
- The App Store listing states Crunchyroll allows streaming on up to six devices simultaneously, and separately notes the annual plan is cheaper than paying monthly.
ESPN+
- The App Store listing states the ESPN app offers two paid tiers, ESPN Select which includes ESPN+ only, and ESPN Unlimited which includes all ESPN networks and services including ESPN+, without stating the price of either in the visible description.
Pricing, plan by plan
Crunchyroll
Free- FreeFree
- Limited anime
- Ads
- Fan$7.99/month
- Ad-free
- Simulcasts
- Mega Fan$9.99/month
- Offline viewing
- 4 streams
ESPN+
$10.99/month- ESPN+$10.99/month
- Live sports
- Exclusive content
- Original shows
- Bundle$13.99/month
- ESPN+
- Disney+
- Hulu
Which should you pick?
Choose Crunchyroll if
- You need anime streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- You also want simulcasts.
Choose ESPN+ if
- You need live sports.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want original shows.
Questions people ask
- Is Crunchyroll or ESPN+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Crunchyroll starts at Free and ESPN+ at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Crunchyroll or ESPN+?
- Crunchyroll has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Crunchyroll and $10.99/month for ESPN+.
- Does Crunchyroll or ESPN+ run on more platforms?
- Crunchyroll runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- Can I use Crunchyroll for free?
- Yes. Crunchyroll has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month.
- What is Crunchyroll best used for?
- Crunchyroll is most often used for anime watching, manga reading. Of those, anime watching and manga reading are not what ESPN+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Crunchyroll do that ESPN+ cannot?
- Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming, Simulcasts, Manga, Games. ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.