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Entertainment · head to head

ESPN+ vs iHeartRadio

ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Entertainment

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iHeartRadio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ESPN+ pricing page not publicly accessible; iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, iHeartRadio covers Live radio.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESPN+ and iHeartRadio actually diverge.

Attributes where ESPN+ and iHeartRadio differ
AttributeESPN+iHeartRadio
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
Founded20182008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 ESPN+

  • Live sports
  • Original shows
  • Exclusive content
  • Replays
  • Analysis
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Parental controls

Only in iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Smart-speakers support

Both cover

  • Account security
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ESPN+

  • Sports streamingnot iHeartRadio
  • Live event watchingnot iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot ESPN+
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot ESPN+
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot ESPN+

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ESPN+

  • Pricing page not publicly accessible

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPN+

$10.99/month
  • ESPN+$10.99/month
    • Live sports
    • Exclusive content
    • Original shows
  • Bundle$13.99/month
    • ESPN+
    • Disney+
    • Hulu

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

Which should you pick?

Choose ESPN+ if

  • You need live sports.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want original shows.
ESPN+ review

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Questions people ask

Is ESPN+ or iHeartRadio better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and iHeartRadio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or iHeartRadio?
iHeartRadio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for iHeartRadio.
Does ESPN+ or iHeartRadio run on more platforms?
ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Yes. iHeartRadio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month.
What is ESPN+ best used for?
ESPN+ is most often used for sports streaming, live event watching. Of those, sports streaming and live event watching are not what iHeartRadio is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that iHeartRadio cannot?
ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Both handle Account security, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESPN+: How much does ESPN+ cost?

ESPN+ pricing information is not publicly accessible through standard browsing. Users must navigate the ESPN+ application or account page to view current subscription rates.

Source
iHeartRadio: How much does iHeartRadio cost?

iHeartRadio does not publish pricing on their website. The service offers free podcast streaming with optional premium content for certain shows. A reference to 'Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content' is mentioned, but no pricing is provided. Customers must visit linked premium content pages for pricing information.

Source
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