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Media & Entertainment · head to head

ESPN+ vs Patreon

ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Media & Entertainment

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Patreon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ESPN+ and Patreon differ
AttributeESPN+Patreon
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentPodcast & Audio Publishing
Founded20182013

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
  • Replays
  • Analysis
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Parental controls

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Exclusive content
  • 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 Patreon
  • Live event watchingnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot ESPN+
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot ESPN+

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

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

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

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 Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want private podcast feeds.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is ESPN+ or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for Patreon.
Does ESPN+ or Patreon run on more platforms?
ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Yes. Patreon 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 Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that Patreon cannot?
ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Replays, Analysis. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Private podcast feeds, Community features, Analytics. Both handle Exclusive content, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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