Software · head to head
ESPN+ vs Plex
ESPN+
Software
Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content
- From
- $10.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Plex 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.; Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
- They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, Plex covers Financial management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ESPN+ and Plex actually diverge.
| Attribute | ESPN+ | Plex |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv | Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | 2018 | 2009 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Account security
Only in Plex
- Financial management
- Manufacturing execution
- Supply chain
- Quality management
- Analytics
- IoT platforms
- REST APIs
- Webhooks
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ESPN+
- Sports streamingnot Plex
- Live event watchingnot Plex
Plex
- Industry 4.0not ESPN+
- Real-time monitoringnot ESPN+
- IoT integrationnot ESPN+
- Smart manufacturingnot 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.
Plex
- Plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
- Remote streaming quality degrades significantly if Plex cannot establish direct connection and falls back to relay mode
- Upcoming sunsetting of plugins, Cloud Sync, and Watch Later features
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
Plex
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Plex review.
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.
Choose Plex if
- You need financial management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want manufacturing execution.
Questions people ask
- Is ESPN+ or Plex better?
- Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and Plex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or Plex?
- Plex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for Plex.
- Does ESPN+ or Plex run on more platforms?
- ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Plex for free?
- Yes. Plex 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 Plex is typically brought in for.
- What can ESPN+ do that Plex cannot?
- ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Plex: Is Plex Media Server free?
Yes. Plex Media Server and the ad-supported streaming catalog are free. Plex Pass is an optional subscription at 6.99 USD per month or 69.99 USD per year that adds features like hardware transcoding and offline sync.
SourcePlex: Can I access Plex content offline?
Yes, but downloads have limitations. Downloaded content may have an expiration period and is specific to the device where downloaded. Downloads are not available on shared libraries in some cases.
SourcePlex: What devices does Plex support?
Plex apps are available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Server software runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker.
SourcePlex: What is included in the free Plex catalog?
Plex's free ad-supported streaming catalog includes 14,000+ movies and shows from Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros, and Crackle Originals.
Source