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ESPN+ vs Pluto TV

ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Software

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

Pluto TV

Software

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pluto TV 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.; Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
  • They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, Pluto TV covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESPN+ and Pluto TV actually diverge.

Attributes where ESPN+ and Pluto TV differ
AttributeESPN+Pluto TV
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
Founded20182013

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv), 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
  • Account security

Only in Pluto TV

  • Streaming
  • Live TV channels
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Account management

Both cover

  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support
  • Roku support
  • Fire-tv support

What people use each for

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

ESPN+

  • Sports streamingnot Pluto TV
  • Live event watchingnot Pluto TV

Pluto TV

  • Free streamingnot ESPN+
  • Live TVnot ESPN+
  • On-demand contentnot 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.

Pluto TV

  • Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)

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

Pluto TV

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full content
    • Live channels
    • Ad-supported

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 Pluto TV if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want live tv channels.
Pluto TV review

Questions people ask

Is ESPN+ or Pluto TV better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or Pluto TV?
Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for Pluto TV.
Does ESPN+ or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Pluto TV for free?
Yes. Pluto TV 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 Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that Pluto TV cannot?
ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Both handle Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Parental controls, Web support.
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