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ESPN+ vs Pocketcasts

ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Software

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pocketcasts 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.; Pocketcasts two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
  • They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ESPN+ and Pocketcasts differ
AttributeESPN+Pocketcasts
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
Founded20182010

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 Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom filters
  • Apple Watch
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos

Both cover

  • 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 Pocketcasts
  • Live event watchingnot Pocketcasts

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot ESPN+
  • Audio content consumptionnot ESPN+
  • Learning on the gonot 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.

Pocketcasts

  • Two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content

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

Pocketcasts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Cross-device sync
    • Playback effects
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Desktop apps
    • Cloud storage 10GB
    • Extra themes

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 Pocketcasts if

  • You need podcast discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want variable speed playback.
Pocketcasts review

Questions people ask

Is ESPN+ or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or Pocketcasts?
Pocketcasts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for Pocketcasts.
Does ESPN+ or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
Can I use Pocketcasts for free?
Yes. Pocketcasts 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 Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that Pocketcasts cannot?
ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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