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Media & Entertainment · head to head

ESPN+ vs YouTube

ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Media & Entertainment

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube 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.; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: ESPN+ covers Live sports, YouTube covers Video hosting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ESPN+ and YouTube differ
AttributeESPN+YouTube
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentEntertainment
Founded20182005

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
  • Account security

Only in YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

Both cover

  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

ESPN+

  • Sports streamingnot YouTube
  • Live event watchingnot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot ESPN+
  • Content marketingnot ESPN+
  • Educationnot ESPN+
  • Entertainmentnot ESPN+
  • Live streamingnot 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.

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

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

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

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 YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is ESPN+ or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPN+ starts at $10.99/month and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPN+ or YouTube?
YouTube has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for ESPN+ and Free for YouTube.
Does ESPN+ or YouTube run on more platforms?
ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use YouTube for free?
Yes. YouTube 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 YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can ESPN+ do that YouTube cannot?
ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Parental controls, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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