Software · head to head
Paramount+ vs ESPN+
ESPN+
Software
Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content
- From
- $10.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.; 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.
- They diverge on capability: Paramount+ covers Streaming, ESPN+ covers Original shows.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Paramount+ and ESPN+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Paramount+ | ESPN+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/month | $10.99/month |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv |
| Founded | 2021 | 2018 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Paramount+
- Streaming
- CBS shows
- Nickelodeon
- Gaming consoles
- Profile management
Only in ESPN+
- Original shows
- Exclusive content
- Replays
- Analysis
- Streaming devices
- Account security
- Roku support
- Fire-tv support
Both cover
- Live sports
- Smart TVs
- 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.
Paramount+
- TV streamingnot ESPN+
- Sportsnot ESPN+
- Kids contentnot ESPN+
ESPN+
- Sports streamingnot Paramount+
- Live event watchingnot Paramount+
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Paramount+
- The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
- The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Paramount+
$5.99/month- Essential$5.99/month
- Limited ads
- Full library
- With Showtime$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Showtime
- Downloads
ESPN+
$10.99/month- ESPN+$10.99/month
- Live sports
- Exclusive content
- Original shows
- Bundle$13.99/month
- ESPN+
- Disney+
- Hulu
Which should you pick?
Choose Paramount+ if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want cbs shows.
Choose ESPN+ if
- You need original shows.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want exclusive content.
Questions people ask
- Is Paramount+ or ESPN+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and ESPN+ at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Paramount+ or ESPN+?
- Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and ESPN+ at $10.99/month.
- Does Paramount+ or ESPN+ run on more platforms?
- Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- What is Paramount+ best used for?
- Paramount+ is most often used for tv streaming, sports, kids content. Of those, tv streaming and sports are not what ESPN+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Paramount+ do that ESPN+ cannot?
- Paramount+ covers Streaming, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. ESPN+ covers Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays, Analysis. Both handle Live sports, Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support.