Software · head to head
Plex vs ESPN+
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: Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned; 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: Plex covers Financial management, ESPN+ covers Live sports.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Plex and ESPN+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Plex | ESPN+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv |
| Founded | 2009 | 2018 |
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 Plex
- Financial management
- Manufacturing execution
- Supply chain
- Quality management
- Analytics
- IoT platforms
- REST APIs
- Webhooks
Only in ESPN+
- Live sports
- Original shows
- Exclusive content
- Replays
- Analysis
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account security
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Plex
- Industry 4.0not ESPN+
- Real-time monitoringnot ESPN+
- IoT integrationnot ESPN+
- Smart manufacturingnot ESPN+
ESPN+
- Sports streamingnot Plex
- Live event watchingnot Plex
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Plex
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Plex review.
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 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.
Choose ESPN+ if
- You need live sports.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want original shows.
Questions people ask
- Is Plex or ESPN+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Plex starts at Free and ESPN+ at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Plex or ESPN+?
- Plex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Plex and $10.99/month for ESPN+.
- Does Plex or ESPN+ run on more platforms?
- Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. ESPN+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- 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 Plex best used for?
- Plex is most often used for industry 4.0, real-time monitoring, iot integration, smart manufacturing. Of those, industry 4.0 and real-time monitoring are not what ESPN+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Plex do that ESPN+ cannot?
- Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management. ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. 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