The ESPN free trial hasn't been available for some time now, but there is still a way to try out the sport network's streaming service without having to shell out for a subscription right away.
While ESPN doesn't directly offer a free trial, you can try out the service's new ESPN Unlimited plan that combines ESPN+ on-demand content with all ESPN networks for free for seven days by signing up to a Fubo TV free trial.
If you're not keen to continue with Fubo TV, you do have a few other options (but more on that later). While the ESPN free trial option came to an end a while ago, we'll explain any opportunities still available to it try for free, including how to get an ESPN free trial through other service's introductory offers as well as the cheapest ways to subscribe.
Steps for how to get an ESPN free trial (via Fubo TV)
- Visit the Fubo TV site or app
- Sign-in or create a new Fubo TV account
- Choose your plan
- Start watching ESPN Unlimited with your Fubo TV free trial
Step by step guide for how to get an ESPN free trial (via Fubo TV)
Visit the Fubo TV app or site
First of all, head to the Fubo TV website or app, available across a range of devices. You'll be taken to their homepage, which looks like the above, giving you the option to start a free trial.
Create your Fubo TV account
The next page prompts you to either log in or create a Fubo TV account with your email address and zip code, which decides which channels you'll be able to see. If you are making a new account, you will set up a password.
Choose your Fubo TV plan
Next up you'll be given the option to choose your plan. There's a free trial offer for all Fubo plans, but you'll want to select either Pro, Essential, Elite or Deluxe, as those are the plans that have ESPN channels as well as offer access to ESPN Unlimited.
Start your Fubo TV trial
Fubo TV will then ask you to provide your billing information to set up your account, where you will need a valid credit card to start your Fubo TV free trial. After you've done this, you can enjoy up to seven days of Fubo TV, which includes ESPN, for free.
You won't be charged until after the trial period ends, but if you don't want to continue with the service and get charged, simply cancel your subscription before your trial expires.
How to get an ESPN free trial: FAQs
Why isn't there a direct ESPN free trial?
Initially, when ESPN+ launched in 2018, new customers were able to benefit from a seven-day free trial to the sporting streaming service, but it was discontinued in June 2020.
This had given streamers that were still on the fence about signing up the chance to see whether the service was for them. It meant that you could try out live coverage of baseball, NFL football, hockey, PGA Tour Golf, and out-of-market MLS matches, as well as UFC on ESPN. Plus top drawer shows like Detail with host Kobe Bryant and Draft Academy.
But with ESPN's owner Disney's growing dominance within the streaming realm, alongside the company's incredible value ESPN bundle (which offers ESPN Select, Display+ and Hulu altogether for a heavily discounted monthly fee), the generous freebie trial was sadly withdrawn in 2021.
What is the cheapest way to get ESPN+ without a free trial?
Since dropping the ESPN free trial, there's been little in the way of discounts or offers available from ESPN directly or any partnering cable providers. That has made it difficult for customers to find a bargain deal for the service, especially in the face of price hikes.
The most recent was in October 2024, when Disney launched a price hike across all of its services, which meant that ESPN's cost went up. Subscribers now have to pay $11.99 a month, or $119.99 upfront for an annual subscription, which can save around 16% on the monthly price.
There are other money-saving methods alongside potential ESPN coupon codes, though. With ESPN jointly owned by Disney, the entertainment giant offers the 'Disney Trio' bundle, which lets you get ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu for a monthly sum of $16.99 with ads or $26.99 a month without ads.
Verizon customers can also add the 'Disney Trio' bundle for no extra charge if you have an eligible '5G Get More' or '5G Play More' plan. The Disney Plus Bundle includes free subscriptions to ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu. If you're not signed up to the '5G Get More' or '5G Play More' plans, the you can add the bundle as a 'Plan Perk' for $10 a month, representing a saving of around $11.99 a month.
While ESPN has a broad amount of on-demand content, subscribers will need ESPN to watch most live games. ESPN is available on services, such as Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV's Orange plan, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream is $86.99 a month for its 'Entertainment' plan that includes more than 90 channels and offers a five-day free trial with $20 off your first three months after the trial ends. This service includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPNU.
Meanwhile, Fubo TV also includes ESPN and has a seven-day free trial, with plans starting at $64.99 a month. Sling Orange doesn't offer a free trial, but it's a cheaper monthly price than the other streaming services. You can get ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 for $23 for your first month and $45.99 after the first month ends.
Right now, one of the best value ways to get ESPN is to sign up for the Hulu with Live TV plan, which gets you access to ESPN Select, Disney+ and Hulu's Live TV plan all in one bundled subscription. The bundle is currently discounted to just $64.99 a month (compared to the usual price of $89.99), but you'll have to be quick because the offer ends on November 18.
Other ESPN deals
As we've pointed out above, you've got the option of accessing ESPN content through Fubo TV, DirecTV, Sling TV or Disney's Hulu + Live TV bundle. Here are the best streaming deals for all these services as of writing:
What can I watch on ESPN?
Arriving way back in April 2018, ESPN has cemented itself as the go-to streaming service for many sporting fans. It's the best place to stream UFC matches, along with access to MLB, MLS and more! This service also includes a full library of exclusives such as award-winning 30 for 30 sports documentaries to keep you occupied between games.
ESPN can be best described as a supplementary streaming service on top of ESPN cable TV offering, that gives you access to extra shows, behind-the-scenes content and, most importantly, an ad-free environment to watch the content you already love.
Is an ESPN subscription worth it?
In a nutshell, it's a must for sports fans. The service gives you access to every out-of-market MLS match, alongside one NHL and MLB game per day during their respective regular seasons. You’ll also be able to watch live sporting events like golf's PGA Tour, top-tier boxing matches and a wealth of international soccer.
But perhaps the biggest draw for many will be the fact UFC on ESPN. ESPN has the right to live stream all UFC events in the US. Every Fight Night and numbered PPV event is now shown on ESPN, although the latter requires PPV-spends, of course.
In addition to all the live sport on offer, ESPN also hosts plenty of exclusive original programming too, with must-see programs like The Fantasy Show and sports analysis series Detail alongside a wealth of additional 30 for 30 documentaries,
On top of this its also a goldmine for on-demand MMA content, including Dana White’s Contender Series, UFC Destined, and Ariel & The Bad Guy, plus classic fights and replays.
How has ESPN's price changed?
More than price, the biggest change for ESPN's rebrand that means its two main plans to choose from, ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited plan (however, there's currently no price comparison data for the latter). As for the Select plan (formerly ESPN+), price hikes have been fairly gradual. We saw the biggest hike between 2021-2022, with the plan having stayed at $11.99 per month since 2023.
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