Cheapest Way to Get ESPN in 2026: Every Option and Price

Quick answer: The cheapest way to get the main ESPN channel in 2026 is Sling Essentials at $19.99 a month, which includes ESPN and ESPN2. For every ESPN network plus the app’s extras, ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99 a month, or $319.99 a year. If you also want Disney+ and Hulu, the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle at $35.99 is only $4 more.

ESPN raised its streaming prices on Sept. 17, 2026, so many older price lists online are wrong. Here is every legal way to get ESPN without cable, what each one really includes and how to pay the least.

Prices are before taxes and can change. Check each provider’s site before you sign up.

ESPN Select vs. ESPN Unlimited: the big difference

This is where most people get confused. ESPN sells two plans in its own app, and only one of them carries the ESPN channel you see on TV.

• ESPN Select ($13.99 a month) is the old ESPN+. It has thousands of streaming-only events, studio shows and the 30 for 30 library. It does not include the live ESPN or ESPN2 channels.
• ESPN Unlimited ($31.99 a month) includes everything in Select plus live ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, ACC Network and ESPN Deportes.

So if you want Monday Night Football, NBA games on ESPN or college football on ESPN2, Select alone will disappoint you. You need Unlimited, a bundle that includes it, or a live TV service that carries ESPN.

The new 2026 prices

According to Variety, ESPN raised prices on Sept. 17, 2026:

• ESPN Unlimited: $29.99 → $31.99 a month, and $299.99 → $319.99 a year
• ESPN Select: $12.99 → $13.99 a month, and $129.99 → $139.99 a year

Subscribers who signed up before Aug. 20, 2026, see the new price on their first bill after Sept. 17. This was the first price increase for ESPN Unlimited, which launched on Aug. 21, 2025.

How to get ESPN for less: 6 steps

1. Decide which games you actually watch. Write down your teams and the nights they play. Many fans only need ESPN during one season.
2. Check if the game is on ABC. ESPN puts many big games on ABC, which you can watch free with an antenna. Our local channels guide explains how.
3. Pick the cheapest plan with the main channel. Sling Essentials at $19.99 is the lowest monthly price for live ESPN and ESPN2.
4. Need SEC Network or ACC Network? Then ESPN Unlimited at $31.99 is the simplest pick, since it includes those networks.
5. Already pay for Disney+ or Hulu? Switch to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle. At $35.99, it can cost less than paying separately.
6. Pay yearly only if you watch all year. The $319.99 annual ESPN Unlimited plan saves about $64 compared with 12 monthly payments ($383.88). Seasonal fans save more by canceling in the off-season.

Option 1: Sling Essentials ($19.99 a month)

Sling’s smallest ESPN plan is the cheapest way to get the main channel. Sling advertises ESPN and ESPN2 games with Essentials at $19.99 a month.

Good for: fans who mainly want ESPN and ESPN2 on a budget.

Watch out for: it is a small package. You do not get local channels, and some ESPN networks like SEC Network may need a bigger plan. Check Sling’s channel list for your ZIP code before you buy.

Option 2: ESPN Unlimited ($31.99 a month)

ESPN Unlimited is ESPN’s own full streaming service. You watch in the ESPN app on phones, smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV and other devices.

Good for: college football fans who want SEC Network and ACC Network, and anyone who wants every ESPN network without paying for 100 other channels.

Watch out for: no local channels, no TNT and no Fox. If you also need those, a live TV service may be the better deal.

Option 3: The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle ($35.99)

This bundle stayed at $35.99 a month with ads after the September increase, according to Awful Announcing. That is just $4 more than ESPN Unlimited alone.

If anyone in your home watches Disney+ or Hulu, this is often the best value in streaming sports. A cheaper version with ESPN Select instead of Unlimited costs about $22 a month with ads, but remember that Select does not include the live ESPN channel.

Comparing other services too? See our Netflix vs. Disney+ vs. HBO Max guide.

Option 4: ESPN + Fox One bundle ($39.99 a month)

ESPN and Fox launched a joint bundle on Oct. 2, 2025, for $39.99 a month, as NBC News reported. It pairs ESPN Unlimited with Fox One, which carries Fox, FS1 and Fox News.

Note: $39.99 is the launch price. ESPN’s bundle page still showed $39.99 when we checked, but confirm it on ESPN’s site, since ESPN Unlimited itself went up in September.

Option 5: Live TV services with ESPN

If you want ESPN plus local channels, a live TV service replaces cable completely. They cost more, but they include far more channels.

• Sling Orange ($45.99 a month): ESPN plus TNT, CNN and other cable favorites. No local channels.
• YouTube TV (about $82.99 a month): ESPN networks, local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, plus unlimited DVR.
• Hulu + Live TV and Fubo: both carry ESPN and local channels. Prices vary by plan, so check each site.

Our YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live TV vs. Sling comparison breaks down the channel lineups.

Free ways to watch some ESPN games

• ABC with an antenna. ABC airs many ESPN-produced games, including big college football and NBA matchups.
• The free ESPN app. You can watch highlights, scores and some short-form video without paying.
• Bars and restaurants. For a single big game, a sports bar can cost less than a month of service.

Avoid “free ESPN” streaming sites. They are illegal, and many push malware or fake login pages that steal passwords.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying ESPN Select for live games. It does not include the ESPN channel.
• Paying twice. If you have YouTube TV or Sling Orange, you already have ESPN. Don’t add Unlimited too.
• Forgetting the annual renewal. Set a reminder a week before a yearly plan renews.
• Using an old price list. Anything showing $29.99 for ESPN Unlimited is out of date.

Also read: How to watch the NBA without cable in the 2026-27 season, including which games air on ESPN and ABC.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to get ESPN without cable?

Sling Essentials at $19.99 a month is the lowest monthly price for live ESPN and ESPN2. For every ESPN network, ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99 a month.

Does ESPN Select include the ESPN channel?

No. ESPN Select ($13.99 a month) is the old ESPN+ and only includes streaming-only events and shows. You need ESPN Unlimited for live ESPN, ESPN2 and the other networks.

How much is ESPN Unlimited now?

$31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, since Sept. 17, 2026. It was $29.99 a month before.

Is Monday Night Football on ESPN Unlimited?

Yes. Monday Night Football airs on ESPN, which is part of ESPN Unlimited. Some games also air on ABC, which you can get free with an antenna.

Can I get ESPN for free?

Not the full channel. But many ESPN-produced games air on ABC, which is free over the air with an antenna.

Bottom line

For the lowest price on live ESPN, start with Sling Essentials at $19.99. If you want every ESPN network, go with ESPN Unlimited at $31.99, or pay $4 more for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle if your family will use it. Skip ESPN Select if live games are the goal, and cancel in the off-season to save the most.

Last reviewed: Oct. 25, 2026

Sources: Variety, Awful Announcing, TheWrap, NBC News, Sling.com, ESPN.