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 for free for three days by signing up to the Hulu with Live TV plan. That gets you access to ESPN+, Disney Plus and Hulu's Live TV plan all in one bundled subscription, letting you try out the sports service as part of the trial offer.
When the trial ends, it will cost you $82.99 a month to stay signed up to all three services, or if you can't stand ads and need to be able to download movies and shows on the go, then you'll have to pay $95.99 to be signed up to the more premium plan.
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 the excellent value ESPN+ bundle as well as the cheapest ways to subscribe.
Steps for how to get an ESPN+ free trial
- Visit the Hulu website
- Select 'Start Your Free Trial'
- Type in a valid zip code
- Enter your billing information
- Enjoy three days of ESPN+ for free
Step by step guide for how to get an ESPN+ free trial
Visit the Hulu website
First of all, head to the Hulu website via your web browser or the Hulu app on your preferred device. You'll be taken to their homepage, which looks like the above, giving you the option to sign up for the Disney Bundle Duo Basic or the Disney, Hulu, Max Bundle.
Select 'Start Your Free Trial'
Scroll down to the section that says 'Watch Live TV from 95+ Channels' and select 'Start Your Free Trial' for the Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV bundle to access Hulu's Live TV plan, with Disney Plus and ESPN+.
Log in or sign up to Hulu with your email address
Once you've entered a valid zip code, the next menu prompts you to either continue with the log in or create a Hulu account with your email address. If you are making a new account, you will set up a password and provide your personal information.
The email address and password you use when signing up for Hulu will also be your MyDisney login. MyDisney allows you to use one email address and password to log in to services across The Walt Disney Family of Companies.
Enter your billing information
Hulu 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 Hulu + Live TV free trial (with or without ads). After you've done this, you can enjoy up to three days of Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN+.
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 an 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+, Display Plus 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 Plus 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 Plus 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 DirecTV Stream, Fubo, 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 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.
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.
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.
