ESPN does not offer a direct free trial for its streaming service in 2026.
The standalone ESPN Unlimited plan at $29.99 a month and the cheaper ESPN Select at $12.99 a month both require payment up front. The genuine free routes are the trials on live-TV services that carry ESPN, such as Fubo’s 7-day trial and DirecTV Stream’s 5-day trial, plus bundle bonuses like the 30 days of ESPN included when you buy a new MLB.TV subscription.
If you are searching for an ESPN free trial, here are the workarounds that actually exist, and the honest reality behind them.
Does ESPN Have a Free Trial?
Not directly. Neither ESPN Unlimited nor ESPN Select offers a standard free trial at sign-up, so there is no button on ESPN’s site that gives you a free week. ESPN removed the simple trial it once offered, which is why the search results are full of workarounds. The good news is that several of those workarounds are legitimate and free for a short window.
| Route | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN Unlimited (direct-to-consumer) | $29.99 / month | No direct trial |
| ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) | $12.99 / month | No direct trial |
| Fubo | Subscription after trial | 7-day trial, includes ESPN |
| DirecTV Stream | Subscription after trial | 5-day trial, includes ESPN |
| New MLB.TV purchase | Bundle bonus | 30 days of ESPN included |
How to Watch ESPN for Free
The most dependable free path is a live-TV service trial. Fubo offers a 7-day free trial that includes live ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews, and DirecTV Stream typically offers a 5-day trial that includes ESPN. Both let you stream ESPN at no cost for the trial window, and you cancel before it ends to avoid a charge. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV also carry ESPN and run new-subscriber promotions from time to time, and YouTube TV is adding ESPN Unlimited to its base plan at no extra cost by the end of 2026.
There are also bundle bonuses. Buying a new MLB.TV subscription has recently included 30 days of ESPN Unlimited, and promotional partners occasionally offer a month of access. For the broader picture, our guide to watching live TV without cable compares the services that carry ESPN.
ESPN Unlimited vs ESPN Select
ESPN now sells two streaming tiers, and the difference matters. ESPN Unlimited, at $29.99 a month, is the all-access plan that includes the live ESPN cable channels along with the digital library, essentially ESPN without a cable box. ESPN Select, at $12.99 a month, is the rebranded version of the old ESPN+, covering digital originals and niche live sports but not the main live ESPN channels. If you want the flagship ESPN channel and its marquee games, you need Unlimited; Select is for the lower-profile content ESPN+ always carried.
A Free Option You Already Have
Do not overlook ABC. Many of ESPN’s biggest events, including a growing share of marquee games, are simulcast on ABC, which is a free over-the-air broadcast network. A basic antenna pulls in your local ABC affiliate at no cost, so the highest-profile ESPN-produced games are often watchable free without any ESPN subscription at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ESPN have a free trial?
Not directly. ESPN Unlimited ($29.99 a month) and ESPN Select ($12.99 a month) both require payment up front with no standard trial. The free routes are trials on live-TV services that carry ESPN, such as Fubo and DirecTV Stream, and bundle bonuses like the 30 days of ESPN with a new MLB.TV subscription.
How can I watch ESPN for free?
Use a live-TV service free trial that includes ESPN, such as Fubo’s 7-day trial or DirecTV Stream’s 5-day trial, and cancel before it ends. You can also catch ESPN’s biggest games free on ABC with an antenna, since many are simulcast on the broadcast network.
How much is ESPN Unlimited?
ESPN Unlimited is $29.99 a month. It is the all-access plan that includes the live ESPN cable channels plus the digital library, giving you the flagship ESPN experience without a cable subscription.
What’s the difference between ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select?
ESPN Unlimited at $29.99 a month includes the live ESPN channels and the digital library. ESPN Select at $12.99 a month, formerly ESPN+, covers digital originals and niche live sports but not the main live ESPN channels. Unlimited is the one for flagship ESPN games.
Does ESPN+ have a free trial?
ESPN+ has been rebranded as ESPN Select at $12.99 a month, and it does not offer a standard free trial. To sample ESPN content free, use a live-TV service trial that includes the ESPN networks, or a bundle bonus such as the ESPN access included with a new MLB.TV purchase.
Can I get ESPN free with Fubo or DirecTV Stream?
Yes, during their trials. Fubo offers a 7-day free trial that includes live ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews, and DirecTV Stream typically offers a 5-day trial that includes ESPN. Both let you stream ESPN free for the trial window if you cancel before it ends.
How do I watch ESPN without cable?
Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited for the direct streaming option, or use a live-TV service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or Sling Orange that carries ESPN. Many marquee ESPN games are also simulcast free on ABC, which you can get with an antenna.
Last updated: May 2026. We update this guide as ESPN’s plans and partner trials change.