ESPN Unlimited vs FOX One: Which Sports App to Buy
By The Spool Editors · Published September 17, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026
Two broadcasters went direct to consumers within weeks of each other, and the early subscriber data says the cheaper one is winning. ESPN Unlimited is $31.99 for every ESPN network. FOX One is $19.99 for every FOX network. They share almost no content, which means the right question is rarely which one, but whether you need both, and there is a bundle for that.
At a Glance
| ESPN Unlimited | FOX One | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $31.99/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Annual price | $319.99/yr | $199.99/yr |
| Monday Night Football | ✓ | ✗ |
| NFL on FOX | ✗ | ✓ |
| College football | SEC and ACC | Big Ten |
| News channels | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud DVR | ✗ | ✓ |
| Entertainment shows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Included in ESPN+ catalogue | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bundled together | $39.99/mo | $39.99/mo |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
Both sell a monthly and an annual plan, and both sell the same joint bundle. Here is every way to buy them.
ESPN Unlimited
FOX One
Price Breakdown & Hike History
ESPN Unlimited is $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, after a price rise on 17 September 2026. FOX One is $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year and has not moved since launch. Bought together the bundle is $39.99 a month, or $479.88 a year, against $51.98 a month buying both separately.
ESPN Unlimited: ESPN's direct-to-consumer Unlimited plan launched at $29.99 in August 2025 and took its first increase, to $31.99, on 17 September 2026.
FOX One: FOX One launched in August 2025 at $19.99 a month and has held that price since.
What You Actually Get
ESPN Unlimited carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, the SEC and ACC networks, ESPN on ABC simulcasts, NFL Network and CW Sports, plus the full ESPN+ catalogue. FOX One carries FOX, FS1, FS2, the Big Ten Network, FOX Deportes, FOX News, FOX Business and FOX Weather, plus your local FOX station.
Channel by Channel
Every channel below links to our full answer on whether that service carries it. Channels neither service publishes an answer for are left out rather than guessed at.
Only on ESPN Unlimited: ABC, ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, NFL Network, SEC Network.
Only on FOX One: Big Ten Network, FOX, FS1, FS2, Fox Business, Fox Deportes, Fox News, Fox Weather.
The Bundle Changes the Maths
At $39.99 for both, the bundle costs $8 more than ESPN Unlimited alone and $20 more than FOX One alone. If you were considering ESPN Unlimited at $31.99 and you watch any NFL on FOX, adding FOX One for $8 more is the obvious move. Antenna data suggests FOX One has been signing up subscribers faster than ESPN, helped by being sold through Prime Video Channels, which ESPN is not.
The Features That Decide It
| Feature | ESPN Unlimited | FOX One |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $31.99/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Free trial | Occasional promos | 3 days |
| Cloud DVR | None, on-demand replays | Cloud DVR, recordings kept 270 days |
| Simultaneous streams | Not published | Not published |
| Accounts / profiles | Single login with profiles | Single login |
| 4K | Select events | Select events |
Add-Ons & Hidden Costs
ESPN Unlimited add-ons: FOX One bundle ($39.99), Disney+ and Hulu bundle, and NFL+ Premium bundle. ESPN also bundles with Disney+ and Hulu at $35.99, and with NFL+ Premium at $41.99 for RedZone.
FOX One add-ons: FOX Nation and ESPN Unlimited bundle. FOX One bundles with FOX Nation at $24.99 for the FOX News library.
How to Try Each One Free
FOX One runs a 3-day free trial. ESPN does not run a standing trial and uses promotional pricing instead. Before paying for ESPN Unlimited, check your pay-TV or live-streaming provider, because Fubo, DIRECTV MySports and others now include Unlimited access at no extra cost.
The Cheapest Way to Get What You Want
If your live TV service already includes ESPN Unlimited, buy FOX One alone at $19.99 and you have both broadcasters covered. If it does not and you want both, the $39.99 bundle is the cheapest route by a clear margin. On a single-sport budget, follow the rights: NFC games and the Big Ten point to FOX One, everything else points to ESPN.
What Changed Recently
- September 17, 2026: ESPN Unlimited took its first price rise, from $29.99 to $31.99 a month and from $299.99 to $319.99 a year.
- 2026: FOX One and ESPN Unlimited launched a joint bundle at $39.99 a month.
- August 21, 2025: ESPN launched its direct-to-consumer Unlimited plan at $29.99, with ESPN+ folded in.
- August 21, 2025: FOX One launched at $19.99 a month, carrying every FOX network in one app.
ESPN Unlimited vs FOX One FAQ
- Is the ESPN and FOX One bundle worth it?
- If you watch NFL across both networks, yes. The bundle is $39.99 a month against $51.98 buying both separately, a saving of $11.99, and it is also sold annually at $479.88.
- Which is cheaper, ESPN Unlimited or FOX One?
- FOX One, at $19.99 a month against $31.99 for ESPN Unlimited. FOX One also holds its annual plan at $199.99 while ESPN rose to $319.99 in September 2026.
- Do ESPN Unlimited and FOX One overlap?
- Barely. They carry different networks and different rights. The main shared ground is that both show NFL games, on different days and different packages.
- Can I get ESPN Unlimited through Prime Video?
- No. FOX One is sold through Prime Video Channels, which is part of why its signups have outpaced ESPN's, but ESPN's direct service is not sold there.
ESPN Unlimited vs FOX One: The Verdict
Sports rights decide this, not features. ESPN Unlimited has Monday Night Football, the bulk of NBA and college basketball, the SEC and ACC networks, and the whole old ESPN+ catalogue folded in. FOX One has NFL on FOX, the Big Ten, FOX's soccer rights, and it throws in FOX News, FOX Business and FOX Weather, which makes it a better deal for a household that watches news as well as sport. If you follow one league closely, check who holds the rights and buy that one. If you watch NFL seriously, you will want both, and the $39.99 bundle saves $11.99 a month over paying separately.
Last updated: October 7, 2026