NFL+ Premium vs ESPN Unlimited: Which Gets You More Football
By The Spool Editors · Published September 17, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026
Two subscriptions, both selling live NFL games, both around the same price, and neither of them gives you a full season. What separates them is which games, on which screen, and whether you care about RedZone. Here is the honest breakdown, in the middle of the season when it actually matters.
At a Glance
| NFL+ Premium | ESPN Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99/mo | $31.99/mo |
| Season or annual price | $99.99/season | $319.99/yr |
| NFL RedZone | ✓ | ✗ |
| NFL Network | ✓ | Included |
| Monday Night Football | ✗ | ✓ |
| Live local games | Phone and tablet only | ✗ |
| Watch on a TV | NFL Network only | ✓ |
| Full game replays | ✓ | Some |
| All-22 coaches film | ✓ | ✗ |
| Other sports | ✗ | ✓ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
NFL+ Premium sells monthly or by season. ESPN Unlimited sells monthly, annually, and in bundles. Here is every relevant option, including the one that combines them.
NFL+ Premium
ESPN Unlimited
Price Breakdown & Hike History
NFL+ Premium is $14.99 a month or $99.99 for the season, which is the cheaper way to buy it if you plan to keep it past six months. ESPN Unlimited is $31.99 a month or $319.99 a year, having risen on 17 September 2026. Together in the bundle they are $41.99 a month against $46.98 separately.
NFL+ Premium: NFL+ Premium sits at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a season, and the NFL raised its subscription tiers ahead of the 2026 season.
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.
What You Actually Get
NFL+ Premium carries NFL Network, NFL RedZone, live local and primetime games on mobile devices, full and condensed replays of every game and All-22 coaches film. ESPN Unlimited carries 26 regular-season games including all 17 Monday night games, two early playoff games, the Super Bowl in its rotation year, NFL Network, and every other ESPN network and sport.
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 NFL+ Premium: NFL RedZone.
Only on ESPN Unlimited: ABC, ACC Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network.
On both: NFL Network.
The Device Restriction Is the Catch
NFL+ Premium shows live local and primetime games on phones and tablets only. NFL Network programming plays on televisions, but the live local games do not, and casting is blocked. If watching on the big screen matters, that single restriction rules NFL+ out as a main subscription no matter how good the rest of the package is.
The Features That Decide It
| Feature | NFL+ Premium | ESPN Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $14.99/mo | $31.99/mo |
| Free trial | 7 days | Occasional promos |
| Cloud DVR | None, full game replays instead | None, on-demand replays |
| Simultaneous streams | Not published | Not published |
| Accounts / profiles | Single login | Single login with profiles |
| 4K | No | Select events |
Add-Ons & Hidden Costs
NFL+ Premium add-ons: ESPN Unlimited bundle and NFL Sunday Ticket is separate, through YouTube. The NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited bundle at $41.99 is the only way to put RedZone next to ESPN's games. NFL Sunday Ticket is separate again, sold through YouTube.
ESPN Unlimited add-ons: FOX One bundle ($39.99), Disney+ and Hulu bundle, and NFL+ Premium bundle. ESPN Unlimited also bundles with Disney+ and Hulu at $35.99 and with FOX One at $39.99.
How to Try Each One Free
NFL+ runs a 7-day free trial, which is enough to cover one Sunday and see whether the mobile-only restriction is a dealbreaker for you. ESPN does not run a standing trial. Before buying ESPN Unlimited, check whether your live TV service already includes it, because several now do.
The Cheapest Way to Get What You Want
If you want RedZone and nothing else, NFL+ Premium at $99.99 for the season is the cheapest route to it anywhere, cheaper than any live TV add-on. If you want to watch games on a television, you need ESPN Unlimited or a live TV service instead. If you want both, the $41.99 bundle beats buying them separately by $4.99 a month.
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: The NFL raised its subscription tiers ahead of the season, with NFL+ Premium at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a season.
- August 21, 2025: ESPN launched its direct-to-consumer Unlimited plan at $29.99, with ESPN+ folded in.
- 2025: NFL+ Premium and ESPN launched a joint bundle at $41.99 that puts NFL Network and RedZone alongside ESPN Unlimited.
NFL+ Premium vs ESPN Unlimited FAQ
- Does ESPN Unlimited include NFL RedZone?
- No. RedZone comes only through the ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium bundle at $41.99 a month, or through NFL+ Premium on its own at $14.99.
- Can I watch NFL+ Premium on my TV?
- Only partly. NFL Network programming plays on televisions, but live local and primetime games are restricted to phones and tablets. That restriction is the main limitation of the service.
- How many NFL games does ESPN Unlimited carry?
- 26 regular-season games, including all 17 Monday night games, plus two early-round playoff games and the Super Bowl in the years ESPN and ABC hold it.
- Which is cheaper for a full season?
- NFL+ Premium, at $99.99 for the season against $319.99 a year for ESPN Unlimited. They carry different games, so the cheaper one is only better value if the games you want are on it.
NFL+ Premium vs ESPN Unlimited: The Verdict
RedZone is the deciding factor and it is only on one side. NFL+ Premium at $14.99 gives you RedZone, NFL Network, full and condensed replays of every game, All-22 coaches film, and live local and primetime games with a catch: those live games play on a phone or tablet only, not on your television. ESPN Unlimited at $31.99 gives you 26 regular-season games including every Monday night, two playoff games, the Super Bowl and, of course, every other sport ESPN carries. Neither replaces a live TV service. If you want both without paying $46.98, the ESPN and NFL+ Premium bundle is $41.99.
Last updated: October 7, 2026