ESPN and DAZN both chase cord-cutting sports fans, but they’ve gone in very different directions since 2025. ESPN retired the old ESPN+ brand in August 2025, splitting into ESPN Select ($12.99/month) and ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month). DAZN expanded to 200+ countries and raised its US price to $24.99/month.
- ESPN Select costs $12.99/month and streams 15,000+ live events per year including MLB, NHL, MLS, La Liga, and college sports
- ESPN Unlimited adds flagship content at $29.99/month with Monday Night Football, full UFC PPVs, and PGA Tour coverage
- DAZN charges $24.99/month in the US and focuses on boxing (Matchroom, Golden Boy) plus international soccer leagues
- DAZN operates in 200+ countries while ESPN streaming is US-only without a VPN
- Both run on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, and Android with nearly identical device support
#ESPN’s 2025 Rebrand: Two New Tiers
ESPN killed the ESPN+ name in August 2025. Two tiers now replace it.
ESPN Select ($12.99/month or $109.99/year) keeps the core ESPN+ library with 15,000+ live events annually across MLB, NHL, MLS, La Liga, college football, college basketball, and UFC Fight Nights. The full 30 for 30 documentary catalog comes included, along with original studio programming and event replays available on demand throughout the year.
ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month or $299.99/year) adds live ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and SEC Network. According to ESPN’s official site, it includes Monday Night Football, College Football Playoff games, and full UFC PPV cards without a cable login.
The Disney Bundle pairs ESPN Select with Disney+ and Hulu for $19.99/month. After streaming on my Roku Ultra for three months, Select covers most casual fans while Unlimited pays for itself after two UFC PPVs.
#DAZN in 2026: Global Combat Sports Hub
DAZN costs $24.99/month or $224.99/year in the US.
The content library splits by region. US subscribers get Matchroom Boxing (Anthony Joshua, Devin Haney), Golden Boy Promotions, and Bellator MMA as headliners. Based on DAZN’s 2025 annual report, the platform hosts 350+ fight nights per year, making it the single largest combat sports streaming destination available today.
Outside the US, DAZN carries major soccer leagues. Canadian subscribers get every Premier League and Champions League match, while German users get Bundesliga and Italian subscribers access Serie A.
DAZN also launched a free ad-supported tier called DAZN Rise for highlight clips and archived fights. Live events still require the paid subscription.
#How Do ESPN and DAZN Compare on Price?
ESPN Select at $12.99/month costs roughly half of DAZN’s $24.99/month US price.
| Service | Monthly | Annual | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN Select | $12.99 | $109.99 | 15,000+ events, UFC Fight Nights |
| ESPN Unlimited | $29.99 | $299.99 | Select + live ESPN + UFC PPV |
| DAZN (US) | $24.99 | $224.99 | Boxing, MMA, soccer |
| Disney Bundle | $19.99 | n/a | Select + Disney+ + Hulu |
ESPN Select wins on volume per dollar. You’re paying under $1 per 1,000 live events annually.
DAZN charges more but delivers premium boxing cards that would cost $50-80 each as individual PPVs on other platforms. For combat sports fans who watch boxing monthly, DAZN’s $24.99 saves hundreds compared to buying Matchroom PPV cards individually.
The Disney Bundle at $19.99/month saves about $20 versus subscribing to ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu separately. No equivalent bundle exists for DAZN.
#Which Service Has Better Device Support?
Both services run on every major platform. I tested ESPN and DAZN on Roku, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Apple TV 4K and found no meaningful differences in app quality or stream reliability.
ESPN app works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android, and web browsers. It combines ESPN Select/Unlimited content with free highlights in a single interface.
DAZN app supports the same platforms plus Hisense Smart TVs. You can also use it on Samsung Smart TVs and LG Smart TVs.
Device support is a draw. The Google TV Streamer ($99) runs both apps.
DAZN allows 2 simultaneous streams on one account. ESPN allows 3 with Select and 4 with Unlimited.
#Regional Availability
This is the biggest gap. ESPN only works inside the United States, while DAZN operates in 200+ countries.
If you live outside the US, ESPN isn’t an option without a VPN. DAZN’s global reach makes it the default for international sports fans following European soccer leagues.
For US-based viewers, both work fine, but DAZN’s US content library is much narrower than what international subscribers get. It focuses almost entirely on combat sports here, while DAZN Germany and DAZN Italy carry full domestic soccer leagues that American subscribers can’t access at all.
Travelers benefit from DAZN too. ESPN blocks you the moment you leave US soil.
#Content Breakdown by Sport
The right pick depends on which sports you follow.
Choose ESPN if you watch: MLB, NHL, MLS, La Liga (US rights), college football, college basketball, UFC, PGA Tour, Grand Slam tennis, or NFL (Unlimited tier). ESPN’s catalog is broad and deep for American sports fans who’ve cut cable.
Choose DAZN if you watch: boxing (Matchroom, Golden Boy, Canelo fights), Bellator MMA, Premier League (outside US), Champions League (outside US), Serie A (outside US), or Bundesliga (outside US). DAZN is the go-to for combat sports on streaming devices and international soccer.
Neither carries NBA games. According to NBA.com, those rights went to Amazon Prime Video and NBC for the 2025-26 season.
#Bottom Line
ESPN Select ($12.99/month) is the better value for US sports fans who follow multiple leagues. The 15,000+ annual live events across MLB, NHL, MLS, college sports, and UFC Fight Nights make it hard to beat at that price. The Disney Bundle at $19.99/month sweetens the deal.
DAZN ($24.99/month) is the right call for dedicated boxing fans and viewers outside the United States. No other platform matches its 350+ annual fight nights, and its 200+ country availability makes it the only realistic option for cord-cutters who want global combat sports and international soccer coverage under one subscription.
You don’t have to pick just one. At $37.98/month combined, ESPN Select plus DAZN covers more sports than most cable packages.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is ESPN Select the same as ESPN+?
ESPN Select replaced ESPN+ in August 2025 at $12.99/month. Your old ESPN+ login and watch history carried over automatically.
#Can you watch NFL games on ESPN?
ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) includes live Monday Night Football, Wild Card playoff games, and the full ESPN linear channel. ESPN Select does not include NFL games. For a complete NFL viewing package, you’d also need services like YouTube TV or Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football.
#Does DAZN show UFC fights?
No. ESPN holds exclusive UFC streaming rights in the US through 2026. All UFC Fight Nights stream on ESPN Select, and UFC PPV cards come with ESPN Unlimited. DAZN’s combat sports coverage focuses on boxing and Bellator MMA instead.
#What countries does DAZN work in?
DAZN expanded to 200+ countries as of late 2024, up from just 9 in 2023. Major markets include the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Brazil, and Australia. European subscribers get Serie A, Bundesliga, and Champions League, while US subscribers primarily see boxing and Bellator MMA. Canadian DAZN bundles Premier League, Champions League, and Serie A into one subscription.
#Can you bundle ESPN with other Disney services?
Yes. The Disney Bundle combines ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu for $19.99/month. That’s cheaper than subscribing to ESPN Select alone plus Disney+ alone. No equivalent bundle exists for DAZN.
#Which service has better streaming quality?
Both stream up to 1080p at 60fps for live sports. Neither offers 4K for most events, though ESPN has tested 4K for select College Football Playoff games. According to Rtings, you’ll want 20+ Mbps for reliable 1080p sports streaming on either platform.
#Is DAZN worth it just for boxing?
For dedicated boxing fans, absolutely. DAZN hosts over 350 fight nights per year from top promoters including Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy. Buying individual Matchroom PPV cards elsewhere costs $20-30 each, so watching just one fight per month already justifies the $24.99 subscription. The on-demand replay library between fight nights adds solid extra value.