ESPN+ vs. Peacock vs. Paramount+: Which Sports Streaming App Do You Actually Need?

These three get lumped together as "the sports streaming apps," but they carry almost entirely different content. None of them is a general live-TV replacement - each one is worth it only if it happens to carry something specific you want.

ESPN+

ESPN+ does not include linear ESPN or ESPN2 - that's a common point of confusion. What it actually carries: out-of-market MLB and NHL games not otherwise nationally broadcast, a large library of college sports beyond football and basketball, most UFC pay-per-view cards, PGA Tour and tennis coverage, and a growing slate of exclusive soccer. Worth it for MLB/NHL fans living outside their team's market, and for UFC fans.

Peacock

Peacock carries everything NBC airs, including Sunday Night Footballand one exclusive NFL playoff game each January, NBA coverage during NBC's windows, Premier League soccer, and WWE's premium live events. Worth it if you already want NBC's sports lineup or follow the Premier League.

Paramount+

Paramount+ carries everything CBS airs, including its NFL and college football windows, UEFA Champions League and other European soccer competitions, and year-round golf and other CBS Sports coverage. Worth it primarily for Champions League fans and for CBS's NFL/college slate if you don't already get CBS over the air or through a live-TV bundle.

Do you need more than one?

Plenty of fans do end up with two or three of these, because they genuinely don't overlap - a hockey fan chasing out-of-market games plus Champions League soccer needs both ESPN+ and Paramount+. The mistake to avoid is subscribing to one expecting it to cover something it doesn't (ESPN+ for linear ESPN, most commonly). Check exactly what you're trying to watch against the breakdown above first.

The short version

• Out-of-market MLB/NHL, UFC pay-per-views, or extra college sports: ESPN+.
• Sunday Night Football, NBC's NFL playoff exclusive, or Premier League: Peacock.
• Champions League or CBS's NFL/college windows without a live-TV bundle: Paramount+.