ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium both carry live NFL games. But they solve different problems.
ESPN Unlimited gives you a smaller set of live games. NFL+ Premium covers more of the NFL schedule.
For ESPN Unlimited vs NFL+ Premium, the best option depends on what you want.
ESPN Unlimited carries regular and postseason games
ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, and NFL Network.
For the 2026 NFL season, the plan covers:
- 17 Monday Night Football games
- Two Saturday games during Week 18
- Seven games on NFL Network
- One Wild Card playoff game
- One Divisional Round playoff game
- Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027
This gives ESPN Unlimited 26 regular-season games, two early-round playoff games, and the Super Bowl. ESPN’s official 2026 NFL schedule confirms 29 games across the full season.
All 17 Monday night games are included. Ten will also air on ABC, while the other seven are exclusive to ESPN. Since Unlimited includes both ESPN and ESPN on ABC, the split does not change your access.
The NFL Network schedule adds five international games during Weeks 4 through 9 and two Saturday games during Week 16.
Our full guide to ESPN Unlimited explains the other sports, channels, and features included with the plan.
NFL+ Premium has more live games
NFL+ Premium includes live local and primetime games during the regular season.
You can watch:
- Sunday afternoon games shown by CBS or FOX in your local market
- Sunday Night Football
- Monday Night Football
- Thursday Night Football
- Other nationally shown and primetime games
- Seven NFL Network games
- Live out-of-market preseason games
- Every playoff game, including the Super Bowl
The catch is the screen you must use. Local and primetime regular-season and playoff games are only available live on a phone or tablet.
You cannot cast these live games from your phone to a television. The restriction applies even though you pay for the Premium plan.
NFL Network games work differently. You may watch the NFL Network live feed and its seven regular-season games on supported televisions and other devices.
Sunday afternoon coverage is very different
Most NFL games take place on Sunday afternoons. This is where the largest difference appears.
ESPN Unlimited does not include regular Sunday afternoon games shown on CBS or FOX. It will not give you your local team’s game unless that matchup is on ESPN, ABC, or NFL Network.
NFL+ Premium lets you watch the CBS and FOX Sunday games available in your local television market. If your area receives two or three games that Sunday, those are the full games you may stream live on your phone or tablet.
Neither subscription replaces NFL Sunday Ticket. You still need Sunday Ticket for live out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. Our NFL+ vs. NFL Sunday Ticket comparison explains that difference in more detail.
NFL+ Premium covers more of the playoffs
ESPN Unlimited carries three postseason games for the 2026 season:
- One Wild Card game
- One Divisional Round game
- Super Bowl LXI
It does not include the other Wild Card and Divisional games or the two conference championship games unless you receive their networks through another service.
NFL+ Premium lets you watch every playoff game live on a phone or tablet.
ESPN Unlimited vs. NFL+ Premium prices
The regular ESPN Unlimited price is:
- $29.99 per month
- $299.99 per year
You are paying for much more than NFL coverage. The plan includes ESPN’s college sports, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB, tennis, golf, studio shows, and other live events.
The regular NFL+ Premium price is:
- $14.99 per month
- $99.99 per season
NFL+ Premium costs. Its $99.99 season option is also much cheaper than paying $14.99 for a full year.
You could also combine ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium for $39.99 per month. Buying them separately would cost $44.98. So the ESPN and NFL+ Premium bundle saves $4.99 each month.