Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

ESPN vs DAZN

ESPN 4.6★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner ESPN
DAZN 4.7★ · Free to download 40

ESPN is generally a more reliable option for sports news and streaming, despite some technical issues and content preferences, while DAZN is plagued by highly deceptive subscription practices and poor customer service.

Full reviews: ESPN · DAZN

ESPN offers a broad range of sports content, live scores, and news, though users report occasional app crashes and slow loading. DAZN, while praised for its boxing and NHL coverage, faces severe criticism for misleading subscription terms and difficulty canceling, leading many users to feel scammed.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: ESPNR3R5R12R14
ESPN ESPN is praised for its comprehensive sports coverage, live scores, breaking news, and personalized features, allowing users to follow favorite teams and leagues R5R14. However, some users note missing coverage for certain leagues like AUSL R3 and a lack of desired historical content . There are also complaints about irrelevant notifications for sports users don't follow R12.
DAZN DAZN is valued for its boxing content, often described as having 'all of boxing under one platform' . Users also appreciate its NHL playoff game coverage and Serie A . However, some users find fight prices for unknowns to be ridiculous , and there are complaints about the absence of Premier League despite a 'soccer package' R67 and missing historical FIFA World Cup archives .
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: ESPNR1R5R9R10
ESPN ESPN generally offers a clean, intuitive interface R5 and is considered easy to use R9. However, many users report significant issues with app crashing R9R10, slow loading times R34, and buffering during streams R1R34. Some also experience blank screens when trying to read articles R13 or difficulty navigating content .
DAZN DAZN's app is described as generally good , with some users finding it easy to use . However, it suffers from significant reliability issues, including skipping, freezing, and crashing, especially on iPads and Apple TV R76. Users also report slow loading for NFL pass and difficulties finding live video instructions R68.
Price & Value edge: ESPNR19R33R34R52
ESPN ESPN is a free app with in-app purchases and subscriptions. Users who pay for subscriptions, like ESPN Unlimited, are frustrated by still encountering numerous ads R19R33R34R52. Some also feel that content is behind multiple paywalls .
DAZN DAZN is free to download but requires subscriptions for content. Many users express extreme dissatisfaction with DAZN's subscription model, describing it as deceptive and a 'trap' R63R67R70R73. Users often unknowingly sign up for year-long contracts when they intend to pay monthly or for a single event, leading to continued charges even after attempting to cancel. Some also complain about high pay-per-view prices on top of subscriptions .
Customer Support edge: ESPNR64R68R73R76
ESPN Reviews do not provide specific feedback on ESPN's customer support.
DAZN DAZN receives overwhelmingly negative feedback regarding its customer service. Users report no customer service number, forcing them to use chat, where they are told it's their responsibility to contact their bank for disputed charges R64. Many find customer support unhelpful in canceling subscriptions, with some suggesting legal action R64R73. One user did report a positive experience with the development team contacting them for a refund R68 and another found customer service helpful for technical issues R76.
Pick ESPN if

You want a broad range of sports news, scores, and streaming content, and are willing to tolerate occasional app performance issues and ads even with a subscription R5.

Pick DAZN if

You are primarily interested in boxing or specific international sports like NHL playoffs or Serie A, and are extremely careful about subscription terms .

Evidence note: DAZN's negative reviews are heavily skewed towards subscription issues, which might overshadow other aspects of the app. ESPN's issues are more related to app performance and content preferences.

Frequently asked

Can I cancel my DAZN subscription easily?
No, many users report extreme difficulty canceling DAZN subscriptions, often finding themselves locked into year-long contracts despite intending to pay monthly or for a single event, with charges continuing even after attempting to cancel R63R67R70R73.
Does ESPN have ads even with a paid subscription?
Yes, ESPN subscribers, including those with ESPN Unlimited, report still encountering numerous ads during streaming, which users find frustrating and disruptive R19R33R34R52.
What are common technical issues with the ESPN app?
Common technical issues with the ESPN app include frequent crashing R9R10, slow loading times R34, buffering during streams R1R34, and blank screens when trying to read articles R13.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] ESPN 3/5 · US No AUSL coverage?: Recent update still doesn’t show professional softball league scores or as an option to add as a favorite. It’s been a league for at least 2 years and you haven’t added it?!
  2. [R5] ESPN 5/5 · US The greatness of ESPN: Dear ESPN, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The ESPN app delivers an outstanding sports experience with a clean, intuitive interface and exceptionally reliable coverage. Live scores update seamlessly, breaking news is timely and comprehensive, and the personalized features make it effortless to follow my favorite teams and leagues. The streaming quality is consistently excellent, and the app strikes
  3. [R12] ESPN 3/5 · US Just one little tweak: All espn has to do is stop notifying people about the sports they didn’t pick I’m a Christian American why do I care about soccer when the nba and nfl offseason are going on
  4. [R14] ESPN 5/5 · US The Best: The information is great
  5. [R1] ESPN 1/5 · US Worst App: I bought the subscription for a month to see Wimbledon. The streaming stopped working so many times. I reset everything and I still have the same problem. I wish I could rated 0 star. Let me mention that the other apps on my Samsung TV work fine.
  6. [R9] ESPN 3/5 · US App Crashing: I like the app, and it’s easy to use. The issue with it though is that it will randomly crash while I’m reading an article. Happens too often and I don’t experience this with my other apps. If it weren’t for this I’d give it 5 stars.
  7. [R10] ESPN 1/5 · US Broken app: Every time I try and read article, or anything else, I get about five sentences in and the app tries to break itself. It will either send me to the home page, switch to some random article, or gray screen. The app has been completely unusable for the last month. I’ve had the app for multiple years and just uninstalled it.
  8. [R19] ESPN 1/5 · US Do not waste your money on subscriptions: I subscribed to ESPN specifically to watch the Wimbledon 2026 men’s and women’s singles matches in the US. Because of the time difference, the matches are played while I’m at work, so I expected to watch the replays in the evening. Instead, I paid for a subscription that still includes a lot of advertising, and by the time I get home, many of the matches
  9. [R33] ESPN 3/5 · US 29.99 for adds: Purchased the app to watch Wimbledon matches. I think for 29.99$ I don’t have to watch 2 min ads every time I want to fast forward the video. Those ads are so annoying!
  10. [R34] ESPN 1/5 · US The buffering and ads: The buffering, awful, the load time for the app, awful. The ads will work perfectly though, dumb. This app and in its entirety, AWFUL.
  11. [R52] ESPN 1/5 · US Commercials: I pay for espn unlimited I should get no commercials. They throw in commercials in the middle of matches when the announcers are explaining something important. Just let me watch without a damn commercial, I’m not gonna buy whatever is on there because I saw a commercial on here.
  12. [R64] DAZN 1/5 · US DO NOT SUBSCRIBE: 4 months after canceling my subscription DAZN continues to charge my debit card. They don’t have a customer service number to talk to a representative. You have to chat. You will then be told that it’s your responsibility to contact your bank in order to stop the disputed transactions. Absolutely poor customer service. All who have experienced the same, let’s file a lawsuit. My l
  13. [R68] DAZN 5/5 · US App has no instructions (refunded): I have invited friends to watch a big boxing fight. Paid $70 to just watch one fight and app didn’t explain how to watch live video! Instead of watching real time live video we all watched replay and as a matter of fact, we watched everything in recording instead of watching live… What have I paid $70 for??? To watch recording??? Don’t buy their services! (Updat
  14. [R73] DAZN 1/5 · US Misleading Subscriptions, Pathetic Customer Supprt: As many others have mentioned, their subscription plans are intentionally misleading. A minor accidentally purchased the wrong subscription on my account as it was clearly misleading. When attempting to cancel, like many others have noted, there is no way to. I have contacted customer support and they were no help. Only after suggesting that I ta
  15. [R76] DAZN 2/5 · US Horrible functionality on Apple TV: When its working, the app looks fantastic and I have reached out to customer service and they were extremely helpful in finding resolutions. However, there is a problem that I only experience while using the platform on Apple TV. I constantly receive error messages and have had to delete and reinstall the app three times so far, so that it remains functional. He
  16. [R63] DAZN 3/5 · US 3 stars...: I download and use the app only for a simple pay-per-view event, when I was compleating the payment, notice that the app bound you to accept automatic renew subscription service. I can cancel it after the event (that what I do) but the process to cancel the subscription was long with offers after offers and "reasons" to no cancel it. I got no problem with my pay-per-view event yet I go
  17. [R67] DAZN 1/5 · US Subscription: I got a subscription to watch the World Cup, not knowing I signed up for a year. I tried to talk to customer service and they won’t let you cancel. They called it the soccer package. But they don’t even show the Premier League. Terrible.
  18. [R70] DAZN 1/5 · US Deceptive Subscriptions: I sub’d to DAZN for the Club World Cup in July 2025. They offered a 16.99 monthly fee. I sign up and then try to cancel after the CWC, but apparently it was a 12month commitment. My 12 months is finally up and I can leave this review that I will never use this platform again, and you shouldn’t either.
  19. [R13] ESPN 1/5 · US Can’t read stories: Over past few weeks I am not able to read stories details, get a blank screen- my iPhone and iPad.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store