The network originally launched in 2007 as Ion Life, maintaining a format featuring lifestyle programming focused on health and wellness, cooking, home decor, and travel.

In select markets, Ion Plus has had main channel placement, allowing it must-carry coverage on local cable and satellite services.

Ion Plus ceased broadcasting over-the-air in 2021 after Ion Media's acquisition by the E. W. Scripps Company and merger with Katz Broadcasting to form Scripps Networks,[1] but continued to air as an advertising-supported video-on-demand network through several AVOD streaming services, including Samsung TV Plus, and Vizio WatchFree.

The network launched on February 19, 2007, focusing on generalized health and lifestyle programming; the network replaced a three-hour timeshift channel which depending on geographical location, carried what was then called i: Independent Television's Eastern or Pacific time zone feeds.

Under this format, it mainly aired cooking, travel, home decor, DIY design and home improvement, and automotive remodeling programs; most of the shows were imported Canadian series distributed by Bell Media, Corus Entertainment and Shaw Media, with some American content mixed in.

On September 8, 2020, the network replaced its slate of factual educational programs that fulfilled its educational content requirements with an extension of Ion Television's "Qubo Kids Corner" block on Monday through Wednesday mornings; the addition of the Qubo E/I block was due to commitments that Ion Media had to fulfill after adding eight primary affiliates—Ion-owned KILM, WFPX, WDPX-TV, WCLJ-TV, WDLI, WSFJ and WLWC, and affiliate WIFS—to its slate through the TBN deals and ancillary affiliation agreements.

It has since added additional streaming coverage through Xumo, Tubi, Freevee and The Roku Channel, as well as their associated mobile phone/tablet apps on both Google Play and iOS, appealing specifically to a cord-cutting audience looking for alternative entertainment options.

On June 17, 2024, Scripps quietly posted a promotional video to the social media presences of Ion Plus and Defy TV that the latter would be wound down at the end of June as its programming moves to another unrelated network owned by Free TV Networks which launched with the same library on July 1, 2024 (originally named Dare, but with the Defy branding transferring from Scripps last-minute),[13] with Ion Plus returning to over-the-air availability on Defy TV's channel spaces.

As of November 2015, Ion Plus had current and pending affiliation agreements with 65 television stations encompassing 34 states and the District of Columbia.