Netflix vs Paramount+: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Netflix is a monthly-only originals library with downloads on every plan and 4K on Premium. Paramount+ is CBS, SHOWTIME and a lot of live sport — NFL on CBS, UFC and Champions League even on Essential — with three streams on both plans and yearly billing. Paramount+ downloads only on Premium, and only to phones and tablets.
Option A
Option B
$13.99/moParamount+ Premium
Official price before tax: $13.99
Price checked
Paramount+ price and plansWe compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Netflix | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Standard with ads, Standard, Premium | Essential, Premium |
| Live sports | Live events, every plan | NFL on CBS, UFC, Champions League |
| Screens at once | 2 / 2 / 4 | 3 |
| Downloads | Every plan | Premium (phones, tablets) |
| Yearly billing | No | Both plans |
| 4K | Premium | Select titles, Premium |
Netflix builds around its own series, films and games; Paramount+ carries CBS and Paramount networks, SHOWTIME, movies and live sports.
If you don’t want to read further
Originals, downloads on the cheapest plan, watching abroad — Netflix. NFL on CBS, UFC, CBS shows and SHOWTIME — Paramount+.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Live sports?
Netflix
Live events on every plan — NFL games, WWE Raw and boxing among them.
Paramount+
NFL on CBS, UFC, Zuffa Boxing and Champions League on both plans; more CBS Sports on Premium.
For a full NFL season on CBS, Paramount+; for one-off events, Netflix.
Screens at once?
Netflix
Two on Standard plans, four on Premium.
Paramount+
Three on both plans, with six profiles.
Three viewers on the cheaper plan — Paramount+.
Downloads?
Netflix
Every plan, including Standard with ads.
Paramount+
Premium only, up to 25 at a time, on phones and tablets.
Offline on a budget — Netflix.
Yearly billing?
Netflix
No — monthly only.
Paramount+
Both plans.
Only Paramount+ lets you prepay.
Ads on the ad-free plan?
Netflix
Standard and Premium are ad-free, except breaks during live events.
Paramount+
Premium is ad-free on demand; live TV has ad breaks, and every plan has Paramount+ promos and trailers.
Live content carries ads on both.
Included with something else?
Netflix
Netflix can come on your bill or in a package from providers like Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, T-Mobile or Verizon.
Paramount+
Walmart+ includes Essential; Paramount+ also advertises 50% off for students.
Check your internet, phone or Walmart+ membership before paying for either.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
A plan with ads
Netflix Standard with ads and Paramount+ Essential.
4K on the top plan
Netflix Premium; select titles on Paramount+ Premium.
Through partners
Both can be billed by app stores and phone carriers — cancel there.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You follow the NFL on CBS | Paramount+ Essential | Games in your local CBS market. |
| You want SHOWTIME | Paramount+ Premium | All of SHOWTIME. |
| You watch offline on a budget | Netflix Standard with ads | Downloads on every plan. |
| You travel abroad | Netflix | Available in many countries. |
- Paramount+ Essential doesn’t include your local live CBS station beyond NFL games.
- Paramount+ has no DVR.
- Netflix has no annual plans.
- Netflix live events can have ad breaks on every plan.
Where the facts come from
Sources: the Netflix Help Center for the United States and the Paramount+ website and Help Center. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Netflix or Paramount+
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Streaming services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — spatial audio and HDR: Paramount+ Premium
Netflix Standard: no (2,0/5) · Paramount+ Premium: yes (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — what else is included: Paramount+ Premium
Netflix Standard: the catalog only (2,0/5) · Paramount+ Premium: 2 extra content types at no extra cost (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — maximum resolution: Paramount+ Premium
Netflix Standard: 1080p Full HD (3,0/5) · Paramount+ Premium: 4K UHD (HDR not for all content) (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — simultaneous streams: Paramount+ Premium
Netflix Standard: 2 screens at the same time (3,0/5) · Paramount+ Premium: 3 screens at the same time (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: Netflix Standard
Netflix Standard: 4,7 out of 5 (4,7/5) · Paramount+ Premium: 4,6 out of 5 (4,6/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: