Peacock vs Paramount+: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Both stream on three screens with six profiles and can be paid yearly. The real difference is the cheapest plan: Paramount+ Essential already includes NFL on CBS, UFC and Champions League, while Peacock Select has no live sports at all. Peacock Premium Plus downloads and cuts most ads; Paramount+ Premium adds your local live CBS station, all of SHOWTIME and 4K on select titles.
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 | Peacock | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Select, Premium, Premium Plus | Essential, Premium |
| Sports on cheapest plan | No | NFL on CBS, UFC, Champions League |
| Streams / profiles | 3 / 6 | 3 / 6 |
| Downloads | Premium Plus | Premium (phones, tablets) |
| Yearly billing | Every plan | Both plans |
| Comes with | Apple TV bundles, TV providers | Walmart+ (Essential), carriers |
Peacock is NBCUniversal — NBC and Bravo shows, movies, originals and live sports. Paramount+ is CBS, SHOWTIME, Paramount networks and a lot of sports.
If you don’t want to read further
NBC and Bravo shows with sports — Peacock Premium. Sports on the cheapest plan, CBS and SHOWTIME — Paramount+.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Sports on the cheapest plan?
Peacock
No — Select excludes live sports, movies and Peacock Originals.
Paramount+
Yes — Essential includes NFL on CBS, UFC, Zuffa Boxing and UEFA Champions League.
On a tight budget with sports, Paramount+ Essential.
Live network TV?
Peacock
Live sports and events on Premium and Premium Plus.
Paramount+
Your local live CBS station around the clock on Premium; Essential has NFL on CBS games only.
If you want to watch CBS live, you need Paramount+ Premium.
Downloads?
Peacock
Premium Plus only; not all content.
Paramount+
Premium only, up to 25 at a time, on phones and tablets.
Both keep downloads on the top plan.
Ads on the top plan?
Peacock
Premium Plus keeps ads in channels, live sports and events and a few shows and movies.
Paramount+
Premium is ad-free on demand; live TV has ad breaks, and every plan has Paramount+ promos.
Live sport has ads on both, whatever you pay.
Included with something you already pay for?
Peacock
Sold in bundles with Apple TV, and billed by TV and phone providers such as Xfinity, Spectrum and Verizon.
Paramount+
Walmart+ includes Essential; T-Mobile and Verizon also offer Paramount+.
Check Walmart+ and your carrier before paying for either.
Refunds and recordings?
Peacock
No refunds or credits on cancellation unless required by law.
Paramount+
No DVR; billing dates can’t be changed.
Cancel either before the next billing date.
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.
3 streams, 6 profiles
The same limits on every plan of both services.
Yearly billing
Every plan on both has an annual option.
Live sport has ads
Even the top plans keep ads in live sports.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You want NFL games on a budget | Paramount+ Essential | NFL on CBS games in your local market. |
| You watch NBC and Bravo shows | Peacock Premium | Select has the shows, but no sports or movies. |
| You want SHOWTIME | Paramount+ Premium | All of SHOWTIME; Essential has select series. |
| You want downloads and fewer ads | Peacock Premium Plus or Paramount+ Premium | Downloads are top-plan only on both. |
- Peacock Select has no live sports, movies or originals.
- Paramount+ Essential doesn’t include your local live CBS station beyond NFL games.
- Paramount+ has no DVR.
- Peacock gives no refunds on cancellation unless required by law.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Peacock’s plans page and Help Center, and the Paramount+ website and Help Center. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Peacock 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 — what else is included: Paramount+ Premium
Peacock Premium Plus: 1 extra content type at no extra cost (3,0/5) · Paramount+ Premium: 2 extra content types at no extra cost (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: Peacock Premium Plus
Peacock Premium Plus: 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: