Paramount+ and Peacock are two popular streaming services but if you can only subscribe to one right now then which one is best? While choosing between on-demand subscription services can be hard, the differences between Paramount+ and Peacock can help to prioritize one over the other.
Paramount+ launched in March of 2021 and brings together shows and content from multiple popular networks. This makes Paramount+ a good option for those wanting access to popular Paramount Global networks without a live TV subscription. With the app available to download on many popular platforms and devices as well, Paramount+ is also an accessible service in general.
$8 to $13/mo
- Originals
- Showtime
- Live Sports
Considering Peacock first launched in April of 2020, it is slightly older then Paramount+. Initially only available to Comcast Xfinity customers, this exclusivity period was short-lived and Peacock became available on many other platforms a few months later. The streaming service has massively expanded device support since then, as well as the content it provides access to.
$8-14/mo
- Live Channels
- Live Sports
- NBC & Bravo Shows
Paramount+ Is (Slightly) Cheaper
Saving on the cost of streaming is likely to be a major reason why you are considering choosing between these two services. However, the price is unlikely to help make that decision on this occasion. That’s unless you are willing to pay for an entire year up front, or are specifically interested in paying more for an ad-free plan.
In terms of the cheapest, ad-supported tiers, Paramount+ and Peacock are priced exactly the same on a monthly basis — Paramount+ Essential and Peacock Premium each cost $7.99 a month. On a yearly basis, the annual Peacock Premium plan costs $79.99 a year and the annual Paramount+ Essential plan costs $59.99 a year.
If you know for sure that you are going to remain subscribed for an entire year, then Paramount+ can work out cheaper, as the annual plan lowers the cost of the Paramount+ Essential tier down to as low as $5 a month, compared to $6.65 a month for Peacock Premium.
| With Ads | Paramount+ | Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $7.99 | $7.99 |
| Annual | $59.99 | $79.99 |
At the ad-free level, Paramount+ is also cheaper on a monthly basis. With the ad-free Paramount+ with Showtime plan priced at $12.99 a month, and the Peacock Premium Plus plan priced at $13.99 a month, Paramount+ subscribers pay $1 less each month.
As was the case with the ad-supported tiers, Paramount+ subscribers can also save more over the course of a year. In fact, an annual ad-free Paramount+ plan is where the best value is overall.
With the monthly price of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan already cheaper than Peacock’s Premium Plus, subscribers would naturally save more just by signing up to the Paramount+ annual plan. However, there is an additional saving available here.
Considering a ‘with Showtime’ annual subscription costs just $119.99 a year, subscribers only pay $9.99 a month on average. With the Premium Plus annual plan priced at $139.99 a year, Peacock subscribers pay $11.65 a month on average.
| No Ads | Paramount+ | Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $12.99 | $13.99 |
| Annual | $119.99 | $139.99 |
Over the course of a full year, Paramount+ subscribers pay $20 less for their ad-free subscription, making it a cheaper option overall, and the best option for those looking to choose between Paramount+ and Peacock while saving as much as possible.
The Real Question Is NBC Or CBS?
One of the easiest ways to choose between Paramount+ and Peacock is NBC and CBS. After all, Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal and Paramount+ is owned by Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS).
Even though both services are more than the sum of NBC and CBS, access to content from these networks is still a major content difference between the two services.
Peacock Is Home To NBC And More
Peacock provides access to plenty of popular NBC shows. This is not only in terms of older content, but also newer shows and episodes as well – Premium and Premium Plus subscribers get next-day access to current NBC shows as part of their subscription.
Due to this, Peacock Premium can be a good solution for any homes that want to keep up with the latest NBC shows but don’t have a live TV subscription that includes NBC. In addition, Premium Plus subscribers also get access to their live local NBC station as well.
Considering the NBC family of channels hold the rights to various sporting events, including NFL, English Premier League, and the Olympics, Peacock also provides both Premium and Premium Plus subscribers with a good amount of sports coverage each year.
In addition to NBC content, Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions also unlock access to programming from Bravo, Hallmark, MSNBC, USA, Telemundo, and WWE. This is all in addition to exclusive shows that are only available with a Peacock subscription.
Paramount+ Is Home To CBS And More
Similar to how Peacock focuses on NBC, Paramount+ comes with an emphasis on CBS. Once again, this means many popular CBS shows are available to watch on-demand with a Paramount+ subscription, and often soon after they are shown live on TV.
In addition, those signed up to the ad-free Paramount+ with Showtime plan also get access to their local live CBS channel at no additional cost, removing the need for a live TV package to access the live channel.
This focus on CBS also means that all Paramount+ subscribers, both Essential and ‘with Showtime,’ get access to plenty of sports programming throughout the year, including NFL, Champions League, and March Madness.
In addition to CBS, Paramount+ Essential and ‘with Showtime’ subscribers also get access to programming from other popular networks, including Paramount Network, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, Smithsonian Channel and Showtime. Again, this is all in addition to ‘originals’ that are only available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.
If You Have To Choose One
Peacock comes with a major focus on NBC and Universal content, and this includes live sports that are typically available to watch via the various NBC family of channels.
$8-14/mo
- Live Channels
- Live Sports
- NBC & Bravo Shows
In contrast, Paramount+ leans heavily on CBS content, as well as shows and programming from other popular Paramount family networks. Paramount+ also provides access to plenty of live sports as well.
$8 to $13/mo
- Originals
- Showtime
- Live Sports
If we were making this decision today, then we are likely to lean more towards Peacock, as the selection of NBC content and programming, including live sports, better suits our needs. If, however, you are more interested in CBS programming and live sports, then Paramount+ is likely to be the better option.
Again, if you are just looking to save as much as possible, then the Paramount+ annual plans are the better options overall, and especially if you are willing to pay for a full year of the ad-free plan, as that’s where the best value is overall.
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