Peacock offers three different subscriptions plans, with each one catering to a different type of viewer. Understanding the differences between these tiers can help to ensure you are getting the best value from a Peacock subscription.
Unlike other streaming services, the differences between the three Peacock tiers are a lot more nuanced than simply the number of streams or the resolution quality.
Below is a summary of the Select, Premium and Premium Plus plans.
| Peacock | Select | Premium | Premium Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price p/m | $8.99 | $12.99 | $19.99 |
| Ad-free | ✓︎ | ||
| Live Sports | ✓︎ | ✓︎ | |
| Local NBC | ✓︎ | ||
| NBC Content | ✓︎ | ✓︎ | ✓︎ |
| Bravo Content | ✓︎ | ✓︎ | ✓︎ |
| Channels | ✓︎* | ✓︎ | ✓︎ |
| Movies | ✓︎ | ✓︎ | |
| Peacock Originals | ✓︎ | ✓︎ | |
| Downloads | ✔ |
Peacock Select Explained
Peacock Select costs $8.99 a month, or $89.99 when paid annually. Select is a very appropriate name for this tier as subscribers only get access to select content.
Peacock Select subscribers do get access to NBC content (including Law & Order, One Chicago, and The Office), Bravo content (including The Real Housewives and Below Deck), select other TV content (including Days of Our Lives and Yellowstone), and select channels like The Office Channel and NBC News Now.
Select Benefits
- NBC shows
- Bravo shows
- TV channels
The major downside with a Select subscription is that it doesn’t include movies, sports or Originals.
Peacock Select subscribers do not get access to the service’s movie library, sports and other live events (including NFL, NBA, WWE, Premier League, and Big Ten), Peacock Originals (including Love Island USA, The Traitors, Poker Face, Twisted Metal, and The Paper), movie channels, or the subscriber’s local NBC channel.
Peacock Premium Explained
Peacock Premium costs $12.99 per month, or $129.99 when paid annually. Although NBCUniversal classifies this tier as premium, it is better to think of it as a standard plan.
A standard Premium subscription does provide unlimited access to the on-demand library, including all of the movies, episodes, and originals. All in all, subscribers get access to more than 80,000 hours of on-demand content.
Peacock Premium subscribers also get access to a selection of live, linear channels as well. As part of the live experience, subscribers are able to watch various sports events throughout the year, and at no additional cost.
Premium Benefits
- Everything included with Select
- Movies
- Originals
- Live sports
The major downside with a Premium subscription is that it includes ads.
Even though subscribers are paying for a subscription, it is additionally supported through the use of commercials. In this sense, it is very similar to the way a basic Hulu subscription works, with subscribers paying a monthly fee and still encountering advertisements during playback.
Also similar to the basic Hulu subscription, Peacock offers an even more premium plan.
Peacock Premium Plus Explained
Premium Plus costs $19.99 per month, or $199.99 if paid annually. As the name suggests, Premium Plus includes everything the standard Premium subscription offers, and more.
The main difference with Premium Plus is that it is an ad-free subscription, resulting in the removal of ads from the majority of on demand videos. Even though Premium Plus removes the ads, there are situations where ads still might be shown.
Editor’s Note: Due to streaming rights, a small amount of programming, Peacock channels, live events, and a few TV shows and movies, will still contain ads. (Source: Peacock)
Another important difference with Premium Plus is that it also unlocks access to a subscriber’s local NBC station. While the standard Premium plan includes a variety of live channels, local NBC is specifically reserved for Premium Plus subscribers.
Premium Plus Benefits
- Everything included with Premium
- Ad-free
- Local NBC
- Downloads
Choosing Between The Two Premium Plans
Even though there are two Premium tiers, the decision of which one is right for an individual subscriber is relatively straightforward.
If you are happy to sit through commercial breaks to lower the cost, the standard Premium subscription works fine and saves you money.
If you prefer an ad-free experience, and want access to your local NBC station, the Premium Plus tier is going to be the better choice.
Regardless of whether signing up to Select, Premium or Premium Plus, there is no commitment or obligation beyond the current month. As this is a no-contract streaming service, consumers retain the ability to upgrade or downgrade their subscription at any time.
Does Peacock Offer A Free Plan?
No, Peacock doesn’t offer a free plan. While Peacock previously offered a free tier, it was a more limited service than what’s on offer with either of the paid Premium plans.
One of the biggest limitations was the availability of content. In total, Peacock offered free users access to more than 13,000 hours of programming, including current NBC shows one week after they aired.
All of which made the free tier more suitable as a way to see what the service offered before paying for a subscription.
However, without that option available, or a free trial, new subscribers will need to choose a plan and pay for the first month when signing up.
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