Paramount+ vs Peacock in 2023

Paramount+ and Peacock are two of the top on-demand streaming services out there. They’ve got lots in common, such as thousands of hours of movies and shows, budget-friendly prices, and an interesting selection of channels.

But which of these two streaming services is right for you? In this side-by-side guide, we’ll put Paramount+ up against Peacock to see which platform comes out on top in key areas like on-demand content, channels, price, and features.

Paramount+ and Peacock compared

Pricing and Plans

The base cost for Paramount+ is just $5.99, making it one of the most affordable on-demand streaming services around right now. However, this entry-level plan comes with ad support, so you’ll have to watch ads in between episodes and films. You can pay extra to remove the ads, with a total monthly cost of $9.99.

Peacock is actually slightly cheaper than Paramount+, with a base price of only $4.99. Just like with Paramount+, this base plan comes with ads, but you can pay extra to remove them. The ad-free version of Peacock is currently priced at $9.99 per month, so both of these platforms have the same price for commercial-less subscribers.

Channels Compared: Paramount+ vs Peacock

Both Paramount+ and Peacock are mainly built around on-demand content, but they do have some live channels, too. Paramount+, for example, has 18 unique channels that air around the clock and show various programs and content from the Paramount library, like past seasons of Star Trek and Survivor. You also get live local CBS news and some sports with Paramount+.

For Peacock users, the channel selection is even bigger. There are no less than 50 unique channels available for Peacock subscribers, including the likes of Peacock Reality, the SNL Vault, Hell's Kitchen, TODAY All Day, and the WWE Network. Peacock also provides some local content via your local NBC affiliate.

Local Channels Compared

If you like to keep up-to-date with local news and events, you can access local CBS channels on Paramount+, but there are not any other local channels included with this service at the moment.

Peacock viewers, meanwhile, also only get access to one local channel in the form of their local NBC affiliate. Again, this lets you watch local news and sports, but the availability will vary from region to region.

Sports Channels Compared

You won't find the likes of Fox Sports or ESPN on Paramount+, but you can enjoy CBS Sports HQ, which has non-stop sports-related content. You can also watch local sports via your CBS affiliate, as well as select sporting events like PGA golf and SEC football.

Over on Peacock, there’s also a distinct lack of sporting channels, but the service does have exclusive access to Premier League soccer matches and also has the Olympic Channel, as well as local sporting events, depending on your location.

Which has the better on-demand library?

Paramount+ boasts tens of thousands of hours of on-demand content, and since it has all of the Paramount library to pull from, there are a lot of impressive shows in this service's library. From competitive reality TV like Survivor to the latest iteration of Star Trek, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, this service has something for everyone.

Peacock also has a huge amount of content, The service offers something to please everyone from comedy fans to drama lovers, with some of its biggest hits including The Real Housewives, Friday Night Lights, Law and Order, We Are Lady Parts, and The Calling. There are also lots of family movies, action movies, and other films on Peacock.

Do both services have a free trial?

Yes. At the moment, both Paramount+ and Peacock are offering 7-day or one-week trials of their services. This allows you to test out both platforms and see what they have to offer before deciding which one, if any, you want to continue subscribing to. It’s easy to cancel your trials if you’re not satisfied.

Other features compared

As well as looking at the content and channels on each service, we also have to pay attention to key features like DVR storage and simultaneous streaming. So, how do Paramount+ and Peacock fare in these areas? Keep reading to find out.

Cloud DVR

Right now, both Paramount+ and Peacock do not have any kind of DVR storage. This is mainly because both of these platforms are primarily oriented towards on-demand content, but it’s still a downside for people who like to record live shows to watch later on.

Simultaneous Streams

Paramount+ and Peacock are also tied when it comes to simultaneous streams. Both of these services allow users to watch on three different devices with the same account, so you can share your password with the whole family and let everyone watch what they want at the same time.

Supported Devices

Even in the device department, both Peacock and Paramount+ are very similar. They both work on almost all major devices, from living room devices like smart TVs, Apple TV, and Roku boxes to video game consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation. They also work on mobile devices with both Android and iOS.

Our Verdict: Peacock is better than Paramount+

Overall, Peacock and Paramount+ are very similar in terms of price and key features, so the best choice for you will mainly depend on which service has the best content. For that reason, we think that Peacock has the edge, as it has more content and more channels.

Paramount+ is still a great service in its own right, with some excellent shows and a lot of great reality TV and drama, in particular. It just doesn't have quite as big of a library as Peacock at the moment, but that could change in the future.