Software · head to head
Discovery+ vs Kodi
The short version
- Only Kodi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month; Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
- They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Streaming, Kodi covers Media playback.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and Kodi actually diverge.
| Attribute | Discovery+ | Kodi |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv |
| Founded | 2020 | 2003 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Discovery+
- Streaming
- Unscripted content
- Reality TV
- Originals
- Downloads
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account security
Only in Kodi
- Media playback
- Library management
- Add-ons
- Customization
- Remote control
- Smart home
- Streaming services
- Add-ons
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Discovery+
- Unscripted streamingnot Kodi
- Reality TV watchingnot Kodi
Kodi
- Media centernot Discovery+
- Home entertainmentnot Discovery+
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Discovery+
- Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month
Kodi
- Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
Pricing, plan by plan
Discovery+
$4.99/month- Standard$4.99/month
- HD
- Ad-supported
- Premium$8.99/month
- 4K
- Ad-free
Kodi
Free- FreeFree
- Open source
- All features
- Add-ons
Which should you pick?
Choose Discovery+ if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want unscripted content.
Choose Kodi if
- You need media playback.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
- You also want library management.
Questions people ask
- Is Discovery+ or Kodi better?
- Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and Kodi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or Kodi?
- Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for Kodi.
- Does Discovery+ or Kodi run on more platforms?
- Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
- Can I use Kodi for free?
- Yes. Kodi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month.
- What is Discovery+ best used for?
- Discovery+ is most often used for unscripted streaming, reality tv watching. Of those, unscripted streaming and reality tv watching are not what Kodi is typically brought in for.
- What can Discovery+ do that Kodi cannot?
- Discovery+ covers Streaming, Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals. Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.