Software · head to head
Discovery+ vs Pluto TV
The short version
- Only Pluto TV 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; Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
- They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Pluto TV covers Live TV channels.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and Pluto TV actually diverge.
| Attribute | Discovery+ | Pluto TV |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2020 | 2013 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv), 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+
- Unscripted content
- Reality TV
- Originals
- Downloads
- Account security
Only in Pluto TV
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Account management
Both cover
- Streaming
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Parental controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
- Roku support
- Fire-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Discovery+
- Unscripted streamingnot Pluto TV
- Reality TV watchingnot Pluto TV
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Discovery+
- Live TVnot Discovery+
- On-demand contentnot 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
Pluto TV
- Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
Pricing, plan by plan
Discovery+
$4.99/month- Standard$4.99/month
- HD
- Ad-supported
- Premium$8.99/month
- 4K
- Ad-free
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Which should you pick?
Choose Discovery+ if
- You need unscripted content.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want reality tv.
Choose Pluto TV if
- You need live tv channels.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want movies.
Questions people ask
- Is Discovery+ or Pluto TV better?
- Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or Pluto TV?
- Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for Pluto TV.
- Does Discovery+ or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Pluto TV for free?
- Yes. Pluto TV 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 Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
- What can Discovery+ do that Pluto TV cannot?
- Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals, Downloads. Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Parental controls.
Related pages
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