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Software · head to head

Discovery+ vs VLC

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Software

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VLC logo

VLC

Software

The free and open source media player

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VLC 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; VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, VLC covers Media playback.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Discovery+ and VLC differ
AttributeDiscovery+VLC
Starting price$4.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20201998

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+

  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Parental controls

Only in VLC

  • Media playback
  • Codec support
  • Conversion
  • Plugins
  • Network streaming
  • DVD playback
  • Open source
  • Regular updates

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot VLC
  • Reality TV watchingnot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Discovery+
  • Video conversionnot 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

VLC

  • VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

VLC

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All codecs
    • No ads
    • Open source

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.
Discovery+ review

Choose VLC if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want codec support.
VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Discovery+ or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or VLC?
VLC has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for VLC.
Does Discovery+ or VLC run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use VLC for free?
Yes. VLC 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 VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that VLC cannot?
Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals, Downloads. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Conversion, Plugins. Both handle Streaming, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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