Softwr

Media & Entertainment · head to head

Discovery+ vs YouTube

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Media & Entertainment

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube 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; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Streaming, YouTube covers Video hosting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Discovery+ and YouTube differ
AttributeDiscovery+YouTube
Starting price$4.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentEntertainment
Founded20202005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

Both cover

  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • 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 YouTube
  • Reality TV watchingnot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot Discovery+
  • Content marketingnot Discovery+
  • Educationnot Discovery+
  • Entertainmentnot Discovery+
  • Live streamingnot 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

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Discovery+

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

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

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.
Discovery+ review

Choose YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is Discovery+ or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or YouTube?
YouTube has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for YouTube.
Does Discovery+ or YouTube run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use YouTube for free?
Yes. YouTube 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 YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that YouTube cannot?
Discovery+ covers Streaming, Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Parental controls, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Discovery+

More on YouTube

Keep looking

Other head to heads