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Kodi vs Paramount+

Kodi logo

Kodi

Software

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Software

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kodi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Kodi covers Media playback, Paramount+ covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and Paramount+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and Paramount+ differ
AttributeKodiParamount+
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20032021

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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

Only in Paramount+

  • Streaming
  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Parental controls
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Android support
  • Ios support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Kodi

  • Media centernot Paramount+
  • Home entertainmentnot Paramount+

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot Kodi
  • Sportsnot Kodi
  • Kids contentnot Kodi

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

Pricing, plan by plan

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

Which should you pick?

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.
Kodi review

Choose Paramount+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want live sports.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is Kodi or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or Paramount+?
Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kodi and $5.99/month for Paramount+.
Does Kodi or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Yes. Kodi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month.
What is Kodi best used for?
Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that Paramount+ cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Paramount+ covers Streaming, Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon. Both handle Android support, Ios support, Smart-tv support.
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