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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Kodi vs Showtime

Kodi logo

Kodi

Media & Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Showtime

Media & Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/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; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • They diverge on capability: Kodi covers Media playback, Showtime covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and Showtime differ
AttributeKodiShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20031983

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & Entertainment).

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 Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

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 Showtime
  • Home entertainmentnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Kodi
  • Sports watchingnot 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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

Pricing, plan by plan

Kodi

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Showtime review

Questions people ask

Is Kodi or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or Showtime?
Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kodi and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Kodi or Showtime run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. Showtime 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. Showtime starts at $10.99/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 Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that Showtime cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Both handle Android support, Ios support, Smart-tv support.
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