Software · head to head
MUBI 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: MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available; 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: MUBI covers Curated films, Pluto TV covers Streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MUBI and Pluto TV actually diverge.
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 MUBI
- Curated films
- World cinema
- Documentaries
- Classics
- New releases
- Account security
- Content access
Only in Pluto TV
- Streaming
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Account management
- Parental controls
- Fire-tv support
Both cover
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
- Roku support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MUBI
- Watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinemanot Pluto TV
- Discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platformsnot Pluto TV
- Getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via MUBI GO in eligible citiesnot Pluto TV
- Reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streamingnot Pluto TV
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot MUBI
- Live TVnot MUBI
- On-demand contentnot MUBI
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MUBI
- Curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
- No live TV or broad back-catalogue - deliberately small, curated library rather than a comprehensive on-demand one
- MUBI GO (free theater ticket plus streaming) is limited to select cities
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
MUBI
$7.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the MUBI review.
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Which should you pick?
Choose MUBI if
- You need curated films.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want world cinema.
Choose Pluto TV if
- You need streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want live tv channels.
Questions people ask
- Is MUBI or Pluto TV better?
- Neither clearly leads. MUBI starts at $7.99/month and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MUBI or Pluto TV?
- Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for MUBI and Free for Pluto TV.
- Does MUBI or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
- MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android. Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- Can I use Pluto TV for free?
- Yes. Pluto TV has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.
- What is MUBI best used for?
- MUBI is most often used for watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema, discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms, getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via mubi go in eligible cities, reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streaming. Of those, watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema and discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms are not what Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
- What can MUBI do that Pluto TV cannot?
- MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Both handle Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support, Ios support.
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