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Music · head to head

Pandora vs Showtime

Pandora logo

Pandora

Music

Personalized music and podcasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pandora has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pandora no pricing information available for region shown; 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: Pandora covers Personalized radio, Showtime covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pandora and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Pandora and Showtime differ
AttributePandoraShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Connected DevicesWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
CategoryMusicEntertainment
Founded20001983

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 Pandora

  • Personalized radio
  • On-demand
  • Podcasts
  • Music Genome
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Privacy controls
  • Smart-speakers support

Only in Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Account security
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Pandora

  • Ad-supported music and podcast streaming for personalised listeningnot Showtime
  • Digital audio advertising platform for brands reaching streaming audiencesnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Pandora
  • Sports watchingnot Pandora

Where each one falls short

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

Pandora

  • No pricing information available for region shown
  • Pandora is marked as unavailable in current country or region

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

Pandora

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Pandora review.

Showtime

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Pandora if

  • You need personalized radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Connected Devices.
  • You also want on-demand.
Pandora 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 Pandora or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Pandora 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, Pandora or Showtime?
Pandora has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pandora and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Pandora or Showtime run on more platforms?
Pandora runs on Web, iOS, Android, Connected Devices. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Pandora for free?
Yes. Pandora has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
What is Pandora best used for?
Pandora is most often used for ad-supported music and podcast streaming for personalised listening, digital audio advertising platform for brands reaching streaming audiences. Of those, ad-supported music and podcast streaming for personalised listening and digital audio advertising platform for brands reaching streaming audiences are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Pandora do that Showtime cannot?
Pandora covers Personalized radio, On-demand, Podcasts, Music Genome. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Both handle Account security, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pandora: How much does Pandora cost?

Pandora pricing information is not available on this page. The page indicates Pandora is unavailable in the current country or region, with a recommendation to use alternative services like SoundCloud.

Source
Pandora: Can I listen to Pandora for free?

The page mentions a free listening option exists elsewhere (noted as SoundCloud alternative), but Pandora's own free tier details are not disclosed on this page.

Source
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