Media & Entertainment · head to head
Paramount+ vs Kodi
The short version
- Only Kodi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
- They diverge on capability: Paramount+ covers Streaming, Kodi covers Media playback.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Paramount+ and Kodi actually diverge.
| Attribute | Paramount+ | Kodi |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv |
| Founded | 2021 | 2003 |
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 Paramount+
- Streaming
- Live sports
- CBS shows
- Nickelodeon
- Smart TVs
- Gaming consoles
- Parental controls
- Profile management
Only in Kodi
- Media playback
- Library management
- Add-ons
- Customization
- Remote control
- Smart home
- Streaming services
- Add-ons
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Paramount+
- TV streamingnot Kodi
- Sportsnot Kodi
- Kids contentnot Kodi
Kodi
- Media centernot Paramount+
- Home entertainmentnot Paramount+
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Kodi
- Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
Pricing, plan by plan
Paramount+
$5.99/month- Essential$5.99/month
- Limited ads
- Full library
- With Showtime$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Showtime
- Downloads
Kodi
Free- FreeFree
- Open source
- All features
- Add-ons
Which should you pick?
Choose Paramount+ if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want live sports.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Paramount+ or Kodi better?
- Neither clearly leads. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and Kodi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Paramount+ or Kodi?
- Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5.99/month for Paramount+ and Free for Kodi.
- Does Paramount+ or Kodi run on more platforms?
- Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, 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 Paramount+ best used for?
- Paramount+ is most often used for tv streaming, sports, kids content. Of those, tv streaming and sports are not what Kodi is typically brought in for.
- What can Paramount+ do that Kodi cannot?
- Paramount+ covers Streaming, Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon. Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.