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Entertainment · head to head

Paramount+ vs Pluto TV

Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Entertainment

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pluto TV 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.; 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: Paramount+ covers Live sports, Pluto TV covers Live TV channels.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paramount+ and Pluto TV actually diverge.

Attributes where Paramount+ and Pluto TV differ
AttributeParamount+Pluto TV
Starting price$5.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20212013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (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+

  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Gaming consoles
  • Profile management

Only in Pluto TV

  • Live TV channels
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Streaming devices
  • Account management
  • Roku support
  • Fire-tv support

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • 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 Pluto TV
  • Sportsnot Pluto TV
  • Kids contentnot Pluto TV

Pluto TV

  • Free streamingnot Paramount+
  • Live TVnot Paramount+
  • On-demand contentnot 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.

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

Paramount+

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

Pluto TV

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full content
    • Live channels
    • Ad-supported

Which should you pick?

Choose Paramount+ if

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

Choose Pluto TV if

  • You need live tv channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Pluto TV review

Questions people ask

Is Paramount+ or Pluto TV better?
Neither clearly leads. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paramount+ or Pluto TV?
Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5.99/month for Paramount+ and Free for Pluto TV.
Does Paramount+ or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. 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. 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 Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
What can Paramount+ do that Pluto TV cannot?
Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support.
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