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Entertainment · head to head

Peacock vs Showtime

Peacock logo

Peacock

Entertainment

Stream iconic movies, shows, and live sports

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Peacock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Peacock geographic restrictions prevent US access verification; 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: Peacock covers Live sports, Showtime covers Original series.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Peacock and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Peacock and Showtime differ
AttributePeacockShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20201983

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv), 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 Peacock

  • Live sports
  • News
  • Original content
  • Mobile devices
  • Parental controls
  • Profile PINs

Only in Showtime

  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • 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.

Peacock

  • Streamingnot Showtime
  • Sportsnot Showtime
  • Newsnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Peacock
  • Sports watchingnot Peacock

Where each one falls short

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

Peacock

  • Geographic restrictions prevent US access verification

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

Peacock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited content
    • Ads
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ads
  • Premium Plus$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads

Showtime

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Peacock if

  • You need live sports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want news.
Peacock review

Choose Showtime if

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

Questions people ask

Is Peacock or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Peacock 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, Peacock or Showtime?
Peacock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Peacock and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Peacock or Showtime run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Peacock for free?
Yes. Peacock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
What is Peacock best used for?
Peacock is most often used for streaming, sports, news. Of those, streaming and sports are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Peacock do that Showtime cannot?
Peacock covers Live sports, News, Original content, Mobile devices. Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Peacock: What is Peacock's pricing?

Peacock pricing information is not available. The website shows geographic restrictions and states the service requires US physical location for domestic customers.

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