Software · head to head
Pluto TV vs Discovery+
The short version
- Only Pluto TV has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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); Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month
- They diverge on capability: Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Discovery+ covers Unscripted content.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Discovery+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pluto TV | Discovery+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $4.99/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2013 | 2020 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv), 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 Pluto TV
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Account management
Only in Discovery+
- Unscripted content
- Reality TV
- Originals
- Downloads
- Account security
Both cover
- Streaming
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Parental controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
- Roku support
- Fire-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Discovery+
- Live TVnot Discovery+
- On-demand contentnot Discovery+
Discovery+
- Unscripted streamingnot Pluto TV
- Reality TV watchingnot Pluto TV
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
Discovery+
- Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Discovery+
$4.99/month- Standard$4.99/month
- HD
- Ad-supported
- Premium$8.99/month
- 4K
- Ad-free
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Discovery+ if
- You need unscripted content.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want reality tv.
Questions people ask
- Is Pluto TV or Discovery+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and Discovery+ at $4.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or Discovery+?
- Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pluto TV and $4.99/month for Discovery+.
- Does Pluto TV or Discovery+ run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Pluto TV for free?
- Yes. Pluto TV has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month.
- What is Pluto TV best used for?
- Pluto TV is most often used for free streaming, live tv, on-demand content. Of those, free streaming and live tv are not what Discovery+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Pluto TV do that Discovery+ cannot?
- Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals, Downloads. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Parental controls.