Software · head to head
Pluto TV vs Kodi
The short version
- 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); Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
- They diverge on capability: Pluto TV covers Streaming, Kodi covers Media playback.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Kodi actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), 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
- Streaming
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account 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.
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Kodi
- Live TVnot Kodi
- On-demand contentnot Kodi
Kodi
- Media centernot Pluto TV
- Home entertainmentnot 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)
Kodi
- Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
Pricing, plan by plan
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Kodi
Free- FreeFree
- Open source
- All features
- Add-ons
Which should you pick?
Choose Pluto TV if
- You need streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want live tv channels.
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 Pluto TV or Kodi better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and Kodi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or Kodi?
- Pluto TV starts at Free and Kodi at Free.
- Does Pluto TV or Kodi run on more platforms?
- Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
- Can I use Pluto TV for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Kodi is typically brought in for.
- What can Pluto TV do that Kodi cannot?
- Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.