Software · head to head
Pluto TV vs Paramount+
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); 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.
- They diverge on capability: Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Paramount+ covers Live sports.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Paramount+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pluto TV | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $5.99/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv |
| Founded | 2013 | 2021 |
Identical on both: 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
- Streaming devices
- Account management
- Roku support
- Fire-tv support
Only in Paramount+
- Live sports
- CBS shows
- Nickelodeon
- Gaming consoles
- Profile management
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.
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Paramount+
- Live TVnot Paramount+
- On-demand contentnot Paramount+
Paramount+
- TV streamingnot Pluto TV
- Sportsnot Pluto TV
- Kids contentnot 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)
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Paramount+
$5.99/month- Essential$5.99/month
- Limited ads
- Full library
- With Showtime$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Showtime
- Downloads
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 Paramount+ if
- You need live sports.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want cbs shows.
Questions people ask
- Is Pluto TV or Paramount+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or Paramount+?
- Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pluto TV and $5.99/month for Paramount+.
- Does Pluto TV or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
- Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-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 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 Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Pluto TV do that Paramount+ cannot?
- Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support.