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Entertainment · head to head

Pluto TV vs Showtime

Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
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: 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); 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: Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Showtime covers Original series.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Pluto TV and Showtime differ
AttributePluto TVShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20131983

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 Pluto TV

  • Live TV channels
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Account management
  • Parental controls
  • Roku support
  • Fire-tv support

Only in Showtime

  • Original series
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Movies
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • 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 Showtime
  • Live TVnot Showtime
  • On-demand contentnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Pluto TV
  • Sports 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)

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

Pluto TV

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • 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 tv shows.
Pluto TV review

Choose Showtime if

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

Questions people ask

Is Pluto TV or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV 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, Pluto TV or Showtime?
Pluto TV has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pluto TV and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Pluto TV or Showtime run on more platforms?
Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Showtime 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. Showtime starts at $10.99/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 Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Pluto TV do that Showtime cannot?
Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, TV shows, Recommendations, Account management. Showtime covers Original series, Sports, Live events, Account security. Both handle Streaming, Movies, Smart TVs, Streaming devices.
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