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Entertainment · head to head

Showtime vs VLC

Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VLC logo

VLC

Entertainment

The free and open source media player

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VLC has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile); VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Showtime covers Original series, VLC covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and VLC differ
AttributeShowtimeVLC
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded19831998

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 Showtime

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

Only in VLC

  • Media playback
  • Codec support
  • Conversion
  • Plugins
  • Network streaming
  • DVD playback
  • Open source
  • Regular updates

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot VLC
  • Sports watchingnot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Showtime
  • Video conversionnot Showtime

Where each one falls short

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

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

VLC

  • VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Showtime

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

VLC

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All codecs
    • No ads
    • Open source

Which should you pick?

Choose Showtime if

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

Choose VLC if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want codec support.
VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Showtime or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/month and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Showtime or VLC?
VLC has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Showtime and Free for VLC.
Does Showtime or VLC run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use VLC for free?
Yes. VLC has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
What is Showtime best used for?
Showtime is most often used for premium streaming, sports watching. Of those, premium streaming and sports watching are not what VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that VLC cannot?
Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Conversion, Plugins. Both handle Streaming, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

Yes. VLC is completely free and open source software with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source
VLC: Can VLC be used commercially?

Yes. VLC explicitly states there is no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. As open-source software under permissive licenses, commercial use is permitted within each license's specific terms.

Source
VLC: Does VLC include all features across all platforms without additional purchase?

Yes. All playback features, codecs, cross-platform compatibility, and customization options are included with no additional purchases required for full functionality on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Source
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