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Entertainment · head to head

Showtime vs YouTube

Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube 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); YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Showtime covers Streaming, YouTube covers Video hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and YouTube actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and YouTube differ
AttributeShowtimeYouTube
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded19832005

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

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

Only in YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

Both cover

  • 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.

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot YouTube
  • Sports watchingnot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot Showtime
  • Content marketingnot Showtime
  • Educationnot Showtime
  • Entertainmentnot Showtime
  • Live streamingnot 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

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Showtime

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

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

Which should you pick?

Choose Showtime if

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

Choose YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is Showtime or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/month and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Showtime or YouTube?
YouTube has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Showtime and Free for YouTube.
Does Showtime or YouTube run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use YouTube for free?
Yes. YouTube 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 YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that YouTube cannot?
Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support, Smart-tv support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

YouTube: Does YouTube offer a Premium subscription?

Yes. YouTube offers a Premium subscription tier, but specific pricing details are not available in the main website footer and require visiting YouTube's dedicated Premium page.

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