Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Showtime vs YouTube Music

Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube Music logo

YouTube Music

Music

A new music streaming service from YouTube

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube Music 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 Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
  • They diverge on capability: Showtime covers Streaming, YouTube Music covers Music streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and YouTube Music actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and YouTube Music differ
AttributeShowtimeYouTube Music
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
Founded19832005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Music

  • Music streaming
  • Music videos
  • Live performances
  • Personalization
  • Google services
  • Smart speakers
  • Android Auto
  • Google account security

Both cover

  • 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 YouTube Music
  • Sports watchingnot YouTube Music

YouTube Music

  • Music streamingnot Showtime
  • Video watchingnot Showtime
  • Discoverynot 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 Music

  • Free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
  • User-uploaded content creates inconsistent audio quality and metadata compared to official releases
  • Limited music discovery and recommendation features compared to Spotify's AI-powered algorithms

Pricing, plan by plan

Showtime

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

YouTube Music

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Music videos
  • Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline downloads
    • Background playback
  • Family$18.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Parental controls
  • Student$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • YouTube Premium 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 Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want music videos.
YouTube Music review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

YouTube Music: How much does YouTube Music Premium cost?

YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individual subscriptions, $18.99 per month for family plans (up to 6 accounts), and $5.99 per month for students.

Source
YouTube Music: Does YouTube Music have a free tier?

Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version with access to music and music videos but includes occasional unskippable ads. Free users can create playlists and discover music but lack premium features like offline downloads.

Source
YouTube Music: What makes YouTube Music different from other streaming services?

YouTube Music uniquely provides access to official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, and user-uploaded content not available on other platforms. Users can seamlessly switch between audio and official music videos.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Showtime

More on YouTube Music

Keep looking

Other head to heads