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Entertainment · head to head

Discovery+ vs VLC

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Entertainment

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/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: Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month; VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, VLC covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Discovery+ and VLC differ
AttributeDiscovery+VLC
Starting price$4.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20201998

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 Discovery+

  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Parental controls

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.

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot VLC
  • Reality TV watchingnot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Discovery+
  • Video conversionnot Discovery+

Where each one falls short

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

Discovery+

  • Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month

VLC

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

VLC

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Discovery+ if

  • You need unscripted content.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want reality tv.
Discovery+ 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 Discovery+ or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or VLC?
VLC has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for VLC.
Does Discovery+ or VLC run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-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. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month.
What is Discovery+ best used for?
Discovery+ is most often used for unscripted streaming, reality tv watching. Of those, unscripted streaming and reality tv watching are not what VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that VLC cannot?
Discovery+ covers Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals, Downloads. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Conversion, Plugins. Both handle Streaming, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discovery+: How much does Discovery+ cost?

Discovery+ offers two tiers: Standard at $5.99/month with 4 simultaneous streams in Full HD, and Ad-Free at $9.99/month with the same streaming capability plus 100 downloads for offline viewing.

Source
VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

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

Source
Discovery+: Is there a free trial for Discovery+?

Yes, both Standard and Ad-Free plans offer a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Trial access is complimentary, but terms apply.

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
Discovery+: Can I cancel Discovery+ anytime?

Yes. Your subscription automatically renews monthly, and you can cancel anytime without mentioned fees or penalties.

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
Discovery+: What content is included with Discovery+ plans?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans grant unlimited access to all 70,000+ episodes with new content added weekly. Ad-Free members can download 100 episodes to watch offline.

Source
Discovery+: How many devices can stream Discovery+ at once?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans allow 4 simultaneous streams across devices.

Source
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