Peacock and Paramount Plus are separate streaming services owned by different companies

Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal and streams NBC shows, movies, sports, and news. Paramount Plus is owned by Paramount Global and streams CBS shows, movies, sports, and content from MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. They are not the same service, do not share a login, and do not include each other in their subscriptions.

If you have Paramount Plus, you do not automatically get Peacock, and vice versa. Each requires its own account and its own subscription fee. The confusion often happens because both are major streaming services with overlapping content categories — movies, TV shows, live sports — but the actual shows and movies available on each are almost entirely different.

Key Takeaways

  • Peacock and Paramount Plus are owned by different companies and have completely separate content libraries, logins, and subscription tiers.
  • Peacock is included free with some Comcast internet and cable packages, while Paramount Plus offers a free tier with ads but no bundle inclusion.
  • Paramount Plus focuses on CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon content, while Peacock focuses on NBC, Universal, and DreamWorks content.
  • You will need to pay for both services separately if you want to watch shows and movies from both libraries.

What content is on each service

Paramount Plus carries CBS shows like The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery, and Yellowstone. It also has movies from Paramount Pictures, content from MTV and Comedy Central, and live sports including NFL games and college football. The movie library rotates, but Paramount Plus tends to have newer theatrical releases from Paramount Pictures before other services do.

Peacock carries NBC shows like The Office, Saturday Night Live, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It also has movies from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks animated films, and live sports including Premier League soccer and some WWE wrestling. Peacock's free tier includes a smaller selection than the paid tier, with ads playing during content.

There is almost no overlap between the two services. If you watch one network's shows primarily, you may not need the other. If you watch both CBS and NBC content, you will need both subscriptions.

How the subscription tiers work

Paramount Plus offers two paid tiers: Essential (with ads) and Premium (ad-free). Both tiers include the same content library. Paramount Plus also has a free tier with ads, but it includes only a limited selection of shows and movies, not the full library.

Peacock offers three tiers: Free (with ads and limited content), Premium (with ads and full content), and Premium Plus (ad-free and full content). The free tier is genuinely free and does not require a credit card, but you will see ads and cannot watch everything. The paid tiers unlock the full library.

Neither service is included in the other. Paramount Plus does not come with Peacock, and Peacock does not come with Paramount Plus. You pay for each one separately.

When Peacock comes included with other services

Peacock Premium is included free with certain Comcast Xfinity internet and cable packages. If you have Comcast Xfinity internet or TV service, check your account to see whether Peacock Premium is already included. This is the only major bundle that includes Peacock at no extra cost.

Paramount Plus is not bundled with any major internet or cable provider in the same way. However, Paramount Plus is available as an add-on through some cable providers' on-demand systems, though you still pay the Paramount Plus subscription fee separately.

If you do not have Comcast Xfinity, Peacock is not free. You will need to pay for a Peacock subscription if you want to watch its content beyond the limited free tier.

Pricing and what you actually pay

Paramount Plus Essential (with ads) costs around $5.99 per month, and Paramount Plus Premium (ad-free) costs around $11.99 per month. These prices vary by region and change periodically, so check the Paramount Plus website for current rates.

Peacock Premium costs around $5.99 per month with ads, and Peacock Premium Plus costs around $11.99 per month ad-free. Again, prices vary and may change. The free tier of Peacock costs nothing but includes limited content.

If you want both services, you are looking at a minimum of around $12 per month for both Essential tiers with ads, or around $24 per month for both ad-free tiers. This is in addition to any other streaming services you subscribe to.

How to watch shows from both services

You will need separate apps or website logins for each service. read the Paramount Plus app and the Peacock app on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming device. Create an account for each one separately. You cannot use one login for both.

If you have a smart TV, both apps are usually available in your TV's app store — whether you have a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung, LG, or Android TV. If you have a streaming device like an Apple TV box or Roku device, both apps are available there too. You can also watch through a web browser on a computer.

The only exception is if you have Comcast Xfinity cable or internet. In that case, you may be able to sign in to Peacock using your Xfinity credentials, and Peacock Premium may already be included in your package.

Why people confuse these two services

Both Peacock and Paramount Plus are major streaming services that launched or expanded around the same time. Both have similar category names — movies, TV shows, sports, live events. Both have free tiers with ads and paid tiers without ads. Both are available on the same devices. This similarity in structure makes people assume they are related or that one includes the other.

The names also sound similar to people unfamiliar with streaming. "Paramount Plus" and "Peacock" are both single-word or two-word brand names for major services, so it is straightforward to mix them up if you are not a regular user of either one.

The clearest way to tell them apart: Paramount Plus is the CBS service, and Peacock is the NBC service. If you know which network's shows you want to watch, you know which service to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both Peacock and Paramount Plus?

Only if you watch shows from both NBC and CBS. If you primarily watch one network's content, you likely need only one service. Check which shows you actually watch and which network airs them before paying for both subscriptions.

Can I use my Paramount Plus login on Peacock?

No. Each service has its own separate login system. You must create a different account for each one. Your Paramount Plus username and password will not work on Peacock.

Is Peacock free if I have Paramount Plus?

Not automatically. Peacock is free only if you have a Comcast Xfinity internet or cable package that includes it, or if you use Peacock's free tier with ads and limited content. Paramount Plus does not unlock Peacock.

Which service has more movies?

Both rotate their movie libraries regularly, so the size changes month to month. Paramount Plus tends to have newer Paramount Pictures theatrical releases first, while Peacock has Universal and DreamWorks films. Neither has a significantly larger movie library overall.

Can I watch live sports on both services?

Yes, but different sports. Paramount Plus carries NFL games, college football, and some other live sports. Peacock carries Premier League soccer, some WWE wrestling, and other events. Check each service's sports schedule if live sports are important to you.