What Peacock includes and what it costs

Peacock is NBCUniversal's streaming service with two tiers: a free version with ads, and a paid subscription without ads. The free tier gives you access to a rotating selection of TV shows, movies, and sports — but you will see advertisements during playback. The paid tier, called Peacock Premium, removes ads and adds more content, including live sports and exclusive shows.

Peacock Premium costs $5.99 per month with ads or $11.99 per month without ads. Some people get Peacock included free or discounted through other subscriptions: Comcast and Xfinity customers often have it bundled, and some health insurance plans offer it as a perk. If you have one of those services, log in with your existing account to see what you already have access to.

The free tier is genuinely free — no credit card required — but the catalog rotates regularly. Shows and movies come and go, so something you watch one month may not be there the next. The paid tiers have a larger, more stable library.

Key Takeaways

  • Peacock's free tier includes TV shows, movies, and some sports, but with ads; the paid tier removes ads and adds more content for $5.99 to $11.99 per month.
  • Comcast, Xfinity, and some health insurance customers may already have Peacock included or discounted through their existing plans.
  • The free tier's catalog changes regularly, so content you watch now may not be available later.
  • Peacock carries live sports including NFL games, Premier League soccer, and WWE wrestling, though some events require the paid tier.
  • You can stream on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, with up to four simultaneous streams on the paid tier.

What shows and movies are on Peacock

Peacock carries a mix of current NBC shows, older series from the NBC archive, movies, and reality TV. You will find shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, and Saturday Night Live — though not all seasons of every show are always available. The library includes movies across genres, though the selection is smaller than Netflix or Disney+.

Original shows made for Peacock include Poker Face, The Traitors, and Yellowstone spinoffs. Some of these are exclusive to the paid tier. Reality TV and competition shows like The Voice and The Golden Globes also rotate through the service.

The free tier has fewer titles than the paid tier, and what is available changes monthly. If you are looking for a specific show or movie, the paid tier gives you a better chance of finding it and keeping it available.

Sports on Peacock

Peacock streams live sports that NBC owns or shares rights to. This includes NFL games (select Thursday and Sunday matchups), Premier League soccer (English football), WWE wrestling, and golf tournaments. Some events are free with ads; others require a paid subscription.

Not every game or match is on Peacock — many still air on traditional NBC channels or cable. Check the Peacock app or website before game time to see whether a specific event is streaming there. Sports content changes with the season, so what is available in fall (NFL) differs from spring (golf) or summer (soccer).

If sports are your main reason for subscribing, compare what Peacock offers against other services like ESPN+ or Apple TV+ before committing to a monthly fee.

Devices and simultaneous streaming

Peacock works on phones and tablets (iOS and Android), computers (Windows and Mac), and smart TVs (including Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Samsung). You can also cast from your phone to a TV using Chromecast or AirPlay.

The free tier allows one stream at a time. The paid tier allows up to four simultaneous streams, so different people in your household can watch different things at once. If you exceed the limit, you will get a message asking you to stop one stream before starting another.

read is not available on Peacock, so you need an internet connection to watch. This is different from Netflix or Disney+, which let you save shows to your device for offline viewing.

How Peacock compares to other streaming services

Peacock is smaller than Netflix or Disney+ but larger than some specialty services. Netflix has more movies and international content; Disney+ has Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar; HBO Max has prestige dramas and HBO originals. Peacock's strength is NBC content, live sports, and a free tier that actually works.

If you want a single service to cover everything, Peacock alone will not do it. Most people who use Peacock also subscribe to one or two others. The free tier is worth trying if you already have a Comcast account or want to sample the service without paying.

For sports fans, Peacock fills a gap that Netflix and Disney+ do not. For people who want NBC shows and older sitcoms, it is a solid choice. For people who want the broadest movie selection, you will need to add another service.

Signing up and canceling

To use the free tier, go to peacocktv.com or read the app, then create an account with an email address. No payment information is required. You can start watching when ready.

To upgrade to the paid tier, add a payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal) during signup or in your account settings. You will be charged on the same day each month. Canceling is done in your account settings — there is no phone call or chat required — and you stop being charged the next billing cycle.

If you have Comcast or Xfinity, log in with your cable account credentials instead of creating a new email account. This links your Peacock access to your existing service.

Picture quality and internet speed

Peacock streams in up to 4K resolution on supported devices, but most content is in 1080p or 720p. The quality you get depends on your internet speed and the device you are using. A phone or tablet will look fine at lower speeds; a TV will show the difference between 720p and 1080p.

Peacock recommends at least 8 Mbps for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K. If your internet is slower, the app will automatically lower the quality to avoid buffering. You can also manually adjust quality in your settings if you want to save data on a mobile connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Peacock have a free trial?

No, Peacock does not offer a free trial for the paid tier. However, the free tier with ads is permanent and requires no credit card, so you can try the service at no cost before deciding whether to pay for Premium.

Can I share my Peacock password with family members?

Peacock allows password sharing within your household. If people outside your home use your account, Peacock may ask them to verify their identity. The terms of service say sharing outside your household is not allowed, though enforcement is inconsistent.

Does Peacock have a family plan?

No, Peacock does not offer a family or multi-user plan. You pay for one account, and up to four people can stream at the same time on the paid tier, but they all use the same login and watch history.

What happens if I cancel and then resubscribe?

You can cancel and resubscribe anytime without penalty. Your account and watch history will be saved, so you can pick up where you left off. There is no waiting period or re-set up fee.

Does Peacock work outside the United States?

Peacock is only available in the United States. If you travel internationally, you will not be able to stream Peacock content from outside the country, even if you have a paid subscription.