Peacock's Ad-Free Plans Cost Extra, and the Cheapest Option Still Shows Some Ads
Peacock offers three subscription tiers, and only the most expensive one removes all ads. The free tier and the standard paid plan both include commercials during shows and movies. If you want no ads at all, you need Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. The mid-tier plan, Peacock Premium, costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year but still shows ads on most content.
The difference between Premium and Premium Plus matters if you watch live sports or breaking news — Premium Plus removes ads from those streams, while Premium does not. For on-demand shows and movies, both plans show commercials, but Premium Plus has fewer of them. If you only watch on-demand content and can tolerate ads, Premium at $5.99 monthly is cheaper than Premium Plus.
Key Takeaways
- Peacock Premium Plus at $11.99 per month is the only plan with no ads on any content, including live sports and breaking news.
- Peacock Premium at $5.99 per month still shows ads on most shows and movies, though fewer than the free tier.
- The free tier includes ads and limits access to the full content library, so upgrading to a paid plan is necessary to remove commercials.
- Annual subscriptions save money compared to paying month to month — Premium Plus costs $119.99 per year instead of $143.88 if billed monthly.
- Some content on Peacock Premium Plus still includes ads because of licensing agreements with studios, though this is rare.
What Each Peacock Plan Includes and Costs
Peacock's free tier lets you watch a limited selection of shows, movies, and live sports, but ads play throughout. You cannot skip them, and you see the same ads repeatedly. The free plan is useful for trying Peacock before paying, but it is not a path to ad-free viewing.
Peacock Premium costs $5.99 per month when billed monthly or $59.99 per year. It removes the content restrictions of the free tier and gives you access to the full library, but ads still run on most on-demand shows and movies. Live sports and breaking news on Premium also include ads. Premium is the middle ground — cheaper than Premium Plus but not ad-free.
Peacock Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. This plan removes ads from all on-demand content, live sports, and breaking news. A small number of shows and movies may still include ads due to studio licensing restrictions, but this is uncommon. Premium Plus is the only true ad-free option.
How to Upgrade from Free or Premium to Remove Ads
If you are on the free tier or Premium and want to switch to Premium Plus, log into your Peacock account on any device. Go to your account settings, usually found by clicking your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Manage Subscription" or "Subscription Settings."
You will see your current plan and the option to upgrade. Click the button to upgrade to Premium Plus. Peacock will ask you to confirm your payment method — use the same card on file or add a new one. The upgrade takes effect when ready, and you will stop seeing ads on new content you watch right away. If you are mid-episode when you upgrade, you may see ads in that episode, but future episodes will be ad-free.
If you are on a promotional rate (such as a discounted first month), upgrading may end that discount and charge you the full price when ready. Peacock will show you the new charge before you confirm, so you can see the cost before committing.
Annual Subscriptions Save Money Compared to Monthly Billing
Paying for a full year upfront costs less per month than paying month to month. Premium Plus costs $119.99 per year, which breaks down to about $10 per month. Paying monthly at $11.99 per month costs $143.88 per year — a difference of nearly $24. Premium shows the same savings: $59.99 per year is about $5 per month, versus $71.88 per year if you pay $5.99 monthly.
The annual plan makes sense if you know you will keep the subscription for the full year. If you think you might cancel within a few months, monthly billing gives you more flexibility, even though it costs more overall. Peacock does not offer refunds for unused time if you cancel mid-year, so switching to annual only makes sense if you are confident you will stay.
Bundling Peacock with Other Services May Lower Your Total Cost
Peacock Premium Plus is sometimes bundled with other NBCUniversal services or offered as part of a larger streaming package. Comcast cable customers who have certain internet or TV packages may get Peacock Premium or Premium Plus included at no extra cost — check your Comcast bill or log into your Comcast account to see if you are may be able to access.
Some credit cards and phone plans offer Peacock subscriptions as a cardholder or customer benefit. American Express, for example, has offered Peacock Premium to certain cardholders. T-Mobile has offered Peacock Premium to some customers. These offers change frequently, so check your card issuer's or phone carrier's website to see what is currently available.
If you bundle Peacock with other services, make sure you understand what tier you are getting. A bundled offer might include Premium, not Premium Plus, so you would still see ads. Read the terms carefully before assuming the bundle includes ad-free viewing.
What to Do If You See Ads on Premium Plus
If you have Premium Plus and still see ads, first check that your subscription actually upgraded. Log into your account settings and confirm your plan shows "Premium Plus." Sometimes the upgrade takes a few minutes to process across all Peacock servers, so wait 15 minutes and try a different show.
If your account shows Premium Plus but ads still appear, try signing out and signing back in. Close the Peacock app completely and reopen it, or clear your browser cache if you watch on a web browser. These steps refresh your account status on the device.
A very small number of shows and movies on Premium Plus still include ads because of licensing deals with studios — Peacock lists these titles in your account settings under "Ads on Demand." If the show you are watching appears on that list, ads are expected even on Premium Plus. If it does not appear on that list and you still see ads, contact Peacock support through the app or website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Peacock Premium Plus for free?
No, but you may get it included with other services. Comcast cable customers with certain packages, some American Express cardholders, and some T-Mobile customers receive Peacock Premium or Premium Plus at no extra charge. Check your cable bill, credit card benefits, or phone plan to see if you may have access to. The free tier of Peacock exists, but it includes ads and limited content.
Do I have to pay for a full year to remove ads?
No. Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month if you pay monthly, which removes all ads when ready. Annual billing at $119.99 per year is cheaper overall, but monthly billing gives you the option to cancel anytime without losing money on unused months.
Will ads come back if I downgrade from Premium Plus?
Yes. If you downgrade to Premium or the free tier, ads will return to all content you watch going forward. Your downgrade takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle, not when ready, so you keep Premium Plus until then.
Are there any shows on Premium Plus that still have ads?
A small number of titles on Premium Plus include ads due to licensing agreements with studios. Peacock lists these in your account settings under "Ads on Demand." Most content is ad-free, but checking that list before watching a specific show will tell you whether ads are expected.
What happens if I share my Peacock account with family?
Peacock allows one person to watch at a time on the free and Premium plans. Premium Plus allows two simultaneous streams. If more than the allowed number of people try to watch at once, Peacock will ask one of them to stop. Sharing login credentials outside your household may violate Peacock's terms of service.