In the age of cord-cutting and endless streaming options, choosing the right service for your needs can be overwhelming. Two popular services vying for your monthly subscription are Paramount+ and Starz.
But which one offers the best value and viewing experience? Let’s break down the key differences between Paramount+ and Starz to help you decide.
Brief Comparison Table Of Paramount+ And Starz
| Feature | Paramount+ | Starz |
| Price | $4.99/month (Essential), $9.99/month (Premium) | $8.99/month |
| Ads | Yes (on Essential plan) | No |
| Offline Downloads | Yes (on Premium plan) | No |
| Max Concurrent Streams | 1 (Essential), 4 (Premium) | 4 |
| Video Quality | Up to 4K, HDR | Up to 4K, HDR |
| Content Focus | Broad – movies, TV shows, news, sports, kids | Movies |
| Movie Release Delay | 45-90 days for Paramount movies, 6-12 months for other studios | ~90 days from theatrical |
| Original Series | Star Trek: Discovery, 1883, The Good Fight | Outlander, Power, American Gods |
| Device Support | Apps for most platforms including Roku | No native Roku app |
| User Profiles | Yes | No |
| Library Management | Robust – sorting, filtering | Basic |
Overview Of Paramount+
Paramount+ is the streaming home of CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Paramount Pictures. It offers two subscription tiers:
- Essential ($4.99/month): Includes ads, allows streaming on 1 device at a time.
- Premium ($9.99/month): Ad-free, allows downloading shows, 4K streaming, and streaming on 4 devices concurrently.
Paramount+ boasts an extensive content library with over 30,000 episodes of current and classic CBS shows, Paramount movies new and old, live sports, and breaking news. Popular original series include Star Trek: Discovery, 1883, The Good Fight, and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
Overview Of Starz
Starz is focused on premium movie content, offering new Hollywood hits as well as a vast catalog of films. It costs $8.99/month and allows streaming on 4 devices at once.
The Starz library contains over 7,500 selections, including blockbuster films like Spiderman: No Way Home, House of Gucci, and Dune. Starz produces acclaimed original series such as Outlander, Power, and American Gods.
One unique aspect of Starz is its integration with other streaming platforms. You can add on the Starz channel to Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube TV, and other services to get Starz content within those apps.
Key Factor Of Paramount+ And Starz Compared
Content
When it comes to content variety and depth, Paramount+ has a decisive edge. Paramount+ offers more TV series, reality shows, kids programs, and news/sports. It leverages content from CBS, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Starz is more focused on premium movies and a handful of originals.
Paramount+ also benefits from an extensive back catalog of older shows like NCIS, CSI, Frasier, The Brady Bunch, and more. Nostalgic classics like these give Paramount+ a breadth of content that outrivals Starz.
That said, Starz excels at delivering new Hollywood movies shortly after their theatrical release. If watching recent blockbusters at home is a priority, Starz may better suit your interests.
Streaming Quality
Both Paramount+ and Starz stream in 4K and HDR quality with 5.1 Dolby surround sound, delivering crisp high-definition video and immersive audio.
Paramount+ allows downloading shows for offline viewing, which isn’t offered on the Starz base plan. Downloads can be useful for flights, road trips, or other scenarios with limited internet access.
Starz allows streaming on 4 devices concurrently versus just 1 device for the Paramount+ base plan. Households with many family members streaming simultaneously may favor Starz in this regard.
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Platform and Device Support
Paramount+ and Starz are available across mobile devices (Android/iOS), media streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV), gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), Smart TVs, and web browsers.
One limitation of Starz is that it doesn’t yet have a native app for Roku devices. You need to subscribe to Starz through a 3rd party like Hulu or Prime Video to view Starz on Roku. Paramount+ has no such limitations.
Paramount+ also syncs your watch progress across devices. You can start a show on your phone on your commute home and pick up where you left off on your TV seamlessly.
Release Schedules
When movies launch on streaming after their theatrical run can greatly impact a service’s appeal. Paramount+ gets new Paramount movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Smile 45-90 days after their big screen debut. Other studios’ films come to Paramount+ after their Netflix and HBO windows close, which can take 6-12 months.
Starz movie releases land around 90 days after theaters. This quicker access for major titles gives Starz an edge for cinephiles who want to stream new films as early as possible.
For TV, Paramount+ houses new episodes of CBS and MTV shows the day after they air. Starz original series episodes all drop at once upon season premiere.
Advertising and Offline Access
The base Paramount+ tier includes ads, while Starz is ad-free by default. Paying for the Premium Paramount+ upgrade removes ads. Downloading shows for offline viewing is only available on the Premium tier also.
So ad-tolerance and desire for offline access should guide your tier selection for Paramount+. The base Paramount+ plan is $5/month, while adding downloads, 4K, and eliminating ads raises it to $10/month.
Bundling Options
Bundling can be a cost-effective way to gain access to both Paramount+ and Starz. Here are some popular bundles that include these services:
- The Paramount+ and Showtime bundle offers both streaming services for $11.99/month total. Showtime includes Starz content.
- Apple’s Apple One Premier bundle packages Paramount+, Showtime, HBO Max, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ for $29.95/month.
- Amazon Prime members can add on Paramount+ for just $5.99/month and the Starz channel for $8.99/month.
- Hulu subscribers can include the Paramount+ Premium plan and Showtime with Starz for $20.97/month total.
Bundles allow you to enjoy the best of both services while saving money, though they do require juggling multiple apps.
Watch the video to learn more!
User Experience
Paramount+ and Starz apps both provide a modern streaming experience. Paramount+ offers slightly better features for personalization and organization. Users can create multiple profiles for individual watchlists and recommendations.
Paramount+ also lets you sort and filter titles in intuitive ways, such as by genre or decade.
Starz has a more basic design suited just for movie browsing. It doesn’t offer personal profiles or robust library management. But the interface is stylish and easy to navigate.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In terms of global subscriber count, Netflix remains the top streaming platform. However, services like Prime Video and Disney+ are closing the gap. Paramount+ currently sits just outside the “Big 3” streaming platforms.
For fans of CBS shows old and new, plus kids’ content and comedy classics, Paramount+ is very appealing for just $5-10 per month. The deep content library spanning generations of hit series makes Paramount+ worth it for many streamers.
The cheapest way to get Paramount Plus is to take advantage of their promotional offer of just $1/month for the Essential plan for the first 3 months. Verizon customers may also qualify for 1 free year of Paramount+.
Unfortunately, Paramount Plus does not come free with an Amazon Prime subscription. However, Amazon Prime members can add on Paramount+ for the discounted rate of just $5.99/month.
The Verdict
So, should you choose Paramount+ or Starz? If you want a wide range of content encompassing movies, new series, reality shows, kids programming, and news, Paramount+ easily wins out.
The lower base cost of Paramount+ also gives it the edge for budget-conscious streamers.
But for film buffs seeking the latest cinema hits to watch at home, Starz can’t be beat for early movie access. Consider mixing and matching these services month-to-month to cater to your current viewing tastes, or bundling them for one flat rate.
Either way, Paramount+ and Starz both offer quality streaming libraries worth your time. Happy streaming!