In the era of endless streaming options, free services like Peacock and Tubi offer an appealing alternative to paid platforms. But with both offering thousands of movies and shows at no cost, which one should you choose?
This comprehensive guide will compare Peacock and Tubi across key categories to help you decide.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Peacock | Tubi |
| Content Library | 15,000 hours focused on NBCU properties | 20,000+ movies & shows from major studios |
| Price | Free with ads, Premium for $5/month, Premium Plus for $10/month | Free with ads only |
| Advertising | Ad breaks every 30-60 mins | Ad breaks every 10-15 mins |
| Streaming Quality | HD with ads, 4K & offline with Premium | HD only |
| Device Support | iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV | iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, game consoles, smart TVs |
| Navigation | Promoted content over discoverability | Intuitive categories and recommendations |
| Extra Features | News, weather, curated channels | Watchlist, kid profiles |
Key Features Of Peacock And Tubi
Content Library
A streaming service is only as good as its content library. In this regard, Tubi has the edge over Peacock with over 20,000 movies and shows available on-demand.
Tubi’s library spans major studios like Paramount, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate, offering popular titles like “The Hunger Games”, “Transformers” and “Mission Impossible.”
Peacock has a more modest but quality lineup of about 15,000 hours of content. It’s focused on curated hits like “The Office” and “Downton Abbey” from NBCUniversal properties.
Peacock also has next-day access to current NBC shows, Spanish-language programming and live sports.
Ultimately, Tubi is better for sheer volume and mainstream movies, while Peacock shines for classic sitcoms and timely NBC content.
Supported Devices
Since these are free platforms, device availability is important for easy access. Tubi is more widely accessible across mobile iOS/Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, gaming consoles and smart TVs from LG, Samsung and Vizio.
Peacock has apps for iOS/Android plus support on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV. But it’s missing from some game consoles and smart TV systems. Peacock may be more limiting if you want to watch across all household devices.
Streaming Quality
Both services offer quality streaming but in different ways. Tubi lets you stream in HD quality with ads. There are no options to remove ads or upgrade video quality.
Peacock has more flexibility tiered like this:
- Free – Offers about 13,000 hours of content with ads in HD.
- Premium for $5/month – Unlocks full catalog ad-free in HD.
- Premium Plus for $10/month – Adds 4K streaming and offline download.
Peacock takes streaming quality more seriously with 4K and offline viewing for paid tiers. The free version still provides HD with ads.
Advertising
As free platforms, ads are the trade-off for endless content. Tubi and Peacock take different approaches here too.
Tubi has more frequent ad breaks, around every 10-15 minutes of streaming. Promos and ads cannot be skipped on Tubi.
Peacock has ad breaks every 30-60 minutes for free viewers. They are a bit more limited but still not skippable. Paying Peacock Premium removes ads entirely.
Tubi will show you more ads, while Peacock offers an ad-free paid option.
Licensing And User Data
Licensing is what makes these services free, with the companies selling your user data for targeted advertising.
Tubi seems to share more specific user data like age, gender, interests and “stated preferences” as outlined in their privacy policy. Peacock’s data policy is more general, focused on categories like device info, watch history and ads you’ve interacted with.
Tubi appears to collect and share more sensitive personal data in exchange for providing its free service. Peacock’s data collection seems less specific to the individual user.
Streaming Experience
Beyond just content, how enjoyable is it to actually stream each service? Tubi definitely offers a simpler, more low-frills experience. The homepage is basic with personalized recommendations and the ability to easily browse categories and movies based on your interests.
Peacock has more branded curation with sections like “Peacock Picks” and “Trending Now.” There are personalized hubs but less ability to freely browse genres.
Both platforms are well-designed with robust search and filters. But Tubi has the upper hand for ease of discovery and navigation thanks to its straightforward categories. Discovering new movies is fast and intuitive. Peacock prioritizes promoting certain titles which can make open-ended browsing tougher.
Also Read: Key Differences Between Pluto TV And Peacock.
Extra Features
A few additional features help these services stand out:
- Tubi – Offers the ability to create a personalized watchlist and sync it across devices. Also has kidn-friendly mode with curated content just for kids.
- Peacock – Allows you to get news headlines and weather reports within the app. Provides curated channels like SNL Vault and Jimmy Fallon.
While Tubi has watchlist and kid-friendly features, Peacock offers the weather, news and curated channel perks. These extra features are nice bonuses though not make-or-break.
Comparison Between Peacock And Tubi
Here’s a quick rundown of the key advantages of Tubi and Peacock:
Tubi
Pros:
- Massive content library
- Accessible on more devices
- Ad-supported HD streaming
- Intuitive browsing and discovery
- Watchlist and kid-friendly mode
Cons:
- Frequent ad breaks
- More invasive data collection
Peacock
Pros:
- Quality over quantity library
- Flexible paid tiers
- 4K and offline viewing options
- Curated news and channels
- Less targeted advertising
Cons:
- Smaller free catalog
- Only on limited devices
- Ad-free requires paid tier
- Promoted content over browsability
Also Read: Comparison Between Peacock And Discovery Plus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For most users, Tubi is the better overall free streaming choice thanks to its huge library, accessibility across devices and intuitive discovery features. Peacock is a good option for NBC fans wanting to watch shows like The Office ad-free.
Yes, Peacock has a free ad-supported tier similar to Tubi with about 13,000 hours of content. But only paying for Peacock Premium unlocks the full catalog ad-free.
For ad-free streaming, many prefer services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max or Amazon Prime Video over Peacock Premium. Tubi offers a larger free catalog than Peacock in an ad-supported model.
Tubi is considered the best overall free streaming service given its robust content library with major studio partners, accessibility across devices, and effective browsing and discovery features.
Also Read: Philo Vs. Netflix: Which Streaming Service Is Right For You?
The Verdict
While both offer ad-supported free streaming, Tubi is generally superior for the average cord-cutter thanks to its unmatched content library spanning all genres, easy cross-device access and intuitive watchlist and discovery options.
Peacock makes sense for loyal NBCU fans wanting classic shows ad-free, or access to timely NBC programming. But Tubi wins out with mainstream movies, user experience and device support.
Ultimately, both Tubi and Peacock deserve a spot in any cord-cutter’s toolbox for their free catalogs. Tubi excels as an everyday streaming source while Peacock fills a niche for certain NBCUniversal content. Combining these free services provides plenty of streaming entertainment at zero cost.