If you’re looking for a free streaming service, Pluto TV and Peacock are two of the top options available today. Both offer thousands of movies, TV shows, and channels without charging a monthly subscription fee.
However, there are some key differences between these services that are important to consider before deciding which one to use.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Pluto TV | Peacock |
| Cost | Free | Free tier is free, Premium is $5/month, Premium Plus is $10/month |
| Content Library Size | Around 10,000 hours | Around 13,000 hours on free tier, 20,000 hours on Premium tiers |
| Live TV | Yes, over 250 channels | Limited, mainly news and sports |
| Ads on Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Original Programming | Some originals, but limited | More originals including Bel-Air, Girls5eva, Saved by the Bell reboot |
| Brand Name Content | No major brand name content | Yes, includes NBCU brands like The Office, SNL, Harry Potter movies |
| Account Required? | No | Yes |
| Offline Viewing | No | No on free tier, Yes on Premium |
| Major Device Support | Roku, Fire TV, iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web, Xbox, PS4. No Roku or Fire TV. |
| Live TV Trick Play Features | No pausing or restarting live TV | Can pause and restart live TV |
| Ability to Select Episodes | Only for some on-demand shows | Yes across all content |
Overview of Pluto TV
Pluto TV is an ad-supported streaming service that offers over 250 live TV channels and thousands of on-demand movies and shows. The content spans many genres, including news, sports, comedy, drama, reality TV, and more.
Some of the key features of Pluto TV include:
- Completely free – no account or subscription needed to watch content
- Ad-supported – you’ll see commercials while watching
- Live TV channels – news, sports, movies and more with 24/7 streams
- On-demand library – large catalog of movies, shows, and viral videos
- Original programming – some exclusive originals like Pluto TV sitcoms
- Customizable guide – personalize your channel guide to favorite channels
- Available on many devices – watch on phones, tablets, computers, and TV platforms like Roku
The on-demand library on Pluto TV allows you to watch movies and shows on your own schedule. The catalog rotates frequently as titles expire, but you can usually find popular classics and recent hits available to stream.
Genres include action, comedy, drama, horror, kids, reality TV, crime/mystery, and more.
Overall, Pluto TV aims to mimic the experience of traditional cable TV while offering content for free. It’s a great option for casual viewers looking for an easy, no-commitment way to stream movies and shows online.
Overview of Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service, offering thousands of hours of movies, shows, news, sports, and skit-style clips. There’s a free ad-supported tier, but you can pay for Premium and Premium Plus options with more content.
Here are some key things to know about Peacock:
- Free tier has about 13,000 hours of content with ads
- Premium has 20,000 hours for $5/month with ads
- Premium Plus has 20,000 hours for $10/month without ads
- Large library of classic NBC shows like The Office, 30 Rock, SNL
- Next-day streaming of current NBC and Bravo shows
- Live sports and news like Premier League, WWE, Today Show, NBC Nightly News
- Lots of Peacock Originals like Saved by the Bell reboot, Girls5eva, Bel-Air
- Movies from Universal, DreamWorks, Illumination and more
The free version of Peacock is fairly limited compared to the paid tiers. You’ll be able to watch the first two seasons of The Office along with select episodes of shows like 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, and others. Movies are also restricted on the free tier.
Premium unlocks the full Peacock catalog. So if you’re a big fan of NBC shows new and old, paying for Premium makes more sense.
Peacock aims to leverage NBCUniversal’s catalog to stand out in the crowded streaming market. It’s a nice free option for casual viewers, but paying unlocks much more content.
Also Read: Comparison Between Samsung Q80B And Q70A
Key Differences Between Pluto TV And Peacock
Now that we’ve outlined the basics of each service, let’s compare them across some key factors:
Content Library
- Pluto TV has an eclectic, rotating mix of movies, shows, and viral videos. Content comes and goes frequently.
- Peacock focuses squarely on NBCUniversal content like NBC/Bravo shows, Universal movies, and originals. The catalog is more static and has fewer random viral videos.
- Peacock Premium has about 7,000 more hours of content than the free Pluto TV library. But Pluto TV has more channels.
Live TV
- Pluto TV has over 250 live TV channels spanning news, sports, movies and more. Great channel surfing experience.
- Peacock has limited live offerings, mainly focused on news and sports. No channel flipping experience.
Ads
- Both services have ads on most programming for free users. Pluto TV shows the same ads repeatedly.
- Peacock Premium removes most ads, so paying provides an ad-free experience.
Streaming Options
- Pluto TV is available on more platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, desktop browsers.
- Peacock is missing from Roku and Fire TV. You can get it on iOS/Android, Xbox, Chromecast, PS4, and through a web browser.
Paid Upgrades
- Pluto TV is free for all users. No paid upgrades exist yet.
- Peacock offers Premium and Premium Plus paid tiers with more content and fewer ads.
Originals & Brand-Name Content
- Pluto TV has some decent originals but lacks brand recognition. Content changes frequently.
- Peacock has heavy-hitter brands like The Office and SNL plus buzzy originals like Bel-Air. Content is quite static.
Pros and Cons of Pluto TV
Pluto TV Pros
- Completely free
- No account required
- Live TV channels for news, movies, and more
- Lots of content variety with movies, shows, viral clips
- Available on many streaming devices and platforms
- Fun channel surfing experience
Pluto TV Cons
- Content library can be repetitive and inconsistent
- Movie selection limited compared to subscription services
- Original programming is mediocre
- Frequent ads that repeat over and over
- No ability to skip or pause live TV
- No ability to save shows for offline viewing
Here are more info for Pluto TV!
Pros and Cons of Peacock
Peacock Pros
- Premium tier unlocks lots of top NBCU content
- Next-day streaming of NBC/Bravo shows
- Prestigious content like The Office, SNL, Harry Potter movies
- Ad-free viewing on Premium Plus
- Peacock Originals like Bel-Air
- News and sports streaming
Peacock Cons
- Free tier is very limited
- Must pay to get full library access
- Missing from platforms like Roku and Fire TV
- Limited live TV options
- Originals are hit-or-miss so far
- Confusing tiered pricing system
Also Read: Comparison of Discovery Plus And Peacock.
FAQ about Pluto TV and Peacock
The biggest downsides of Pluto TV are the repetitive ads, inconsistent content library, and lack of premium original programming you get with paid services. There’s no offline viewing or ability to skip/rewind live TV either.
Top apps that may be better than Pluto TV include Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video. These all offer higher quality original content without such repetitive ads, but they do require paid subscriptions.
Services that may be better than Peacock include Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max thanks to larger premium original content libraries, broader device support, and less confusion around pricing tiers.
The main catch with Pluto TV’s free service is that you have to watch a lot of repetitive ads. The content library is also inconsistent compared to paid streamers. And you don’t have all the features you may want like offline viewing.
The Bottom Line
Pluto TV and Peacock both offer free streaming options, but with limitations. Pluto TV is better for casual streaming given its live channels and broad device access. Peacock is better for premium NBCU content, especially if you upgrade to the paid Premium tiers.
Evaluate your preferences for cost, content, devices, ads and features to decide which free streaming service works best for you.