Hey there! With seemingly endless streaming options these days, it can be tough to decide which paid subscription tiers are really worth your money. Two of the top premium plans out there are Peacock Premium and Netflix Premium. If you‘re trying to choose between them, this comprehensive comparison will break down all the key differences to help you make the smartest decision.
Overview: Peacock Premium vs Netflix Premium
Before we dive deep, let‘s quickly define what we mean by "premium" streaming plans:
- Peacock Premium – The mid-tier paid offering from NBCUniversal‘s Peacock streaming service. Launched in 2020.
- Netflix Premium – The highest paid tier from veteran streamer Netflix. Offers enhanced features since 2014.
Both provide full access to their company‘s streaming library, ad-free viewing, 4K video quality, and other perks. But there are some significant variances between these premium options when it comes to price, content selection, features and more.
Read on as we compare Peacock Premium vs Netflix Premium in-depth across 10 key factors:
- Price
- Ads
- Streaming Library
- Supported Devices
- Video/Audio Quality
- Offline Viewing
- Simultaneous Streams
- Live Content
- User Profiles
- Special Features
Let‘s get to it!
Price: Peacock Premium vs Netflix Premium
One of the first things you‘ll notice is the massive price difference between these two premium plans:
Peacock Premium:
- $4.99 per month
- $49.99 per year (all at once)
Netflix Premium:
- $19.99 per month
- About $240 per year
Wow – Netflix Premium costs nearly 4x as much as Peacock Premium! That‘s an extra $15 you‘ll shell out every single month.
Over the course of a year, Peacock will run you just $50, compared to a whopping $240 for Netflix. That‘s a huge price gap.
Now, Netflix would argue that higher price gets you increased value via more content, better features, and no ads. We‘ll explore whether that‘s truly the case later on.
But if you‘re looking purely at the cost to subscribe, Peacock Premium clearly provides strong value at a super affordable rate. $5 a month is an undeniably great deal if you want to stream top-tier content ad-free.
That said, don‘t assume Peacock will keep this low price forever…
Peacock Premium Price History
Peacock Premium launched with its $4.99 monthly price tag in 2020 and still maintains it. However, streaming services have a history of raising rates over time as they accumulate more content and features.
Just look at Netflix‘s price hikes over the years:
Netflix Premium Price History
| Year | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| 2014 | $11.99 |
| 2016 | $13.99 |
| 2018 | $15.99 |
| 2021 | $17.99 |
| 2022 | $19.99 |
Analysts predict Netflix will continue raising prices in the coming years. So while Peacock Premium remains an unbeatable value right now, don‘t be shocked if its price steadily climbs upwards too.
Streaming prices across the board are trending up. But Peacock still offers strong cost savings over Netflix…for now, at least.
Ads: How Peacock and Netflix Compare
One major perk of paying for premium streaming plans is ditching those pesky ads, right? Well…that‘s only half true when comparing Peacock vs Netflix.
Peacock Premium still includes ads even though you‘re paying a subscription fee. You‘ll encounter about 5 minutes of ads per hour of programming. Video ads play before shows, interrupt viewing mid-stream, and surface between episodes.
Many subscribers find this extremely aggravating for a paid service. But Peacock clearly sees it as a lucrative way to subsidize lower subscription costs.
Netflix Premium, on the other hand, is 100% ad-free. You can binge shows seamlessly from beginning to end with zero disruptions. Most streaming fans see this as a basic expectation for premium plans.
So if you want uninterrupted, ad-free viewing, Netflix Premium is easily worth the extra monthly cost. But folks willing to tolerate some ads may find Peacock‘s cheaper price point still valuable.
Upgrading to Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99/month removes most ads. But only a few niche live events like WWE wrestling will still have unskippable ads.
Streaming Library: Peacock vs Netflix Content Comparison
Now let‘s explore and compare the actual streaming content available on each premium plan.
The overall libraries of Peacock vs Netflix reveal a massive gap:
- Netflix: Over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ shows, growing slate of wildly popular originals like Stranger Things, The Crown, etc. The clear market leader.
- Peacock: TV shows and movies from NBCUniversal brands like NBC, Bravo, USA Network, and more. Also originals like Bel-Air. Still a relatively small library overall.
Yeah…this one‘s not much of a contest. Netflix offers radically more viewing options by an order of magnitude. Peacock‘s catalog feels quite limited in comparison.
However, Peacock has a few advantages worth mentioning:
- Brand new NBC shows: Get next-day access to current NBC series like The Voice, Saturday Night Live, etc. Great for fans wanting to stay current.
- Universal movie premieres: New theatrical films like Nope and Ticket to Paradise stream on Peacock weeks before going to other services.
- Extended cuts: You‘ll only find Peacock‘s "Superfan Episodes" of shows like The Office with unique deleted scenes edited back in.
So Peacock has some worthwhile exclusive content. But Netflix clearly wins overall thanks to its vast breadth of established hit shows, buzzy originals, and wide array of movies.
Unless you‘re a superfan of NBC programming, Netflix Premium‘s vastly superior library is a huge point in its favor.
Supported Devices: Availability Across Platforms
Fortunately, you can stream both Peacock Premium and Netflix Premium on a wide array of compatible devices:
- Smart TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, Vizio, etc
- Streaming media players like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast
- Game consoles including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- iOS and Android mobile devices
- Web browsers on Mac, Windows, Chromebooks
There aren‘t many major differences in platform support between Peacock vs Netflix. Both offer apps across mobile, desktop, smart TVs and streaming boxes.
One perk of Netflix Premium is the ability to download its mobile apps on up to 6 devices per account. Peacock allows just 3 mobile downloads.
But overall, you‘ll have no problem accessing either premium service on pretty much any current media device you own. Availability and apps shouldn‘t sway your decision here.
Video Quality: 4K and Beyond
If you want the absolute best audio/visual streaming experience possible, Netflix Premium pulls ahead slightly.
Both Peacock Premium and Netflix Premium provide support for:
- 4K Ultra HD – For crisper, sharper video on compatible 4K TVs and devices. Requires fast internet speeds (25+ Mbps recommended).
- Dolby Atmos – Immersive, theater-quality sound for selected titles. Provides vivid surround effects.
So you can enjoy top-of-the-line 4K and Dolby Atmos content on either premium plan. Impressive!
But Netflix Premium also uniquely offers:
- HDR – Expanded contrast and color for even more cinematic visuals.
- Spatial Audio – On supported content, makes sound effects flow and move around you for added immersion.
While not absolutely necessary, these additional enhancements give Netflix a slight A/V quality advantage over Peacock. But both will satisfy fans of premium streaming eye candy.
Downloads for Offline Viewing
Okay, here‘s one feature that clearly sets Netflix Premium apart: offline downloads.
Netflix lets you download movies, shows, and other videos to mobile devices like phones and tablets. This allows viewing even without an internet connection – great for planes, road trips, poor Wi-Fi, etc.
Peacock, on the other hand, does NOT support downloading content for offline access. You must be connected to the internet to stream anything on Peacock.
Netflix Premium subscribers can download on up to 6 devices at once. For frequent travelers or households with spotty internet, downloading for offline viewing can be a very practical perk.
Peacock sadly limits you to always-online streaming. If internet availability is an issue for your lifestyle, Netflix has a meaningful edge here.
Simultaneous Streams: Watch on Multiple Devices
Next up, let‘s compare how many people/devices can stream simultaneously from each premium plan:
- Peacock Premium: 3 concurrent streams
- Netflix Premium: 4 concurrent streams
Again, Netflix Premium matches or beats Peacock‘s limits. The extra stream could come in handy for larger households where multiple people want to watch solo at the same time.
But overall, 3-4 streams should be sufficient for most smaller homes and families. Limits likely won‘t be the deciding factor between Peacock vs Netflix for individuals.
Live Content: Sports, News and More
In addition to their on-demand libraries, both Peacock and Netflix offer some live streaming content. But Peacock has a clear advantage here.
Peacock Premium includes plenty of must-watch live sports like:
- Sunday Night Football
- World Cup soccer
- Olympics
- WWE wrestling
- MLB Sunday leadoff games
You also get 24/7 live news from NBC News Now, entertainment news from E! News, and more. Plus curated streaming channels you can just turn on and watch like regular cable TV.
Netflix has experimented with select live specials like stand-up comedy events and reunion episodes of shows like Queer Eye. But live content is a very small niche for them.
If you want robust live TV offerings, Peacock is the obvious winner here – especially for sports fans missing cable.
User Profiles for Personalization
To serve content recommendations tailored to each viewer, streaming services allow you to set up multiple user profiles within one account.
Peacock Premium permits up to 6 individual profiles per account.
Netflix profile allowances depend on your subscription plan:
- Basic: 1 profile
- Standard/Premium: Up to 5 profiles
Again, Netflix matches or beats Peacock for customization via multiple user profiles. Handy for larger households!
Special Features: Downloads, Channels, Games and More
Beyond the major categories we‘ve compared already, are there any other unique perks or features to highlight for each premium plan?
A few less common benefits to mention:
Peacock Premium
- Next-day streaming for current NBC and Bravo shows
- Curated channels you can instantly tune into
Netflix Premium
- Mobile games like Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales at no added cost
- Spatial audio support on select titles
- Extensive subtitles/closed captions and audio descriptions for accessibility
So both premium plans bring a few extra goodies to the table. Peacock lets you stay current with NBC programming, while Netflix offers games and enhanced audio. Nice bonuses!
Now let‘s summarize the core advantages and disadvantages of each service:
Peacock Premium
Pros
- Inexpensive at just $4.99/month or $49.99/year
- Next-day streaming for new NBC and Bravo shows
- Live sports like Sunday Night Football
- Early movie premieres from Universal
Cons
- Includes ads
- Smaller content library than competitors
- No downloading for offline viewing
- Maximum of 3 simultaneous streams
Netflix Premium
Pros
- Completely ad-free viewing
- Downloads for offline access
- Vast content library with Originals
- Up to 4 concurrent streams
- Advanced audio and video formats like spatial audio
Cons
- Most expensive plan at $19.99/month
- Original shows released all at once
- Live TV options are very limited
So in the battle of Peacock Premium vs Netflix Premium, who comes out on top?
For cost-conscious streamers, Peacock Premium offers incredible value at just $4.99/month. Despite some annoying ads, you get lots of quality NBCU programming past and present. Sports fans will love the live events.
However, Netflix Premium shines thanks to its massive ad-free library with exclusive originals, advanced AV quality, and useful offline downloads. But the lofty $19.99 price gives pause when competitors like Peacock cost far less.
Here are some final recommendations based on your streaming priorities:
- If you want to save money, Peacock Premium is easily the most affordable quality option at just $5/month.
- For ad-free viewing and mobile downloads, Netflix Premium merits its higher monthly cost.
- If you‘re a superfan of NBC shows new and old, Peacock will satisfy your fandom.
- For the sheer depth and variety of binge-worthy content, Netflix Premium can‘t be matched.
- If live sports and news are a priority, Peacock has a clear advantage over Netflix.
As this deep dive has shown, both premium plans have their pros and cons. You really can‘t go wrong between Peacock Premium vs Netflix Premium. Evaluate your personal preferences across price, library, features and more. Then enjoy unlimited ad-free streaming with the service that aligns best with your viewing needs!
