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Peacock Review: Plans, New Higher Prices, and Your Favorite NBC Content + Live Sports

According to our streaming experts, Peacock is a completely different service than it was when it debuted.

Catch Universal Pictures theatrical releases
Peacock
Free trial:
None
Library:
80,000+ hrs.
Pro
Lots of live sports
Pro
Universal theatrical releases
Pro
Next-day NBC shows
Con
Confusing plan names
Con
No longer a budget-friendly option
Free trial:
None
Library:
80,000+ hrs.
Pro
Lots of live sports
Pro
Universal theatrical releases
Pro
Next-day NBC shows
Con
Confusing plan names
Con
No longer a budget-friendly option

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

When Peacock debuted in 2020, it was a surprisingly affordable streaming option due to its unprecedented “free” tier. Just by watching some ads, users could gain access to a big chunk of the platform’s library, much like how free, ad-supported television (FAST) services work today.

However, rather than going the FAST direction, Peacock discontinued its free tier and raised the prices of its other plans. Its new prices are more in line with big names like Disney+. It’s a pretty pricey service now, but it might have the goods to back it up if you love sports or movies.

See how we rank. Our editors have been testing Peacock since its inception, and supplemented our findings by surveying hundreds of real customers. We rated the service according to four essential criteria:

Editorial star rating:
3.30 / 5.00

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Peacock is pricier now, but has the content to back it up

Plan Price Offline viewing Ad-free Streams Details
Peacock logo Premium $7.99/mo. 3 View plan
Peacock logo Premium Plus $13.99/mo. 3 View plan

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Peacock raised its prices in July 2024, putting both of its plans firmly in Disney+’s price range. When something like this happens, we reevaluate a service—we used to consider Peacock a pretty good “cheap” service, something that was worth checking out for its low price. But now its introductory price is actually more expensive than those of its competitors, and its ad-free plan is pretty extravagant as well.

So if even ad-supported Peacock is a premium service, does it provide premium content? We think Peacock could be worth it for a lot of people. Sports fans will get a lot out of it. The 2024 price happened conspicuously just before the 2024 Olympics, of which Peacock offers an unprecedented amount of coverage. And it’s the best way to go for cord-cutters who want on-demand access to NBC content.

Don’t let the plan names trip you up. Most streaming services use the word “premium” to refer to ad-free or otherwise enhanced experiences. However, Peacock uses the term to mean its most basic, ad-supported plan. This naming convention made sense when Peacock still offered a free tier, but now it just feels purposely misleading.

We also think the price is worth it if you’re looking to watch new movies soon after they come out. Thanks to Peacock’s connection with Universal Pictures, you can avoid going to the theater entirely without feeling too left out of the cultural zeitgeist. It’s cheaper than buying multiple movie tickets every month, and even better, you can bring your own snacks.

Peacock isn’t for everyone, though—if you’re subscribed to too many services and want to start axing your monthly bills, this might be on the chopping block. It doesn’t have as many glamorous, must-watch titles like Netflix, Max, and Hulu do. Peacock’s tastes are a little more niche than Bridgerton or The Bear, but we’ve got some recommendations if you’re up for it.

Save money with Peacock promos

Unfortunately, Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial, so you’re out of luck if you want to try the service before committing to its higher prices.

Sometimes Peacock will team up with internet companies like Spectrum or Xfinity to give their customers free subscriptions for a period of months or even years.

Peacock also offers discounts for students ($1.99/mo. for 12 months), first responders ($1.99/mo. for 12 months), the military ($2.99/mo. for 12 months), and teachers ($2.99/mo. for 12 months).

“I pay for it but still have to watch commercials. I would think if I pay for it, I should not have commercial[s].”

Peacock customer in Pennsylvania

Peacock carries titles from USA Network, Syfy, NBC, and more

Like most streaming services, Peacock’s library of licensed titles change from month to month. But you can usually count on some popular kids’ movie franchises like Shrek and Despicable Me to stick around for a while.

And when it comes to new shows, you can expect next-day releases of shows from NBC and Bravo. Peacock also has a decent-sized offering of original titles, although with a few exceptions (Love Island USA, Poker Face) they don’t make too much of a cultural splash.

  • The Office
  • Parks and Recreation
  • 30 Rock
  • Saturday Night Live
  • Law & Order
  • Below Deck
  • Southern Charm
  • Yellowstone
  • House
  • The Nanny
  • Parenthood
  • Psych
  • The Real Housewives of New Jersey
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • Kung Fu Panda
  • Despicable Me
  • Madagascar
  • Jaws
  • Men in Black
  • Transformers
  • Labyrinth
  • The Dark Crystal
  • The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
  • Kick-Ass
  • We Are Lady Parts
  • Apples Never Fall
  • Based on A True Story
  • Love Island USA
  • Poker Face
  • Wolf Like Me
  • The Resort
  • Those About to Die
  • Hart to Heart
  • The Traitors

“Great options for a highly reasonable price. I love Top Chef and Yellowstone.”

Peacock customer in New Jersey

Waiting until that new movie comes to streaming? Peacock has your back

In our opinion, one of the best perks of a Peacock subscription is how quickly theatrical releases come to streaming. All of Universal Pictures’ movies come to Peacock about two months after they debut in theaters. A subscription to Regal Unlimited can cost $18.99–$23.99/mo., and a subscription to AMC Stubs A-List can cost $19.95–$24.95/mo. If you don’t mind waiting a month or two, Peacock’s $7.99–$13.99/mo. price tag is the cheaper option.

These titles are all indicated by a “streaming only on Peacock” label, but there’s not always an easy way to view them as a group within Peacock’s interface. And they don’t stick around forever—Five Nights at Freddy’s, which debuted on Peacock simultaneously with its theatrical debut, is no longer on the service as of writing.

  • Cocaine Bear
  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie
  • Renfield
  • Five Nights at Freddy’s
  • Trolls Band Together
  • Kung Fu Panda 4
  • The American Society of Magical Negroes
  • Despicable Me 4
  • Asteroid City
  • Lisa Frankenstein
  • Drive-Away Dolls

Peacock is the best place for NBC sports and Olympics coverage

Peacock also features a ton of live sports, like Premier League soccer, the Olympics, and WWE Entertainment (pro wrestling is a sport—at least, according to my well-informed coworkers).

  • Big East basketball
  • Big Ten basketball and football
  • Cycling (Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and more)
  • Diamond League
  • Figure skating
  • Golf (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and more)
  • Horse racing (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and more)
  • IMSA
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
  • Premier League
  • Sunday Night Football
  • SuperMotocross
  • World Rugby SVNS Series
  • WWE

Head to our Peacock sports guide for more information.

The Olympics hub page on Peacock. To the right is a large graphic of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by fireworks. To its left are the words OPENING CEREMONY PARIS 2024, July 26 1:30pm. Below this is a carousel of live and upcoming events, although they are cut off and it is hard to tell what they are.
The Olympics hub page on Peacock.

NBC loves to give Peacock exclusive all-access coverage, and the 2024 Paris Olympics are no exception. The streaming service is the best place to watch every Olympic event, from basketball to sailing.

What do customers think of Peacock?

“Easy to navigate and programs I enjoy. Less commercials and ads than others I've tried in the past.”

Peacock customer in Oklahoma

Peacock did very well in our 2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey, tying with Discovery+ for second place in overall satisfaction. Customers generally like what the Peacock experience has to offer, and think it’s worth the cost.

However, it’s worth noting that we took this survey while the service was still very cheap compared to its competitors. Now that Peacock is charging premium prices, those customers might feel different. We’re hard at work analyzing our 2025 survey results, and will keep you updated with our findings.

Is Peacock easy to use?

While customers like Peacock overall, they do feel that its user experience (UX) is more meh than medal worthy. In our 2024 survey, it tied for 5th place in UX and 6th in reliability.

The Peacock home screen displaying a horizontal nav menu, a numbered list of Top TV Shows Today, and a carousel of Leaving Soon titles.
The Peacock home screen on desktop.

We agree with the customers on this one. If you’re looking for something brand new, super popular, or about to leave the platform, you won’t have much trouble with Peacock. But a lot of titles get buried deep within its library, and are only accessible if you know to search for them directly.

This discoverability problem isn’t unique to Peacock; It’s the entire reason we have so many What To Watch pages. But it’s still something we think about whenever we sit down to find something to watch (without knowing exactly what).

Also, as of writing, the algorithm is currently really trying to push Hallmark Christmas movies at me, putting them in multiple categories and the “for you” section. It would probably make a lot more sense if it wasn’t currently the middle of July, and if I had ever watched Hallmark Christmas movies on Peacock.

Peacock FAQ

Is Peacock free?

No, Peacock no longer offers its free, ad-supported tier.

How much does Peacock cost?

There are two levels to Peacock, and both are comparable with the prices of its competitor, Disney+.

  • Peacock Premium (with ads): A $7.99/mo. tier that grants subscribers access to Peacock’s entire content library.
  • Peacock Premium Plus (no ads): A $13.99/mo. tier that provides all of the same content as Peacock Premium, but without the ads. Premium Plus subscribers can also download and watch select titles on the go, and stream their local NBC affiliate through a 24/7 livestream.

Does Peacock have live streaming?

Yes, Peacock allows subscribers at the Peacock Premium Plus tier to watch a 24/7 livestream of their local NBC affiliate.

Disclaimer:
Xfinity Streamsaver: To access Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock, activation of an account for each service required. Subject to terms of use of each streaming service. Internet delivered service will count against any Xfinity data plan, if applicable. Management of any existing subscriptions may be required to avoid multiple active subscriptions and corresponding charges. If you have an existing Netflix subscription in a bundle with a third party, manage your account to avoid multiple subscriptions. Existing paid Peacock or Apple TV+ subscriptions billed by a third party may continue unless and until you cancel. You may not receive any refunds/credits for overlapping subscription periods.

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