The best Paramount Plus alternatives in 2024

Paramount Plus offers a solid range of content, including movies from Paramount Pictures and original series. However, you might be considering other options due to the recent price hike, or maybe you’re looking to broaden your streaming content horizons. To help you find the best alternatives, we’ve put together a list based on content variety, value for money, usability, and more.

What you need to know about Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus features content from Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and others. There are also some notable originals, such as Halo, Tulsa King, and Yellowstone. It’s available in the U.S., Canada, and several European and Latin American countries.

There are two subscription plans, Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and you can pay monthly or yearly. 

The monthly prices have recently gone up, while the prices for annual subscriptions remain the same. These are the new prices in the U.S. as of August 2024:

Even if you’re unaffected by the new prices, you might still be looking for a Paramount+ alternative. Maybe you want to stream ad-free without having to pay extra, or maybe it’s just time for some fresh entertainment options. 

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The best global Paramount Plus alternatives 

1. Netflix

Netflix offers a much broader range of content than Paramount Plus, featuring material from heavyweight studios like Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. There’s also a broad selection of Netflix Originals that you won’t find anywhere else, including some massive hits like Stranger Things, The Crown, and Bridgerton. Netflix frequently collaborates with renowned creators to produce high-quality films and documentaries, such as The Irishman and Roma.

Netflix is available in over 190 countries. The content selection varies from country to country due to licensing agreements.

Pros:

• Broad selection of TV shows and movies
• Worldwide availability
• Frequent new releases

Cons:

• Very little live content
• Plans are more expensive than Paramount+

2. Prime Video

Prime Video is available in many countries around the world, with a very large content library in the U.S., offering over 40,000 movies and TV shows. You can find content from major studios like MGM, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., and more. In the U.S., you can add Max, Showtime, Starz, and Paramount Plus to your subscription for a fee. You can also rent or buy titles that aren’t available for streaming.

Like Paramount Plus, Prime Video supports up to six user profiles per account, making it a good choice for large households. Another cool feature is X-Ray, which lets you click to see actor info, trivia, and music details while watching a show—perfect for those “where do I know that actor from?” moments.

Pros:

• Free with Amazon Prime
• Large and diverse content library
• Plenty of add-on channels available in select markets

Cons:

• Add-ons and rentals can rack up costs
• Only three simultaneous streams

3. Peacock

Peacock provides next-day access to current episodes of popular NBC and Bravo shows, such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, and The Real Housewives. As an NBCUniversal service, it features content from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features. You can also live stream a variety of live sports, including Premier League and WWE Network events.

Peacock offers two plans: Premium with ads and Premium Plus, which is ad-free and includes offline downloads and access to NBC. Peacock is available in some European countries, but the content offering changes depending on your region.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Live sports coverage
• Supports multiple profiles and parental controls

Cons:

• Free tier discontinued
• Limited global availability

4. Disney+

Disney+ features content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, though title availability may vary from country to country. 

With Premier Access, you can catch new movie releases right at home for a fee. Some content is available in 4K UHD and HDR, and you can also download content for offline viewing (the amount you can download depends on your plan). If you’re in the U.S., you can buy bundles with Hulu, ESPN+, and even Max.

Pros:

• Select titles available in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos
• Focus on kid-friendly content
• Can be bundled with Hulu and ESPN+

Cons:

• Not all Disney classics are available
• Library of titles is not as varied as some others on this list

5. Max

Max is available in the U.S., Latin America, and many European countries. Its U.S. library is the most extensive, but internationally, you’ll find local programming and regional sports coverage. With a selection of over 7,000 titles, Max includes collections from DC Comics like Batman and Superman, which you won’t find on Paramount Plus. It also has award-winning original series, like Game of Thrones and Chernobyl, alongside fan favorites like Friends and South Park​​​​.

While Paramount Plus has extensive live soccer coverage, including UEFA and NFL via CBS, Max offers a broader range of sports content. This includes NHL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA games alongside the UEFA Champions League and Europa League for soccer fans, depending on your location.

Pros:

• 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos for select titles on the Ultimate Ad-Free plan
• Live sports with the B/R Sports add-on
• Extensive content library

Cons:

• Premium tier is expensive
• Ad-supported plan does not support offline downloads

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The best U.S.-only Paramount Plus alternatives

1. Hulu

Hulu offers an excellent range of on-demand content, including some of the latest TV show episodes, which you can watch the day after they air. There are currently over 2,500 movies and TV shows, which gives you more options than Paramount Plus.

Hulu’s ad-supported plan is quite affordable, and there’s a discounted price for students. The ad-free plan is significantly more expensive but could be worth the investment if you can’t stand watching with ad breaks.

Hulu + Live TV gives you an even broader selection, with access to over 90 live TV channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and CNN. There are also various bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+ on offer.

Pros:

• Current TV shows available to stream a day after they air
• Extensive live TV streaming options
• Bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+ available

Cons:

• Cheaper plans have ads
• Hulu + Live TV plans are costly

2. Fubo

Fubo is a top cord-cutting service with a wide selection of channels, including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Sports fans can live stream NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and a variety of regional sports networks like Bally Sports.

All Fubo plans give you unlimited hours of cloud DVR storage and support streaming on up to 10 devices at once. New users get a seven-day free trial.

The list of available channels may vary according to your plan and your U.S. ZIP code. While Fubo is also available in Canada, Spain, and France, these countries have fewer sports and entertainment options than the U.S. catalog.

Pros:

• Seven-day free trial
• Large selection of channels and extensive sports coverage
• Unlimited cloud DVR storage

Cons:

• No parental controls
• Most content is only available in the U.S.

3. Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a free streaming service available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and some European and Latin American countries. In the U.S., you can stream over 200 live channels, like Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon, with new channels added regularly. There’s also an extensive library of on-demand movies and TV shows. 

What sets Pluto TV apart is its ad-supported model, which lets you stream content for free without even signing up.

Pros:

• Free streaming
• No sign-up required
• 250 live TV channels and an extensive library of on-demand content

Cons:

• Has ads
• Doesn’t allow downloading for offline viewing

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The best Paramount Plus alternatives outside the U.S.

1. BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is the UK’s premier streaming platform, offering free on-demand and live TV options. It features popular shows like EastEnders, Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Peaky Blinders. Many movies, documentaries, and shows are available in HD, and some even in 4K, which is perfect for events like Wimbledon and David Attenborough’s nature documentaries.

While Paramount Plus offers some news content through CBSN, BBC iPlayer provides dedicated regional news for different parts of the UK along with international news. It also live streams major events such as Wimbledon in 4K HDR. 

Pros:

• Free streaming platform
• Ad-free streaming
• Includes all BBC live channels

Cons:

• Limited international content
• Requires valid UK zip code during signup

2. RTE Player

RTE Player is a free streaming service available in Ireland with a decent library containing 7,000 hours of content. It focuses on Irish programming, including news, documentaries, drama series, and lifestyle shows. You can also live stream RTE One, RTE2, and RTE News. You’ll have access to live sports events such as All-Ireland football, the GAA Championships, and UEFA.

Pros:

• Free platform, no subscription required
• Live international and local sports
• You can watch missed programs up to 21 days after they have aired

Cons:

• Smaller content library with limited international content
• No ad-free option, no downloads

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