Streaming Services · Tool Face-Off

Apple TV+ vs Paramount+

Quick answer

Apple TV+ has fewer but higher-quality originals; Paramount+ wins on volume, live sports, and legacy content. Your pick depends on depth vs. breadth.

Apple TV+

Small library, big swings

3.6★

Our pick

Paramount+

Mountains of content, from SpongeBob to the Super Bowl

3.9★

Monthly Price (ad-free)

$9.99/mo

$12.99/mo (Essential w/ ads: $7.99)

Free Trial

7 days

Library Size

~100 titles (curated originals only)

40,000+ episodes & movies

Simultaneous Streams

Up to 6

Up to 3

Offline Downloads

Yes

4K HDR Content

Yes (most titles)

Limited selection

Live Sports

MLB Friday games only

NFL, UEFA Champions League, March Madness

Live News

CBS News 24/7

Kids Content

Minimal

Nickelodeon full library

Bundling Options

Apple One bundle

Paramount+ with Showtime add-on

Ad-Free Tier Available

Yes (standard)

Yes (Essential has ads)

Award Wins (recent)

Multiple Emmys & Golden Globes

Growing but fewer prestige wins

Apple TV+

Pricing★★★★½

Originals★★★★★

Content Volume★★☆☆☆

Device Support★★★½☆

Content Quality★★★★½

User Experience★★★★½

Sports & Live TV★½☆☆☆

Paramount+

Pricing★★★★☆

Originals★★★½☆

Content Volume★★★★½

Device Support★★★★½

Content Quality★★★½☆

User Experience★★★☆☆

Sports & Live TV★★★★½

Worth knowing

Apple TV+ launched in 2019 with just a handful of shows — quality over quantity from day one.
Paramount+ hosts content from CBS, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and Showtime (add-on).
Apple TV+ is included free for 3 months with new Apple device purchases.
Paramount+ streams the NFL on CBS, making it a legitimate sports hub.
Apple TV+ has no back-catalog — every single title is an original production.
Paramount+ subscriber count crossed 60 million in 2023, growing fast globally.

Apple TV+ spends more money per episode on shows than almost anyone else — yet you can binge its entire library in roughly a long weekend. Must be nice.

If you want

You want prestige dramas and cinematic originals with zero filler

Severance, The Morning Show, Slow Horses — Apple bets big on every single title.

→ Pick Apple TV+

If you want

You have kids or crave live NFL and Champions League soccer

Paramount+ is basically three services in one: Nickelodeon, CBS Sports, and a movie vault.

→ Pick Paramount+

If you want

You already own Apple devices and want the best bang-per-buck

At $9.99 with frequent free-trial offers bundled into hardware, it's hard to beat the value.

→ Pick Apple TV+