Are you ready to join millions of people who ditched cable and moved to a streaming service? These platforms offer many advantages, including watching from any location, managing devices used, etc. The only problem is the market is full of premium providers, so how do you pick a suitable one?
Our detailed guide focuses on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video—we explore free trials, pricing, DVR features, and more. Read on to see which service is right for you!
Quick overview: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
CBS is the company behind Paramount+. In fact, you might remember CBS All Access—Paramount+ is its successor launched in 2021. It’s the latest attempt from this network to launch a streaming service that combines live channels and on-demand content.
Unlike this relatively new market addition, Amazon Prime Video has been around since 2006. The current statistics indicate it has over 220 million subscribers, partly due to the fact that the service is available in 100+ countries and Amazon Prime members are subscribers by default.
Both services are primarily on-demand content providers. However, our focus will be on live TV in this article. Before we continue, here’s a quick overview of both platforms!
| Paramount+ | Amazon Prime Video | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Essential: $5.99/month | |
| Paramount+ with Showtime: $11.99/month | Prime Video: $8.99/month | |
| Amazon Prime: $14.99/month | ||
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | 7 days |
| Number of Channels | 20+ | 50+ |
| DVR Capacity | None | None |
| Device Support | Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, Smart TVs, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 | Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, Smart TVs, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 | 3 |
Best pricing: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video
- On demand content
- Stream on three screens
$8.99/month
If you only consider the lowest cost per package, the winner is Paramount+. You can get its Essential plan for about as much as a cup of coffee, but you’ll have to deal with commercials when watching on-demand content. But, if you want to ditch the ads, you can upgrade to Paramount+ with Showtime.
As for Amazon Prime Video, its pricing delivers excellent value for money. If you use the online store’s services, you can get the APV with the Prime subscription. It’s a convenient addition and a way of rewarding loyal users.
Paramount+ pricing
Paramount+ has two pricing plans: Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime.
If you want to turn the advertisements off, you’ll need the Premium package. It increases the monthly subscription to but secures a better experience. This package also unlocks your local CBS station in most US locations. Check out our Paramount+ plan and pricing to discover more about these subscriptions.
Amazon Prime Video pricing
Amazon Prime Video only offers one subscription option. There are no advertisements, and you get access to the entire on-demand content plus live channels.
Prime Video
- On demand content
- Stream on three screens
$8.99/month
There’s also another option. If you become a Prime member for a couple bucks more a month, you get access to free and fast product delivery, music streaming, and unlimited reading on corresponding Amazon services. It also comes with a free Prime Video subscription. Check out this Amazon Prime Video guide to learn more about the platform’s pricing.
Best free trial: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video wins here since it has two trial options. If you choose the Prime Video plan, you receive a seven-day trial. An entire week is quite generous from the platform and gives enough time to test all features. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you are entitled to a 30-day trial. That means you’ll also get an entire month of Prime Video for free. It’s most than the majority of other platforms offer.
Paramount+ also comes with a 7-day trial. The provider understands the importance of offering users a chance to try their platform. So, although it comes as a close second, this service also does well in this category.
Best channels and add-ons: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
If we observe only the live TV service, Amazon Prime Video is the winner. It has more TV channels, and the on-demand library includes exclusive content. The TV lineup is also impressive for lovers of entertainment channels.
However, Paramount+ is tempting for NFL and sports fans. You can watch live football and soccer on this platform. If you get access to the local TV station, it’s also possible to keep up with the latest news. If that seems like a better fit, you can’t go wrong with this platform.
What to watch on Paramount+?
Paramount+ focuses on the content produced by CBS. It’s a logical move since that’s the network behind the platform. The estimation is that Paramount+ contains over 30,000 TV show episodes and 2,500 movies. It’s an impressive on-demand library, but what about live TV?
If you pick the Paramount+ with Showtime plan, you unlock access to your local CBS channel. It streams live, so you can follow the latest news there. CBS also offers NFL games and UEFA Champions League on its streaming service. You can watch live games, depending on the subscription you pick. Other live channels focus on showing content from the library.
What to watch on Amazon Prime Video?
Amazon Prime Video also impresses with a huge on-demand library. The selection includes originals that are exclusive to this platform, such as Being the Richards, I’m a Virgo, and a new Lord of the Rings show that has everyone excited.
Apart from thousands of hours of on-demand content, you can enjoy about 50 live channels. Some require subscriptions, such as Starz and Showtime. The default list covers channels like Buzzr, Wipeout Xtra, FilmRise Family, etc.
Best DVR and offline viewing: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
Before we say anything else, let’s underline that neither service offers DVR. These are primarily on-demand content providers, so they don’t come with DVR. This is why we only compared offline viewing capabilities. It’s another area with a close call, but Amazon Prime Video comes out as the winner again. That’s because it offers support for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows 10, plus the option to use Amazon Fire devices. The only drawback is you can’t record live football and other sporting events available on the platform. Check out this article to learn more about Amazon’s DVR options.
As for Paramount+, things are identical. It doesn’t offer DVR, but it does offer offline viewing, which is possible on Android and iOS devices. The library limit is 25 videos at a time, but if you play a movie or TV show, you have 48 hours to watch it. It then gets removed from the library automatically. Here’s a detailed guide on Paramount+ offline viewing.
Best device support: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
Both platforms do a fantastic job in this area. We go with Paramount+ since it seems to function a bit smoother across the devices. The platform has an app that works flawlessly on Smart TVs, including those with native operating systems like LG and Samsung. Streaming media players, gaming consoles, and mobile phones are all supported. Check out the detailed list here.
You can also enjoy Amazon Prime Video on most devices. The compatibility is impressive and ranges from Smart TVs and Blu-Ray players to Chromecast, Roku, and other media players. Check out a detailed list of supported devices in this article.
Best simultaneous streaming: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video
Paramount+ is the clear winner in this category. You can use up to three devices for streaming content from this platform. It doesn’t matter whether you access on-demand or live TV content; you can enjoy it without limitations. Our guide will tell you more about Paramount+ simultaneous streams.
Amazon Prime Video also supports up to three devices simultaneously, but the platform limits you to watching the same content on only two devices. If you’d like to learn more, check out our APV simultaneous streaming guide.
Which is better: Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video?
Amazon Prime Video takes the overall win, but by a close margin. The generous trial and the option to get APV for free with an Amazon Prime subscription is tempting. You can also access an impressive lineup of live TV entertainment channels. If you need some fun and high-quality movies and series, APV is for you.
On the other hand, Paramount+ has a decent channel lineup, too. Its strongest suits include sporting events like UCL and NFL—you can also check local and national news with some packages. Ultimately, it all comes down to you. Identify the features you want and pick a streaming service accordingly!
Aneeca Younas • Author
Aneeca Younas is a graduated journalist with years of experience writing in different niches based in Oakland, CA. She is a huge movie fan that also enjoys watching sports. That's why she spends hours daily using various streaming services. Over the years, Aneeca profiled herself as an expert in cable-free and VOD platforms.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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