How Discovery Plus Works and What You Get

What Discovery Plus Is

Discovery Plus is a streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that lets you watch shows and movies on demand through an app or website. You pay a monthly or annual fee, and in return you get access to a library of content from Discovery's channels — including HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, and others. The service works on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs.

Discovery Plus is not free, but it does offer a tier with ads included at a lower price point, and an ad-free tier at a higher price. Both tiers let you stream the same shows; the difference is whether you see commercials while watching.

Key Takeaways

Discovery Plus offers two payment tiers: one with ads at a lower monthly cost, and one without ads at a higher monthly cost.
You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and compatible smart TVs using the Discovery Plus app or website.
The service includes shows from HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, ID, and other Discovery-owned networks, plus some original series.
You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings; there is no contract or early termination fee.
Some content is available only to subscribers in the United States, and availability of specific shows changes over time.

The Two Subscription Tiers

Discovery Plus offers a with-ads plan and an ad-free plan. The with-ads plan costs less per month but includes commercial breaks during shows. The ad-free plan costs more but plays content without interruption. Both plans give you the same library of shows and movies — the only difference is the presence of advertisements.

Pricing varies depending on whether you pay monthly or commit to an annual plan. Annual plans usually cost less per month than paying month-to-month, but you pay the full year upfront. You can switch between tiers or between monthly and annual billing at any time through your account settings.

How to Set Up Your Account

To start using Discovery Plus, go to the Discovery Plus website or read the app from your phone's app store. You will need to create an account with an email address and password. During sign-up, you choose which tier you want — with ads or ad-free — and enter a payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal).

Once your account is created and payment is confirmed, you can log in on any device and start watching when ready. If you want to watch on a smart TV, read the Discovery Plus app from your TV's app store, then log in with the same email and password you used to create your account.

What Content You Can Watch

Discovery Plus includes shows from HGTV (home renovation and design), Food Network (cooking and food competition), TLC (lifestyle and reality), Animal Planet (wildlife and pets), Investigation Discovery (true crime), and several other networks. The library also includes some original series made specifically for Discovery Plus.

The exact shows available change over time — some are added, others are removed or moved to different services. You can browse the full current library through the app or website to see what is available right now. Most content is available only to viewers in the United States.

Pausing and Canceling Your Subscription

If you want to stop paying temporarily without losing your account, some streaming services offer a pause feature, but Discovery Plus does not have an official pause option. Your alternative is to cancel and rejoin later — there is no penalty for canceling, and you can sign back up whenever you want.

To cancel, log into your account on the Discovery Plus website, go to your account settings, and select the option to cancel your subscription. Your access ends at the end of your current billing period — you do not lose access when ready. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access until the next billing date.

Watching on Different Devices

You can watch Discovery Plus on phones and tablets using the app, on computers through the website, and on smart TVs if they have the Discovery Plus app available. Supported smart TV platforms include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and Samsung Smart TV, though availability varies by TV model and age.

You log in with the same account on every device, so you can start watching on your phone and pick up where you left off on your TV. However, you can only stream on one device at a time with most plans — if someone else tries to watch on a different device while you are watching, one of you will be disconnected.

Payment and Billing

Discovery Plus charges your payment method on the same day each month (or year, if you chose annual billing). You can update your payment method, billing address, or email address anytime through your account settings. If a payment fails, Discovery Plus will typically try again a few times before suspending your account.

Your billing statement will show "Discovery Plus" as the charge. If you signed up through a third-party platform like Apple, Amazon, or Google Play, the charge may appear under that platform's name instead, and you may need to cancel through that platform rather than through Discovery Plus directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Discovery Plus password with family members?

Discovery Plus allows one person to stream at a time on most plans. If multiple people in your household want to watch simultaneously, they would each need their own subscription. Sharing a password with people outside your household violates the terms of service.

What happens if I cancel and then want to rejoin?

You can rejoin at any time by logging back in with the same email address and payment method. Your previous watch history and preferences may still be there, depending on how long ago you canceled. There is no waiting period or penalty for rejoining.

Is there a free trial?

Discovery Plus occasionally offers free trial periods, but these are not always available. Check the Discovery Plus website to see if a trial is currently being offered in your area. Trials typically last 7 to 30 days, after which you are charged the regular subscription price unless you cancel.

Can I read shows to watch offline?

Discovery Plus does not currently offer a read feature. You must have an internet connection to stream. Some other streaming services do allow downloads, but Discovery Plus is not one of them.

What if I have a problem with my account or billing?

Discovery Plus has a help center on its website with articles about common issues. You can also contact customer support through the app or website. Response times vary, but support is available to help with billing questions, technical problems, or account issues.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.