What Peacock offers at each price tier

Peacock has four subscription tiers: a free ad-supported plan, Premium at $5.99 per month, Premium Plus at $11.99 per month, and an annual Premium plan at $59.99 per year. The free plan gives you access to a rotating selection of movies, TV shows, and sports — roughly 7,000 titles that change periodically. You watch with ads, and some content is locked behind the paid tiers even within the free plan.

Premium ($5.99/month) removes the ad load but does not remove ads entirely — you still see them on some live sports and premium events. You get the full Peacock library, including all NBC shows the day after they air, movies, and back catalogs. Premium Plus ($11.99/month) is the same library but with no ads at all, plus the ability to read select titles to watch offline. The annual Premium plan ($59.99/year) costs less per month than paying monthly but locks you into 12 months upfront.

Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal, so the service emphasizes NBC broadcast content, sports (particularly NFL Sunday Night Football, Premier League soccer, and WWE wrestling), and movies from the Universal film library. If you are already paying for cable or have a Comcast internet subscription, you may have Peacock Premium included at no extra cost — check your account directly.

Key Takeaways

  • The free plan includes thousands of titles but rotates content and shows ads; Premium and Premium Plus add the full library and remove or reduce ads.
  • Premium Plus ($11.99/month) is the only tier that removes ads completely and lets you read episodes to watch without internet.
  • NBC shows air on Peacock the day after broadcast, so Premium and above give you next-day access to current network TV.
  • Comcast internet and some cable packages include Peacock Premium at no extra charge; log in with your existing account to check.
  • The annual Premium plan ($59.99/year) saves money if you plan to stay subscribed for 12 months, but you pay the full year upfront.

Free plan: what you get and what you do not

Peacock's free tier is genuinely free — no credit card required to sign up. You get access to a library of movies, older TV seasons, clips, and some live sports events. The selection is not the full Peacock catalog; it is a curated subset that rotates. A show available this month may not be available next month, and a movie you watched last week might disappear.

Ads run throughout free content, and the ad load is heavier than Premium. Some premium events — like certain NFL games or wrestling pay-per-view events — are locked to Premium or Premium Plus even if you have a free account. NBC shows do not air live on the free plan; you have to wait for the paid tiers to get next-day access. If you want to test whether Peacock has content you care about before paying, the free plan is the right place to start, but treat it as a preview rather than a complete service.

Premium and Premium Plus: the main differences

Both Premium ($5.99/month) and Premium Plus ($11.99/month) unlock the full Peacock library — all movies, all TV seasons, all sports events, and NBC shows the day after they air. The core difference is ads and downloads. Premium still shows ads on most content, though the ad load is lighter than free. Premium Plus removes ads entirely, with the exception of some live sports and premium events where ads are baked into the broadcast itself.

Premium Plus also includes the ability to read episodes and movies to your phone or tablet and watch them without an internet connection. This matters if you travel, commute on transit, or want to watch without using your data plan. Premium does not include downloads — you can only stream. If you watch a lot of Peacock content and ads bother you, Premium Plus pays for itself quickly. If you watch occasionally or do not mind ads, Premium is the cheaper option.

Both tiers support streaming on up to four devices at the same time, so multiple people in your household can watch different shows simultaneously. Neither tier includes password sharing across separate households, though Peacock has not enforced this as strictly as some competitors.

Sports on Peacock: what is included and what costs extra

Peacock carries NFL Sunday Night Football (included with Premium and above), Premier League soccer matches (some free, some Premium-only), WWE wrestling events, and select college sports. Most of this content is included with your subscription — you do not pay extra per event. However, some premium wrestling events and certain sports broadcasts are marked as "Premium Events" and may require an additional purchase even if you have Premium Plus.

Live sports on Premium tier still include ads, even during the game itself. If you want to watch sports ad-free, Premium Plus is necessary. The sports schedule changes seasonally — NFL games run September through February, Premier League runs year-round with varying match density, and WWE has weekly shows plus monthly premium events. Check Peacock's sports schedule directly before subscribing if a specific sport or team is your main reason for signing up.

NBC shows and next-day access

One of Peacock's main draws is that new episodes of NBC shows land on the service the day after they air on broadcast television. This includes shows like "The Voice," "Saturday Night Live," "Law & Order" franchises, and "The Tonight Show." You do not need cable or a TV antenna — if you have Premium or Premium Plus, you can watch the new episode the morning after it airs on NBC.

The free plan does not include next-day NBC access. You can watch clips and older seasons, but current-season episodes are locked to paid tiers. If you follow specific NBC shows closely, Premium ($5.99/month) is the minimum tier you need. Some shows also have full seasons available on Peacock even if they originally aired on cable networks owned by NBCUniversal, like Bravo or USA Network.

Annual plans and payment options

Peacock offers a Premium annual plan at $59.99 per year, which works out to about $5 per month if you stay subscribed for the full 12 months. This is the same content and ad load as the monthly Premium plan — it just locks in a lower per-month rate if you pay upfront. There is no annual option for Premium Plus; you pay $11.99 per month for that tier.

You can cancel or change your plan at any time through your account settings. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access through the end of the billing period. If you switch from monthly to annual, Peacock prorates the difference. If you have Peacock through a cable or internet provider, you may not be able to change the plan directly — contact your provider's customer service instead.

Checking if you already have Peacock included

Comcast Xfinity internet customers often get Peacock Premium included at no extra cost. Some cable packages from Comcast also bundle Peacock. To check whether you have it, log into your Comcast account online or call their customer service line. If you are may be able to access, you can link your Comcast login to Peacock and watch without a separate subscription.

Other internet or cable providers may have promotional offers that include Peacock for a limited time — usually three to six months free. Check your provider's website or call to ask. Even if you do not have Peacock included now, your provider may add it later, so it is worth checking every few months if you are a customer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Peacock password with family members in a different house?

Peacock's terms of service say you should not share your password outside your household, but the company has not actively enforced this rule the way Netflix or Disney+ have. Technically, you can stream on up to four devices at once, so household members can watch simultaneously. For people outside your home, Peacock recommends they create their own account, starting with the free tier.

Do I need Premium Plus to watch sports without ads?

Yes. Premium still includes ads on most content, including sports. Premium Plus removes ads on all content except live sports broadcasts where ads are part of the feed itself (like during NFL games). If ads during sports bother you, Premium Plus is the only option.

Can I read shows on the free or Premium plan?

No. Downloads are only available with Premium Plus. Free and Premium tiers require an internet connection to stream. Premium Plus lets you read select titles to your phone or tablet for offline viewing.

What happens to my shows if I cancel my subscription?

You lose access to all Peacock content when ready when your subscription ends. Any downloaded episodes are removed from your device. If you resubscribe later, you can pick up where you left off on shows you were watching, but Peacock does not save your progress indefinitely.

Is the annual Premium plan the same as monthly Premium?

Yes, the content and features are identical — same ads, same library, same next-day NBC access. The annual plan just costs less per month ($59.99 ÷ 12 = roughly $5/month) if you commit to 12 months upfront. There is no annual option for Premium Plus.