Peacock, NBCUniversal's flagship streaming service, stands out in a crowded market with its expansive library, live channels, and flexible pricing. Drawing from years of reviewing top platforms, we've tested Peacock extensively—here's why it's a must-consider addition to your lineup.
Peacock delivers a familiar TV-like interface for seamless browsing of live streams, on-demand shows, and trending clips spanning news, sports, and blockbuster events. Its competitive content roster includes commitments like the full Harry Potter series in 2021.
Peacock supports most major streaming devices, excluding Amazon Fire TV Stick. It's available on iOS, Android, Xbox, PlayStation, and pre-installed on VIZIO SmartCast smart TVs.
Download: Peacock for iOS | Android | Roku (Free, subscription available)
While accessible across devices, Peacock shines on TVs via streaming devices like Roku, landing you on a hub categorized into Channels, Trending, Browse, Movies, TV Shows, Kids, News, Sports, and Latino.
The "Channels" section is Peacock's standout, mimicking cable TV with a classic guide for NBC News, Sports, and curated feeds of hit shows. Unlike on-demand-only rivals, it offers scheduled programming that feels authentically linear.
Not all are live network feeds; instead, Peacock curates genre-specific channels like KUWTK for Keeping Up with the Kardashians reruns and SNL Vault for classic Saturday Night Live episodes—exclusive schedules unavailable elsewhere.
The Trending hub curates timely clips on news, sports, late-night highlights, and nostalgic "A Day in History" segments, evoking traditional TV charm.
Beyond staples like Movies and Kids, the Latino section spotlights Spanish-language content right on the homepage—a user-friendly nod for Spanish-speaking viewers, surpassing buried options on Netflix or Hulu.
Peacock features three tiers: Free, Premium, and Premium Plus.
Free: Ad-supported access to 13,000 of 20,000 on-demand hours, plus a live TV stream. Includes next-day NBC primetime episodes (one week delayed), Peacock Original previews, and events like the Olympics. As with Hulu's evolution, free content may shrink over time—but it's an ideal entry point now.
Peacock Premium: $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Unlocks all 20,000 hours with minimal ads (up to five minutes/hour), next-day NBC primetime access, exclusives like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, plus expanded sports including Tour de France and WWE.
Peacock Premium Plus: $9.99/month or $99.99/year (annual saves ~$20). Ad-free experience (minor exceptions due to rights), with all Premium perks.
Free Peacock access with 7,500 hours; upgrade to Premium for $4.99/month or ad-free for $9.99/month total.
Peacock launches with robust content but misses 4K, Dolby Atmos, and offline downloads—standard on competitors. We anticipate NBCUniversal adding these soon.
Stream on up to three devices simultaneously; unlimited installations per account. PIN-based parental controls enable kid-safe profiles.
Peacock won't unseat Netflix or Hulu yet, but hitting 10 million subscribers six months post-April 2020 launch signals strong momentum. Its originals and channels may sway cord-cutters ahead.
For NBC fans craving mainstream hits, it's essential—especially with a risk-free free tier to sample before committing.
