Peacock Review: $7.99/mo for Sports + The Office (Worth It?)

Peacock is NBC’s answer to the streaming wars, and it entered the fight with one massive advantage: affordable pricing. At $7.99/month for its ad-supported Select tier and $10.99 for Premium, it undercuts most major competitors while delivering exclusive access to The Office, Premier League soccer, WWE, and NFL games you can’t watch anywhere else.

But can cheap pricing compensate for a smaller content library, inconsistent 4K support, and an interface that still needs polish? We’ve maintained active Peacock subscriptions across all three tiers for five months, tracked sports broadcasts, tested streaming quality on multiple devices, and calculated whether NBC’s gamble on budget-friendly streaming actually delivers value.

Quick Verdict

Peacock occupies a unique position in the streaming landscape. It’s not trying to be Netflix with thousands of originals or Disney+ with blockbuster franchises. Instead, Peacock focuses on what NBC does best: live sports, next-day network TV, and comfort-food sitcoms from the NBC vault.

The Select tier at $7.99/month offers genuine value for casual viewers who primarily want current NBC shows and don’t mind ads. The Premium tier at $10.99/month is the sweet spot—full content access including sports at a price that won’t break your budget. Premium Plus at $16.99/month adds offline downloads and mostly removes ads, though live broadcasts still include commercials.

Bottom line: Peacock isn’t a Netflix replacement, but it’s an exceptional complement to your streaming lineup. If you watch Premier League, follow WWE, or can’t imagine life without The Office, Peacock earns its spot in your budget. For everyone else, it’s a seasonal subscription—jump in for specific sports seasons or to binge NBC classics, then cancel until next time.

Peacock Pricing Breakdown (2026)

Peacock restructured its pricing in July 2025, introducing three distinct tiers and increasing prices by $3 across the board. Here’s what each plan costs and includes:

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Content Access	Simultaneous Streams	Ads	Downloads
Select	$7.99	$79.99	Limited library	3	Yes	No
Premium	$10.99	$109.99	Full library	3	Yes	No
Premium Plus	$16.99	$169.99	Full library	3	Mostly no	Yes

Select Tier: The Budget Entry Point

The $7.99 Select tier is Peacock’s newest offering, launched in 2025. It provides access to current NBC and Bravo programming (next-day episodes) plus a “broad” selection of the content library. However, you won’t get the full catalog of movies, older shows, or premium originals.

This tier makes sense only if you primarily watch current network shows and can tolerate significant content restrictions. For most users, the additional $3/month for Premium unlocks dramatically more value.

Premium Tier: The Sweet Spot

At $10.99/month, Premium represents Peacock’s best value proposition. You get the complete content library—every NBC show, all Universal movies, live sports including Premier League and WWE, and all Peacock Originals. The trade-off: ads run approximately 3-5 minutes per hour.

Premium allows 3 simultaneous streams, making it shareable across a household. The annual plan at $109.99 saves you roughly $22 versus paying monthly—equivalent to 10 months for the price of 12.

Premium Plus: Mostly Ad-Free Experience

The $16.99 Premium Plus tier removes ads from the vast majority of on-demand content. You also gain offline downloads and 24/7 access to your local NBC channel live stream.

However, “ad-free” has asterisks. Live sports broadcasts (NFL, Premier League, WWE) still include commercials because Peacock simulcasts the network feed with built-in ad breaks. Peacock Channels (24/7 themed streams) also run ads. And a small number of licensed shows require ads regardless of subscription tier due to original licensing contracts.

For most viewers, Premium Plus is harder to justify. The $6/month premium over Premium buys you ad reduction on shows you’d likely binge anyway. Unless you absolutely cannot tolerate any advertising or need offline downloads for travel, stick with Premium.

Content Library: NBC’s Vault Plus Sports

Peacock’s content strategy is straightforward: leverage NBCUniversal’s massive back catalog, prioritize live sports, and supplement with selective original programming. As of December 2025, the library includes approximately 6,400 distinct movies and TV seasons—smaller than Netflix’s 8,400+ titles but respectable given Peacock’s budget positioning.

NBC’s Crown Jewels

Peacock’s exclusive access to beloved NBC sitcoms is its biggest draw for many subscribers:

The Office (Complete Series):

• All nine seasons streaming exclusively on Peacock
• Superfan Episodes with extended cuts, deleted scenes, and never-before-seen footage
• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and cast interviews

Parks and Recreation:

• Complete series (seven seasons)
• The comfort-watch companion to The Office

30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place:

• Full runs of NBC’s critically acclaimed comedies
• Perfect for binge-watching when you need reliably funny content

Classic NBC:

• Cheers, Frasier, The Golden Girls
• Saturday Night Live archives (decades of episodes)
• Modern Family (complete series)

For fans of these shows alone, Peacock’s subscription pays for itself. The Office remains one of streaming’s most-watched titles years after its finale, and having exclusive access is Peacock’s smartest competitive move.

Peacock Originals: Quality Over Quantity

Unlike Netflix’s spray-and-pray approach to original content, Peacock produces fewer shows but invests in quality productions:

Poker Face (Seasons 1-2):

• Natasha Lyonne’s mystery-of-the-week series
• Season 2 premiered May 2025
• Exceptional guest cast each episode (à la Columbo)

The Day of the Jackal:

• International spy thriller starring Eddie Redmayne
• Critically acclaimed cinematography and performances
• Renewed for Season 2

Bel-Air:

• Fresh Prince reimagined as serious drama
• Four-season run concluded December 2025
• Thoughtful examination of race and class

The Paper:

• Set in The Office universe with returning cast member
• Premiered September 2025
• Created by Greg Daniels (The Office mastermind)

The Traitors:

• Reality competition phenomenon hosted by Alan Cumming
• Multiple seasons and international versions
• Genuine cultural impact and Emmy wins

We Are Lady Parts:

• All-female Muslim punk band comedy-drama
• Funny, warm, and perfectly performed
• Critical darling with devoted fanbase

The original slate is smaller than competitors, but the hit rate is higher. Peacock seems to greenlight fewer shows and support them properly rather than cancel everything after two seasons (looking at you, Netflix).

Universal Pictures Movies

As part of NBCUniversal, Peacock gets exclusive streaming windows for Universal theatrical releases approximately 45 days after their cinema debut. Recent additions include:

• Oppenheimer (available in 4K)
• Jurassic World Rebirth
• M3GAN 2.0
• Wicked: For Good (theatrical sequel)

The movie library rotates regularly. You won’t find the depth of Netflix’s film catalog, but theatrical releases from Universal provide consistent fresh content. Peacock also carries older Universal catalog titles—classic films and recent favorites that would otherwise require individual rentals.

Next-Day Network TV

One of Peacock’s underrated advantages: new episodes of current NBC and Bravo shows appear the day after broadcast. This includes:

NBC Programming:

• Law & Order: SVU
• Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D.
• The Voice
• Saturday Night Live (typically available Sunday morning)

Bravo Reality:

• Real Housewives franchises
• Below Deck
• Top Chef
• Vanderpump Rules

This makes Peacock a cable replacement for NBC/Bravo superfans. Instead of paying $70+ for cable or YouTube TV, you get next-day access for $10.99.

Live Sports: Peacock’s Secret Weapon

If you’re a sports fan, Peacock might be the best value in streaming. For $10.99/month, you get access to more exclusive live sports than any competitor at this price point.

Premier League Soccer

Peacock is essential for English Premier League fans in the United States:

• 175+ live matches per season (nearly half the league’s 380 total games)
• Exclusive streaming rights to matches not shown on NBC
• Full match replays available on-demand
• Premier League TV channel with 24/7 content
• 2025-26 season runs August 2025 through May 2026

For context, Premier League TV packages in the UK cost £30-40/month. Peacock’s $10.99 fee for 175 matches is extraordinary value—approximately $0.75 per match if you watch them all.

WWE Wrestling

Every WWE Premium Live Event streams on Peacock at no additional cost:

• WrestleMania
• SummerSlam
• Royal Rumble
• Survivor Series
• Crown Jewel
• Monthly premium events

Plus thousands of hours of WWE archives, including WCW and ECW historical content. While WWE is moving most programming to ESPN in late 2025, Peacock retained Saturday Night’s Main Event exclusively.

For wrestling fans, Peacock replaces the former WWE Network at a lower price point while bundling all other Peacock content.

NFL Football

Peacock streams select exclusive NFL games:

• Sunday Night Football (simulcast with NBC)
• Select exclusive games (typically 1 per season)
• Wild Card playoff game (exclusive streaming)
• Dolby Atmos audio on supported devices

The NFL content doesn’t match NFL Sunday Ticket’s scope, but for casual fans who want Sunday Night Football on-demand the next day, Peacock delivers.

NBA Basketball (New for 2025-26)

Starting January 2026, Peacock adds NBA coverage:

• 100 regular-season games
• Sunday Night Basketball (exclusive to Peacock and NBC)
• Monday games
• Tuesday night doubleheaders
• Playoff games, Conference Finals, and All-Star Game

This significantly expands Peacock’s sports value proposition for basketball fans.

Additional Sports

• Big Ten Football and Basketball: Conference games exclusive to Peacock
• Golf: PGA Tour coverage and tournaments
• Rugby: International matches and tournaments
• IndyCar: Racing events throughout the season
• Olympic Games: Exclusive streams for select events (Peacock carried significant Olympics coverage in 2024)

Streaming Quality and Technical Performance

Video Quality: Good When Supported

Peacock supports up to 4K Ultra HD with HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. However, implementation is inconsistent and device-dependent.

Quality Level	Bandwidth Required	Available On
Standard Definition	2.5 Mbps	All plans
HD (720p)	5 Mbps	All plans
Full HD (1080p)	8 Mbps	All plans
4K Ultra HD	16 Mbps	Premium and Premium Plus only
4K HDR/Dolby Vision	16 Mbps	Premium and Premium Plus (limited devices)

The 4K Problem:

Peacock’s 4K content library is limited compared to Netflix or Disney+. Select original movies (Oppenheimer), some Universal theatrical releases, and certain Peacock Originals offer 4K. Most library content maxes out at 1080p.

More frustratingly, 4K/HDR support varies dramatically by device:

Devices with Full 4K/HDR/Atmos Support:

• Roku 4K devices (best overall compatibility)
• Fire TV Stick 4K Max
• Select Android TV devices
• Apple TV 4K (requires manual format switching)

Devices with Problems:

• First-generation Fire TV Stick 4K (no 4K on Peacock)
• Google Chromecast with Google TV (inconsistent HDR support)
• Many Android TV platforms (hit-or-miss Dolby Atmos)

We tested Peacock across 10 devices and found Roku offers the most reliable 4K experience. Apple TV works but requires diving into settings to manually match content format before watching.

Download Functionality

Only Premium Plus subscribers can download content for offline viewing. This is a significant limitation—Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video offer downloads on their ad-supported tiers.

When downloads work, the experience is solid:

• Generous selection of downloadable titles
• Downloads expire after 30 days
• Must watch within 48 hours once started
• Works on iOS, Android, and Windows devices

Device Support

Peacock apps are available on all major platforms:

• iOS and Android phones/tablets
• Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, TCL)
• Streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast)
• Gaming consoles (PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S)
• Web browsers

The app experience is consistent across platforms, though the interface has notable usability issues (more on that below).

User Interface: Functional But Flawed

Peacock’s interface is a mixed bag. The core browsing experience works fine—content organized into rows, search easily accessible, clean dark theme with bright accents. But several design choices frustrate regular use.

What Works Well

• Simple navigation: One left-side menu with logical categories (TV, Movies, Sports, Kids)
• Skip intro button: Appears immediately when credits start
• Next episode auto-play: Smooth transitions with episode previews
• Peacock Channels: 50+ curated 24/7 streams organized by theme (though these include ads)

What Needs Improvement

Continue Watching Buried: The Continue Watching row appears fourth on the home page, requiring scrolling past “For You,” “Just Added,” and “Top 10 Movies.” For regular users, this is baffling—the content you’re actively watching should be front and center, not buried.

Auto-Playing Trailers: Hover over any title for two seconds, and the trailer automatically starts playing, complete with audio. This makes casual browsing annoying. There’s no setting to disable auto-play previews.

Channels Navigation: The Peacock Channels feature (24/7 themed streams) uses a clunky grid-based guide that’s difficult to navigate even on high-end streaming devices. Switching between live content and the channel guide frequently lags.

Settings Menu Hidden: Basic settings are buried in menus that require multiple clicks to access. Adjusting subtitle preferences or parental controls takes more effort than it should.

User Feedback

Based on aggregated user reviews across platforms:

• Google Play: 4.4/5
• Apple App Store: 4.6/5
• Trustpilot: 1.5/5 (complaints primarily about billing and content availability, not the app itself)

Most users find Peacock “functional but not great”—it gets the job done without delighting anyone with clever features or elegant design.

Ads Experience: What to Expect Per Tier

Peacock Premium (Ad-Supported): 3-5 Minutes Per Hour

The Premium tier shows regular ad breaks, similar to basic cable. Based on our testing across 50+ hours of content:

• Average ad load: 3-5 minutes per hour
• Ad frequency: Typically 2-4 breaks during a 1-hour show
• Ad length: Usually 15-30 seconds each
• Targeting: Basic demographic targeting, repeated ads common

The ad experience isn’t terrible. Breaks are predictable (they correspond with where network TV would cut to commercial), and total ad time is significantly less than traditional cable (which runs 15-18 minutes of ads per hour).

Compared to competitors:

• Hulu (ad tier): 6-8 minutes per hour (more ads than Peacock)
• Netflix (ad tier): 4-5 minutes per hour (similar to Peacock)
• Prime Video (with ads): 2-3 minutes per hour (fewer ads)

Peacock Premium Plus: Mostly Ad-Free

Premium Plus removes ads from the vast majority of on-demand content. However, ads remain in specific cases:

Live Broadcasts: NFL games, Premier League matches, WWE events, and local NBC news include all original commercial breaks. Peacock simulcasts the broadcast feed, and licensing agreements don’t allow ad removal.

Peacock Channels: The 24/7 themed channels (e.g., “The Office Channel,” “SNL Vault”) run scheduled ad breaks to mimic traditional TV.

Select Licensed Content: A small percentage of library shows require ads due to original licensing terms, regardless of subscription tier. These are clearly marked in the app.

Practical Reality: If you primarily watch on-demand shows and movies, Premium Plus delivers a genuinely ad-free experience. If live sports or Peacock Channels are important to you, expect ads even on Premium Plus.

Who Should Subscribe to Peacock?

Peacock makes sense if you:

• Follow Premier League soccer (175 exclusive matches is unbeatable value)
• Watch WWE events regularly (all premium live events included)
• Love The Office and want Superfan Episodes with extra footage
• Watch current NBC or Bravo shows (next-day access included)
• Want affordable live sports (NFL, NBA, Big Ten football, golf, rugby)
• Appreciate classic NBC sitcoms (Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, The Good Place)
• Need a budget-friendly streaming complement to Netflix or Max

Consider alternatives if you:

• Don’t care about sports (you’re paying for content you won’t use)
• Want extensive 4K content (limited library and device compatibility issues)
• Primarily watch prestige drama (Max or Apple TV+ are better)
• Need a large movie library (Netflix or Prime Video have more)
• Can’t tolerate any ads and watch mostly live content (Premium Plus still shows ads on sports)

Peacock vs. Competitors

Peacock vs. Hulu

Hulu offers a larger overall content library (7,250 titles vs. Peacock’s 6,400) and stronger FX/Disney content. However, Hulu’s ad-supported tier costs $9.99/month (Peacock Premium is $10.99), and Hulu’s ad-free tier runs $18.99 (vs. Peacock Premium Plus at $16.99).

Choose Peacock if: You want sports and NBC content at the lowest price Choose Hulu if: You prefer FX shows, ABC content, and a larger library

Peacock vs. Netflix

Netflix crushes Peacock on content volume, original programming, and international content. But Netflix’s cheapest ad tier is $7.99/month with limited features, and Premium 4K costs $24.99. Peacock Premium at $10.99 includes more live sports and costs half of Netflix Premium.

Choose Peacock if: You want sports and budget-friendly entertainment Choose Netflix if: You want maximum content variety and binge-friendly originals

Peacock vs. Prime Video

Prime Video is included free with Amazon Prime ($14.99/month or $139/year), making it essentially free for existing Prime members. Prime Video has improved original content (The Boys, Fallout, Reacher) but mixes subscription content with rentals in a confusing interface.

Choose Peacock if: You want sports and dedicated streaming focus Choose Prime Video if: You already subscribe to Amazon Prime anyway

Peacock vs. Paramount+

Paramount+ costs $7.99/month (with ads) or $13.99/month (mostly ad-free) and offers CBS shows, Paramount movies, and limited sports. Peacock has better sports coverage and a stronger classic sitcom library.

Choose Peacock if: Sports and NBC content matter to you Choose Paramount+ if: You watch CBS shows or love Star Trek

Methodology: How We Evaluated Peacock

We’ve maintained paid subscriptions to all three Peacock tiers since August 2025. For this review, we:

• Streamed 80+ hours of content across all three tiers (Select, Premium, Premium Plus)
• Watched 15+ live sports broadcasts including Premier League, WWE, and NFL
• Tested streaming quality on 10 devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, smart TVs, iOS, Android, web browsers)
• Measured 4K/HDR availability and performance across supported devices
• Tracked ad frequency over 50+ hours on Premium tier (averaged 3-5 minutes/hour)
• Counted content library titles using publicly available data (6,400+ titles confirmed)
• Compared next-day TV availability for current NBC and Bravo shows
• Evaluated download functionality on iOS and Android

All observations come from hands-on testing during September-December 2025, not marketing materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peacock worth it without sports?

Peacock becomes harder to justify without sports interest. The content library is smaller than Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video. However, if you love The Office, watch current NBC shows, or appreciate classic NBC sitcoms, the $10.99 Premium tier still offers reasonable value. Consider it more of a seasonal subscription—sign up to binge The Office or catch up on NBC shows, then cancel.

Does Peacock have good movies?

Peacock’s movie library is decent but not exceptional. You get Universal Pictures theatrical releases about 45 days after cinema, which includes major releases like Oppenheimer, Wicked: For Good, and Jurassic World films. The back catalog includes older Universal titles. But compared to Netflix’s extensive film library or Prime Video’s movie selection, Peacock is limited. It’s a nice bonus, not the primary reason to subscribe.

How many devices can stream Peacock simultaneously?

All Peacock tiers (Select, Premium, and Premium Plus) allow 3 simultaneous streams. This is competitive with most streaming services—enough for a small household but potentially limiting for larger families.

Can I watch Peacock without ads?

Mostly, yes—on Premium Plus. The $16.99/month Premium Plus tier removes ads from the vast majority of on-demand content. However, live sports broadcasts (NFL, Premier League, WWE) still include all original commercials because Peacock simulcasts the broadcast feed. Peacock Channels (24/7 themed streams) also run ads on all tiers.

Does Peacock have 4K content?

Yes, but it’s limited. Select Peacock Originals and recent Universal theatrical releases offer 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos. However, most library content maxes out at 1080p, and 4K support varies significantly by device. Roku streaming devices offer the most reliable 4K experience. You need Premium or Premium Plus tier to access any 4K content.

What happened to the Peacock free tier?

Peacock discontinued its completely free tier in 2023. The current entry-level option is Select at $7.99/month, which launched in July 2025. Select provides limited library access plus current NBC/Bravo shows, but most subscribers find Premium at $10.99 better value for the full content library.

Can I download Peacock shows for offline viewing?

Only on Premium Plus ($16.99/month). Premium Plus subscribers can download select titles to iOS, Android, and Windows devices for offline viewing. Downloaded content expires after 30 days and must be watched within 48 hours once started. The Select and Premium tiers don’t support downloads at all.

How does Peacock’s sports coverage compare to ESPN+?

Different focus. ESPN+ ($11.99/month) emphasizes UFC, exclusive MLB and NHL games, college sports, and niche sports documentaries. Peacock ($10.99 Premium) focuses on Premier League soccer, WWE, Sunday Night Football, Big Ten conference sports, and starting 2026, NBA games. If you want soccer and WWE, choose Peacock. If you want UFC and hockey, choose ESPN+. Neither replaces a comprehensive sports package like YouTube TV or Fubo.

Final Verdict

Peacock won’t replace Netflix as your primary streaming service. Its content library is smaller, 4K support is inconsistent, and the interface needs polish. But that’s not what Peacock is trying to be.

Instead, Peacock is the affordable specialist: it delivers exceptional value for sports fans, NBC superfans, and viewers seeking budget-friendly entertainment to complement their main streaming service. At $10.99/month for Premium, you get exclusive access to 175 Premier League matches, all WWE events, NFL games, NBA basketball, plus The Office with Superfan Episodes, next-day NBC shows, and a respectable library of movies and originals.

The pricing is legitimately compelling. For less than Netflix’s ad tier or half the cost of Netflix Premium, you get content Netflix can’t offer: live sports and NBC’s crown jewels. The trade-offs are real—smaller library, fewer prestige dramas, limited 4K—but they’re acceptable given the price and focus.

Our recommendation depends on your interests:

For sports fans: Peacock Premium at $10.99 is a no-brainer. The Premier League coverage alone justifies the cost.

For The Office devotees: Peacock is mandatory. Superfan Episodes with extended cuts aren’t available anywhere else.

For casual entertainment: Start with Peacock Premium. If ads bother you enough to justify $6 more monthly, upgrade to Premium Plus. But try Premium first.

For everyone else: Treat Peacock as a seasonal subscription. Subscribe for football season, soccer season, or to binge NBC classics, then cancel and rotate to other services.

Peacock isn’t perfect, but it knows what it is: affordable, focused, and surprisingly valuable if its strengths align with your interests.

Our Rating: 3.8/5