SHOWTIME has been around the block a time or two and with this experience they understand how to provide their customers with a live tv streaming service for the masses: simple, ad-free streaming. With plenty of series, movies, sports content, and documentaries, SHOWTIME has content for anyone looking.
Unlike more extensive streaming services such as Hulu or FuboTV, SHOWTIME doesn’t have the most extensive content library, but it does offer a free subscription option for viewers who already subscribe to SHOWTIME on cable TV. With options for viewers of either kind, SHOWTIME is a solid streaming service to pair with your current subscription, similar to HBO and STARZ. Below, you’ll find all the information you need to decide if SHOWTIME is the right streaming platform for you.
What plans does SHOWTIME offer?
| Plan | Cost Per Month | Ads | Free Trial? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHOWTIME | $10.99 | No | Yes |
| SHOWTIME & Paramount+ Essential (ads) | $11.99 | Yes | Yes |
| SHOWTIME & Paramount+ Premium (no ads) | $14.99 | No | Yes |
SHOWTIME offers subscribers 550+ movies, 90+ series, and a few live channels sprinkled in the mix for the low cost of $10.99. With this content you’ll find plenty to keep you busy while watching or even more to add on to one of your other streaming services. With the Paramount+ bundle available you’ll gain access to all of Paramount+’s on-demand library and live TV options. For only $11.99 or $14.99 for the ad-free plan, it feels like a no-brainer to tack Paramount+ onto your SHOWTIME subscription.
For cable TV users who already subscribe to SHOWTIME, the service also offers SHOWTIME Anytime, which gives you free access to the SHOWTIME app, streaming library, and ad-free content when you log in with your cable TV credentials. SHOWTIME is also available as an add-on for other streaming services like FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, or YouTube TV to keep your subscriptions simple.
SHOWTIME free trial
SHOWTIME stands out from the rest with its lengthy 30-day free trial and the ability to live stream broadcasts of the SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West networks. While the service doesn’t offer DVR storage for live streaming, once an episode airs on the network, it stays added to the streaming library for you to enjoy whenever you’re ready. This means you won’t have to worry about missing any episodes of your favorite shows – you can catch up at any time.
With one of the longest free trials available on the market theres no reason not to test it out. If you aren’t happy with it or don’t use it as much as you thought just make sure to cancel your subscription before the auto-renew at the end of your 30-day trial.
What add-ons does SHOWTIME offer?
While SHOWTIME doesn’t currently offer add-ons for your subscription, it does provide an option to bundle with Paramount Plus for added entertainment. With this option, you can choose to bundle SHOWTIME with either Paramount’s Essential or Premium plans. The main difference between the two is the availability of your local CBS network. The Essential plan doesn’t include access to your local live CBS station, but NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League are still available on other live feeds. With the Premium plan, you’ll have access to your local CBS station and additional sports coverage. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:
| Bundle | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| SHOWTIME & Paramount+ Essential (ads) | $11.99 |
| SHOWTIME & Paramount+ Premium (no ads) | $14.99 |
Does SHOWTIME offer sports content?
SHOWTIME offers a variety of sports content, particularly when it comes to non-traditional sports such as MMA and boxing. The service provides access to live boxing and MMA fights included in your subscription, plus options for pay-per-view fights. You’ll also find a variety of popular original titles and sports documentaries in the streaming library, such as “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” “Passion Play: Russell Westbrook,” and “Disgraced.”
However, die-hard sports fans may prefer other streaming services with a broader variety of sports content in the channel lineup. For example, Peacock’s Premium plan offers Premier League soccer, IndyCar racing, and WWE coverage. FuboTV is also an excellent option for sports fans, offering one of the most extensive sports lineups available. With FuboTV, you can watch the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, golf, tennis, boxing, MMA, college sports, and more.
How does SHOWTIME compare to other streaming services?
| Streaming Service | Cost Per Month | Live TV Available? | Ads? | Free Trial? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHOWTIME | $10.99 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Max | $10 | No | Ad-free option | No |
| Hulu | $7.99+ | Yes | Ad-free option | Yes |
| ESPN Plus | $10.99 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Disney Plus | $7.99 | No | No | No |
SHOWTIME stands out from the competition when it comes to free trial length. Compared to a seven-day free trial for STARZ and no free trial for Max, SHOWTIME’s 30-day free trial offers users plenty of time to decide if the service is right for them before making a payment. You’ll also be able to live stream SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West, meaning you won’t need to wait 24 hours for new episodes, which is standard on other streaming services like Hulu.
Although SHOWTIME offers a wide selection of original titles, it’s difficult to say whether or not it surpasses the popularity of other original hits like Netflix’s “Lupin” and “Stranger Things” or Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” For die-hard fans of SHOWTIME’s original content, it’s a great choice to stay up-to-date with live streaming for new episodes and movies. But because SHOWTIME only offers its own original content, the selection is smaller than other streaming services like Max, which also includes popular titles from other networks.
Similar to STARZ and Max, you can subscribe to SHOWTIME independently or include it as an add-on with other streaming services like Hulu, Prime Video, or Sling TV. Overall, it’s a great option to expand your channel availability and enjoy your favorite movies and shows. Still, it may not be the best standalone subscription for users who like a wider variety of content.
What are the downsides of SHOWTIME?
The biggest downside of SHOWTIME is the relatively small content library for the monthly subscription cost. Many of SHOWTIME’s on-demand competitors like Peacock TV offer a more robust variety of entertainment for a similar price, also offering live TV streaming options for popular sports and events.
What makes SHOWTIME stand out?
SHOWTIME offers one of the longest free trials available with comparable streaming services. You can watch SHOWTIME free for 30 days, compared to just seven days for STARZ and no free trial for Max. In addition to offering a selection of popular original content, subscribers can access SHOWTIME originals live as they air on the network. Users can then stream SHOWTIME live through the SHOWTIME app on any supported devices. Once a new episode has aired live on the SHOWTIME network, it stays added to the on-demand library so you won’t miss a thing.
How to subscribe to SHOWTIME
Subscribing to SHOWTIME is simple. Here’s how you can get started:
- Head to the SHOWTIME website and select “Try 30 Days Free.” If you’d rather bundle with Paramount Plus, select “Start Bundle Free Trial.”
- Enter your personal information, then choose whether you’d like to be billed monthly or annually.
- Enter your billing information.
- Start streaming!
Keep in mind that after your free trial ends, you’ll be automatically billed based on your subscription plan of choice. So if you don’t want to continue with SHOWTIME, make sure to cancel your subscription before your free trial ends.
How to cancel my SHOWTIME subscription
- Sign in to the SHOWTIME website on your computer or mobile web browser to cancel your SHOWTIME subscription.
- Navigate to your account page, and select “Cancel Your Subscription.”
- Once you cancel your SHOWTIME subscription, you’ll continue to have access to SHOWTIME for the remainder of the billing cycle.
Is SHOWTIME worth it?
SHOWTIME offers a variety of new movies, popular original series, sports shows, and other programming. You’ll also have access to live streaming from SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West, giving you a mix of live and on-demand content to enjoy. Unlike other streaming services like Hulu or Netflix, you can catch your favorite shows as they air instead of waiting several days (or months) for new episodes or seasons to be added to the platform.
And with a 30-day free trial, SHOWTIME is an excellent option for SHOWTIME fans to test out the service and enjoy their favorite movies and TV shows. Still, with a relatively small content library compared to the competition, users may prefer to add SHOWTIME to their current streaming subscription instead of using it as a standalone option.
FAQs
What does SHOWTIME streaming include?
In the streaming library, you’ll find a large variety of current TV shows, movies, and previously aired content, such as “Shameless,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Ex Machina,” and “The Rental.” SHOWTIME offers a variety of sports content, particularly when it comes to non-traditional sports such as MMA and boxing. Watch live TV or catch up on-demand on your TV, tablet, phone or computer.
Is SHOWTIME included in Hulu?
Your Hulu subscription doesn’t include SHOWTIME, but you can purchase it as a premium add-on for an additional $10.99 per month.
Is getting SHOWTIME worth it?
SHOWTIME’s 30-day free trial stands out from the competition and offers users plenty of time to decide if the service is right for them before making a payment. The biggest downside to SHOWTIME is the relatively small content library for the monthly subscription cost.
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