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Reading Time: 6 minutesIn early 2021, Discovery entered the ever-expanding streaming wars with their own exclusive service: Discovery+. With a plethora of other streaming services to consider, on top of your run-of-the-mill cable subscription, is adding another TV service worth it? Don’t worry — we’re digging in to see how everything Discovery+ has to offer and whether its worth your money.
How Much Does Discovery+ Cost?
Discovery+ is one of the more affordable streaming TV options available right now.
- $4.99 / month (with ads): The cheapest tier of Discovery+ packs pretty much your entire middle cable tier into a streaming bundle that costs less than $5 a month. With this tier, you get access to the full Discovery+ library with ads.
- $6.99 / month (without ads): For $6.99 a month, you can enjoy the same content but with a completely ad-free viewing experience.
There is currently no yearly option.
Does Discovery+ Have Discounts or Promos?
- Student Discounts: If you are an active student between 18-24 years old, Discovery+ is offering their ad-lite version for just $2.99/month for one year after the free 7-day trial. Learn more about the student discount requirements and how to verify your status.
- Verizon Bundle: Verizon is offering a free year of Discovery + for their Verizon unlimited members as part of a bundle. This includes the ad-free version of Discovery+, which normally costs $6.99 a month.
- SiriusXM Customers: If you are a SiriusXM subscriber, you can get Discovery+ free (ad-lite version). The offer is only valid for new Discovery+ subscribers and expires June 30, 2022.
Does Discovery+ Offer a Free Trial?
Yes! You can start your free trial of Discovery+ for 7 days, risk-free. The free trial includes full access to all Discovery+ content, with the option to try out the ad-supported or the ad-free streaming experience.
What Can I Watch on Discovery+?
Credit: Discovery+
While it doesn’t carry live feeds of Discovery-owned networks, Discovery+ hosts more than 55,000 episodes from more than 2,500 current and classic shows in the Discovery network.
The Discovery+ library includes shows from the following channels:
- HGTV
- Food Network
- Discovery Channel
- Investigation Discovery
- Animal Planet
- Lifetime
- A&E
- History Channel
- TLC
- DIY Network and a preview of its relaunch, Magnolia Network
Popular shows on Discovery+ include:
- 90 Day Fiancé and its many spinoffs
- Pioneer Woman
- Chopped
- Hell’s Kitchen
- 1000-lb Sisters
- Ghost Hunters
- Fixer Upper
- Seeking Sister Wife
- Mythbusters
- Naked and Afraid of Love
- Planet Earth
Fans of TLCs 90 Day Fiancé and Pioneer Woman will find their favorite episodes available at their fingertips. Additionally, it includes popular shows from Lifetime, A&E and History. If you’re a fan of David Attenborough’s majestic narrations from BBC’s natural history shows like Planet Earth, you’ll find exclusive streaming rights to this in the U.S.
Does Discovery+ Have Live TV?
Unlike other streaming services like Hulu and YouTube TV, Discovery+ does not currently support live TV. However, you can find a back library of your favorite shows from your favorite Discovery channels. Most new episodes are available to view on Discovery+ the same day after airing or are usually added by the next day.
Does Discovery+ have 4K Content?
According to its website, Discovery + offers a selection of episodes and specials streaming in Ultra HD 4K for “Fire TVs and Apple TVs.” Most of Discovery’s Ultra HD content is available in the Nature and Animals collection of shows and specials. Users can search using the terms “UHD”, “Ultra HD”, and “4K” to see the entire selection.
Discovery is working to support more platforms and add more Ultra HD video streaming.
How Do I Watch Discovery+?
Credit: Discovery+
Like many popular streaming services — Discovery has made discovering their streaming content a breeze. The Discovery+ app is available on all major platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, Google, Roku TV, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Xbox, Chromecast, Android TV, and Samsung Smart TVs.
How Does Discovery+ Stack up Against Other Streaming Services?
Cable Comparison
Cable TV has the advantage of longevity and ease of access, as many homes have relied on cable TV for years and switching to an internet-only viewing experience requires a bit of effort. Today, many large cable companies bundle cable TV and internet for a flat fee. However, these packages can cost upwards of $100 a month — which is pricey for most households.
If you’re content with your current cable plan, and the fees that accompany it, you might be reluctant to make the switch. Cutting the cord and transitioning to streaming-only viewing, you’ll be escaping the long-term contracts and variable pricing that comes with cable TV. However, you’ll still need to pay for an internet connection for these services. If you find that you’re paying for cable to primarily watch networks available on Discovery+, it’s worth looking at cutting down on your monthly bills and switching to an internet-only package.
Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+): $12.99 Monthly
The Disney bundle includes the ad-supported tier of Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ for just $12.99 per month. The Walt Disney Company holds a large majority stake in Hulu and ESPN, which gives them an advantage in bundling three incredible streaming services, for a low flat monthly fee.
Hulu has a large selection of movies and TV shows and is probably your best option for accessing content from networks like HGTV and TLC. But despite featuring their own critically acclaimed Hulu originals, like The Handmaids Tale, it has a far more limited library. Disney+ is perfect for families and Disney lovers alike and bundling your sports content through ESPN+ makes this bundle a deal that’s hard to pass up.
That said, Discovery+ does have some overlapping content with Hulu. Adding an ad-supported subscription to Discovery+ won’t break your budget and can provide you with an even larger library of exclusive content.
SHOWTIME and Paramount+: $12.99 Monthly
Paramount+, formerly known as CBS all access, offers a premium bundle with SHOWTIME for $12.99 a month.
This is the perfect option if you’re looking for a way to stream your favorite CBS shows, like Big Brother, Late Night with Stephen Colbert and NCIS. It also includes a live stream of CBS, with the ability to stream sports and original Paramount+ content. SHOWTIME is a one-stop-shop for movies and popular TV shows like Dexter. With a lower price point, opting for an additional ad-free Discovery+ subscription will still keep your monthly payments under $20.
Netflix: Starting at $8.99
For those looking to add a second streaming service on top of their Netflix subscription, you’ll be pleased to know that that there is little cross-over between Netflix and Discovery+ content. Netflix’s cheapest subscription starts at $8.99 for a single user, so adding Discovery+ will give you tons of content at your fingertips for under $14.
Is Discovery+ Worth Paying For?
Credit: Discovery+
If you grew up watching the Discovery channel and are looking for a streaming service that hosts your favorite shows from TLC, HGTV and the Food Network – Discovery+ is worth subscribing to. The monthly subscription fee is comparable, if not cheaper, than other major streaming services currently on the market while offering access to tons of popular shows and movies out there. You might not have the full range of movies and TV shows that you’ll find with Netflix or Hulu (with Disney’s Hulu/ESPN+/Disney+ bundle), but you’re still getting exclusive access to your favorite Discovery shows.
Take advantage of the free trial — you can always set an alarm on the sixth day as a reminder to reassess and cancel if you want. If you’re hooked, for just $4.99 a month you won’t be breaking your budget and you can cancel at any time.
Tip: To get your money’s worth, pay for one month of streaming and binge all the shows you want within that month, then cancel it afterwards. If there is a show you really want to watch, wait until the entire series is out on the platform first before you begin your subscription.
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Prestin Minter
Prestin Minter brings a fresh face to finding the best deals. For the past 3 years, he's worked as a copywriter and content creator, harnessing his technical writing skills. He's an avid horror fan; a father to his pet snake, Queso; and is currently a freelance writer for Slickdeals.