Showtime has become one of the most successful premium services available today. The platform has a wide catalog of movies, original series, comedy specials, sports, and more.
The popularity of the Showtime streaming service has been increasing in recent times, mainly because of the release of top TV shows like Billions, Shameless, The Affair, Your Honor, Work In Progress, and more.
But is Showtime worth it in an era where there are multiple streaming services?
If you love critically-acclaimed original series and limited television shows, you’ll definitely enjoy your Showtime subscription. You’ll also get to watch a whole array of ground-breaking documentaries, hit Hollywood films, action-packed sports, and comedy specials.
Top five facts to know before signing up to Showtime
But before you can subscribe to Showtime, there are several facts you should know about the service.
1. How much does Showtime cost?
To watch Showtime, you’ll have to part with $10.99 every month. Alternatively, you can save more money by going for the annual plan of $99.99.
However, an advantage is that Showtime gives you a 30-day free trial. You can sign up for the free trial here.
You can subscribe to Showtime directly from its website or other services, including Amazon Prime or in-app purchases on Android, Apple, or Roku.
2. Showtime allows only one profile
Showtime does not offer user profiles on its platforms. In other words, once you subscribe to Showtime, your entire family will have to use the same account to access movies, TV shows, and Live TV.
Therefore, you cannot create different profiles, like kids, mom, dad, or aunt.
However, you can access the same account on up to five devices. The five devices can download titles at any given time. Note that each device can only download up to 15 titles.
3. Showtime offers exclusive live sports
Showtime offers live TV, allowing you to watch exclusive live sports. The live options provided through the service are Showtime East and Showtime West.
Showtime East is available for broadcast in the Eastern time zone, while Showtime West is the same channel but time-delayed by three hours for the Pacific time zone.
You can access Live TV anywhere with a high-speed internet connection within the United States.
You can also switch between channels to ensure you access the content you want or avoid missing your favorite programs.
4. You can resume watching a video on Showtime from different devices
One of the best features you will get on the Showtime app is Resume Watching. It allows you to pause a program on one device and pick up where you left off on another device.
The pause feature happens automatically. Note that Showtime does not have the option of creating multiple profiles, therefore, paused shows will be visible across all devices.
5. Showtime is only available in the USA
Showtime is a streaming service only available in the USA and its territories. In addition, the service restricts its content access in specific jurisdictions because of copyright and licensing issues.
However, if you plan to travel outside of the permitted zones, you can still watch your favorite programs by downloading them for offline viewing.
Is Showtime better than HBO?
Showtime and HBO are big competitors in the streaming space. When comparing the services, there are two factors worth considering – monthly cost and content library.
Content library
HBO dwarfs Showtime in terms of the content library. Its content library is bigger compared to Showtime.
Furthermore, HBO tends to acquire rights over newer films first for a limited period. Most movies that premiere in theaters play on HBO simultaneously.
Showtime does not have the option to watch the latest movies in cinemas. However, it has a range of original shows that have a massive following.
Monthly costs
Showtime costs $11.99 per month or $99 per year. On the other hand, it will cost you only $9.99 per month to access HBO Max with ads.
At first, it may seem HBO is cheaper. However, HBO becomes more expensive at $14.99 per month if you want all its features.
Showtime and HBO are comparable in other areas, including the number of devices supported, streaming quality, and features like parental controls, accessibility, and playback experience.
Is Showtime free with Amazon Prime?
Showtime is not free with Amazon Prime. The service is available as a third-party subscription.
However, you can enjoy a free 7-day trial if you have not subscribed to Showtime and took the 30-day free trial.
Before you can enjoy the 7-day free trial or your paid membership through Prime, you must first be an eligible Prime member.
In other words, you should have the Amazon Prime membership to access Showtime with Amazon Prime.
How many devices can watch Showtime at once?
You can access Showtime on up to five devices.
That means one single subscription is enough to sign in on up to five devices to watch or download movies and TV shows on Showtime at any given time.
However, Showtime only allows three devices to stream titles simultaneously.
Is Showtime worth it?
Showtime is an ideal streaming service in many regards, especially to the originals and other programming. The platform offers a decent range of television shows and movies on demand.
It is also the best for people searching for live TV, sports, or cable channels at a fraction of subscribing to cable TV.
However, its geographic restrictions only mean you cannot watch Showtime outside the USA and its territories.
Conclusion
Showtime is the best platform for streaming critically-acclaimed original series and limited television shows. The service gives you ad-free entertainment for $10.99 per month.
In return, you will enjoy watching films in HD and streaming Live TV, including sports. You will also get other features, including downloading titles for offline viewing and resuming a video on any device.
However, Showtime is only available in the United States and its territories. If you are outside the US, you will have to watch the titles you have downloaded on your device.