Starz vs Paramount+: Which is Better?

Starz and Paramount+ both shine when it comes to original shows and blockbuster films, but which is better among the two streaming services? Paramount+ has more options when it comes to plans (you can upgrade the Essential plan to the Showtime plan), while Starz promises no-ad streaming (and mostly lives up to it). Paramount+ also offers a free trial if you want to see what you're getting before committing, and it has sports content from partner CBS channels. Ultimately, it comes down to preference. Starz might be better if you're after pure entertainment, but Paramount+ is the one to get if you want more variety. You can read more about them in our breakdown below.

Summary

Comparaison	Starz	Paramount+ Essential
Price	$10.99/month	$7.99/month
Trial	No	7 days
Our rating	8/10	7/10
Number of channels
Parental controls	Yes	Yes

Price: Paramount+ Essential is cheaper than Starz

Paramount+ Essential's costs $8 whereas Starz costs $11. Getting Starz instead of Paramount+ Essential will set you back $3 more every month.

Why get Starz?

Original programming: While Starz doesn't have as many original shows and movies as Netflix or HBO, it does produce some acclaimed entertainment, including movies like Ash Evil Dead and shows such as American Gods, Power, to name but a few.

Sharing devices: Starz lets you have four simultaneous streams per account, for about $7 less than Netflix's most expensive Premium plan which allows the same.

Go to Starz

Why get Paramount+ Essential?

Offline downloads and 4K streaming: Although you have to pay for the service, Paramount+ offers premium subscribers offline downloads, as well as 4K streaming for select titles.

Go to Paramount+ Essential

Devices: Paramount+ Essential is more widely available than Starz

Paramount+ Essential is available on Airplay supported, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense Android TV, iOS, LG TV, Playsation, Roku, Samsung TV, Shareplay supported, Sony Bravia Android TVs, TCL 3-Series Smart TV, Visio TV, Vizio TV or Xbox.

Whereas Starz is available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Shareplay supported or Xbox. That's 9 less devices than Paramount+ Essential.

Trial: Starz does not offer a trial

Starz does not offer a free trial.

Find out more on Starz

Trial: Paramount+ Essential offers a trial

Paramount+ Essential has a trial. The trial duration is 7 days.

Find out more on Paramount+ Essential

Starz's specialty

The specialties of Starz are: Action, Horror, Movies, Original series, True Crime.

Paramount+ Essential's specialty

The specialties of Paramount+ Essential are: Action, Horror, Movies, Old TV shows, Original series.

Starz's accepted payment methods

Starz accepts: Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store, credit card, debit card, Google Play Store, Paypal, prepaid card, Retailer gift card, Roku Payment Method (RPM), Vizio TV App Store.

Paramount+ Essential's accepted payment methods

The payment methods that Paramount+ Essential accepts are: Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store, credit card, Google Play Store, prepaid card, Retailer gift card, Walmart gift cards.

Does Paramount+ Essential have a better catalog than Starz?

Based on our calculations, Paramount+ Essential has a better catalog than Starz. Our curators have found 51 highly-rated movies and shows on Paramount+ Essential. By contrast, they have only found 44 highly-rated movies and shows on Starz.

What are the best movies on Starz?

Here are the best movies that our team recommends on Starz:

Nightcrawler (2014) (our rating: 8.6/10)

The Whistleblower (2010) (our rating: 8.3/10)

Polite Society (2023) (our rating: 8.2/10)

99 Homes (2015) (our rating: 8.2/10)

The Fabelmans (2022) (our rating: 8.2/10)

Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) (our rating: 8.2/10)

Paddington (2014) (our rating: 8.1/10)

Sunshine Cleaning (2008) (our rating: 8/10)

A Thousand and One (2023) (our rating: 8/10)

Tár (2022) (our rating: 8/10)

What are the best movies on Paramount+ Essential?

Here are the best movies that our team recommends on Paramount+ Essential:

Eastern Promises (2007) (our rating: 9.1/10)

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) (our rating: 8.9/10)

Election (1999) (our rating: 8.3/10)

Out of Sight (1998) (our rating: 8.2/10)

Chicago (2002) (our rating: 8.2/10)

Foxcatcher (2014) (our rating: 8.2/10)

Paddington (2014) (our rating: 8.1/10)

Arthur Christmas (2011) (our rating: 8/10)

Like Crazy (2011) (our rating: 8/10)

The Eternal Memory (2023) (our rating: 7.9/10)

What are the best shows on Starz?

Here are the best shows that our team recommends on Starz:

The Serpent Queen (our rating: 8.5/10)

Minx (our rating: 8.3/10)

Gaslit (our rating: 7.8/10)

Howards End (our rating: 7.8/10)

Sweetpea (our rating: 7.7/10)

Party Down (our rating: 7.5/10)

Dublin Murders (our rating: 7.4/10)

Mary & George (our rating: 7.3/10)

Three Women (our rating: 6.5/10)

What are the best shows on Paramount+ Essential?

Here are the best shows that our team recommends on Paramount+ Essential:

The Good Fight (our rating: 9.1/10)

Ghosts (our rating: 8.9/10)

Review (our rating: 8.6/10)

Nathan for You (our rating: 8.6/10)

Signal (our rating: 8.5/10)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (our rating: 8.3/10)

Corporate (our rating: 8/10)

Broad City (our rating: 7.9/10)

Pyramid Game (our rating: 7.8/10)

Rabbit Hole (our rating: 7.7/10)

If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.