Discovery+ Review: Here’s What to Know About Discovery’s Streaming Service
Discovery jumped into the video streaming service game with Discovery+, a new way to watch all of its content on demand that launched in the United States in January 2021. Below, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about it, from how to get Discovery+ for free to the best Discovery+ shows you can watch right now.
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You Can Watch Shows From Several Major Cable Channels
Discovery+ includes content from every media property under the Discovery umbrella, which includes: HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, OWN, Discovery, Discovery+ Originals, Investigation Discovery, Magnolia Network, A&E, Lifetime, History, Trvl, DIY Network, Science Channel, and The Dodo.
This means you can stream past seasons of a wide variety of shows, including: Iron Chef, Ghost Adventures, Food Star: Kids, Worst Cooks In America, House Hunters, Chopped Challenge: At Home, Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, 90 Day Journey, Martha Knows Best, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Dr. Pimple Popper, Restored By The Fords, Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives, Deadliest Catch, Love It Or List It, Buddy Vs. Duff, Celebrity IOU, Beat Bobby Flay, On The Case With Paula Zahn, Planet Earth II, Say Yes To The Dress: In Sickness And In Health, Expedition Unknown, Diesel Brothers, Supermarket Stakeout, and Dirty Jobs.
You’ll also be able to watch new episodes of these shows shortly after they air. Discovery says there are currently over 70,000 episodes of TV available on the service right now, plus live video feeds of any channel.
Discovery also previously rolled out shows that are exclusive to Discovery+, including 90 Day Fiance Universe, Six Degrees With Mike Rowe, Home Town: Ben’s Workshop, Amy Schumer Learns To Cook: Uncensored, and Bobby and Giada in Italy.
It’s Cheaper Than A Lot Of Other Streaming Services
There are two pricing tiers to Discovery+: The ad-supported version costs $4.99 per month, and the ad-free version is only $6.99. This is a relative bargain compared to its main competitors.
Netflix starts at $9.99, but you have to pay $15.49 if you want to stream videos in HD. HBO Max costs $14.99 per month, and NBC’s Peacock is $4.99 with ads or $9.99 if you want to go ad-free. You can get Hulu for $6.99 per month, but the ad-free version jumps to $12.99. In that case we recommend the Disney+, Hulu (Ad version), ESPN+ bundle, which costs just $13.99 per month.
Each streaming service has its pros and cons — we’ve compared many of them head-to-hear — but Discovery+ is still a good value overall, especially the ad-free version.
It’s Available On Most Smartphones , Tablets and Media Streamers
Discovery+ is available as an app on the following devices: smartphones and tablets running iOS or Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku media streamers, Samsung smart TVs, and Xbox One or Series S/X game consoles. You can download the app onto as many gadgets as you like, and have access to Discovery+’s full library across all of them.
This is a pleasant surprise because many video subscription services are only available on a couple of platforms at launch. Discovery says Discovery+ will be available on even more devices in the future.
Verizon Customers Can Get Six Months of Discovery+ For Free
Verizon is offering a free, six-month subscription to Discovery+ to customers who use its services. Verizon Wireless Unlimited subscribers can take advantage of this promotion right now. You’re also eligible for the deal if you upgrade your current phone plan to Verizon Unlimited, switch to Verizon Unlimited from a different carrier, or switch to Verizon Fios home internet.
You can find more details about how to take advantage of this offer on Verizon’s website.
Is Discovery+ Available on Other Platforms?
Yes, you can stream Discovery+ through Sling TV. If you want to try out Discovery+, you can get a seven-day free trial to the Sling Free plan. Once your trial ends, you can also get Discovery+ for $4.99/month or $6.99/month (ad-free), and score Sling TV for half off your first month. Check out the Discovery+ and Sling TV deal here.
The Bottom Line: Is Discovery+ Worth It?
Discovery+ launches into a crowded field, but does a lot to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. It has an attractive price, and a very deep catalogue of content. You can stream some of the most popular shows on television at home or on the go. Verizon Unlimited subscribers have no excuses, but we recommend everyone give Discovery+’s week-long free trial a chance to see if it’s right for you.
Sign Up For A Free 7-Day Discovery+ Trial
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