Peacock Costs Too Much: How to Watch Peacock Free Or Cheap
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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Peacock, which is owned and operated by NBCUniversal, offers everything from exclusive MLB games to Sunday Night Football to the Kentucky Derby plus original new and classic shows and movies. But despite all that good programming, we say Peacock still costs too much. Here’s the TV For Seniors guide to watch Peacock free or cheap.
The streamer raised its prices again in August, and if you’re paying full price, you’re getting squeezed. The cheapest ad-supported plan, Select, is now $8.99 a month. Premium with ads, the cheapest plan that include live sports, is $12.99 a month. And Premium Plus, the ad-free tier, is a whopping $19.99 a month!
The good news: you don’t have to pay Peacock directly. Here are the legitimate side doors to paying less, or nothing!
Also See: How to Watch Apple TV Free Or Cheap
Also See: How to Watch HBO Max Free Or Cheap
Free Or Cheap: Xfinity
If you’re an Xfinity Internet customer, check your rewards status. Platinum and Diamond members can redeem Peacock Premium at no extra cost through the Xfinity membership page. Higher tier Internet customers also get it free for two years on some promo plans, after which it drops to $7.99 a month unless you cancel. Xfinity’s NOW TV plan at $19.99 a month also includes Peacock Premium. The Xfinity StreamSaver bundle puts Peacock Premium, Netflix with ads, and Apple TV together for $17.99 to $21.00 a month, depending upon the plan.
Free: Spectrum TV
Select Spectrum TV packages include Peacock Premium at no additional cost. You have to log into your Spectrum account to see which plans qualify in your area, but it’s one of the cleanest free routes if Spectrum is your provider.
Free: Walmart+ Or Instacart+
Walmart+ includes Peacock Premium as a membership benefit; you can choose it instead of Paramount+ Essential. Instacart+ eligible members also get Peacock Premium during their trial or membership. If you already pay for either service for grocery delivery, this is the easiest free option there is.
Cheap: Discounted Rates
College students can get Premium for $6.99 a month for 12 months. So if you have a grandkid or child in college, you could take advantage of this benefit. Military members, veterans, educators, healthcare workers, and first responders qualify for $7.99 a month for the first year. And Sam’s Club Plus at $119.99 a year now includes Walmart+, which brings Peacock Premium along with it, less than a standalone annual Premium plan.
Cheap: Black Friday And Holiday Promo
This is my favorite trick to getting Peacock genuinely cheap. Around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Peacock sometimes runs its deepest discounts of the year: An annual plan slashed to $49.99 a year or the Premium package for $1.99 a month for six months. The catch: you need a credit card on file, and you have to cancel before the rate jumps back up after the promo is over. Set a reminder on your calendar before the deadline. You also should read our article, The Free Trial Trap, on ways to ensure you don’t get billed after a free trial or promotional rate ends. There’s no guarantee that Peacock will offer a Black Friday discount again this year but come to TV For Seniors for the latest reports.
Free: The Amazon Prime Free Trial
Amazon Prime Video usually offers a free seven-day trial to the ads-free Peacock Premium Plus plan. This is a great way to watch a big game on Peacock without paying a dime. (Peacock does not offer a free trial on its app or web site.) Again, just be sure to cancel before the trial period is over.
Peacock isn’t going anywhere, and neither is its price creep. But between provider perks, grocery memberships, and holiday promos, most seniors can watch what they want without paying full price.
Have a question? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
