Peacock Just Got More Expensive Again and Here’s Everything the Price Hike Means for Your Wallet
Peacock subscribers are waking up to some unwelcome news this week. NBCUniversal has confirmed a fresh round of price increases across every tier of its streaming service, marking the fourth such hike in just four years.
The changes went into effect on August 18, 2026, hitting new and returning subscribers immediately, with existing customers set to feel the pinch on their next billing cycle after September 17.
Peacock Subscription Price Breakdown
The Peacock Select plan, the platform’s most budget friendly option, is climbing from $7.99 to $8.99 a month, representing a $1 price hike. Select is the bare bones package, offering current and past seasons of NBC TV shows and Bravo shows, but no movies, live sports, or Peacock Originals.
The more popular Peacock Premium tier, which includes ads, is jumping from $10.99 to $12.99 a month. Meanwhile, the ad free Premium Plus option is seeing the steepest monthly increase, rising from $16.99 to $19.99, a $3 hike.
Annual plans are not being spared either. Peacock Premium will cost $129.99 for the year, a $20 increase, while Premium Plus jumps to $199.99 annually, reflecting a $30 increase. The Select tier annual plan is rising from $79.99 to $89.99.
For anyone currently locked into a promotional deal, there is a small silver lining. Prices will only change once the promotional period ends, and current annual subscribers keep their existing rates until those plans expire.
Why Peacock Is Raising Prices Now?
NBCUniversal has offered its usual corporate explanation for the hike, stating the changes allow Peacock to continue creating the best experience for its viewers, remain competitive in the marketplace, and deliver unique content across all genres.
The timing has raised eyebrows among industry watchers, since this price hike comes on the heels of genuinely good news for the company. Peacock turned its first ever quarterly profit for Q2 2026, with paid subscribers totaling 48 million as of the end of June, including 2 million net additions during the period. The NBA playoffs, the FIFA World Cup, and ‘Love Island’ were cited as key factors behind those subscriber gains.
Some critics have also pointed out the suspicious timing relative to football season. One report noted that Peacock is raising prices just in time for the NFL’s regular season, a pattern that has repeated in prior years.
How Peacock Compares to Other Streaming Giants
Peacock is far from alone in squeezing more money out of subscribers this year. Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount Plus, and YouTube Premium have all raised prices within the past two years as well.
The comparison to Netflix is particularly relevant for budget conscious viewers. Netflix announced its own price hike back in March of 2026, and its cheapest tier now sits at the same $8.99 price point as Peacock’s new Select tier. On the high end, Netflix’s most expensive plan runs $26.99 a month, which is $7 more than Peacock’s priciest offering.
This marks Peacock’s fourth increase since it first began charging for premium tiers. Two years ago Premium sat at $7.99 a month and Premium Plus at $13.99, meaning Premium alone has climbed another five dollars in just over two years. The prior increase came in July 2025, when Premium rose to $10.99 and Premium Plus climbed to $16.99.
What This Means For Peacock Subscribers Going Forward
For viewers weighing whether to stick around, Peacock’s programming slate remains a mixed bag of live sports and originals. Premium and Premium Plus subscribers get access to NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, WNBA, the Premier League, college football and basketball, plus special events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. On the scripted side, the current slate includes ‘The Paper’, ‘The ‘Burbs’, and ‘Twisted Metal’, along with the upcoming ‘Friday the 13th’ prequel series ‘Crystal Lake’.
Bundle shoppers may still find a workaround for now. Apple continues to advertise Apple TV bundled with Peacock Premium for $14.99 a month, or with Premium Plus for $19.99, and that pricing had not been adjusted at the time of the announcement.
Reaction online has been mixed at best, with some subscribers questioning whether the platform’s content library justifies yet another increase so soon after turning a profit. Whether this latest hike pushes you toward canceling or you will simply grit your teeth and keep watching ‘Love Island’ and Sunday Night Football, Peacock’s subscriber base is about to find out just how much loyalty a live sports lineup can buy.
