Peacock raises streaming plan prices (again) by as much as $3

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek Published Aug 18, 2026, 12:46 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Like some of its streaming rivals, Peacock is raising plan prices once more — in some cases very sharply. NBCUniversal has instituted price hikes for all tiers starting today (August 18) for new customers and from September 17 onward for existing customers. The new prices noted by Variety begin at $9 per month (previously $8) for the ad-supported Peacock Select plan, which offers ad-supported NBC and Bravo TV shows but excludes live sports, movies, and Peacock Originals. Peacock Premium, which also has ads, climbs from $11 to $13 per month if you want access to the movies, originals, and sports but are still willing to watch ads. The biggest increase affects the ad-free Premium Plus tier, which jumps from $17 to $20 per month. Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams 3 Peacock has raised prices four years in a row, with its previous increase in July 2025. Why is Peacock raising prices again? More content and rising costs may be to blame Peacock claims in a support document that the higher prices are necessary to "continue to create the best experience for its viewers, remain competitive in the marketplace, and deliver unique content across all genres." It's a familiar stance: NBCU claims it has to charge more as the content and features cost more. That was evident last year with sports deals (including NBA, NFL, and WNBA games). More recently, Peacock said it would stream live games to phones using AI-fueled cropping.​​​​​​​ Peacock is also finally profitable six years after its 2020 debut, helped by the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Playoffs, and reality shows like Love Island. The new prices theoretically keep the service healthy even if viewership drops. The move comes ahead of Peacock launching on YouTube Premium next year. That could be more convenient for subscribers and increase Peacock's audience, but it's not yet clear how that will affect the service's costs. It's safe to say NBCU now sees Peacock as a premium streaming platform that's useful for more than monetizing its back catalog.