NOW TV vs Sky: Which UK streaming service should you get?

When it comes to the wide world of TV and streaming, Sky is a major player.

For decades, since the 1990s, this media company has been a familiar presence in homes, offering a growing range of entertainment options like Sky TV, Sky Glass, and Sky Live.

As a Sky customer, I know they don’t just offer what everyone expects. They also fully own NOW, which used to be NOW TV – it’s been around since 2012! And they created Sky Stream more recently, in 2022, which is another great option for how we watch.

The two services might appear similar at first, as they’re both part of Sky. This raises the possibility of them competing with each other. However, they’re actually designed for different customers with different requirements.

We looked at both services, comparing how much they cost, whether they offer free trials, and what kind of content they have, to help you decide. We’ll also share our opinion and answer some common questions at the end. Enjoy!

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

Jump to:

  • NOW TV vs Sky: price
  • NOW TV vs Sky: content
  • Sky vs NOW TV: free trial
  • NOW TV vs Sky: verdict
  • FAQs
  • Can you get NOW TV on Sky?
  • What Sky channels are on NOW TV?
  • How much is Sky Sports on NOW TV?

NOW TV vs Sky: price

With the rising cost of living, price is a major consideration when choosing a new streaming service.

The cost of both NOW TV and Sky varies based on the packages and extras you select. Right now, both companies are offering significant discounts on their bundles.

We’ve compared prices for different NOW TV and Sky bundles to help you find the best deal. To figure out which one is right for you, think about what you like to watch and then compare the monthly prices listed below.

Here is a full list of prices currently available at NOW TV:

  • Entertainment: £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Entertainment + HBO Max: £9.99 £6.99 (save £3 or 30%)
  • Sports saver: £31.99 £27.99 (save £4 or 10%)
  • Sports + Entertainment + Boost: £45.98 £31.99 (save £13.99 or 30%)
  • Sports Flexible: £31.99
  • Cinema: £9.99 £6.99 (save £3 or 30%)
  • Cinema + Entertainment + Boost: £23.98 £6.98 (save £17 or 70%)
  • Cinema + Entertainment + HBO Max: £19.98 £13.98 (save £6 or 30%)
  • Entertainment + Cinema + Sports + Boost: £55.97 £35.99 (save £19.98 or 25%)
  • Hayu: £5.99

Explore more bundles at NOW TV

Sky offers a wide range of packages, and it’s impossible to list them all. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options, plus a few extras you can add on.

  • Sky Essential TV (Sky TV, Netflix, discovery+): £15
  • Sky Ultimate TV (Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu): £24
  • Essential TV, Sky Kids, Sky Cinema: £31
  • Ultimate TV, Sky Cinema: £34
  • Sky Essential TV, Sky Sports: £35
  • Essential TV, Sky Sports, TNT Sports: £63
  • Add Sky Sports: from £35 £20 (save £15 or 43%)
  • Add Sky Cinema: from £17 £10 (save £7 or 41%)

Explore more packages at Sky

You can also add broadband to your Sky TV package, and often save money by combining both services. Here are some of the bundle options:

  • Essential TV & 300Mbps Full Fibre Broadband: £35
  • Sky Ultimate TV & Full Fibre 300: £41
  • Essential TV & 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast Broadband: £45
  • Ultimate TV & 900Mbps Full Fibre Gigafast Broadband: £51

Explore more packages at Sky

NOW TV vs Sky: content

Picking a streaming service involves considering many things, but what you can actually watch – the shows and movies available – is a big part of the decision.

Sky Stream offers the widest range of channels, giving you access to over 300 satellite channels and 100 premium options like FOX and Sky Atlantic. You can also customize your experience by adding packages like Sky Cinema and Sky Sports.

I’m really excited that it also includes access to streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus – it means there’s just so much more to watch! It’s a fantastic addition.

NOW lets you pick the Entertainment pass, or combine Cinema, Sports, and Hayu memberships each month to suit what you like. If you choose all the passes, you’ll have access to about 45 different channels.

Like with Sky Stream, one of the things I really appreciate is that it doesn’t lock you into just Sky content. I can easily access all my other favorite streaming services, like Netflix and Disney Plus, right there. Plus, you still get great entertainment channels like Sky Showcase and Sky Atlantic – it’s a really comprehensive package.

As a big TV fan, one thing I really like about NOW is that you get boxsets and catch-up included right away with your subscription. With Sky Stream, though, you have to pay extra to get those boxsets – it’s an add-on. So NOW feels like better value if you love binge-watching!

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

Sky vs NOW TV: free trial

If you’re hesitant about signing up for a service, a free trial is a good way to see if it’s right for you.

We checked Sky’s website and couldn’t find anything about free trials, so it seems they aren’t offering them right now.

Whether or not you can get a free trial with NOW TV depends on the plan you select. Currently, they offer a 7-day free trial for Hayu, their service dedicated to reality TV, and a one-month free trial for Boost or Ultra Boost, which enhance your picture and sound quality.

Other NOW TV memberships do not appear to currently offer a free trial.

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

NOW TV vs Sky: verdict

It’s hard to say definitively whether Sky or NOW TV is better – the best choice for you really depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want lots of channels and a personalized viewing experience, Sky is a great choice. Their new Ultimate TV package also includes Netflix and Disney Plus, which is a big benefit considering how many different streaming services there are today.

If you’re looking for a cheaper, more flexible plan with monthly payments, NOW is the way to go. And if you love watching TV, you can currently get access to a wide range of popular shows and movies for as little as £2.99.

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

FAQs

Can you get NOW TV on Sky?

NOW TV isn’t available directly through your Sky subscription because it’s a completely separate service. It lets you access Sky channels and stream movies and shows on a flexible, monthly basis.

The two services share a lot of the same content. For instance, hit shows like SNL UK and the third season of Euphoria can be found on both platforms.

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

What Sky channels are on NOW TV?

The Sky channels you get access to on NOW TV will depend on which membership you opt for.

NOW TV offers a wide range of channels, including all 12 Sky Sports channels, 11 Sky Cinema channels, plus popular options like Comedy Central, MTV, Sky Max, Sky Kids, and BSL Zone.

Please note that you cannot access Freeview channels on NOW TV.

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

How much is Sky Sports on NOW TV?

There are a number of options when it comes to watching Sky Sports on NOW TV.

With a Sports Saver membership, you can reduce your monthly cost to just £27.99 by committing to a longer term. The Sports Flexible membership is available for £31.99 per month.

Both of these memberships include the following benefits:

  • Top live events across all of Sky Sports
  • Enjoy even more with Sky Sports+

You can also combine the sports tier with other memberships, which will increase the cost.

  • Sign up to NOW TV from £7.99 £2.99 a month (save £3 or 62%)
  • Get Sky, Netflix and Discovery Plus for £15 a month
  • Get Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu for £24 a month

Authors

Joanna Magill

Read More

2026-04-20 15:40