How Much Speed Do You Need To Watch Peaco*ck? (2024)

Peaco*ck TV says you need internet speeds of 3–8Mbps to stream shows and games on its platform, but you’re better off with about 25Mbps of speed for every device streaming at the same time.

You’ll definitely need those speeds to enjoy the 2024 Summer Olympics on Peaco*ck—and Peaco*ck is hands down the best way to catch the games this summer. But I stand by my recommendation for everyday viewing, too, whether it’s your weekend New Girl or Parks and Recreation binges or a marathons of all The Croods movies for your kiddos.

The secret to streaming Peaco*ck is, well, no secret at all. The speeds you need to stream Peaco*ck are the same speeds you need to stream video on any platform.

Understanding some basics will make it all more clear.

• Most platforms (including Peaco*ck) adjust resolution automatically based on your device and your internet speed
• The more devices streaming at once, the more speed you need
• For streaming live TV or 4K (ultra-high definition), cable or fiber internet will work best

The official word from Peaco*ck is that you need a minimum speed of 3Mbps to stream in standard definition and a minimum speed of 8Mbps to stream “certain high-quality live events and ultra-high definition premium content,” which is Peaco*k’s fancy way of saying 4K.

There’s no way to control your Peaco*ck resolution, but you can watch live events with only the Premium option. Here are the two plan options and our speed recommendations for each.

*Recommendations from Peaco*ck’s Help Center.

You might be wondering why we suggest 25Mbps per device for streaming when Peaco*ck itself says you need just 3Mbps or 8Mbps. It’s a fair question!​​ There are a few reasons.

1. There are probably other devices on your network (or other apps on your device) using your bandwidth at the same time you’re trying to stream. Cell phones, smart appliances, security cameras, and gaming consoles are common culprits.
2. Your actual speeds may be slower than the max speeds on your plan. Slower-than-promised speeds are most common on cable, DSL, and 5G internet.
3. Speeds can degrade between your networking gear (router or gateway) and your device, especially if you are using Wi-Fi and the gear is in another room or on another floor.
4. Older devices can’t handle speeds as fast as what modern internet providers dish out, so your weakest link may be that 12-year-old Samsung TV in your basem*nt or that Roku device you bought in 2017.

Peaco*ck TV offers some shows and movies in what it calls 4K Ultra HD, but not all devices are supported, and there’s no official list of 4K programming. There’s also no way to opt out of 4K resolution if the show you choose is available in 4K and your device and internet speed support it.

This setup is a little unusual among streaming platforms. YouTube TV, Netflix, and Disney+ all let you set your resolution manually if you’re trying to save on data or bandwidth.

Even though 4K is hard to come by on Peaco*ck, streaming expert Bill Frost says he loves the service.

“As an app, it’s one of my favorites because it works so well. Controls like fast forward work really nicely, but on other apps like Hulu, it can be a nightmare.”

—Bill Frost, Senior Writer for CableTV.com

If you go with my speed recommendation for streaming, you would need speeds of about 75Mbps to take full advantage of your Peaco*ck subscription. That’s because you can watch three streams at one time.

Lucky for you, it’s pretty easy to get a plan with download speeds of at least 75Mbps from cable and fiber internet providers, no matter where you live. You can also get those speeds from 5G home internet.

If you have to rely on satellite or DSL, you may have trouble getting 75Mbps speeds.

See disclaimers

You can watch Peaco*ck with internet that’s slower than our recommendation, but you might run into buffering delays or poor picture quality. If that’s happening to you, try kicking other devices off your Wi-Fi network by logging into your router.

You can also try skipping the Wi-Fi by plugging your TV, console, or PC directly into your gateway or router with an Ethernet cable.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to save on data if you have a strict data cap on your internet plan. If you have Peaco*ck Premium with Plus, you can download some shows to watch later, but it won’t help much. The other common way to save on data is to manually downgrade your resolution, but, as mentioned above, that’s not an option with this streaming service.

See disclaimers.

• Close other tabs
• Exit and restart the browser
• Clear your cache
• Switch browsers
• Restart your computer
• Try a different device
• Check your internet connection

• Close and restart the app
• Close other apps
• Close and restart your streaming device or smart TV
• Uninstall and reinstall the app

You may run into a Peaco*ck screen that says you’ve reached the simultaneous screen limit. It means you or someone with your login is trying to watch on too many screens at the same time. Even though you can have up to six profiles on a single Peaco*ck account, you can watch on only three screens at once.

To solve the problem, close Peaco*ck on every device except the one you’re trying to use at the moment or change your password to stop the moochers in their tracks.

Peaco*ck offers only two plans, Peaco*ck Premium and Peaco*ck Premium with the Plus add-on. With the cheaper plan, you get access to most of Peaco*ck’s library, but you have to suffer through ads. With the Plus add-on, you can skip (most of) the ads and you get perks like live TV and the ability to download shows to watch later.

Many of Peaco*ck’s other features, such as the ability to create multiple profiles and watch in 4K, are the same whether or not you have Plus.

If my household is already paying for Peaco*ck, it makes sense for us to pay the $6 extra per month to skip ads and download shows.

Imagine a scenario where you accidentally binge watch something a little racy or potentially embarrassing—say, Love Island or The Big D on your preteen’s profile. When you discover your error, of course you want to remove the show from the profile so your kiddo doesn’t see it as a suggestion.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to clear your watch history or to remove a show from the Continue Watching section on Peaco*ck. The only workaround we know is to go to the last episode of the show, fast forward to the end, and let it finish. Sadly, this won’t work on shows that air new episodes.

In other words, be very careful which profile you use on Peaco*ck. And if you really want to watch something that might be embarrassing later, make sure your profile lock PIN is set and secure (or pay for a separate account altogether).

Do you need Peaco*ck to watch the Olympic Games?

How much does internet for streaming video cost?

Do you need good internet to watch Peaco*ck?

Can you download Peaco*ck shows to watch later?

Does your internet provider matter for watching Peaco*ck?

Best internet plans for streaming Peaco*ck in high definition

*Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees

†AT&T Fiber Internet

Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.

‡With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Price duration for 12 months.

§For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.

Best internet plans for budget Peaco*ck viewers

*Speed may not be available in your area. Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).

†Central: No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.

†Northeast: For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.

†West: For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.

‡ w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.

§w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.