SHOWTIME Review 2023

SHOWTIME allows three simultaneous streams. That’s average for a streaming service. The only services offering fewer streams are Hulu (2) and Netflix (1, bottom-tier plan). Services offering more than 3 streams include Apple TV (6), Disney+ (4), and Netflix (4, top-tier plan).

SHOWTIME also allows you to download up to 15 movies or shows for mobile viewing on these devices:

• Android phones and tablets (OS 6.0 or later)
• iPhone and iPad (iOS 12 or later)
• Amazon Fire tablets (Fire OS 4 or later)

For all devices, you can choose your download quality preference in order to save data. On phones, you’re limited to standard definition (540p) or high-definition (720p), while tablets go up to full HD (1080p).

SHOWTIME supports a wide variety of devices, including a surprising number of smart TVs. So does Paramount+, which we include here in case you decide to get the bundle. For more information on Paramount+, see our review.

We tested the SHOWTIME app on these setups:

• A 55-inch LG 4K Smart TV (2015) through the Xbox One
• A 42-inch Panasonic Viera TV (2009) via the Roku Ultra
• A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphone

As with most streaming services, SHOWTIME’s streaming quality varies depending on the strength of your connection—and it maxes out at full HD (1080P) and 4K (1440p).

We have Google Fiber, so our connection and picture quality were steady at home. We briefly experienced lower resolutions and buffering outside the house on our 5G network—but that was expected.

The SHOWTIME app interface doesn’t use carousel menus like Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, and virtually every other streaming TV app. Instead, it’s all branching menus with gigantic thumbnails. This is neither awful nor refreshingly new; it’s just different.

But the SHOWTIME user interface can be a little frustrating on some devices. On the Xbox One, rewinding and fast-forwarding with any precision is incredibly difficult. A 10-second jump back/forward option would go a long way here.

We didn’t have this problem on the Roku Ultra, where directional arrows allow for bidirectional 10-second jumps (short press) or faster navigation (long press). The Roku device is by far our favorite way to use SHOWTIME.

And the Samsung smartphone has a 10-second jump backwards, but not forwards. But you can drag the cursor—albeit imprecisely, on such a small screen—in both directions.

SHOWTIME also finally improved its watchlist, which had been a confusing mess of three different menus. The new SHOWTIME watchlist is more like what we’re accustomed to on services like Netflix and Prime Video: You can add all seasons and episodes of a series with one click—and find them in one place.

Aside from these complaints, the SHOWTIME app ran well in all configurations.