Sky Stream vs NOW 2027: Which UK IPTV Service Is Better Value?

Quick answer: Choose NOW if you want Sky shows, films or sport without a contract and you're happy to switch memberships on and off. Choose Sky Stream if you watch a lot every month, want 4K, multiple rooms and Netflix in one bill, and don't mind a 24-month contract (or paying more for rolling monthly). Both are legal UK IPTV services.

Prices checked October 2026.

Side-by-side comparison

Price

• NOW: Entertainment from about £7.99/month, Cinema about £9.99, Sports about £34.99 (or £14.99 day pass)

• Sky Stream: Essential TV + Netflix from £15/month (24 months) or about £18/month rolling. Add Sky Sports from about £52/month in total.

Contract

• NOW: monthly, cancel any time (some cheaper offers have a 6-month minimum)

• Sky Stream: 24-month contract for the best price, or a pricier 31-day rolling option

Picture quality

• NOW: HD with the Boost add-on, standard definition without it

• Sky Stream: HD as standard, 4K and Dolby Atmos on selected content with the right package

Channels and apps

• NOW: Sky channels only (Sky Atlantic, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and others), plus HBO Max content with Entertainment

• Sky Stream: 100+ free and pay channels plus Netflix, with options for Disney+, HBO Max, TNT Sports and more. Everything is searchable in one place.

Devices

• NOW: app on Fire TV, Smart TVs, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, phones and laptops

• Sky Stream: Sky's own streaming puck (or Sky Glass TV) plus the Sky Go app on mobile

Who should pick NOW?

• You watch one or two Sky shows a year and cancel in between

• You rent and can't commit to a contract

• You want Sky Sports for part of the season only

Who should pick Sky Stream?

• You'd keep NOW memberships all year anyway, since Sky Stream is usually cheaper then

• You want Sky Sports and TNT Sports together

• You want 4K, multiple TVs and one simple remote

Our verdict

For light viewers, NOW wins on flexibility. For anyone paying for Sky content most months, especially sports fans, Sky Stream wins on value and quality. Work out which memberships you'd keep for a full year, add them up, and compare against a Sky Stream bundle.

FAQ

Is NOW the same as Sky?

NOW is owned by Sky and shows the same Sky channels, but it's a contract-free app-based service with fewer extras.

Does Sky Stream need a satellite dish?

No. Sky Stream works entirely over broadband. Sky recommends a stable connection of at least around 10 Mbps for HD.

Can I get TNT Sports on NOW?

No. TNT Sports isn't on NOW. Get it through discovery+, Amazon Prime Video Channels, or as a Sky Stream add-on.

Related: Best IPTV UK · UK IPTV for Premier League