Sony LIV vs ZEE5
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Sony LIV
Indian streaming service from Sony Pictures Networks with originals, Sony TV shows and live sports.
ZEE5
Indian streaming service from Zee Entertainment with shows, films and originals in many Indian languages.
The short answer
Sony LIV suits viewers who follow Sony TV shows, its crime and drama originals, and live sports such as cricket tours and European football. ZEE5 suits viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or regional languages, with cheaper language packs and some free content. The biggest difference is sports versus regional depth.
Sony LIV or ZEE5: our take
Both are Indian streaming services from TV broadcasters, priced in rupees and available on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices, with versions for South Asian viewers abroad. Each carries its parent network's TV shows, Indian films and originals.
Sony LIV's strongest draw is live sports, which has included cricket tours, UEFA football competitions, WWE and tennis depending on which rights Sony holds that season. Its originals, especially crime and drama web series, are well regarded. Most new episodes and sports need a paid plan: LIV Premium costs ₹1,499/year (₹399/month) and covers TVs with up to 4K and Dolby Atmos on supported titles, while the mobile-only plan costs ₹699/year and is limited to 720p on one device. Its film library is smaller than the biggest services, and sports rights can move elsewhere from one season to the next.
ZEE5 is built around Indian-language content. It carries Zee TV daily serials, often available before or alongside broadcast, plus Hindi and regional films and originals in seven Indian languages, with dedicated sections for Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali. Some content is free with ads. Plans start at ₹129 for 3 months for the kids plan, a regional plan costs ₹199 a month, the Movies, Series, Live TV plan costs ₹299 a month, and the sports and all-content plan costs ₹1,699 for 12 months. Its sport is mainly the FIFA tournaments Zee holds rights to in India until 2034, and it has few international series. It reaches viewers in 190+ countries.
Pick Sony LIV if cricket tours, European football or Sony's originals are what you watch, and the yearly Premium plan is good value for TV viewing. Pick ZEE5 if your household watches Zee serials or mostly watches in one regional language, where a cheaper language pack or the free tier may be enough. Telecom and bundle offers often include one or both, so check your plan first.
Which should you pick?
Choose Sony LIV if…
- Indian viewers who follow Sony TV shows, its originals, and the sports Sony holds rights to
- Well-regarded Indian originals and Sony TV shows
- Live sports such as cricket tours and European football
Choose ZEE5 if…
- Viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or a regional Indian language
- You want a free option (Sony LIV is paid only)
- Large library of Zee TV serials and regional-language films
- Language-specific packs cost less than the full plan
About each app
What is Sony LIV?
Sony LIV is the streaming service of Sony Pictures Networks India. It carries the Sony entertainment channels' Hindi shows, Indian originals such as its well-known crime and drama web series, films in Hindi and regional languages, and a large live sports offering that has included cricket tours, UEFA football competitions, WWE and tennis depending on the season's rights. Most new episodes and sports need a paid plan; the main LIV Premium plan covers TVs and higher video quality (up to 4K with Dolby Atmos on supported titles), while a cheaper mobile-only plan is limited to one phone at lower resolution. Prices are in rupees and sold monthly or yearly, and many telecom and bundle offers include it. It runs on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices, and is also offered to viewers outside India for South Asian content.
What is ZEE5?
ZEE5 is the streaming platform of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is built around Indian-language content: the Zee TV family's daily serials (often available before or alongside their TV broadcast), Hindi and regional films, ZEE5 originals, kids' shows and a set of live TV news and entertainment channels. It leans heavily on regional languages, with dedicated sections and language packs for Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali alongside Hindi. Zee also holds FIFA tournament rights in India, which it streams on the service. Some content is free with ads, while most premium films and originals need a paid subscription, with cheaper single-language packs available. It runs on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs and streaming devices, and the international version reaches South Asian audiences in more than 190 countries.
Side by side
| Attribute | Sony LIV | ZEE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS | Web, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Indian viewers who follow Sony TV shows, its originals, and the sports Sony holds rights to | Viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or a regional Indian language |
| Status | Active | Active |
Sony LIV vs ZEE5 pricing
Sony LIV: paid
Sony LIV pricing pageZEE5: free plan + paid
- Starting price: ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan) source
- Regional plan: ₹199 a month (Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri) source
- Movies, Series, Live TV plan: ₹299 a month source
- Sports + all content plan: ₹1,699 for 12 months source
Platforms
| Platform | Sony LIV | ZEE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Sony LIV facts
4 of 4 verified- Premium plan
- ₹1,499/year (₹399/month)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 399 Monthly ₹ 1499 Yearly”
- Mobile-only plan
- ₹699/year, 720p, 1 device
- Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Mobile Only ₹ 699 Yearly Stream On-the-Go Watch on 1 Device With Ads 720p”
- Video quality
- Up to 4K with Dolby Atmos on Premium
- Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Up to 4K (UHD) Dolby Atmos”
- Content
- TV shows, movies, live sports and originals
- Checked Nov 8, 2026sonyliv.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Watch Indian TV Shows, Movies, Sports, Live Cricket Matches, Web Originals”
ZEE5 facts
8 of 8 verified- Reach
- 190+ countries
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “reaching viewers across 190+ countries.”
- Languages
- Seven Indian languages
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “across seven languages; Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bangla.”
- Owner
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “As the digital entertainment destination of Zee Entertainment Enterprises”
- Sports rights
- FIFA tournaments in India until 2034
- Checked Nov 8, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Through Zee Entertainment’s long-term partnership with FIFA till 2034”
- Starting price
- ₹129 for 3 months (kids plan)
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 129 / 3 months”
- Regional plan
- ₹199 a month (Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri)
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 199 / 1 month”
- Movies, Series, Live TV plan
- ₹299 a month
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “₹ 299 / 1 month”
- Sports + all content plan
- ₹1,699 for 12 months
- Checked Nov 6, 2026zee5.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “12 months ₹ 1699”
Pros and cons of Sony LIV
- Well-regarded Indian originals and Sony TV shows
- Live sports such as cricket tours and European football
- Yearly plans are inexpensive by international standards
- Sports rights change by season, so a favourite event may move elsewhere
- Mobile-only plan is capped at 720p on a single device
- Smaller film library than JioHotstar or Prime Video
Pros and cons of ZEE5
- Large library of Zee TV serials and regional-language films
- Language-specific packs cost less than the full plan
- Available to the South Asian diaspora in 190+ countries
- Few international series compared with Netflix or Prime Video
- Free tier is limited and carries ads
- Little live sport beyond the football rights Zee holds
Other apps to consider
Prime VideoInstead of Sony LIV
More big-budget Indian originals and films, bundled with Amazon Prime.
Sony LIV vs ZEE5: common questions
Is Sony LIV better than ZEE5?
Sony LIV suits viewers who follow Sony TV shows, its crime and drama originals, and live sports such as cricket tours and European football. ZEE5 suits viewers who want Zee TV serials and films in Hindi or regional languages, with cheaper language packs and some free content. The biggest difference is sports versus regional depth.
Is Sony LIV free?
No. Sony LIV is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is ZEE5 free?
ZEE5 has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Sony LIV or ZEE5 open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Sony LIV and ZEE5 support?
Sony LIV: Web, Android and iOS. ZEE5: Web, Android and iOS.