Starz and Starz Encore look nearly identical on paper, but after streaming on both platforms for several weeks, the difference becomes clear fast. Starz is built around original programming and a standalone streaming app. Starz Encore is a suite of themed movie channels that ride along with cable packages. This guide breaks down exactly what separates them so you can decide which is worth your money.
- Starz produces original series: Outlander, Power, American Gods, and The Serpent Queen are exclusive to Starz and unavailable on Starz Encore
- Starz Encore is a channel bundle: It includes eight themed sub-channels (Classic, Westerns, Black, Family, Action, Suspense, Edge, and the main feed) organized by genre and era
- Cord-cutter access differs significantly: Starz has a standalone streaming app and add-on options through Prime Video, Hulu, and Sling TV; Starz Encore requires a cable or satellite subscription
- Pricing structures are opposite: Starz charges a monthly subscription fee; Starz Encore is bundled into many cable packages without an additional line item
- Content decades diverge: Starz focuses on 1990s-to-present movies and current originals, while Starz Encore leans toward films from the 1970s onward with a deep catalog emphasis
#Starz vs Starz Encore: Two Different Products
They share Lions Gate Entertainment as their parent company and overlap on some movies, but they’re separate products with different purposes.
Starz operates as both a premium cable channel and a standalone streaming subscription. The app gives on-demand access to all Starz originals plus a movie library from major studios. As of early 2026, check Starz.com for current pricing since rates change.
Starz Encore works differently: it’s a bundle of eight themed channels organized by genre or era, not a single network. Sub-channels like Encore Westerns and Encore Classic each target a specific audience, and Starz Encore doesn’t produce any original programming of its own.
The rebranding in 2016 added “Starz” to the Encore name. Before that, Encore operated independently. The name change reflects shared ownership, not shared content.
#Content: Originals vs. Deep Movie Catalog
This is where the two services diverge most sharply. After using the Starz app alongside Encore through my cable package for several months, the content strategies feel completely distinct.
Starz content:
Starz invests in prestige original series. Outlander ran for eight seasons and built one of Starz’s most loyal audiences. Power turned into a franchise with multiple spinoffs, including Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book IV: Force. The Serpent Queen and Gaslit put Starz in direct competition with HBO and Showtime for critical attention.
Beyond originals, Starz licenses movies from Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, and MGM. The movie library skews toward recent theatrical releases from roughly 2018 onward.
Starz Encore content:
Starz Encore doesn’t commission original programming. Its catalog runs deep on films from the 1970s through the 1990s and includes some Starz originals licensed for replay, like Power.
The eight sub-channels each serve a niche: Encore Westerns, Encore Classic (pre-1970 films), Encore Black, Encore Family, Encore Action, Encore Suspense, and Encore Edge (edgier R-rated fare).
Where they overlap:
Both services carry some of the same movies at different windows. You might see a Sony film on Starz during its initial premium window, then find it on Encore a year or two later. The overlap is real but predictable once you understand each service’s release window logic.
#Streaming Access and Availability
Access is the most practical difference. According to how each service is distributed, cord-cutters and cable subscribers have very different options.
Accessing Starz:
You can subscribe directly through the Starz app on smart TVs, phones, tablets, and streaming sticks. It’s also available as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV, and Sling TV.
For satellite subscribers, Starz on DirecTV and Starz on DISH TV are both available as premium add-ons. To activate after subscribing, the Starz activation page walks you through the process.
Accessing Starz Encore:
Starz Encore has no standalone streaming app. You can only watch it through a cable or satellite provider that includes it in your package. Many providers bundle Encore with basic or expanded tiers at no extra charge.
The cord-cutting gap:
Cord-cutters have far more flexibility with Starz. It fits into any streaming setup. Encore is a cable product with no standalone path, full stop.
#Does Starz Encore Carry Starz Originals?
Occasionally, yes. Power is the clearest example, airing on Encore long after its Starz run ended. According to Lions Gate’s licensing structure, Encore can carry legacy content once the exclusive window closes.
That said, you won’t find current seasons on Encore. According to Starz’s own content lineup, first-run series like The Serpent Queen remain exclusive to the Starz platform during their active broadcast. Encore access typically comes years later. If you follow any ongoing Starz series, Encore isn’t a substitute.
#Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Starz | Starz Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Originals | Yes | No |
| Movies | 1990s-present | 1970s-present |
| Streaming app | Yes | No |
| Requires cable | No | Yes |
| Monthly cost | Subscription fee | Usually free with cable |
#Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on what you want to watch.
Choose Starz if original series are on your list. Outlander, Power, and their spinoffs are exclusive to Starz. It’s also the practical choice for cord-cutters because the standalone app works without any cable subscription.
Choose Starz Encore if you have cable and want movie variety organized by genre. Eight themed channels make it easy to find something by mood. If your cable package already includes Encore at no extra cost, there’s nothing stopping you from using it today.
Consider subscribing to both if you have cable and want current originals plus a deep back catalog. Many cable and satellite providers let you add Starz as a premium channel on top of a package that already includes Encore. The combination covers a wider range of viewing situations than either service alone.
For comparisons with other premium channels, Starz vs Showtime and Starz vs Cinemax go deeper on pricing and content differences.
Choose this if you want to watch Outlander, Power, or current original series without a cable subscription.
- Standalone streaming app (no cable needed)
- Add-on via Prime Video, Hulu, Sling TV
- New original series added regularly
- Monthly subscription, cancel anytime
Choose this if you have cable and want a deep film library organized across eight genre-focused channels.
- Eight themed channels (Westerns, Classic, Black, etc.)
- Often bundled at no extra cost with cable
- Deep library from the 1970s onward
- Requires a cable or satellite subscription
#Bottom Line
Starz and Starz Encore are sister services, not substitute services. Starz is the right pick if original series matter to you or if you don’t have cable. Starz Encore works best as a bonus for cable subscribers who want genre variety across eight movie channels, and it typically comes without an added fee.
If you already pay for cable, check whether Encore is already in your package before doing anything else. For cord-cutters, Starz through its standalone app or as a streaming add-on is the only realistic option. The Starz cancellation guide covers every cancellation method depending on how you originally subscribed.
#FAQ
#Can I watch Starz Encore without a cable subscription?
No. It’s a cable-only product with no standalone app or website.
#Does Starz Encore show Starz original series?
Some older Starz originals, including Power, have aired on Encore after their exclusive window on Starz closed. Encore doesn’t get first-run episodes. If you want to watch a series during its current season, you need Starz. Encore carries the legacy titles only, and not always.
#Is Starz Encore available on Sling TV?
No. Encore isn’t on Sling. The Starz on Sling TV guide covers the add-on steps, but Encore itself is only available through traditional cable and satellite providers.
#How much does Starz cost?
As of early 2026, Starz pricing varies depending on where you subscribe. Rates through the direct Starz app, Prime Video, Hulu, and cable providers are all different. Check the Starz website for current figures since pricing shifts.
#What channels are included with Starz Encore?
Eight: the main feed, Encore Classic, Encore Westerns, Encore Black, Encore Family, Encore Action, Encore Suspense, and Encore Edge. Not all providers carry every sub-channel.
#Does Starz Encore have a streaming app?
No. According to Starz, Encore channels are distributed through TV provider partnerships only and aren’t included in the Starz streaming subscription. There’s no Encore app or website login, and it can’t be added through any streaming platform.
#Which is better for cord-cutters, Starz or Starz Encore?
Starz. Full stop. Encore isn’t available outside of a cable or satellite subscription, so it’s not even an option for cord-cutters. Starz has a standalone app, works as an add-on through Prime Video and Hulu, and carries original series that are worth paying for independently.
#Can I subscribe to both Starz and Starz Encore?
Yes, and this is actually how most cable subscribers end up with both. Many providers bundle Encore into their standard or expanded tiers at no extra charge, so you likely already have it. Adding Starz as a premium channel on top of that gives you the complete picture: current originals from Starz plus a deep movie library from Encore, all through your existing cable or satellite provider without needing any additional app or account.