Tim Curry is way better; Bill was far too serious. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with a serious horror villains. However, when you are playing a clown, it's just awkward. Also, the fact he always looks "creepy/odd" really defeated the point. Pennywise is meant to be creepy because clowns are creepy naturally (at least to some people), it's like giving the shark from jaws a chainsaw.

I will also add that Pennywise was meant to be slightly "approachable". I honestly don't see why Georgie would like the obviously demonic clown.

Tim Curry can do no wrong.

Tim was menacing in the way a mean-spirited uncle would be like, Bill embodied an otherworldly entity of evil. Being part of a vastly superior film helps his case, too.

They're both pretty awesome in their own way, but Bill was scarier I guess.

Ol' Billy, but both brought something different to the character, the post above me describes it best.

I think another user on this site said it best, I forget who it was though.

Tim was a great scary clown, Bill was better as a monstrous being who just so happen to look like a clown.

Bill if only because the creature you saw him portray was really Inhuman, you could tell It was just attempting to be a clown but wasnt underneath.

Bill. I never found Tim's Pennywise even remotely scary.

Bill. To me, Tim always felt like an evil clown. Bill felt like SOMETHING pretending to be an evil clown. From the moment we saw him we knew IT was something else. His mannerisms: the twitching, the glazed eyes, the drooling. When he slithered under the stairs. He felt like an otherworldly entity the entire time.

Bill wasn't scary. Tim gave me nightmares.

All I can say.

Bump

Bill was more accurate to the book, but Tim overall did a better job if we disregard the source material.

Tim's a bit campy

Tim because he plays the clown that knows he could kill you at anytime, anywhere but LET'S YOU LIVE. Time seemed to play Pennywise as a clown that wanted fear while Bill was just failing, he seemed like he couldn't kill those kids rather than wouldn't.

Also I don't think Bill is an approachable clown, Pennywise is suppose to be a bit off not completely demonic with a hint of clown. Bill is a florescent blue beartrap while Tim is a poisoned steak.

Plus Tim looked like he was enjoying the part while Bill seemed too serious, Pennywise has been killing for millenia he shouldn't seem like it's his job to kill. Bill only looked like he was having fun when he came out of the refrigerator.

Tim

I feel as though having a fusion of both would be best. He's suppose to look normal enough to understandably lure in children, yet also look creepy enough to tell he's otherworldly.

That said, it's up to preference who was better.

Tim Curry due to Nostalgia, but the new IT is massively better than the miniseries.