Paramount+ price: how much does each plan cost?

Paramount Plus cost and price
(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Paramount+ is one of the most affordable major streaming services. Considering its catalog has access to one of the biggest Hollywood studios alongside content from the network CBS, it offers a lot of choice in its library, making it great value.

Want to find out how much a subscription to Paramount+ will set you back? How Paramount+ plans compare to other VOD services available? And if there are any deals currently live to keep your monthly outgoings down? Our below guide will break it all down for you.


Paramount+ prices at a glance

Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails prepare to race in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has raced onto Paramount+. (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Paramount+ price increased in June 2024 for the US, which saw the Paramount+ Essential plan (with ads) increase by $2 to $7.99 a month, and the (ad-free) Paramount+ with Showtime went up by $1 to $12.99 per month. The streamer had already got more expensive in 2023 following the arrival of the Showtime bundle.

The with Showtime plan forgoes commercials on on-demand content and gives you the option to download titles and watch them offline at a later date. It also now includes Showtime, hence the $2 price increase, while the Essential plan went up by $1 from its previous $4.99 a-month rate.

Depending on whether or not you can withstand commercials, there are a few Paramount+ costs and plans to suit differing budgets. Here's the list of how much each package costs in the US:

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Paramount+ prices in the US

Paramount+ Essential plan (with ads)

$7.99 a month / $59.99 a year

Paramount+ with Showtime (ad free, except live TV)

$12.99 a month / $119.99 a year

Subscribers in the UK and Ireland were also hit by a price hike after Paramount+ became the latest streaming service to offer an ad-supported tier. Before you could sign up to the 'Standard' plan in the UK and Ireland, but that didn't include premium features, such as the ability to stream in 4K.

Now, Paramount+ has since introduced two new tiers in the UK and Ireland - the 'Basic' plan and the 'Premium' plan. The 'Basic' plan comes with ads and costs £4.99, meanwhile the 'Premium' plan allows subscribers to pay extra to avoid the ads and have premium features for £10.99.

Here's the list of how much each of the three plans cost in the UK:

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Paramount+ prices in the UK

Basic (with ads)

£4.99 a month / £43.99 a year

Standard (ad free)

£7.99 a month / £70.99 a year

Premium (ad free, except live TV)

£10.99 / £97.99 a year

Paramount+ subscribers in Australia used to be able to bag a cheaper subscription price than those in the US, but after the price hike in August 2023, that's no longer the case.

A Paramount+ subscription now costs $10.99 AUD per month or $97.99 AUD per year. Here are the three plans for one of the best Australian streaming services:

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Paramount+ prices in Australia

Basic (with ads)

$6.99 AUD a month / $61.99 AUD a year

Standard (ad free, except live TV)

$9.99 AUD a month / $89.99 AUD a year

Premium (ad free, except live TV)

$13.99 AUD a month / $124.99 AUD a year

Paramount+ plans at a glance

The group stand together with Taissa in Yellowjackets season 3

Yellowjackets is one of the best Paramount+ shows. (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Paramount+ has different plans depending on where in the world you are. For those in the US, there are only two plans to choose from, while those in the UK and Australia have the option to choose between three.

Below we've outlined the different Paramount+ plans for each country and what you get with each one.

Paramount+ plans in the US

In the US, Paramount+ has two plans: an ad-supported Essential plan and an ad-free plan with Showtime. Both Paramount+ memberships allow you to access over 40,000 episodes and movies and stream on 3 devices at once. You can also stream select live sports like the NFL on CBS and the UEFA Champions League.

The Essential plan does include ads, but the Premium with Showtime plan gives you ad-free streaming of on-demand content, live access to your local CBS station and full access to Showtime's library of programs like Yellowjackets and Dexter.

There's also the option to download movies and shows, which isn't available on the Essential plan. However, it's worth noting that CBS streaming and live sports will have commercial breaks, so it's not completely ad free.

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Includes

Price

Ads?

Paramount+ Essential

Watch 40,000+ episodes and moviesStream on 3 devices at onceCatch the NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League live

$7.99 a month

Yes

Paramount+ Premium with Showtime

No ads except live TV

Watch 40,000+ episodes and movies

Stream on 3 devices at once

Catch the NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League live

Access Showtime Originals

Download movies and shows

Stream CBS live, with more sports and events

$12.99 a month

No (except live TV)

Paramount+ plans in the UK and Australia

In the UK and Australia, there are three plans available: Basic, Standard and Premium. They all allow you access to the entire Paramount+ library of on-demand programs, but have different premium features like being able to stream in HD and having no ads.

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Includes

Price

Ads?

Basic (with ads)

Experience in full HD on select titles

Stream on one device at a time

Stream with ads

£4.99 a month/$6.99 AUD a month

Yes

Standard

Experience in full HD on select titles

Stream on two devices at once

Ad-free streaming, except live TV

Download and watch on the go

£7.99 a month/$9.99 AUD a month

No (except live TV)

Premium

Experience in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on select titles

Stream on four devices at once

Ad-free streaming, except live TV

Download and watch on the go

£10.99 a month/$13.99 AUD a month

No (except live TV)

How does the Paramount+ price compare to other streaming services?

Watch 1923 on Paramount Plus

1923 is a Yellowstone prequel series on Paramount+. (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

The best way to get a good indication of how the Paramount+ price compares to its competitors, we've put together a table of all its competitors with their ad-free plans.

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Streaming service

Ad-free rate

Paramount+

$12.99 a month

Disney Plus

$15.99 a month

Netflix

$15.49-$22.99 a month

Max

$16.99-$20.99 a month

Hulu

$18.99 a month

Apple TV Plus

$9.99 a month

Peacock

$13.99 a month

How does the Paramount+ price compare to Netflix?

Polly, Araminta and Rosamund stands at the masquerade ball in Bridgerton season 4

Bridgerton season 4 is coming to Netflix. (Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix still holds court as the king of streaming services, though this leads to steeper price points. It offers a standard plan with ads at $7.99 per month that includes two streams but does not offer access to all of the programming. The Standard plan without ads is $17.00 and includes two streams, Full HD streaming, download on two supported devices, and the ability to share the service with one member who does not live with you.

Meanwhile, you'll be able to enjoy the library of content on Paramount+ for under $12 a month whether you go for its Premium option ($12.99), or only $7.99 a month for the Paramount+ Essential plan with limited ads. You can also save 18% with either Paramount plan if you pick up an annual subscription.

These are the only options for Paramount+ subscribers. Netflix, meanwhile, also offers customers a Premium plan with the option to stream on up to four devices at a time for $22.99 in Ultra HD. The Premium plan also includes four streams - ideal if you have a large household and want to watch some of the best Netflix shows like Adolescence, Bridgerton, Wednesday and Squid Game.

If you're tempted to switch to Netflix, check out everything new on Netflix in March 2025 to see all the new Netflix movies, as well as what makes it onto our best Netflix movies list.

How does the Paramount+ price compare to Prime Video?

Homelander smiles as he clasps his hands in front of some armed US soldiers in The Boys season 4

The Boys is a major Prime Video hit. (Image credit: Prime Video)

When it comes to getting Amazon Prime Video, there are a few options, too. You can combine Prime Video with Amazon's other Prime perks for $14.99 a month, gaining access to other media, including Amazon Music, as well as its free delivery service. That's all included in the Amazon Prime Video subscription cost, in addition to brilliant Amazon Original shows like The Wheel of Time, The Boys, Fallout, and The Rings of Power. There's also these five new Prime Video movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes you can check out too.

Amazon Prime Video also gives a discounted option for Students who can pay $6.49 a month (after the whopping 6-month free trial), while those holding a valid EBT card can get the service for $5.99 a month. While a touch pricier than Paramount+, you will find over 20,000 movies and 2,100 TV series, along with a 30-day free trial for new and returning customers (six months for students).

Check out our best Prime Video movies and best Prime Video shows to see if it's worth switching to Prime Video this month, as well as everything new on Prime Video.

How does the Paramount+ price compare to Disney+?

Moana and her crew of misfits

Moana 2 is available to stream on Disney+. (Image credit: Disney Plus)

Bringing you a magic-filled library, Disney+ delivers entertainment from its collective enterprise, jam-packed with releases from Walt Disney Studios like Moana 2, and the Marvel movies, as well as Marvel expansions such as Agatha All Along and Moon Knight. There's also Pixar, National Geographic documentaries such as Endurance, and new Star Wars movies and TV shows originals like The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Andor.

Disney+ is also home to film and TV content from 20th Television (including The Simpsons!). While customers in the UK, Canada, and Australia now have more mature content with the introduction of Star on Disney+, US customers can benefit from this scope of content with the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ combined package for $16.99 a month.

Alternatively, enjoy its new ad-supported plan, which costs $9.99 a month, or pay $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year for Disney+ without ads. For more information check out all the Disney+ plans and prices.

In this context, prices between Disney+ and Paramount+ have shifted slightly, with the former now more expensive with or without ads, though its library may feel more expansive. Still, you benefit from that 7-day free trial with Paramount Plus, along with some live TV functionality. Meanwhile, the Disney+ free trial has long since been disposed of for many territories.

Interested in a Disney+ subscription? Take a look at the best Disney+ movies, best Disney+ shows, and everything new on Disney+ in March 2025.

How does the Paramount+ price compare to HBO Max?

Abby looking shocked in a warehouse in The Last of Us season 2

The Last of Us season 2 is coming to Max. (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Max definitely sits at the pricier end of the streaming spectrum. That said, it is home to some phenomenal content, including HBO Max Originals like The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Euphoria. There's also HBO classics old and new like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and Succession. On top of that you get content hubs, with on-demand content from TCM, Adult Swim, Studio Ghibli, Cartoon Network and so much more.

Since its rebrand from HBO Max to just Max, there are now three plans on offer. It's cheapest rate locks you in at $9.99 a month/$99.99 a year with ads. Skip the commercials with its middle tier for $16.99 a year/$169.99 a year. Introducing its pricier plan, forego ads and get 4K streams for $20.99 a month/$209.99 a year. The tier you opt for also determines how many streams you can have going at any one time, as well as how many titles you can download to watch offline.

It's fair to say, though, that you do pay for quality when comparing these higher prices to Paramount+ prices, though with the promise of plenty of Paramount+ originals streaming in constantly as well as the introduction of Showtime to its Premium plan, Paramount might just give Max a run for its money as the more affordable subscription.

Check out the best Max movies and best Max shows, as well as everything new on Max in March 2025 to see if Max is worth your money.

How does the Paramount+ price compare to Apple TV+?

Seth Rogen's Matt looking worried in The Studio on Apple TV Plus

The Studio is a new Apple TV+ comedy. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Flying under the radar since its November 2019 launch, Apple TV+ has been quietly courting viewers with award-winning new shows, low prices and unbeatable deals.

Apple TV+ is $9.99 a month/$99.99 a year, which is just $2 more than the Paramount+ Essential plan. The main differences? Apple TV+ is completely ad-free, delivering a slim library of exclusive original content available to stream in 4K resolution.

Paramount+ has two plans, both of which offer a few thousand TV series and films. Its $12.99 Premium plan limits commercials to live TV only – because this option entails a local CBS stream – and unlocks 4K streaming on a handful of titles.

Content-wise, Paramount+ leans on licensed titles from Viacom CBS Domestic Networks and the Paramount Pictures archive, while both plans provide NFL matches live through CBS. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ continues to cultivate a library of exclusive content with A-list talent and has become a sci-fi TV show utopia, including Severance, Dark Matter, and Silo.

There's also critically acclaimed series such as Ted Lasso, Sugar, Shrinking, and new comedy The Studio. But, as there’s no live TV functionality, the closest you’ll get to sports content is a docuseries called Greatness Code, featuring LeBron James and Katie Ledecky, and drama series Swagger from NBA's Kevin Durant.

Have a look through the best Apple TV+ movies and best Apple TV+ shows to see if an Apple TV+ subscription is for you.

Apple TV Plus: $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year7-day free trial

Apple TV Plus: $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year
Hosting award-winning titles like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, Apple TV Plus chooses quality over quantity with its pool of incredible, stunning produced entertainment. Sign up now and save 15% when opting for an annual plan, with new customers eligible for a 7-day free trial to get you started.

How do Paramount+ prices compare to other streaming services?

Sam Elliott close-up in 1883

1883 is another Yellowstone prequel show on Paramount+. (Image credit: Paramount)

Paramount+ is an affordable VOD offering that, unlike most of the aforementioned services, is unique in offering a live stream of sports, CBSN, and your local CBS station. But if you’re looking for a comprehensive cable replacement, achieving that multi-channel live TV experience will cost you significantly more. Here are some of the best options currently available:

Sling TV is a popular, cost-effective choice. The Sling TV price starts at $45 a month for both its core plans, which are the 32-channel Sling Orange plan (including ESPN and the Disney Channel) and the 42-channel Sling Blue, which favors news and entertainment programming. Get the combined plan for $50 however, and enjoy everything. You can also get half off your first month.

Hulu with Live TV huddles together about 4,000 on-demand titles with over 75 linear TV channels for $82.99, making it a dream package for fans of scripted entertainment. You can opt to pay $95.99 to remove adverts on Hulu’s VOD content, but they’ll remain on Live TV broadcasts.

Hitting the same price point is YouTube TV, which has an 85+ channel single-tier option with a decent roster of sports networks, including NBA TV, NFL Network, and ESPN. Plus, it boasts an unbeatable, unlimited Cloud DVR service.

However, for sports fans, FuboTV is the whole enchilada. It’s got four separate subscription options: the FuboTV cost is $74.99 for its Starter plan and offers up 110 channels, while a top-tier Elite subscription bundles over 50 more, plus Unlimited Screens and 1000 hours of Cloud DVR for $84.99. The one downside? The platform recently dropped Turner and A&E-owned channels like Cartoon Network and Lifetime.

What can you watch on Paramount+?

Star Trek Beyond

(Image credit: Paramount)
Best movies and shows on Paramount+

For details of what's worth watching on Paramount+, visit our best Paramount+ movies and best Paramount+ shows guides.

Paramount+ is your one-stop streaming service for all things CBS, along with a vault filled with nostalgia-fueled legacy shows like Frasier, Sister Sister, and The Twilight Zone, and a growing catalogue of modern reboots and Original series too.

You'll find nearly every Star Trek series, hundreds of movies from years ago next to new releases like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and regular additions of new options to suit your mood. Unlike most VOD services, both plans include some live TV functionality.

Including thousands of movies from the Paramount Pictures library, plus titles from major film studios like MGM and Miramax, there are classic and brand-new series from the ViacomCBS Domestic Media networks - MTV, Logo, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and VH1 among them.

From blockbuster hits like the Mission: Impossible franchise to classic flicks, such as The Godfather, Paramount+ has bundles of entertainment for all the family, including – just to give you an idea of what movies gets licensed – these five new movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes for the US catalog.

It's also home to a growing collection of original series and films like Yellowjackets, and Fellow Travelers, as well as Taylor Sheridan's library of neo-Western dramas, including Yellowstone spin-offs 1883 and 1923, as well as dramas Landman and Tulsa King. There's also RuPaul’s Drag Race, South Park and SpongeBob SquarePants, plus live Champions League matches to watch.

Plus, with access to programs from its cable TV networks (including CBS, Comedy Central, Showtime and BET), there's even more content to consume.

Paramount+ price: FAQs

A close up of Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy Norris in Paramount Plus' Landman TV series

(Image credit: Paramount Plus/Imperative Development)

Which countries can I sign up to Paramount+?

Paramount+ is currently available in various countries around the world and planning on adding new territories in the future. To check if it's available in your country, visit www.paramountplus.com.

Can you get Paramount+ for free?


Amelia Schwanke
Senior Editor UK, Home Entertainment

Amelia became the Senior Editor for Home Entertainment at TechRadar in the UK in April 2023. With a background of more than eight years in tech and finance publishing, she's now leading our coverage to bring you a fresh perspective on everything to do with TV and audio. When she's not tinkering with the latest gadgets and gizmos in the ever-evolving world of home entertainment, you’ll find her watching movies, taking pictures and travelling.

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