Paramount Plus is home to a treasure trove of nostalgia-inducing legacy shows – Frasier, Sister Sister, The Twilight Zone, and iCarly – and is growing catalogue of modern reboots, too. There’s dozens of new Original series, tons of blockbuster titles, almost every Star Trek series and all the Mission: Impossible films too. And unlike most VOD services, each plan has some live TV functionality. It’s all available and for just one very low Paramount Plus cost.
- Paramount Plus cost: head straight to its website to sign up! (opens in new tab)
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 - and live news and sport too, meaning you can live stream NFL matches from the 2021/22 season.
But how much does Paramount Plus price and how do its plans compare to the many other VOD services available? Are there any deals available to keep your monthly outgoings down? Our below guide will break it all down for you.
- Read more: our guide to the best TV streaming services
Paramount Plus prices and plans: your quick guide
Depending on whether or not you can withstand commercials, there are a number of Paramount Plus plans at different price points.
Pay a monthly rate of $4.99 (opens in new tab) or pick the Premium plan for $9.99 a month. For annual rates pay $49.99 with commercials (opens in new tab), or get the Premium plan for $99.99 a year.
Elsewhere around the world, the Paramount price starts from:
- UK: £6.99 a month
- Canada: $5.99 a month
- Australia: $8.99 a month
No matter where you are, you can make the most of a Paramount Plus free trial.
How do Paramount Plus prices compare to Netflix?
Netflix certainly still holds court as the king of streaming services, though this does lead to steeper price points. Its base rate for one stream will set you back $9.99 a month, while two streams in HD costs $15.49 a month. Meanwhile, you'll be able to enjoy Paramount Plus' library of content for under $10 a month whether you go for its Premium option ($9.99), or only $4.99 a month for Paramount Plus Essential plan with limited ads.
You can currently bundle Paramount Plus with Showtime for $11.99, or save 16% over the year when you pick either the annual Essential or Premium Plan. These are the only options for Paramount Plus subscribers. Netflix, meanwhile, also offers customers a Premium plan with the option to stream on up to four devices at a time for $19.99 in Ultra HD - ideal if you have a large household.
How do Paramount Plus prices compare to Amazon Prime Video?
When it comes to getting Amazon Prime Video (opens in new tab), there are a few options, too. You can combine Prime Video with Amazon's other Prime perks for $12.99 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 Boys, and The Lords of the Rings of Power (due in September).
Amazon Prime Video also gives a discounted option for Students who can pay $6.49 a month (after the whopping 6-month free trial (opens in new tab)), while those holding a valid EBT card can get the service for $5.99 a month. While a touch pricier than Paramount Plus, you will find over 13,000 movies as well as TV shows, and a 30-day free trial for new and returning customers (six months for students).
How do Paramount costs compare to Disney Plus?
Bringing you a magic-filled library, Disney Plus delivers entertainment from its collective enterprise, jam-packed with releases from Walt Disney Studios, and the MCU, as well as Pixar, National Geographic, and 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 Plus, US customers can benefit from this scope of content with the Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN+ combined package for $13.99 a month (opens in new tab).
Alternatively, pay $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year for Disney Plus on its own. In this context, prices between Disney Plus and Paramount Plus aren't too different, though you do get the benefit of that 7-day free trial with the latter and some live TV functionality. Meanwhile the Disney Plus free trial has long since been disposed of for many territories.
How do Paramount Plus deals compare to HBO Max?
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 critically acclaimed Euphoria and DC's Peacemaker (the Suicide Squad spin-off), as well as 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.
HBO Max offers two types of plan, as well as monthly and annual rates. Its $14.99 a month/$149.99 a year plan (opens in new tab) gets you everything, completely ad-free, too. This includes all HBO's movie and TV show titles, originals, as well as WarnerBro's latest releases to watch right at home. In June 2021, it also introduced a moderately cheaper plan that come with ads for $9.99 a month/$99.99 a year - though you'll miss out on 4K streams and the ability to download content to watch offline.
It's fair to say, though, that you do pay for quality when comparing these higher prices to Paramount Plus' prices, though with the promise of plenty of Paramount Plus originals on the horizon (e.g. videogame adaptation Halo, the Fraiser reboot). Perhaps the CBS All Access rebrand will give HBO Max a run for its money as more and more weigh in on the streaming service wars.
How do Paramount Plus prices compare to Apple TV Plus?
Flying under the radar since its November 2019 launch, Apple TV Plus has been quietly courting viewers with award-winning new shows, low prices and unbeatable deals.
Apple TV Plus is $4.99 a month/$49.99 a year (opens in new tab), which hits the same price points as the Paramount Plus Essential plan. The main differences? Apple TV Plus is completely ad free, delivering a slim library of exclusive original content which is available to stream in 4K resolution.
Paramount Plus has two plans, both of which offer a few thousands TV series and films. Its $9.99 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 Plus 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 Plus continues to cultivate a library of exclusive content with A-list talent, and has produced in just a few years acclaimed dramas like The Morning Show, For All Mankind, and breakout hit Ted Lasso. 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 new drama series Swagger from NBA's Kevin Durant.
How do Paramount Plus prices compare to other streaming services?
Paramount Plus is an affordable VOD offering which, unlike most 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, it’ll cost you significantly more to achieve that multi-channel live TV experience. Here are some of the best options currently available:
Sling TV is a popular, cost-effective choice. The Sling TV price starts at $35 a month (opens in new tab) 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.
Hulu with Live TV huddles together about 4,000 on-demand titles with over 75 linear TV channels for $69.99 (opens in new tab), making it a dream package for fans of scripted entertainment. You can opt to pay $75.99 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 $64.99 for its Starter plan (opens in new tab) and offers up 110 channels, while a top-tier Elite subscription bundles in over 50 more, plus Unlimited Screens and 1000 hours Cloud DVR for $79.99. The one downside? The platform recently dropped Turner and A&E-owned channels like Cartoon Network and Lifetime.
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If you’re still unsure whether it’s the ideal choice for you, we’ve also compared the best TV streaming services currently available in more detail.
