The best PlayStation Plus deals have been pretty challenging to come across now that the new form of PS Plus has come into force and bedded in. But, over time, we've seen offers on the subscription service steadily improve and there are a few more opportunities to save when subscribing or when buying PS Store credit to convert into PS Plus subscriptions. It's worth hunting around for too as when it does come to be, a cheap PS Plus deal is one of the best PS5 deals you can get.
Generally, new members tend to get the best PlayStation Plus deals when subscribing directly on the PS Store. But for current subscribers – or those looking to renew their membership – the best bet is to find and then use a discounted PS Store gift card that you can semi-regularly get at retailers. You can then use those funds to buy a PS Plus subscription through the PlayStation Store online or on your console.
To help you find the cheapest means to get the best PS Plus deals, our tools and links below should help you do just that.
PlayStation Plus deals - Essential
It's always better value to buy in bulk with PS Plus as a 12-month sub is always cheaper than 12 one-month subs. You'll find the best prices for a voucher that will top-up your account to cover the cost of 12 months of PS Plus Essential membership below.
PlayStation Plus deals - Extra
As with Essential, there's a bigger saving on the Extra tier if you pay for a 12-month subscription up front. This tier comes with all the regular benefits of PS Plus Essential, but you also get access to an ever-changing catalog of PS5 and PS4 games to download and play.
PlayStation Plus deals - Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium is the highest membership tier and costs $17.99 / £13.49 per month. Once again, you can save money if you pay for a 12-month subscription up front as that comes in at $159.99 / £119.99. As well as the benefits of PS Plus Essential and Extra, you get access to a selection of original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, PSP, and PS4 games.
There are also a number of limited-time game trials you can play, including major releases such as Horizon Forbidden West, Cyberpunk 2077, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
Note: Because Australia does not have cloud gaming support the highest tier in this region is slightly different. Instead, it's dubbed PlayStation Plus Deluxe and it costs AU$21.95 or AU$196.95 for a full year. It builds on Essential and Extra by also throwing in limited-time game trials on high-profile titles as well as access to older PS1, PS2, and PSP games - just without the cloud gaming option.
PlayStation Plus deals - How to get the best deals
Sadly it seems as though the days of the more bombastic and exceptional-value PS Plus deals are gone. I vividly remember deals that got you 15 months for the price of 12, and seeing 20-30% reductions on subscriptions which made stacking PlayStation Plus excellent value, and extremely satisfying.
However, since the reorganization of the service, such deals have become extinct. But that's not to say you can't find any deal on PS Plus.
Brand new or returning members get the best PS Plus deal when buying any digital PS Store codes on sale from online stores such as ShopTo or CD Keys. For example, some of these online stores offer $50 / £50 of credit for closer to $40 / £40. You can use this to top up your account with discounted funds and activate your subscription for less than the regular price. This has fast become the best way of getting a PS Plus deal and we do see retailers like Walmart in the US and Currys in the UK run promotions on PS Store cards offering 10 or 15 per cent off at times - those are the times to strike.
How to choose the right PlayStation Plus tier
With three different PS Plus tiers and multiple different price points now, choosing the right tier is worth thinking about as it could save you a bunch of cash.
The Essential tier will likely meet a lot of base requirements for PlayStation players. It gets you online, gives you cloud storage and backup peace of mind, and some free games every month. Simple, and ever-popular.
If you're keen on trying lots of games, possibly returning to some classic nostalgic PlayStation games, and having a huge library at your fingertips for your monthly price then you'll want to consider the Extra or Premium tiers. Both will add huge libraries of modern games to your sub, while Premium members can use game trials and stream older games too.
The Extra and Premium tiers are aimed at those more committed PlayStation players, and those who really value trying many games (via trials, extensive libraries to dip in and out of, and streaming games directly over the internet). These tiers will 'need' to be used regularly in order for you to see the most value - but sometimes having the options there if you fancy something new is value in and of itself, of course.
PS Plus deals - FAQs
What are the PS Plus tiers?
In brief, there are three tiers of PlayStation Plus now, all offering slightly different features. PlayStation Plus Essential is the same as the 'old' service - a simple subscription with monthly free games, the ability to play online, and some extra discounts at the PS Store. Simples.
The next tier up is PlayStation Plus Extra which has all the Essential tier benefits, plus access to a catalog of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games to play.
Then, the top tier is PlayStation Plus Premium. It has all the benefits of the previous two tiers but also adds the ability to play select PS3 games via cloud streaming, a selection of original PlayStation, PS2, and PSP titles via download or streaming, and time-limited trials for major PS5 releases.
Is a PlayStation Plus membership worth it?
If you play games online then a PlayStation Plus is absolutely worth buying - it's literally essential in getting you online and being able to play with pals and teammates. There are also free monthly games: a constantly updated roster of games to download and play that will save you far more than the membership costs each month. On top of that, there are exclusive discounts on the PS Store, cloud storage and save game backups that can really come in handy if you want peace of mind that all your game progress is kept safe should anything happen to your console.
As for the Extra and Premium tiers, well, it entirely depends on how much PlayStation gaming you do and whether the catalog of titles appeals to you. There are some huge PS5 and PS4 games available. Not to mention lots of nostalgia-inducing PS1, PS2, and PS3 classics on the Premium tier like Ape Escape, Syphon Filter, and Resident Evil: Director's Cut. Premium members also get access to game trials for PS5 releases which is a superb way to try before you buy.
Can I get PS Plus for free?
It's very rare that any folk can just pick up PS Plus for free - but that's not to say no one can. Those new to the subscription service can bag 7-day free trials - existing subscribers can't get such luck. There have been sightings of free X-day trials with certain console deals and products before too.
Does PS Plus ever go on discount?
Yes! The simple answer here is that Sony does indeed discount its PS Plus memberships regularly.
However the way Sony is now offering these discounts is more multifaceted than ever before. Sometimes the best deals are reserved for subscription upgrades (i.e. changing your tier to the step above), sometimes they are exclusively accessed on your PS5 rather than online, and sometimes the best deals are to be found with discounted PS Store codes and cards.
These discounts might also come around events such as Sony's own Days of Play event every springtime, so can often be worth waiting for.
Does PlayStation Plus give you discounts?
Yes! A PS Plus membership can get you discounts on games, and this is a big selling point of the service - and one way to maximize the value it can get you.
Special or deeper discounts on games on the PS Store for PlayStation Plus members are not a new thing, of course. However, they often offer sizeable extra chunks off games or bundles of content that quickly save you more than a month's worth of your PS Plus subscription. In fact, even if you are eligible for just a two- or seven-day free trial, it can be worth thinking about and browsing those games which you can get extra cheap with a live membership in order to maximize that free trial.
Of course, if you're a long-term PS Plus subscriber, it's always worth keeping tabs on those digital games and extras as you'll always be eligible for them as long as you have a live membership.
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