Paramount+ has two U.S. plans: Essential for $8.99 per month and Premium for $13.99 per month when billed monthly directly by Paramount+. Both include the core on-demand library and selected sports. Premium adds all SHOWTIME, local live CBS where available, downloads, select 4K formats, and fewer ads in on-demand shows and movies. Choose Essential if the lower price and ads are acceptable; choose Premium if one of those specific extras matters to you.
Paramount+ plan comparison
These are current U.S. direct-signup monthly prices and features, checked October 4, 2026. Paramount+ also promotes annual billing, but its exact annual totals are not stated here. Billing through an app store or another third party may have different terms.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Paramount+ eGift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Paramount+ $25 eGift Card - Standard | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Paramount+ eGift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fandango Gift Cards, Multipack of 3 - $15 | $45.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Barnes and Noble Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Feature | Essential | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly U.S. direct price | $8.99/month | $13.99/month |
| On-demand ads | Ad-supported | Ad-free for on-demand shows and movies, subject to promotions and other exceptions below |
| On-demand library and originals | Included | Everything in Essential |
| SHOWTIME | Select series; not necessarily every episode | All SHOWTIME |
| CBS | Current CBS episodes generally available on demand after broadcast | Same on-demand access, plus local live CBS where available |
| Sports | Includes listed sports such as NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, UFC, and Zuffa Boxing; event availability varies | Same shared sports, plus sports carried by the local live CBS station where available |
| Simultaneous streams | Up to 3 | Up to 3 |
| Profiles | Up to 6, including kids’ profiles | Up to 6, including kids’ profiles |
| Offline downloads | Not listed as included | Included, subject to restrictions |
| 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, HDR10 | Not listed as included | Select titles only; compatible device and internet service required |
Sources: Paramount+ signup page and the Paramount+ Help Center plan comparison.
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What Premium adds—and what “ad-free” means
Paramount+’s Help Center describes the key distinction this way: “The biggest difference is that the Paramount+ Essential plan is ad-supported, while the Paramount+ Premium plan is ad-free.” That ad-free description applies to on-demand shows and movies, not every part of the service. Premium’s live TV includes ads, and Paramount+ says plans may also include trailers, promotions, sponsorships, or similar material.
#1 Best Overall
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
All SHOWTIME, rather than select series
Essential includes select SHOWTIME series, and Paramount+ warns that the selection may not include every episode. Premium includes all SHOWTIME; the Help Center comparison also lists SHOWTIME East and West live feeds with Premium.
Local live CBS
Premium includes a local live CBS station where available. It is not a complete replacement for local television: Paramount+ cautions that the service does not provide every function or program offered by every CBS affiliate.
Rank #2
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Downloads and select higher-resolution formats
Premium downloads are available until the earlier of 30 days after download or 48 hours after playback starts. Other restrictions apply, and content availability can change. Premium also supports 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 on select titles only; actual playback depends on your internet service and device capabilities.
Can you watch CBS live with Essential?
Essential does not include the regular local live CBS station feed. There is a specific sports exception: Paramount+ says local NFL on CBS games can stream live on Essential while the game is being played, and the feed ends when the game ends. Game and sports availability varies by market.
Rank #3
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
When CBS episodes become available on demand
New episodes of current CBS series generally become available on demand the day after broadcast on both plans. This is not guaranteed for every program; availability can vary. See Paramount+’s CBS guide, updated October 1, 2026, for its current explanation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Paramount+ plan should you choose?
Choose Essential if
- You want the lower monthly direct price and are willing to watch on-demand content with ads.
- The shared on-demand library and selected live sports meet your needs.
- You are happy to watch CBS episodes after they air rather than needing the local station live.
Choose Premium if
- You want all SHOWTIME rather than the select series included with Essential.
- You need local live CBS and your station is available through Paramount+.
- You want downloads for offline viewing or select 4K, Dolby Vision, or HDR10 titles on compatible equipment.
- You value fewer ads during on-demand shows and movies, while understanding that live TV still has ad breaks.
At the displayed monthly direct prices, Premium costs $5 more per month than Essential. If you are considering the upgrade mainly for sports, first check whether the specific event and local station are available in your market. The service’s supported device categories include smart TVs, streaming players such as Fire TV and Roku, mobile devices, consoles, and web browsers; a separate streaming player is only necessary if your television lacks a supported app and you do not already have another compatible screen. See Paramount+’s device and Live TV information.
Rank #4
- Redemption: Online
- Available for use at your favorite theater, thousands of theaters nationwide via Fandango’s network. Pick your showtime, seat and movie of choice.
- Earn double the reward points – when using Fandango, you can earn VIP reward points for discounts and towards free movie tickets PLUS earn points on with your favorite theater (AMC Stubs, Cinemark Movie Rewards, Regal Crown Club, etc.)
- Perfect gift for the movie enthusiast, holidays, birthdays or just to say thanks!
- Card is redeemable only for purchase of movie tickets and associated convenience fees or purchase or rental of content on Fandango and participating Fandango apps.
Paramount+ currently markets access to “40,000+ episodes & movies”; that is the service’s own catalog claim, not an independently verified count.
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Best Value
- Barnes & Noble Gift Cards can be used at any Barnes & Noble store nationwide and at BN.com
- They can also be used at any Barnes & Noble College location
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
