How Much Does Paramount Plus Cost?

In 2015, 52% of U.S. households subscribed to a streaming service from Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime, according to the Leichtman Research Group, a broadband, media and entertainment firm. Fast forward to 2023, and that number grew to 83% of households.

With so many streaming services to choose from, it helps to know what your costs will be and what features come with each subscription. If you’re already familiar with Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime, you may be curious to learn more about another streaming service, Paramount+.

Paramount+ divides its services into two tiers: Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime.

The less expensive tier is Paramount+ Essential, and it will set you back $5.99 per month. If you opt to pay annually, the price is $59.99 per year, bringing the monthly cost down to approximately $5.

The Paramount+ Essential subscription comes with 45,000 episodes and movies, plus 24/7 live news with CBS News. However, it is not ad-free — expect to see some commercials interrupting your viewing.

While you can’t get all live sports with this tier, Paramount+ Essential does have NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League Live.

If you’re a sports fan, it may be worth checking to see what other subscriptions you may already have that offer Paramount+ as a perk. For instance, if you’re a subscriber to SportsLine or 247Sports, you can now get Paramount+ with Showtime for free as part of your subscription. This level of Paramount+ offers expanded access to sports (more on that below).

As of April 30, 2024, Showtime streaming is being discontinued and Showtime programs are finding their new home at Paramount+ with Paramount+ with Showtime.

This offering costs $11.99 per month. Paramount+ with Showtime comes with all the features of Paramount+ Essential but with a few extras — the biggest being access to Showtime originals and movies.

If you know you’ll want to keep your subscription for an entire year, it may be worth committing to an annual subscription to save a couple of bucks. An annual subscription costs $119.99 per year, saving you about $2 per month compared to the month-to-month subscription.

What else do you get for the extra cost of Paramount+ with Showtime subscription?

• Ad-free viewing, except live TV and a few shows.

If you prefer to download your shows to watch later, Paramount+ with Showtime also gives you that option.

Americans spend an average of three hours and nine minutes per day streaming digital media, according to a Forbes Home and OnePoll survey that examined results from 1,000 participants across the U.S. to gain a snapshot of streaming trends.

If you’re in the camp of spending more than 20 hours a week consuming content, it makes sense to account for streaming services in your budget — after all, it’s a big chunk of time (and money) to consider.

Streaming services like Paramount+ fall in the wants category of a budget. Under the 50/30/20 budget, 50% of take-home income is allocated to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.

If you’re trying to decide which streaming service deserves a spot in your budget, try comparing Paramount+ to other providers like Hulu and Peacock. Analyze the features of each, like ad-free or live viewing, and determine the best choice and cost for your preferences.

Looking for other ways to save money in your streaming budget? Check out the free trial first to see which subscription is right for you. Paramount+ offers one week free for both Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime. It’s worth noting that both subscription tiers allow you to cancel at any time.

Also check your other subscriptions and see if Paramount+ may be an added bonus. Walmart+ members, for instance, can get Paramount+ Essential for free.

And if you’re a student, you may be able to get 25% off Paramount+ Essential, though you’ll have to verify your student credentials by filling out an online form.