PlayStation Plus costs $9.99, $16.99, or $23.99 per month depending on which tier you choose

PlayStation Plus comes in three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Essential costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Extra costs $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year. Premium costs $23.99 per month or $239.99 per year. The yearly option saves you money on any tier — you pay roughly two months less than if you paid monthly for twelve months.

These prices explore in the United States. If you live in another country, PlayStation charges in your local currency and the dollar equivalent may differ. You can pause your membership for up to three months at a time without losing your subscription, which is useful if you know you won't play for a while.

Key Takeaways

  • Essential tier ($9.99/month) gives you online multiplayer and two free games per month, the same core features PlayStation Plus has always offered.
  • Extra tier ($16.99/month) adds a library of around 400 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games you can read and play as long as your membership is active.
  • Premium tier ($23.99/month) includes everything in Extra plus classic PlayStation games, game trials, and cloud streaming on compatible devices.
  • Paying yearly instead of monthly saves you roughly the cost of two months on any tier.
  • You can stack up to one year of prepaid time on your account, which is useful if you find discounted gift cards.

What Essential tier includes

Essential is the base membership and the closest to what PlayStation Plus was before 2022. You get online multiplayer for games that require it, cloud storage for your game saves, and two free games every month that you can read and keep as long as your membership stays active. You also get exclusive discounts on games in the PlayStation Store.

If you only play single-player games or games with local multiplayer, Essential may be all you need — the free games alone can add up to real value over a year. The trade-off is that you don't get access to the game library that comes with Extra and Premium.

What Extra tier includes

Extra adds a rotating library of around 400 games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. These are mostly older or mid-tier titles rather than brand-new releases, though popular games do rotate in. You can read any of them and play them as long as your membership is active. When a game leaves the library, you lose access to it unless you buy it separately.

Extra is worth considering if you like to try different games without buying each one, or if you have a backlog of games you've been meaning to play. The library changes monthly, so checking what's available before you subscribe is a good idea — PlayStation publishes the list on their website.

What Premium tier includes

Premium includes everything in Extra, plus access to classic PlayStation games (PS1, PS2, and PSP titles), game trials that let you play new releases for up to two hours before buying, and cloud streaming on compatible devices. The classic games library is smaller than the main game library and changes less frequently.

Cloud streaming means you can play games on your phone, tablet, or computer without downloading them to your PlayStation console — useful if you want to play while traveling or on another device. Not all games support streaming, and you need a stable internet connection. Premium is the most expensive tier and makes sense mainly if you want the classic games or plan to use cloud streaming regularly.

How to buy PlayStation Plus and manage your subscription

You can buy PlayStation Plus directly from your PlayStation console, through the PlayStation Store website, or through a retailer that sells PlayStation gift cards. When you buy from your console, the membership activates when ready. If you buy a gift card, you redeem the code on your account and the time stacks on top of any existing membership.

Your subscription renews automatically on the same day each month (or year, if you bought a yearly plan). You can turn off auto-renewal in your account settings on the PlayStation website or console at any time. If you cancel before the renewal date, your membership stays active until that date, then ends.

Discounts and ways to save on membership

PlayStation occasionally runs sales on membership, especially around holidays. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target sometimes sell PlayStation Plus gift cards at a discount, which is one of the few ways to reduce the effective cost. Stacking discounted cards is a common way to lock in a lower price — you can prepay up to one year in advance.

If you're a PlayStation Plus member already, you may see promotional offers in your account for discounted upgrades to a higher tier. These are usually good for one or two months at a reduced rate, then revert to the standard price. Check your account settings or the PlayStation Store to see if any offers are available to you.

PlayStation Plus vs. other gaming subscriptions

Xbox Game Pass is a competing service that costs $9.99 per month for Game Pass Core (similar to PlayStation Plus Essential) or $16.99 per month for Game Pass Ultimate, which includes cloud gaming and access to new Xbox games on day one. Nintendo Switch Online costs $7.99 per month for the basic tier or $12.99 per month for the Expansion Pack, which adds classic games and DLC.

The main difference is that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium focus on a library of existing games, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes new releases from Xbox Game Studios on day one. If you own multiple consoles, comparing the libraries and features of each service helps you decide which membership gives you the most value for how you play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my PlayStation Plus membership with family members?

Yes, through console sharing. If you set your PlayStation as the primary console for your account, anyone who uses that console can play your games and use your PlayStation Plus membership. You can also create a family group in your account settings and add family members, though this requires a separate membership for each person to play online simultaneously.

What happens to my games if my PlayStation Plus membership expires?

Games from the Extra and Premium library become unplayable once your membership ends. Games you bought with your own money stay on your console and remain playable. Free games you claimed with Essential tier also become unplayable, but you can reclaim them if you renew your membership later.

Is there a free trial for PlayStation Plus?

PlayStation occasionally offers free trial periods, usually for new accounts or as a promotional offer. Check your account on the PlayStation website or console to see if a trial is available to you. Trial periods are typically seven days and convert to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial ends.

Can I downgrade from Premium to Essential or Extra?

Yes. You can change your tier in your account settings on the PlayStation website. If you downgrade before your renewal date, you'll pay the difference in price and your new tier takes effect when ready. If you downgrade after renewal, the change applies at your next renewal date.

Do I need PlayStation Plus to play free-to-play games?

No. Free-to-play games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Warzone do not require a PlayStation Plus membership to play online. You only need PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer in games you've purchased.