PlayStation Plus costs $11.99 per month for the standard tier
PlayStation Plus Essential is the base subscription tier and costs $11.99 per month when you pay monthly. This is the tier most players choose if they want online multiplayer and a rotating library of free games each month. You can also buy a 12-month subscription for $119.99, which works out to about $10 per month if you commit upfront.
Sony also offers two higher tiers: PlayStation Plus Extra at $17.99 per month (or $179.99 per year), which adds a larger catalog of PS4 and PS5 games, and PlayStation Plus Premium at $23.99 per month (or $239.99 per year), which includes classic PlayStation games and game trials. The prices are the same whether you own a PS4 or PS5.
Key Takeaways
- PlayStation Plus Essential costs $11.99 per month on a monthly plan or $119.99 per year if you pay annually.
- Extra tier adds a larger game library for $17.99 per month, and Premium adds classic games and trials for $23.99 per month.
- You can change tiers or cancel anytime; you are not locked into a contract.
- Prices occasionally increase, so check the PlayStation Store directly to confirm the current rate in your region.
What PlayStation Plus Essential includes for $11.99
The Essential tier gives you online multiplayer for PS4 and PS5 games, which is the main reason most players subscribe. You also get two free games every month that rotate out—these are yours to keep as long as your subscription is active, and you can read them anytime during that month. You get cloud storage for your game saves and the ability to share your subscription with other users on your console.
Essential does not include a large game library. You get the two free monthly games and that is it. If you want access to hundreds of games without buying them individually, you need Extra or Premium.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers explained
Extra ($17.99/month) includes everything in Essential plus a catalog of around 400 PS4 and PS5 games that you can read and play anytime. The catalog changes regularly—Sony adds and removes titles. This is useful if you want to try games without buying them, but the selection is not every game ever made.
Premium ($23.99/month) includes everything in Extra plus classic PlayStation games (PS1, PS2, and PSP titles), game trials that let you play new releases for a few hours before buying, and the ability to stream games to your phone or computer. Premium is the most expensive option and is mainly for players who want the largest selection and the trial feature.
How to check your current subscription and billing date
Open your PS5 or PS4, go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Account, then Subscriptions. You will see which tier you are on, when your next billing date is, and how many days are left on your current subscription. You can also check this on the PlayStation website by signing into your account and going to your profile settings.
If you want to change tiers or cancel, you can do it from the same menu. Changes take effect on your next billing date. If you downgrade from Premium to Essential, you lose access to the Premium features when ready, but you keep your subscription at the lower price going forward.
Annual vs. monthly payment: which saves money
Paying annually saves money on all three tiers. For Essential, you save about $24 per year ($119.99 yearly versus $143.88 if you pay $11.99 monthly for 12 months). For Extra, annual is $179.99 versus $215.88 monthly. For Premium, annual is $239.99 versus $287.88 monthly.
The downside of annual payment is that you lose the flexibility to cancel or downgrade mid-year without losing the unused portion. Monthly plans let you stop anytime, so if you are unsure whether you will use the service, monthly is safer even though it costs more over time.
Regional pricing and currency differences
The prices listed above are for the United States. PlayStation Plus costs different amounts in other countries depending on local currency and regional pricing. In Canada, Essential is CAD $14.49 monthly. In the UK, it is £8.99 monthly. In Australia, it is AUD $13.95 monthly. Check the PlayStation Store in your region to see the exact price in your currency.
Sony occasionally raises subscription prices, though not every year. If a price increase happens, you will receive a notice before your next billing date. You can cancel before the increase takes effect if you do not want to pay the new price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my PlayStation Plus subscription with family members?
Yes. On a PS5 or PS4, you can set another user as the console owner, and anyone on that console can use the subscription. You can also share with one other console if you set it as your primary device. However, you cannot share across multiple households or with friends outside your home—that violates Sony's terms of service.
What happens to my games if my subscription expires?
Games you downloaded through PlayStation Plus become unplayable once your subscription ends. Games you purchased with money stay in your library. The free monthly games you claimed are locked until you resubscribe. Your save files stay on your console and in the cloud, so you do not lose progress if you rejoin later.
Is PlayStation Plus required to play online multiplayer?
Yes, for PS4 and PS5. You need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to play online multiplayer games. Some free-to-play games like Fortnite and Warzone do not require it, but most paid multiplayer games do. PlayStation Plus is not required for single-player games or streaming apps like Netflix.
Can I downgrade from Premium to Essential and get a refund?
No refunds are issued for downgrades. However, you can downgrade anytime, and the new lower price takes effect on your next billing date. You will not be charged for the remaining days at the higher tier.
Do I need PlayStation Plus to read free games from the store?
No. You can read free-to-play games and free promotional games without a subscription. PlayStation Plus is only required for the monthly free games that come with the subscription and for online multiplayer.