What You Get With Paramount+ Essential on Walmart+
Paramount+ Essential is included free with a Walmart+ membership. You do not pay extra for it — it comes as part of the Walmart+ annual or monthly subscription. The $7.99 price you may have seen refers to Paramount+ Essential as a standalone subscription if you buy it directly from Paramount, not through Walmart+.
When you sign up for Walmart+, you gain access to Paramount+ Essential's full catalog of movies, TV shows, and live sports at no additional cost. The Essential tier includes ads, meaning you will see commercials while watching. If you want to remove ads, Paramount offers an ad-free upgrade, but that is a separate paid option.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount+ Essential comes free with any Walmart+ membership and requires no separate payment.
- The Essential plan includes ads; ad-free viewing requires Paramount's paid upgrade tier.
- You access Paramount+ through your Walmart+ account after linking them together.
- The $7.99 price is what Paramount charges for Essential as a standalone subscription outside of Walmart+.
- Walmart+ itself costs either $98 per year or $12.95 per month, depending on which plan you choose.
How to Link Your Paramount+ Account to Walmart+
After you sign up for Walmart+, you need to connect your Paramount+ account to set up the free benefit. Log into your Walmart+ account on the Walmart website or mobile app, then look for the "Entertainment" or "Paramount+" section in your membership benefits. You will see an option to link or set up Paramount+ Essential.
If you do not already have a Paramount account, you can create one during this process. Use the same email address you use for Walmart+ to keep everything organized. Once linked, you can watch Paramount+ on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV — as long as you are signed into that Paramount account.
The linking process usually takes a few minutes. If you run into trouble, Walmart+ customer service can walk you through it, or you can contact Paramount directly for account-specific issues.
What's Included in the Essential Plan
Paramount+ Essential gives you access to the full Paramount+ library, which includes movies, original series, live sports, and news. You can watch shows like Yellowstone, 1883, Star Trek: Discovery, and films from Paramount Pictures. Live sports include NFL games on CBS, college football, and other events depending on the season.
The main limitation is that the Essential tier plays ads during content. You cannot read shows to watch offline, and streaming quality is limited to 1080p resolution. If you want to remove ads or unlock 4K streaming, you would need to pay Paramount directly for their Premium plan.
The Difference Between Essential and Premium
Paramount offers two paid tiers beyond what Walmart+ includes. Essential (the free tier with Walmart+) includes ads and 1080p streaming. Premium removes ads, allows offline downloads, and offers 4K streaming on supported devices. Premium costs extra if you want to upgrade from your Walmart+ Essential access.
Most viewers find Essential sufficient for regular watching. You only need Premium if you dislike ads, want to read episodes for travel, or have a 4K television and want to use it at full quality. The choice depends on your viewing habits and whether the ad interruptions bother you.
Walmart+ Membership Costs and What Else Is Included
Walmart+ costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month. Beyond Paramount+ Essential, the membership includes free shipping on most Walmart.com orders with no minimum purchase, fuel discounts at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations, and early access to online deals during sales events. Some members also get discounts on Walmart services like photo printing and tire installation.
The Paramount+ benefit alone does not justify the Walmart+ cost if you only care about streaming. However, if you already shop at Walmart online or buy gas regularly, the membership often pays for itself through shipping savings and fuel discounts, and Paramount+ becomes a bonus benefit you get at no extra cost.
Common Mistakes When Setting Up Paramount+ With Walmart+
The most common error is forgetting to link the accounts. straightforward having a Walmart+ membership does not automatically set up Paramount+ — you must go into your Walmart+ settings and complete the linking step. Without this, you will not see the free Paramount+ option when you try to watch.
Another mistake is confusing the free Essential tier with Premium. If you see ads and assume something is wrong, that is normal for Essential. Ads are part of the plan. If ads bother you, you can upgrade to Premium through Paramount, but that is a separate purchase.
Some people also try to use a Paramount account they created before linking to Walmart+. This usually works fine, but if you run into login issues, try creating a new Paramount account during the Walmart+ linking process instead. A fresh account tied directly to your Walmart+ email often prevents authentication problems.
What Happens If You Cancel Walmart+
If you cancel your Walmart+ membership, your free access to Paramount+ Essential ends when ready. You will no longer be able to stream through that linked account. If you want to keep watching Paramount+, you would need to pay for a subscription directly from Paramount.
Your Paramount account itself does not disappear — it just loses the Walmart+ benefit. If you rejoin Walmart+ later, you can relink the same Paramount account and regain access to Essential without losing your watch history or saved shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Paramount+ on multiple devices at the same time with Walmart+?
Yes. You can stream on multiple devices as long as you are signed into the same Paramount account. However, Paramount limits simultaneous streams depending on your plan — Essential typically allows a few streams at once, but check Paramount's current terms for the exact number, as this can change.
Do I need a separate Paramount account if I already have Walmart+?
You need a Paramount account to watch, but you can create one during the Walmart+ linking process if you do not have one yet. Use the same email address for both accounts to keep them connected and avoid confusion.
Is the $7.99 Paramount+ Essential plan the same as what comes with Walmart+?
Yes, it is the same plan. The $7.99 is what Paramount charges if you buy Essential directly. With Walmart+, you get that same plan at no extra cost as part of your membership.
Can I upgrade from Essential to Premium while using Walmart+?
Yes. You can upgrade to Paramount Premium directly through Paramount at any time. The upgrade cost is separate from your Walmart+ fee. Your Walmart+ membership continues unchanged, and you straightforward pay Paramount for the Premium tier on top of it.
What if I have trouble linking my accounts?
Contact Walmart+ support through the Walmart website or app, or reach out to Paramount's customer service. Make sure you are using the same email address for both accounts and that your Walmart+ membership is active. Most linking issues resolve within a few minutes once you clear browser cache or try a different device.