Paramount Plus pricing and what's included at each tier

Paramount Plus offers two subscription tiers in the United States: an ad-supported plan and an ad-free plan. The ad-supported plan costs $5.99 per month. The ad-free plan costs $11.99 per month. Both give you access to the same content library — the difference is whether you watch commercials.

Both tiers include live TV from CBS, which means you get news, sports, and primetime shows as they air. You can stream on one device at a time on the ad-supported plan and up to four devices at once on the ad-free plan. You can read episodes to watch offline on either plan, though the number of downloads available varies by title.

Paramount Plus also offers a bundle with Showtime for $19.99 per month (ad-free) or $9.99 per month (with ads). If you already subscribe to other services, this bundle may cost less than buying Showtime separately.

Key Takeaways

  • The ad-supported plan costs $5.99 per month and the ad-free plan costs $11.99 per month, with identical content but different viewing experience.
  • Both plans include live CBS broadcasts, so you can watch news and sports as they happen without a cable subscription.
  • The ad-free plan lets four people stream at the same time, while the ad-supported plan limits you to one device at a time.
  • A Paramount Plus and Showtime bundle costs $19.99 per month ad-free or $9.99 per month with ads, which is cheaper than subscribing to both separately.

What shows and movies are actually on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus carries current and past seasons of CBS shows like The Equalizer, NCIS, Ghosts, and The Good Fight. You get new episodes the day after they air on CBS. The service also has older shows from the CBS archive going back decades.

For movies, Paramount Plus includes films from Paramount Pictures' catalog, which includes action films, comedies, dramas, and horror movies. The exact titles rotate, so what is available changes throughout the year. You can search the full library on the Paramount Plus website before you subscribe to see whether the shows or movies you want are currently there.

The service also produces original shows and movies made only for Paramount Plus subscribers, including Star Trek: Discovery, Halo, and The Offer. These originals are included with both subscription tiers.

How Paramount Plus compares to Netflix, Disney Plus, and other major services

Paramount Plus is cheaper than Netflix's standard plan ($15.49 per month ad-free) but more expensive than Disney Plus ($7.99 per month with ads). However, price alone does not tell you whether it is worth it — what matters is whether the shows and movies you want to watch are there.

Netflix has a larger overall library and more original series. Disney Plus focuses on family content, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Paramount Plus is strongest if you watch CBS shows, want live TV access, or are interested in its original series. Many people subscribe to more than one service rather than trying to pick just one.

If you are deciding between services, the best approach is to check whether each one currently has the specific shows or movies you plan to watch. Most services let you see their full catalog without subscribing, so you can compare before you pay.

Whether the ad-supported plan is worth the $6 monthly savings

The ad-supported plan saves you $6 per month ($72 per year) compared to the ad-free plan. The trade-off is that you see commercials during shows and movies. Most ads run 15 to 30 seconds and play at the start, middle, and end of content, similar to how ads work on broadcast TV.

The ads are the same whether you are watching live CBS or on-demand shows. You cannot skip them. If you watch Paramount Plus for an hour most days, the ad-supported plan means you will sit through roughly 10 to 15 minutes of commercials per day.

Whether this is worth $72 a year depends on how much you use the service and how much commercials bother you. If you watch occasionally, the savings add up. If you watch daily, you may find the ads frustrating enough that the ad-free plan feels worth the extra cost.

Simultaneous streaming and household sharing rules

On the ad-supported plan, only one person can stream at a time. If two people in your household want to watch different things simultaneously, you need the ad-free plan, which allows four streams at once.

Paramount Plus does not officially allow password sharing outside your household, though the company has not aggressively enforced this rule the way Netflix has. If you share your login with someone who lives at a different address, you are technically violating the terms of service, and Paramount Plus could revoke access.

If multiple people in your home want to watch at the same time, the ad-free plan is the only option that works. If it is just you or one other person, the ad-supported plan's single-stream limit may not matter in practice.

Live TV and sports on Paramount Plus

Both Paramount Plus plans include live CBS, which means you get live broadcasts of NFL games on Sunday and Thursday, college football, the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, and other CBS events as they happen. You also get CBS News 24/7 and local news from your market if your area has a CBS affiliate.

This is different from Netflix or Disney Plus, which do not offer live TV. If you want to cut cable but still watch live sports and news, Paramount Plus covers some of that need, though you will still need other services or an antenna for games and events on other networks.

The live TV feed is the same on both the ad-supported and ad-free plans. You cannot rewind live broadcasts, but you can usually watch replays of games and events on demand the next day.

Downloading episodes to watch offline

Both Paramount Plus plans let you read shows and movies to your phone or tablet and watch them without an internet connection. This is useful for travel or if your internet is unreliable. The number of titles available for read varies — some shows and movies cannot be downloaded, usually because of licensing restrictions.

Downloaded content expires after a set period (usually 30 days), so you cannot build a permanent offline library. If you read an episode, watch it, and then delete it, you can read it again later if you want to rewatch it.

The read feature works the same way on both subscription tiers, so this is not a reason to choose one plan over the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Paramount Plus on my TV?

Yes. Paramount Plus works on most smart TVs, streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV, gaming consoles including PlayStation and Xbox, and through a web browser on a computer. You can also cast from your phone to a compatible TV. Check the Paramount Plus website for the full list of supported devices.

Do I get a free trial before I pay?

Paramount Plus does not currently offer a free trial period. You can browse the full content library on the website without logging in to see what shows and movies are available before you subscribe. Some promotions offer discounted first months, but these vary and are not always available.

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

You lose access to Paramount Plus when ready when your subscription ends. You cannot read content to keep permanently. If you resubscribe later, your watchlist and viewing history are usually restored, but this is not may provide.

Does Paramount Plus have 4K or HDR quality?

Paramount Plus streams in 4K and HDR on some content, but not everything. The quality depends on your internet speed, your device, and whether the specific show or movie was filmed or mastered in 4K. You need a fast internet connection (at least 25 Mbps) to stream in 4K.

Can I use Paramount Plus in other countries?

Paramount Plus is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, but the content library and pricing differ by region. If you travel outside the country where you subscribed, you may not be able to stream. Check the Paramount Plus website for availability in your location.