How much is Paramount+?
Paramount+ costs $8.99/month for Essential (with ads) or $13.99/month for Premium (ad-free, includes Showtime). Annual plans are $89.99 and $139.99, saving you roughly two months versus paying monthly.
Cost breakdown
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential (monthly) | $8.99/mo | Has ads. Includes NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and live sports. |
| Essential (annual) | $89.99/yr | Works out to ~$7.50/mo. |
| Premium (monthly) | $13.99/mo | Ad-free (except live TV), includes Showtime, and local CBS live stream. |
| Premium (annual) | $139.99/yr | Works out to ~$11.67/mo. |
Essential vs. Premium: what you actually get
Essential at $8.99/month is the cheaper tier but plays ads, and it does not include Showtime content. You still get the full catalog of movies and shows plus live sports like NFL on CBS.
Premium at $13.99/month removes ads (except during live TV and a few shows), adds all Showtime originals and movies, and lets you stream your local CBS station live. The $5 monthly gap is mostly about Showtime and ad-free viewing.
Is the annual plan worth it?
Paying annually saves a little over two months per year. Essential drops to about $7.50/month and Premium to about $11.67/month when billed yearly.
Annual makes sense if you know you'll keep it for sports seasons or year-round viewing. Stick with monthly if you tend to subscribe for a specific show and cancel.
Free trials and ways to pay less
Paramount+ regularly runs 7-day free trials and steeper promo deals around new show launches and sports seasons. Students often qualify for a discount on the Essential plan.
Some mobile and internet providers bundle Paramount+ at a reduced rate or free, so check your existing subscriptions before paying full price.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Essential plan have ads?
- Yes. The $8.99/month Essential tier includes commercials. To go ad-free (except live TV), you need Premium at $13.99/month.
- Does Paramount+ Premium include Showtime?
- Yes. Premium bundles all Showtime originals and movies, which is the main reason to pay the extra $5 a month over Essential.
- Is there a free trial?
- Paramount+ frequently offers a 7-day free trial, and larger promotional discounts appear around major show and sports launches.
Researched and edited by Calvin Lauderdale, Lead Researcher & Editor. Figures on this page were verified against the sources above as of June 23, 2026.