Paramount Plus channels, plans and pricing 2024

What packages does Paramount Plus offer?

Paramount Plus offers you a choice of two packages. The Essential plan is the most affordable option, granting you access to thousands of hit shows and movies on the platform. If you want commercial-free options and don’t mind paying a little more, then the Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME plan is a great fit. Along with skipping commercials, you’ll be able to download content for offline viewing. 

Paramount Plus’s packages and pricing compared

Paramount Plus Essential 

Essential is a budget-friendly way to stream CBS and Paramount-branded content. The package starts from $5.99 per month and it includes thousands of titles of hit TV shows, movies and news programs. 

Along with this, you receive the ability to stream UEFA Champions League matches and NFL games airing on CBS Live. You can also watch CBS News programming 24/7. The only drawbacks to this plan are that you won’t be able to access your local CBS channel, nor can you download content to stream later. Besides these drawbacks, this is an excellent service with ample entertainment options at a good price point. 

Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME 

As its name implies, this plan features SHOWTIME-branded shows and movies, too. This allows you to stream hit shows like “Yellowjackets,” “Billions,” and much more. The package is more expensive at $11.99 per month, but it also includes perks you won’t find on the Essential plan. Most notably, you’ll have access to your local CBS station. 

You’ll also be able to watch many commercial-free shows and movies. The only exceptions are for live TV and certain programs. Lastly, you can download movies and TV shows for offline viewing. All told, this is the best offering, giving you live sports, premium movies and commercial-free content at an affordable price. 

Sports on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus is an excellent way to stream live sports. Both plans give you the ability to stream NFL and UEFA Champions League matches live. In addition, you’ll be able to stream Big Ten college football games, NCAA men’s basketball tournament games and Serie A soccer matches. While the offerings are not as robust as you would find with a live TV streaming service, its diversity in sports content still makes it an enticing option to consider, especially if you’re looking to save money. 

Paramount Plus free trial and deals

If you’re a new customer, you can try Paramount Plus free for seven days. This is helpful in that it gives you a way to see if the platform has enough content that meshes well with your viewing behaviors. And if you don’t want to keep it, simply set a reminder to cancel before your trial expires. 

Furthermore, if you’re a member of Walmart Plus, you will receive a free membership with Paramount Plus. It works because once you sign up with Walmart Plus, you will have the option to sign up for the Essential plan for free. However, you won’t be able to do the Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME plan. 

Another option is to receive a discount by being a subscriber of DIRECTV STREAM. DIRECTV STREAM offers their members $6 off the first three months when they sign up for a Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME subscription. 

Military members also receive a discount. To qualify, visit Paramount Plus’s desktop website and verify your credentials. Upon doing so, you’ll be able to save 25% off your monthly subscription. This discount applies to both plans, so you have more choices than other incentives. 

Meanwhile, if you have SHOWTIME through another live TV service, such as DIRECTV, Spectrum or Hulu + Live TV, you also have access to Paramount Plus for free. To take advantage of this, visit Paramount Plus’s website and log in with your live TV credentials to verify. Upon verification, you’ll be able to watch everything on Paramount Plus for free. 

Lastly, Paramount Plus offers discounts for AARP and college students. AARP members can save 10% off their monthly subscription costs for life. To sign up for this discount, you’ll need to use the Paramount Plus website. And for college students, you can save 25% off an Essential plan. You’ll just need to verify your credentials through Paramount Plus’s website.

How to watch Paramount Plus

To sign up for Paramount Plus, you’ll want to visit the website. Once there, click on the blue “get started” button to sign up. First, you’ll pick your plan, then you’ll enter your personal details to sign up for an account. The whole process should take a mere few minutes to do. 

After signing up, you can stream content from Paramount Plus on a wide variety of devices. Here is a look at the currently supported devices along with your smartphone or tablet: 

• Fire TV
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Portal TV
• LG TV
• Roku
• Samsung TV
• Vizio TV
• Xfinity device 
• Xbox
• PS4 and PS5

Is Paramount Plus worth it?

Paramount Plus is an inexpensive service that’s big on entertainment. Whether you want access to news 24/7, a diverse array of live sports choices or to stream hit shows and movies, Paramount Plus packs a lot of content into their platform. On top of that, it’s affordable, with plans starting as low as $5.99 per month. If you’re searching for a budget streaming service, this is one of the best to consider. 

On the other hand, Paramount Plus doesn’t offer a whole lot of live entertainment options, especially with their Essential plan. If you upgrade your plan, you can access your local CBS channel and watch many titles without commercials. Still, that $11.99 can be a sticking point for some, especially if you have multiple services. The best approach is to give the one-week free trial a test drive and see if it works well for you. 

FAQ

Does Paramount Plus have an annual plan?

Yes, you can sign up to pay annually for both of Paramount Plus’s plans instead of making monthly payments. The Essential plan is $59.99 annually while the Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME is $119.99 per year. 

How much is a Paramount Plus subscription?

The Essential plan is $5.99 per month. Or you can do Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME for $11.99 monthly. 

What's the difference in Paramount Plus plans?

The Essential plan allows you to watch thousands of shows and movies with commercials. The Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME option allows you to stream many of the same titles without commercials, as well as giving you access to your local CBS station.