Paramount Plus: Price, shows & how to try for free

(Image credit: Paramount)

Once the underdog, Paramount Plus is quickly rising in the ranks of go-to streaming services, combining access to hit original series like 1883 with blockbuster films and popular reality shows. And now that Paramount Plus has officially merged with the Showtime app, the streaming service is a whole lot better.

How much does it cost? Is there a free trial? What can I watch? No matter what question you have about this streaming service, we have the answers. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Paramount Plus.

What is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus is a streaming service owned by, well, Paramount. This self-described “Mountain of Entertainment” pulls its content from the Paramount Pictures and CBS libraries, which means you get access to popular content from networks like Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and beyond. Whether you want to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, Spongebob Squarepants, or hit films like Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount Plus is where you can find all of your favorite content in one place, and typically for less than you’d pay with a competing service like Netflix or Max.

In early 2023, it was also announced that Paramount Plus would officially be combined with the Showtime app, which means the streaming service now has thousands of new titles in its library — but only if you’re willing to pay for the more expensive plan. Speaking of paying, let’s dive into the plan options and talk about how much Paramount Plus costs.

How much does Paramount Plus cost?

As we noted above, Paramount Plus formally merged with Showtime on June 27, 2023. Since then, the ad-supported Essential plan went up from $4.99/month or $50/year to $5.99/month or $59.99/year. The plan remains exactly the same otherwise, with access to the entire Paramount Plus streaming library, plus NFL on CBS live and 24/7 live news.

On the other hand, if you’re using the Premium plan, your plan has gone up from $9.99/month to $11.99/month ($119.99 yearly), but you also get instant access to the entire Showtime content library. This includes original series like Yellowjackets and Dexter, alongside movies and live broadcasts of MMA and Championship Boxing events.

In addition to tens of thousands of titles, this Paramount Plus with Showtime plan is totally ad-free and gives you the ability to download up to 25 titles for offline viewing.

Price increases are never fun, but this is a ton of content. And again, you’re still paying less than you would for comparable plans from other streaming services.

Are there any Paramount Plus deals?

The best way to save on your Paramount Plus subscription is by choosing an annual plan instead of a monthly one. The annual plan saves you more than 15% off the total cost, though it must be paid in full when you sign up. An even better deal is reserved for students: You can save 25% by signing up with student credentials at Paramount Plus.

T-Mobile customers can add a Paramount+ subscription right to their bills by subscribing to one of the carrier’s postpaid wireless or home internet plans. This allows you to manage your payments through one single bill, which streamlines the process. If you’re already a Paramount+ subscriber, however, you’ll have to cancel and sign up again as a T-Mobile customer.

You can also sign up through Walmart and those with a Walmart Plus membership can get access to Paramount+ for free as part of their subscription.

In which countries is Paramount Plus available?

As of June 2023, Paramount Plus is available in the following countries. That being said, the streaming service SkyShowtime (which includes titles from Paramount Plus, Showtime, and Peacock) launched last September and is now available in additional regions throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Nordic countries, and beyond.

Additionally, SkyShowtime is available in 17 countries and regions including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and more.

What’s streaming on Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus features thousands of episodes, hundreds of shows, and a variety of exclusive content you won’t be able to watch elsewhere. Fans of networks like BET, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Network especially will want to subscribe, as the service includes many of those networks’ most popular shows and older favorites that haven’t aired on TV in years. You’ll also find a ton of new and classic movies, as well as original programming. Here’s a rundown of some of the content you’ll find on Paramount Plus.

Series on Paramount Plus

In addition to the content mentioned above, the Paramount Plus media library includes a variety of classic shows, including the likes of 7th Heaven, Cheers, and I Love Lucy. Additionally, kids will love the amount of Nickelodeon content, from hundreds of Spongebob episodes to Dora The Explorer, The Loud House, and more. With that in mind, here’s a partial list of popular shows you can find on the service:

• 1883
• 1923
• Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Bar Rescue
• Beavis and Butthead
• Chappelle’s Show
• Daria
• The Fairly OddParents
• Ink Master
• Jersey Shore
• Kamp Koral: Spongebob’s Under Years
• Love & Hip Hop Atlanta
• Mayor of Kingstown
• NCIS
• Paw Patrol
• Reno 911!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Seal Team
• Teen Mom
• The Real World
• The Talk
• Twin Peaks
• Yellowstone
• Young Sheldon
• The Young & The Restless

Sports on Paramount Plus

Similar to NBC’s Peacock streaming service, Paramount Plus confirmed it would provide access to roughly 1,000 live sporting events. This includes selections from:

• The NFL on CBS
• The Masters
• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
• The PGA Tour
• The PGA Championship
• The SEC on CBS
• National Women’s Soccer League
• EFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• UEFA Europa Conference League

Paramount Plus is also the only digital hub for U.S. soccer fans to watch exclusive English-language coverage of every UEFA club competition match along with the Europa League, Concacaf, Argentine Primera Division, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Serie A Matches, Campeonato Brasileirao Serie A, and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).

Movies on Paramount Plus

Considering this streaming service is named after one of the most iconic movie studios in history, there is no shortage of films to watch on the service. Along with older must-see films like the Mission: Impossible franchise, Paramount is also home to a rotating selection of modern classics, including film series like Star Trek and Indiana Jones along with others like Airplane!, Face/Off, and Bend It Like Beckham,

At the time that Paramount Plus launched, it was revealed that select Paramount films would head to the streaming platform 30 to 45 days after their theatrical release, with others set to appear 90 days after their theatrical release. Specifically, recent blockbusters Top Gun: Maverick, The Lost City, and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 are currently available to stream on Paramount Plus.

Original programming on Paramount Plus

CBS All Access originals, the original name for Paramount+ when it first launched back in 2014, are continuing on Paramount Plus. This includes Star Trek: Discovery, Picard (which ended its run in April 2023 with the third and final season), The Stand, and The Good Fight. A slate of new shows have also debuted, such as Halo, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the second Yellowstone spin-off 1923, and a reboot of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars along with the Western drama Lawmen: Bass Reeves and the sequel/revival of Frasier.

Kids will also enjoy the show Kamp Koral from the world of Spongebob Squarepants, as well as the Paramount Plus exclusive film Blue’s Big City Adventure. Meanwhile, a slightly older crowd should check out the platform’s revival of iCarly and The Real World: Homecoming: Los Angeles limited series.

Other exclusive shows streaming now include:

• 1883: Yellowstone spin-off
• Dating Naked: VH1 series reboot
• Dora the Explorer: Live-action series
• Fatal Attraction: Series adaptation of the 1987 film
• Flashdance: Series adaptation of the 1983 film
• Frasier: NBC series revival
• From Cradle to Stage: Original series
• Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Based on the iconic musical
• Inside Amy Schumer: Comedy Central series revival
• Mayor of Kingstown: Original series
• Road Rules: MTV series reboot
• Tulsa King: Original series starring Sylvester Stallone
• The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah: Original series
• Unplugged: MTV series revival

What devices support Paramount+?

Paramount Plus is currently available on all devices that were previously compatible with the CBS All Access app. This includes Apple TV, Android TVs, phones and tablets, Chromecast, and Fire TV. Here’s a full list of devices that Paramount Plus is available on right now.

Account limits, profiles and parental controls

Both Paramount Plus subscription tiers offer parental control capabilities and up to six individual profiles that can be personalized by each person assigned a profile on the account.

While the parental control feature is OFF by default across profiles, all you need to do is go to settings and click one toggle. Once you do that, you’ll be prompted to create a four-digit PIN, which will be required to watch any restricted content on that profile moving forward.

Try Paramount Plus for free

If you want to try either of the plans, all you need to do is sign up for the seven-day Paramount Plus free trial online. Just select the Try It Now button on the Paramount+ homepage, pick your plan, and create an account. No matter which plan you choose, you will receive the first seven days for free.

After creating an account, you can choose to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your plan at any time. However, if you choose to cancel before the seven-day free trial is up, you will forfeit whatever amount of time you have left on your trial period.