Paramount+ currently lists two US plans: Essential for $8.99 per month and Premium for $13.99 per month. Essential is ad-supported and includes select SHOWTIME series; Premium adds all SHOWTIME, downloads, select-title 4K and HDR formats, and live local CBS. Premium is not completely ad-free: live TV includes ads, and plans may include trailers or sponsorship. These prices and features were shown on Paramount+’s US signup page when checked on October 3, 2026; availability and pricing can differ by country or billing provider.
What’s the difference between Paramount+ Essential and Premium?
The main trade-off is the monthly price versus SHOWTIME access, downloads, selected higher-resolution video, and live local CBS. Paramount+ showed the following prices and features on its US plan picker on October 3, 2026:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Paramount+ eGift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Paramount+ $25 eGift Card - Standard | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Paramount+ eGift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Netflix Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| US plan | Advertised monthly price | Included features | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99/month | Ad-supported streaming, select SHOWTIME series, and simultaneous streaming | Select SHOWTIME series may not include every episode. |
| Premium | $13.99/month | All SHOWTIME, downloads, select-title 4K UHD, Dolby Vision and HDR10, and live local CBS | Advanced video formats are limited to select titles and depend on device and internet capability. Downloads have restrictions. Live TV has ads, and plans may include trailers or sponsorship. |
Both plans include access to Paramount+ content and simultaneous streaming. The service listed three simultaneous streams on its US service page when checked in 2026. Paramount+ also advertises a library of 40,000+ episodes and movies on its plan picker; that is the provider’s count, not an independent estimate. Paramount+ US plan picker and Paramount+ US service page
Which plan should you choose?
- Choose Essential if you are comfortable with ads and select SHOWTIME series are enough.
- Choose Premium if you want all SHOWTIME, downloads, live local CBS, or access to eligible titles in higher-resolution formats.
- Compare the full annual cost on the signup page if you plan to subscribe for a year. Paramount+ said annual billing saves 23% compared with 12 regular monthly payments, but the annual dollar totals were not shown in the plan-picker information available here. Confirm the current total before choosing.
Does Paramount+ Premium include SHOWTIME?
Yes. Premium includes all SHOWTIME, while Essential includes select SHOWTIME series; the Essential selection may not contain every episode. If access to the full SHOWTIME offering is your reason for subscribing, Premium is the plan that lists it.
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#1 Best Overall
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Does Paramount+ Premium have ads?
Premium should not be treated as entirely ad-free. Paramount+ says live TV has ads, and its plans may include trailers or sponsorship. Essential is explicitly ad-supported. The service’s description of Premium’s on-demand viewing does not remove those stated exceptions. Paramount+ US service page
How do Paramount+ add-on subscriptions work?
An add-on is a separate paid video subscription purchased through a platform account. For Prime Video add-ons generally, Amazon says the add-on fee is charged on top of the Prime Video membership fee. That general billing explanation does not confirm that Paramount+ is currently offered as a Prime Video add-on in your country. Check the live storefront and its terms before subscribing through a platform. Prime Video help
Rank #2
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Availability and billing routes can depend on country and provider. The sources cited here do not establish a current, complete list of Paramount+-specific third-party subscription options, so verify the option in your local storefront rather than assuming it is available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where do I cancel Paramount+ if I signed up through another provider?
Start by checking your subscription receipt or account page to see which company bills you. That provider is usually the right place to manage payment or cancellation. A subscription purchased directly from Paramount+ may have a different management path from one billed by a platform.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Find the receipt or subscription entry and identify the billing provider.
- Open the account or subscription settings for that provider and follow its cancellation instructions.
- Check for a cancellation confirmation or an updated renewal status.
Paramount’s Canada terms say subscriptions set to auto-renew through a third party must be cancelled according to that third party’s instructions; those terms apply to Canada and should not be read as US legal policy. Roku’s support guidance also distinguishes subscriptions managed through Roku from subscriptions bought directly from a provider. Paramount+ Canada Terms of Use and Roku support
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Rank #4
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
What should you check before subscribing?
- Local price and billing term: Confirm the current price and annual total on your country’s signup page; the figures above are the US monthly listings checked October 3, 2026.
- Ads: Essential is ad-supported. Premium still has ads on live TV and may include trailers or sponsorship.
- SHOWTIME access: Essential has select series; Premium includes all SHOWTIME.
- Downloads and video: Downloads and select-title 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 are Premium features, subject to restrictions and device and internet capability.
- Live local CBS: This is listed with Premium in the US plan comparison; confirm local availability where you live.
- Who bills you: A third-party subscription may need to be changed or cancelled with that provider.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
