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Paramount+ has two U.S. plans: Essential costs $8.99 per month and Premium costs $13.99 per month when billed directly at the listed monthly rates. Both include the core on-demand library and selected live sports. Choose Essential if you’re comfortable with ads and don’t need the regular local CBS station live; choose Premium for all SHOWTIME, local live CBS where available, downloads, select 4K titles, and fewer ads in on-demand shows and movies.

Paramount+ plan comparison

These are the current U.S. direct-subscription plans, as listed by Paramount+ on October 4, 2026. The service also promotes savings with annual billing, but its current page does not state the annual totals. Billing through a third party may have different terms.

Feature Essential Premium
Monthly price $8.99/month $13.99/month
On-demand library and originals Included Everything in Essential
SHOWTIME Select series; not necessarily every episode All SHOWTIME, including SHOWTIME East and West live feeds
Ads Ad-supported Ad-free for on-demand shows and movies, with exceptions; live TV has ads
Live CBS No regular local station feed; local NFL on CBS games may stream live during the game Local live CBS station where available
Sports NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, UFC, and Zuffa Boxing; event availability varies Same sports, plus sports carried by the local live CBS station where available
Simultaneous streams Up to 3 Up to 3
Profiles Up to 6, including kids’ profiles Up to 6, including kids’ profiles
Offline downloads Not included Included, subject to restrictions
Video formats 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 not listed as included Select titles in 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, or HDR10, depending on internet service and device capability

Sources: Paramount+ plan listing and the Paramount+ Help Center plan comparison.

What Essential includes

Essential provides the shared on-demand library and originals, selected SHOWTIME series, and the sports Paramount+ lists for the plan. It costs $5 less per month than Premium at the current direct monthly rates. Its main trade-off is advertising: the plan is ad-supported.

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#1 Best Overall
Paramount+ eGift Card
  • 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.

Watching CBS on Essential

Essential does not include your regular local CBS station’s live feed. You can generally watch new episodes of current CBS series on demand the day after broadcast, although availability varies by program. Essential subscribers may also stream local NFL on CBS games live while a game is airing; that feed ends when the game ends. Sports and game availability vary by market. See Paramount+’s CBS viewing guide.

What Premium adds

Premium includes everything in Essential, then adds the full SHOWTIME offering, local live CBS where available, downloads, and select titles in higher-quality formats. It is the better fit when one or more of those additions matter enough to justify the extra $5 per month.

Rank #2
Paramount+ $25 eGift Card - Standard
  • 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.

Premium is not completely commercial-free

Paramount+ describes Premium as ad-free for on-demand shows and movies, but that does not mean every viewing experience is free of commercial material. Plans may include trailers, promotions, sponsorships, or similar content, and live TV contains ad breaks. As Paramount+ puts it in its Help Center comparison, “The biggest difference is that the Paramount+ Essential plan is ad-supported, while the Paramount+ Premium plan is ad-free.” The same Help Center page qualifies that description for on-demand viewing. Paramount+ Help Center plan comparison.

Downloads and 4K have restrictions

Premium downloads remain available until the earlier of 30 days after download or 48 hours after playback starts; other restrictions apply, and availability can change. 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 are limited to select titles and require compatible internet service and devices.

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Rank #3
Paramount+ eGift Card
  • 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.
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Which Paramount+ plan should you choose?

Choose Essential if you want the lower monthly price

  • You mainly want the shared on-demand catalog, originals, and eligible sports.
  • You are willing to watch with ads.
  • Watching CBS episodes on demand after they air is enough; you do not need the regular local station live.

Choose Premium if you will use its specific extras

  • You want all SHOWTIME rather than select series.
  • You want the local live CBS station, if Paramount+ offers it in your area.
  • You need downloads for offline viewing or want select 4K formats on a compatible setup.
  • You prefer fewer ads during on-demand shows and movies, while understanding live TV and other promotional material may still include ads.

If live sports are your deciding factor, check the event schedule and local availability before subscribing. Paramount+ lists supported smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, consoles, and web browsers; a separate streaming player is only necessary if your television does not support the app. Its service information includes device details.

Paramount+ currently markets access to “40,000+ episodes & movies.” That is the service’s own catalog-size claim, not an independently measured count. Catalog and availability can vary.

Quick Recap

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Paramount+ eGift Card
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Paramount+ $25 eGift Card - Standard
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Get hooked on subscriber-only originals; Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
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Best Value
Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee)
  • 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.
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  • 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

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.